I would love to be top scorer

PPCFC have completed the deadline-day signing of striker Run Rany, who has joined the club from Western. Rany was the third highest Cambodian-born goalscorer in the Metfone C-League last season, with 8 goals in what was his first season with Western. Earlier this year, Rany scored against Crown in Western’s 3-1 victory at RSN Stadium, with a thunderbolt drive from 25 yards. Twenty-seven-year-old Rany (5/6/1989) was born in Phnom Penh and attended Preah Yukanthor High School, playing his early football with Kang Reach Sey and the National Defense Ministry U-19s. Following a break from football, he joined Build Bright United in the Cambodian League in 2012 for two seasons. After a year with the now-defunct Albirex Niigata, he spent 2015 with CMAC, captaining them in most of their games before his move to Western. Married with one daughter, he has also played regularly for futsal team Rolling FC for the last four years. “I’ve wanted to join PPCFC for the past couple of years, so today is a very happy day for me and I promise to do the best I can for my teammates, the club and the fans,” said the striker who will wear jersey number 18. “I am very pleased to be joining this great club and my aim is to score as many goals as possible - I would love to be the top scorer and for the team to win both the MCL and the Hun Sen Cup. That is my hope for my new team and I will do everything I can to make it happen.”

Happy to play in any position

“For the team I am happy to play in any position, though I prefer midfield and winger,” said PPCFC’s Japanese-born utility player, Yuta Suzuki, who joined the club in February. After six months playing for FSC Stara Rise in Czech Republic football - in his own words, “a good experience, it was very physical” - the 26-year-old is happy to be in Cambodia with PPCFC. “As a professional, my best-ever moment was beating Boeungket, I and the team put everything into winning and it was a fantastic feeling. Everyone worked so hard and the voice of our fans was so loud, we have so many supporters and they can make a big difference when they shout for the team.” Comparing Khmer football with the game in Japan, where he played for 4 years with Senshu University and two years with FC Suzuka Rampole, he feels: “Cambodians play with a lot of heart and passion, great intensity and fighting spirit. What they lack, especially our youngsters, is in the physical side of football, but their technique is very good. Svay Rieng are the best team we have played but I really feel PPCFC can be the strongest team this season, though we have to fight hard in every match, like we did against Boeungket.”
Born: 9/July/1990 in Mie Prefecture, Central Japan. Hobbies: Reading, watching movies, eating Japanese food.

Ability to be champions

PPCFC are very pleased to announce the signing of 27-year-old South Korean striker, Gisung Yeon, until the end of the current season. “I’m very happy to join PPCFC, the stadium and pitch are excellent, the team has many fans, the coaching staff are very good and I hope I can bring some stability and encouragement to help the younger players. I think the team has the ability to be champions. I also heard great things about the club from my close friends, Sim and Baek, who used to play here.”
Gisung was born (1/8/89) in Suwon City in South Korea and won the national high school championships with his school in Yongin City, Baekam High School. After 2 years at Honam University in Gwangju, he spent a year with Gyeongnam in the K-League, though his chances were limited so he headed to Thailand. He joined TTM Phichit in the Thai Premier in 2011, scored a hat-trick in one of his first matches, but suffered a dislocated foot, requiring two surgeries, which kept him sidelined for 20 months. He returned in 2013 for a 4-month spell in the Thai Premier with BEC Tero, before a loan spell with PTT Rayong in Division 1 ended with an ACL knee injury. After another long spell out of action, he spent 2015 with Yadanarbon in the Myanmar League, finishing in 2nd place and beaten cup finalists. Last year, he played the second half of the season with Bangkok Christian College in Thai Division 2, scoring 7 goals. Gisung is two-footed – “my right foot is more accurate but my left is more powerful” – and in his spare time he likes to study English. He will wear jersey number 12. 

