Monday, June 20, 2016

Back to duty

It's about time I got back to giving a daily commentary on all things football. I've been way too busy for many many months to tap away at my keyboard for hours on end, but its important to publicise what's happening around me, or else who will ever know the crap that goes on.

Last minute

We've just played the first game of the second-half of the Metfone C-League. We are 12 points off the leaders after a goal-less draw with Cambo Tiger. And that in a nutshell sums up our season. Off the pace and off the goal-trail. Lots of reasons for it and how long have you got, but there's little point in crying over spilt milk, we have to grin and bear it, and get on with it. Clubs are allowed to change 2 foreigners and 3 locals in between the 1st and 2nd rounds of the season but at the 11th hour, the federation extended the deadline to the end of this month, as they said some clubs didn't have enough time to get new players, even though everyone knew about it for months in advance. We have been looking at many foreigners over the last few months, a few have been in on try out, unsuccessfully, others we've seen on video and tons more just offered by email and CVs. We have settled on two new faces, but their registrations are taking an age to complete, so we haven't announced them yet. Some names have got out but I won't confirm anything until we have all the t's crossed and the i's dotted. You never know we might just change our minds at the last minute, like the federation.

Off to Court

In case you haven't heard, Phnom Penh Crown were denied entry into this season's AFC Cup Playoff Qualifiers by the AFC themselves. They pointed at one of their obscure statutes and flashed a big HALT sign in front of us. Essentially cutting our legs from under us. We refuse to take this lying down (pun intended) and have appealed the decision to the highest court available to sports teams and individuals, the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. Wish us well. Definitely a David vs Goliath scenario. So much to say, but unable to say it at this point in time. Watch this space.