Newcomers to the C-league this season, the Rubbermen of Boeung KetThe 2nd match up tomorrow, at 4pm, is Kirivong against the new faces of Boeung Ket Rubber Field FC, or the Rubbermen as I'll call them this season. With ex-Crown manager Be Makara at the helm, the Kompong Cham-based team have been busy bees in the transfer market signing a host of players who were plying their trade in Thailand last term. They include ex-Crown men Keo Sokngorn, Srey Veasna, Friday Nwakuna and Chan Rithy as well as Sin Dalin and Ly Ravy. They've also picked up Peng Bunchhay, Takahito Ota and Hong Ratana after their release by Crown, as well as other well-known local like Oum Kumpheak, Touch Pancharong and Lar Pichseyla. Add three Nigerians, Bisan George, Sumaila Momoh and Daniel Omachoko to the mix and you have an interesting-looking squad. They should be a force to be reckoned with if they can get their star men firing on all cylinders. Sunday's matches see Chhlam Samuth face BBU and the Army against Western University.
Talking of the Army, they appear to be sticking their oar in again concerning any player that dares to have the temerity to seek his footballing fortunes elsewhere. We have already seen the shambolic situation in the Hun Sen Cup a few weeks ago when the federation initially allowed Khim Borey (Crown) and Sin Dalin (Boeung Ket) to play in the competition and then mysteriously closed the door on them after the Army rattled their cage. Both players were left twiddling their thumbs in the stands and their respective coaches fuming at the FFC's decision. After that, the word from the federation was that both players would be okay to play in the C-League, but more sabre-rattling from the Army has again cast that in doubt. The Phnom Penh Post carried a preview of their opening game today and allegations by the Army's former coach even expanded the situation into something rather more sinister and serious. Commenting on an exodus of players that includes Pheak Rady, Oum Kumpheak and Touch Sokheng, Op Sam An suggested they may find difficulty in playing for new clubs as they are still registered military officials and had fled the club when accused of match-fixing. "It is destroying soccer [in the country] and the whole club." As to what the former coach is alluding to is not public knowledge, though a handful of players were suspended by the Army for alleged match-fixing some three years ago. Rather than cast a slur on the reputation of professional players who want to leave the Army club, Op Sam An needs to front up with any evidence he has of players involved in rigging matches, or ask the federation to investigate, or shut up. I would also expect the Phnom Penh Post to follow-up on his allegations to see whether this stain on football has found its way into the Cambodian game, as it has elsewhere in Asia. If it is proved that any player or any club is guilty of such action, the federation and the AFC should throw the book at them. If the allegations are false, anybody crying wolf should be severely censured.
After the debacle of the Cambodia U-21 (+ overage players) showing in the Brunei tournament over the past week, with four defeats in four games, two of which were against sides that we should've beaten with our eyes closed and our legs tied together, the 18-strong playing party have returned to these shores to link up, rather belatedly, with their domestic teams. Hardly ideal preparation for the start of the new C-League, and an example of the way football is administered in these parts. Also missing a month of preparation have been members of the AFC A Licence coaching course that has been taking place locally. Many of the 26 participants are with C-League teams like Army, Police, Boeung Ket and BBU and Naga's head coach, Prak Sovannara was the main instructor. It's frightening really, the timing of such a course when you look at the country's footballing schedule. Last but not least, the C-League games will be screened live by a new television channel this season. Apsara have taken over from TVK, who took over from CTN last season. It appears that TVK are more interested in political matters this year than football. The first league match every Saturday and Sunday will be beamed live into homes by Apsara.
2 comments:
Illuminating stuff Andy! The Boueng Ket squad looks very strong ...but the match-fixing allegations and veiled threats to former Army players doesn't sound good. Will Rady and Borey be allowed to play for Phnom Penh Crown in the C-League opener?
To be frank, what the Army are doing to players' livelihoods is a disgrace. They don't like players wanting away, so they pull the strings to make them suffer, and the FFC just fall into line behind them. Allowing Borey to play in the Hun Sen Cup and then scrubbing his name from the team-sheet for the next game was perhaps the most obvious case of cronyism between the FFC and the Army that you could see. The players and the clubs affected by this have no idea what the FFC is going to do next, and the suggestion by the Army of match-fixing is an obvious slur on the players who want away. There's a good article in this but I doubt the Phnom Penh Post have the backbone to investigate.
Post a Comment