It was wonderful

Ouk ‘Messi’ Sothy is one of our longest-serving players, with Crown for more than five years, having arrived in November 2011 from Flying Bikes. “I’m happy at PPCFC, it’s the best club in Cambodia and we are developing football the right way in my view. My ambition this year is to put another star on the club badge and to win the Hun Sen Cup for the first time.” Messi, a nickname he picked up as a teenager, won the 2014 Championship with Crown but was forced to sit out the following years’ title success with a debilitating ACL injury he suffered whilst training with the Cambodia national team. “I played two friendly games for Cambodia in 2014 (against Malaysia and Indonesia) and would love another chance, but it’s up to the new coach. Playing for the national team was a dream come true for me, it was wonderful and a real confidence-booster.” He also appeared for the Cambodia Futsal national team. Messi will turn thirty later this year and says of his teammates: “We have a good mix of young and senior players at the club. Our youngsters show great character, a big heart and give 100% and it’s a pleasure to play with them as one of the older heads in the team.” 
Born: 5/Oct/1987 in Phnom Penh. Hobbies: Romantic music and swimming.

The best present

Ahead of Saturday's big match, one player who has been influential at both PPCFC and Boeung Ket is Keo Sokngon. As a teenager he won two League Championships and two Hun Sen Cups with Crown before spending a year in Thailand with Samut Sakhon. In 2012 he returned to Cambodia to join Boeung Ket and win the league title for a third time. He rejoined PPCFC in June 2015 and was part of our Championship-winning team that year, collecting his 4th league winners medal. Add to that 3 MVP awards and many international appearances for the Cambodia National Team and Sokngon's career has been a success story. "It's my birthday on Sunday so I want to give our fans the best present - a victory. These games attract a lot of fans, both teams have had great success and when they meet, it's always a fantastic game for the players and fans, just like the biggest games around the world. I've had good times at both clubs though my dream this season is for PPCFC to be in the top 4 and then win another championship, as well as the Hun Sen Cup, which I believe we can do." When asked to highlight the best moment of his career, Sokngon returns to his youth. "My best memory was when my dream came true and I played for the Cambodia U-17 team in Phnom Penh against Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei and Malaysia and scored 3 goals. It was the start of everything. I will never forget it."

Win over CMAC

Match Report: PPCFC 4 CMAC United 0 (Metfone C-League):
Two goals in each half saw Crown deservedly collect the points tonight at Olympic Stadium. George Bisan headed PPCFC in front with their first real attack, with Keo Sokpheng's center clearing the last man and Bisan directing his header inside the far post on 16 minutes. Sokpheng blasted high after scurrying into the area and another Bisan effort was cleared off the goal-line. Jang In Yong headed over and Bisan was denied with a flying save by the CMAC keeper before Crown scored their second goal ten minutes before the break. Anthony Aymard outjumped the defence and guided his header into the net from Sokpheng's inch-perfect corner.
After the break, Chhom Pisa's snap-shot was cleared off the line before Crown's teenage goalkeeper Keo Soksela foiled CMAC's Va Bottroi on two occasions with fabulous reflex saves. PPCFC continued to spurn good opportunities through Bisan and Sokpheng before Soksela saved at full stretch from Timothy Okereke. Sub Kim Hyeon Woo raced clear from the half-way line only to scuff his shot, and was then tripped as he shaped to shoot, but not in the eyes of the referee. In the final minute and with CMAC visibly tiring, Keo Sokngon and Yeu Muslim set up Bisan for his second headed goal of the game. Three minutes into time added-on, Sokngon released Kim and he drilled the ball in from twelve yards for number four. There was still time for the upright to deny Bisan his hat-trick with the last kick of the game. 4-0 and a job well done.
PPCFC line-up, back row, LtoR: Soksela, Jang, Aymard, Thierry, Bisan, Boris. Front: Chanpolin, Pisa, Makara, Sokpheng, Baraing.

PPCFC head coach Sam Schweingruber's thoughts after yesterday's success over CMAC: "We were hoping to score some goals and keep a clean sheet, so our objectives were achieved. We also expected to dominate the 2nd-half as the other team tired and at the end we should've scored more goals. All in all it was one of those performances where it didn't all go great, we had a few chances, some good moments and I'm happy that we are scoring more goals in the air, three more today, one of the things we talked about - but a few other things we have to do a lot better against Boeungket next week to get a win."

Watch the video highlights from PPCFC's 4-0 success over CMAC at Olympic Stadium on the club's YouTube channel @ https://youtu.be/YQQ81gHNHJw

In the final moments of PPCFC's 4-0 victory over CMAC, Keo Sokngon suffered a leg injury which required him to attend a medical clinic straight from the stadium. We will know more about the extent of the injury tomorrow. We all wish him a speedy recovery.

