Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Hotting up

As expected, Naga brushed aside Western University 3-1 in the midweek Metfone C-League game and took back the top spot on goal difference from National Police. Sun Sovannrithy scored twice, early on and then from the penalty spot, with Chhim Sambo getting on the scoresheet again, after netting twice at the weekend. Maxwell Woko had earlier equalized for Western. Naga, Police and Preah Khan have essentially qualified for the Super 4 play-offs, all bar the shouting, and would have to lose their remaining games to fail now. The other spot, currently occupied by Boeung Ket, is the one that four teams have their beady eyes on. Obviously, Boeung Ket are in pole position with five games left to play and are 1 point ahead of three teams, Phnom Penh Crown, Army and BBU. This coming Saturday could see changes in the placings. In the early game, Crown meet BBU and next up is Army v Boeung Ket. The big game on Sunday is Preah Khan against National Police. But it's the Saturday games that hold the interest for football fans this weekend with Crown desperate to claw their way back into the play-off places and the other three teams determined to get their own noses in front.
An over-hyped youth game between a Cambodian U17 side and a regional Japanese academy team (and not the Japan age-group national team that was expected by the crowd) drew a big audience at Olympic Stadium tonight under floodlights. Billed as Cambodia v Japan, we had the national anthems and all that razzmatazz before a disappointing game of football, that simply didn't live up to the huge billing it received. Cambodia had the size and strength advantage as well as up to three years age advantage against their willing opponents, who battled bravely but didn't play with the style or finesse that had been expected. Their long-ball style didn't cause the home team much difficulty at all and the Japanese goalkeeper was easily the best player on the park. Final result was 1-1 but honestly, it simply wasn't worth the excessive hype it received in the build-up.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Daisuke Yoshioka is our hero... He loves Cambodian football so much. Hope he will bring another exciting game for Cambodia.

Raksmey

Andy Brouwer said...

I'm sure he appreciates the support, but I don't understand the hero worship. I'm sure he enjoys his job as the Cambodian youth have much to learn, though there should be a co-ordinated approach to national age groups like U14, U16, U19 and seniors to ensure we are all playing a similar style and approach to Cambodian national team football. I hear he's off to the Philippines or suchlike to help their football now...presumably he's being paid by the japanese FA to assist in developing football in the region, not just Cambodia.

Anonymous said...

Andy, why doesn't the Phnom Penh Post preview this weekend games? The BBU v PPC is crucial for both teams as is the Boeung Ket v Army game that follows. The race for 4th position on the table is very close! And what about Sunday's big game PKR v Police. Will PKRs Ravy score again and upset the new national coach?

Andy Brouwer said...

The PPPost newspaper (English edition) is grossly inept in its preview coverage as you indicate and appears to have pretty much given up on reporting on local football with anything other than very basic interest. I don't know whether that's the fault of the sports journalists or the editors disinterest. Its very disappointing whoever is to blame. When I wrote the PPP football reports everything I submitted was printed and coverage was extensive. The PPP is a different animal today, sadly.
At a time when we need local football to be promoted and supported by all, the PPP and other newspapers are falling down badly in their duty to cover local sport. It's a crying shame.

Anonymous said...

but at least, i see the preview in phnom penh post in khmer. not so bad