Academy praised

In Sodavid, the Academy top scorer in Singapore with six goals

Phnom Penh Crown Academy coach Bouy Dary praised his charges for their runners-up spot in last weekend's Singapore Cricket Club International Soccer Sixes U-14 Charity tournament but felt there was much to learn from the experience for the ten players who made the trip. "We were dominant in every game, including the final but we lacked concentration at the start of the last match, conceding twice before playing well for the rest of the game. We pulled it back to 2-2 but we should've scored half a dozen. Our finishing was not great and its frustrating because Bali had only two chances in the whole game. When it came to the penalties we missed twice and I think it was down to nerves. Everyone who watched the game told me the boys played exceptionally well but they must take their chances when they come along. Another lesson to learn." Dary took ten youngsters to Singapore for the two-day competition, though only nine actually played any game-time as Phoeun Sopheak is still recovering from his knee injury. The nine were: Svang Samnang, Men Piphop, Seut Baraing, Orn Chanpolin, Chhuot Senteang, In Sodavid, Yeu Muslim, Ken Chansopheak, Pov Ponvuthy. They were keen to better their third place from the previous year's competition and did exactly that, though they will kick themselves for not bringing back the winners trophy. There's a possibility of a trip to Thailand later this month for a series of games but more pressing is a match against a Banteay Meanchey representative team tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at RSN Stadium.

On the first day of the Soccer Sixes competition, Crown began like a runaway train. Playing two seven minute halves and six-a-side for each of the group matches, they met the Hevea MK Palembang team from Indonesia in the 1st game and led with two early goals from Seut Baraing before wrapping up the 4-0 win through Ken Chansopheak and Yeu Muslim. Next up was the Muhammadiyah Association from Singapore and they were easily dispensed 6-0. Muslim started the rout, Orn Chanpolin and In Sodavid both chipped in with two goals each before Pov Ponvuthy added the icing on the cake. Sodavid made an immediate impression in the third match with two goals in the first two minutes. He netted his hat-trick after Ponvuthy and Chansopheak had also scored in a 5-0 success over the Youth Football Home team from Phuket in Thailand. So far so good. The next morning the Rumah Faith Home from Malaysia were easily brushed aside in the 18 minute semi-final, with Crown winning 6-0 and looking on course for the trophy. Chanpolin, Ponvuthy, Chansopheak (2), an own goal and Sodavid were the goalscorers and Crown were through to the U-14 Charity Cup final where they would face last year's champions, Bali Sports Foundation from Indonesia. Two lapses of concentration handed the edge to Bali early doors only for Chanpolin and Ponvuthy to score and level the final tie. Rueing a few missed opportunities, the match went into three penalty-kicks per team and with two misses, Crown lost out 2-1 on sudden death spot-kicks.