Pre-season prep

Time for an update on Phnom Penh Crown's pre-season preparations. They've already beaten AEU 4-1 and face Preah Khan Reach and Naga in a couple more warm-up matches before they take part in an invitational international football tournament in one of the southern Vietnamese provinces later this month. It's called the Binh Phuoc TV Cup 2012 - it used to be known as the Number One Cup and played between armed forces from Vietnam, Cambodia  and Laos - and will be held in Dong Xoai, the capital city of Binh Phuoc province, between 19-29 November. There will be eight teams taking part, two groups of 4, the top two teams progress to the semi-finals and final. Three clubs from Cambodia; who are PPCFC, Preah Khan Reach and Boeung Ket Rubber Field, three from Laos; namely the Laos Army, Champasak and the Laos U-21 team, and two from Vietnam; the Binh Phuoc U-21s and the Ho Chi Minh City Youth team. On paper, it looks like the toughest teams will be the U-21 side from Laos and the Cambodian teams. PPCFC are treating it as part of their pre-season prep and as a bonding session, to help all the new players find their feet and build team morale and spirit. On their return, coach Sam Schweingruber will look to play two more practice matches before the Hun Sen Cup is due to begin on Thursday 20 December, though the draw for the Hun Sen cup hasn't yet been made.