Weekend fare

No game for Phnom Penh Crown this weekend, as they prepare for their RHB Singapore Cup match in the city-state on Wednesday, when they take on champions Tampines Rovers in what looks to be a mouth-watering clash. Coming straight after their AFC President's Cup qualification, Crown will be looking to put up a better fist of it than last year's 4-0 defeat to the Singapore Armed Forces. Emmanuel Frimpong will not make the trip, though Crown will take along their four other foreign imports and decide on their line-up closer to kick-off. Chan Chaya is absent after the AFC confirmed he was still under their ban until the end of May, as it began on 1 December.
In the Metfone C-League this weekend, there's a match to look out for at 4.30pm on the Olympic Stadium pitch, when 2nd placed NagaCorp take on Boeung Ket, both clubs likely to be challenging for the title cum the end of the season. My prediction - a 2-2 draw. In the 2.30pm match, Preah Khan should coast to an easy win over Western Uni. On Sunday, a revitalised Kirivong take on BBU early doors, followed by the Army against Chhlam Samuth.
On Sunday morning at the RSN Stadium in Tuol Kork, the Cambodian U-14 national team squad take on the U-16s of Preah Khan Reach in an 8.30am practice match. The U-14s are led by PPCFC Academy coach Bouy Dary and are currently preparing for their trip to Malaysia for an AFC Festival of Football from 21 May until 3 June. Playing against stronger and physically tougher opponents is good preparation, especially as the national team are simply too good for teams of their own age group. The majority of the squad is made up of Phnom Penh Crown Academy players. They lost 2-1 to the same PKR team a couple of weeks ago.