One of our prize winners from the most recent Facebook competition - to win a PPCFC jersey signed by Keo Sokpheng - was at Olympic Stadium to receive her jersey. Congratulations to Leap Derrella.

Booysen to return

Last season’s joint top goalscorer and fans’ favourite, Shane Booysen, is nearly five months into his rehabilitation after a serious ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) operation. Shane suffered the injury to his knee in the first minute of the match with National Police on 26 February. The operation to both knees took place on 13 April at the Sports Science Institute in Cape Town. One knee incision was to use ligament tissue to repair his ACL on the other knee. Shane had to use a wheelchair and stay off his feet for two weeks before being allowed to use crutches to walk. The doctor allowed him to begin movement exercises five weeks after the operation, which included knee, thigh and hamstring strengthening and cycling in the gym. Whilst the usual recovery period for an ACL can be between 6 and 9 months, it depends on the rehabilitation and the discipline of the player involved. The latest doctor’s report is positive as far as Shane is concerned, though he still has up to four more months of physical therapy work ahead of him. Shane is looking forward to returning to Phnom Penh before the end of this month, and was keen to say a big thank you to his family and friends in his hometown for their support and encouragement, as well as the messages of support that have flooded in from Cambodia while he has been recovering at home. “Being out of action for a whole season is frustrating and to be honest, staying mentally strong and focused isn't easy but with the support of my family things went smoothly and I'm becoming stronger every day. I can't wait to come back and get stronger because I know my role in the team is important, so focusing on next season is my main priority.” Everyone is looking forward to Shane's return to PPCFC. Picture of Shane as he walks out for the National Police match (by Oung Pannhapich).

MCL Fixture changes

Metfone C-League FIXTURE CHANGES:
As we expect a large number of PPCFC's younger players to be involved in the AFF U-19 Youth Championships being held in Vietnam in September, the FFC have agreed for Crown to change their remaining fixtures to the following, which means we will finish more than 2 weeks before everyone else:
Sat 6 Aug vs CMAC @ Olympic Stadium 6pm
Sun 14 Aug vs Boeungket @ Olympic Stadium 6pm ##
Wed 17 Aug vs Western @ RSN Stadium 6pm
Sat 20 Aug vs AEU @ Olympic Stadium 6pm
Wed 24 Aug vs PKR Svay Rieng @ Svay Rieng 6pm ##
(## amended fixtures).
The MCL fixtures are due to be completed on Sat 10 September.
Photo courtesy of Oung Pannhapich.

Comp winners

COMPETITION WINNERS:
We had a FAN-tastic response to our competition to win a signed PPCFC jersey by our trio of Cambodia National Team players - Bin Thierry, Keo Soksela and Keo Sokpheng. Thank you to everyone for joining in the fun.
We have chosen at random 1 winner for each jersey, who they named as their favourite player, and the lucky winners are:
Ve Haa [pictured above] - (Bin Thierry)
Jee Lin - (Keo Soksela - it's his birthday today!)
Leap Derrella - (Keo Sokpheng).
The winners have been invited to collect their prizes from Keo Sokpheng himself at half-time during this evening's MCL match against the Army at RSN Stadium (kick-off 6pm).
Thank you again for supporting PPCFC and Cambodian football. Pictures below by Vandy Snapper.

Results MCL

Sunday and Monday night results from the Metfone C-League. The program has been changed so we are no longer in tandem with round 14 as we should be, primarily as Western were allowed to go to a university tournament in Singapore.
(Sun) National Police 1 (Dina) CMAC 0
(Sun) Boeungket 5 (Kazuki, Bata, Gbenga 2, Vathanaka) Cambodian Tiger 1 (Masato)
(Mon) Nagaworld 5 (Sovannara, Kelechi 2, Omokafe, Manorotin) AEU 1 (Njoku)
(Mon) PPCFC 0 Army 1 (Kim K-H).

Entertainment

A reminder that at tonight's match - PPCFC vs Army, kick-off at 6pm at RSN Stadium - we will welcome many Korean nationals as they celebrate 'Korea Day' at the game. PPCFC's two South Korean players, Jang In Yong and Kim Hyeon Woo, will be joined on the pitch by the quartet of North Korean players in the Army team. Cambodia's Korean community will provide entertainment before the match (a female and male singing & dancing group, Superior F from K've Entertainment), during half-time (an exhibition of Kyeong Mu Do martial arts) as well as providing free samples of sparkling rice wine in a celebration of all-things Korean.
A big thank you to two of our competition winners - Jee Lin (pictured) and Ve Haa - for coming to tonight's match and collecting their prizes, signed PPCFC jerseys, from our suspended striker Keo Sokpheng at half-time. We had a FAN-tastic response to our latest competition and thanks to Sokpheng for joining in the presentation. Watch out for our next competition, coming soon.

Crown gunned down by Army

Match Report: PPCFC 0 Army 1 (Metfone C-League).
Crown suffered a 1-nil defeat in a closely-contested game at RSN Stadium this evening, as Army continued their quest for the title. The goal that separated the teams came on 62 minutes as Kim Kyong Hun, lying on the ground, poked the ball into an empty net after coming off best in a challenge with goalkeeper Keo Soksela. The Crown stopper, on his birthday, pulled off a great 1-handed save from the lively Choe Myong Ho after ten minutes of the game's start. At the other end Kim Hyeon Woo was inches away from sending a header on target but it was the visitors who shaded possession in the first-half and saw drives from Kim and Chreng Polroth just clear the cross-bar.

Crown began the second-half on the offensive as Jang In Yong's low drive was held by goalkeeper Um Vichet, who also grabbed George Bisan's shot on the goal-line, moments after a goal-mouth scramble saw Pov Ponvuthy and Kim Hyeon Woo denied by a wall of Army defenders. Army got their noses in front and Soksela was forced to make fine saves from Reung Bunheing and Choe, as Army stayed firm to take the points and keep their title challenge alive. For Crown, they have five games remaining to improve their league position, which is currently sixth. 
Above: PPCFC line-up, back row, LtoR: Soksela, Kim, Thierry, Aymard, Bisan, Boris. Front: Jang, Makara, Ponvuthy, Baraing, Sodavid.

Head coach Sam Schweingruber gave his view of PPCFC's performance against Army in last night's 1-0 home defeat. "We played a good team who were organised and fit and for most of the game, were as good as us. Even though we are unhappy with the result, its not that we deserved to win the game. I feel we took some risks in our selection and how we wanted to play, and after some changes in the second-half, for the first ten minutes we dominated and had 3 chances that we could've scored. If we had scored, we would've won the game but we couldn't score, and in a pretty even game we unfortunately lost. For the goal I have to look at the replay, it looked touch and go. It reminded me of the goal we conceded against Army in a friendly and I showed that to the team so we didn't concede it again, so I'm obviously disappointed with the goal that decided the game."

The video highlights from PPCFC's 1-0 defeat to Army this evening are on the club's YouTube channel @ https://youtu.be/rXhpeHWEEEA

Birthdays in Augut

August will be a busy month for birthdays amongst the PPCFC playing staff. First, and on the 1st, will be goalkeeper Keo Soksela, who celebrates his 19th birthday on the same day we play Army and having this week been part of the Cambodia NT squad. South Korean import Jang In Yong will be 24 years old on the 5th of the month. The rest of the birthdays belong to our Academy youngsters: 5th - Ky Rina and Chea Chandara; 8th - Kim Chanthy; 11th - Chea Saoyi; 29th - Lim Pisoth; 30th - Tin Ladin. Happy birthday in advance to all of our players with a special day in August, and not forgetting Sin Kakada, who is 16 years old today.

Charity auction

At tonight's Gala Dinner to celebrate the successful conclusion of the IFC International Soccer 9s Tournament, for over-40s, held at RSN Stadium all day today, with 18 teams from 7 countries and over 300 players taking part, a PPCFC jersey signed by the 1st-Team squad was auctioned for an amazing US$7,200 with the proceeds going to charity. 
Kantha Bopha Children's Hospital was the tournament's chosen charity and a fabulous total of over US$70,000 was raised. A gift by the organisers to Rithy Samnang, the Crown President, of a Michael Owen-signed jersey was generously handed back for auction and raised no less than US$20,000. The veterans tournament was won by the Century Lucky Star team from China. Congratulations to the International Football Club of Kuala Lumpur on a very successful tournament and a large sum of money raised for the children of Cambodia.

PPCFC head coach speaks ahead of Monday's big clash at RSN Stadium with Army.
https://www.facebook.com/PhnomPenhCrownFC/videos/1316456585048529/

Balmy effect

The PPCFC squad are pictured before today's training session at RSN Stadium with supplies of Neotica Balm for the relief of muscular aches and pains. Thanks to the Thainakorn Patana Company for their support to PPCFC. In the gym before training begins are Anthony Aymard and George Bisan, putting in some additional hard work on weights. Most of the squad will be heading to Olympic Stadium after training to watch the Cambodia vs Singapore international friendly, to show their support for the national team and their three colleagues in the squad, Thierry, Sokpheng and Soksela.

Torrential rain, a delayed kick-off and even going down to 10-men after a red card didn't stop the Cambodia national team from recording a hard-earned 2-1 victory over visiting Singapore at the National Olympic Stadium in tonight's international friendly match. Chan Vathanaka and Tit Dina scored the goals in the first-half, with PPCFC's Keo Sokpheng in the starting line-up. Bin Thierry and Keo Soksela were unused substitutes. 

Korea Day

The PPCFC vs Army match on Monday evening (1 August), kick-off at 6pm at RSN Stadium, will see an influx of Korean nationals at the match as they celebrate 'Korea Day' at the game. PPCFC's two South Korean players, Jang In Yong and Kim Hyeon Woo, will be joined on the pitch by the quartet of North Korean players in the Army line-up. The Korean community in Phnom Penh will provide entertainment before the match (a female singing & dancing group, Superior F from K've Entertainment), during half-time (an exhibition of Kyeong Mu Do martial arts) as well as providing free samples of sparkling rice wine in a celebration of all-things Korean.

In the Vietnamese news

PPCFC are in the Vietnamese media at Bongda @ http://www.bongda.com.vn/chuyen-chua-ke-ve-hlv-phnom-penh-crown-bi-de-doa-thu-tieu-p2-d353723.html
and @ http://www.bongda.com.vn/chuyen-chua-ke-ve-clb-danh-gia-nhat-vuong-quoc-campuchia-phan-i-d353673.html
Their reporters visited RSN Stadium whilst they were in Phnom Penh reporting on the recent AFF U-16 Youth Championships.

Sam on NT win

Head coach Sam Schweingruber's views on his team's 3-2 success against the Cambodia National Team last night. "The objectives are always different for friendly games than when league points are at stake. We were hoping to be more compact and to press at certain times. It didn't happen often enough - we want to get into the habit as when we did it, we did it well. It was a topic in training this week. And we scored 3 goals so that's good.
In the first-half we were a bit intimidated to start with, not good enough in possession, though it was an amazing headed goal, beautiful, as we had hardly any chances the whole half. I expected better. And a very disappointing goal to concede at the start of the second-half, but it happens at all levels. I was pleased with our response, we had chances in the air, we scored three headed goals and I'm satisfied that what we wanted to happen, worked against good opposition." In the picture, Sam speaks to his players at the final whistle.
Watch the video highlights from PPCFC's 3-2 victory over the Cambodia National Team at RSN Stadium on the club's YouTube channel @https://youtu.be/Zs7XfWxaKyE

Competition winners

Three of our ACADEMY 5 competition winners - Heng Sophanith, Kosol Naro Lan and Nova SilentZz - receiving their signed PPCFC jerseys from our Academy players - Yue Safy, Mao Piseth, Sin Kakada and Yet Chetra - who represented the Cambodia U-16 national team with such distinction during the recent AFF Smart U-16 Championships. They received their prizes at half-time during Crown's 3-2 win over the Cambodia National Team yesterday. Thanks to everyone who joined in the competition, and if you didn't win, try again as we will have more opportunities in the near future.

On opposing sides

Teammates on opposing sides as Kok Boris and Bin Thierry captained their respective teams in yesterday's encounter at RSN Stadium. Both players have made the journey from France to play in Cambodia at the highest level and as comrades-in-arms in winning the Championship together for PPCFC, but it was Boris who will have the bragging rights for the next few weeks, after Crown's 3-2 victory in the friendly practice match.