The Booth Phenomenon

Working his magic, David Booth talks to his players before last night's victory over Yadanarbon

Getting inside the heads of footballers is every coach's aim. If he can get them to play the way he wants them to play and to believe in his system, then that's as good as it gets. If that system and style of play works, the team keeps winning and the players see the benefits of following their coach's advice and instructions, then everyone is a winner. Since his arrival at Phnom Penh Crown at the end of June, David Booth hasn't tried to change everything at once, he's worked on the basics starting with a strong defence and asked his players to pass and move, accentuated the positives and coaxed them onto his wavelength in how the game should be played. Following his advice, the Crown team registered eight wins and a draw to capture the Cambodian League championship. But that success wasn't enough for David Booth and his team. The final stage of the AFC President's Cup was approaching and he, and they knew, a step up in their level of performance would be required to have any chance of success in this higher standard of international competition. Having already experienced winning the domestic title by following his instructions, the Crown players are now totally sold on the coach's advice and their desire to attain even more success has been evident throughout their time here in Taiwan. You play football to enjoy it, and winning makes it even more enjoyable. If you develop a winning habit and you succeed against higher-ranked teams, the belief in yourself, the team and your coach gathers even greater momentum and that's where Crown find themselves at this minute. They believe they can win because they believe in their coach and themselves. This is a completely new phenomenon for Cambodian players, something they've never experienced before, this is The Booth Phenomenon. Ask any one of the Crown squad and they will tell you they have never been in this situation before. They are pinching themselves to make sure it's real. This is a different level for all of them...and they are loving every minute of it. Of course, they now have to go on to win in Sunday's final to really make the grade but everything that their coach has asked them to do, they have done, so who's going to argue that they can't continue that trend. If they believe it, it will happen.

Crown carry onto final

The Crown starting XI. Back Row LtoR: Tiny, Njoku, Sopanha, Sovannrithy, Obadin, Bunchhay. Front Row: Borey, Narith, Chaya, Sokumpheak, Sothearith

Phnom Penh Crown took Cambodian football to new heights tonight by securing a place in the AFC President's Cup Final on Sunday, with a 4-0 thrashing of last year's cup winners, Yadanarbon, the champions of Myanmar. Leading 3-0 by the interval, Crown had to withstand some pressure from the cup holders in the 2nd half but weathered the storm and netted a beautifully worked counter-attack goal to seal the win and celebrate reaching their first AFC cup final. Head coach David Booth kept the same starting line-up for the 2nd successive cup game and Crown quickly got into their stride. Khim Borey jumped well but sent his header over the top from Kingsley Njoku's right-wing cross after two minutes and just a minute later, it was the Nigerian hitman who was celebrating his 2nd goal in as many games, taking a Borey pass in his stride and slipping his shot wide of the advancing goalkeeper. Njoku had a perfect opportunity to add to his tally with just eight minutes gone, when Chan Chaya was felled out wide by goalkeeper Zaw Naing. However, his well-struck spot-kick hit the foot of the left-hand upright and bounced into the arms of the grateful keeper. On 15 minutes, a rehearsed corner kick routine allowed Njoku a free header at the far post but his effort bounced tantalizingly across the face of goal and wide. Njoku was on fire and sent a looping header into the keeper's hands before working his way along the bye-line, only for a defender to block his low drive. Borey went very close with two more efforts, one a near post header from Sun Sopanha's corner, before a touch of Kouch Sokumpheak magic gave Crown their 2nd goal. Winning a tackle thirty yards out, he sped towards the penalty box and with three defenders converging on him, he took aim and found the corner of the net from the edge of the area. Just before the half-hour mark, Peng Bunchhay was called into action twice, pushing a shot over the top and then producing a superb one-handed stop from Dway Chit's goal-bound header. Chaya fed Sokumpheak and as he raced towards the box, he was felled by Hein Zaw a yard from the area. Sun Sopanha stepped up and aimed his free-kick, low and hard, into the bottom right-hand corner for Crown's third goal on 32 minutes. It was just getting better and better. Bunchhay had to clear up two more attempts on goal from Yadanarbon but it was Sokumpheak who had the best sight of goal, after Njoku had chased, and won, a Tieng Tiny punt forwards and fed his strike partner 15 yards out. On this occasion, Sokumpheak was off-target with his fierce drive.

As expected, after the half-time break, Yadanarbon came out fighting but found Bunchhay in top form between the Crown posts or their own shooting was wayward at the crucial moment. Five minutes in and Bunchhay stopped Htoo Aung's shot with one-hand, whilst That Naing and Pai Soe volleyed over the crossbar. At the other end, Chaya was denied by a feet-first tackle by keeper Zaw Naing and then Odion Obadin fired wide after a corner fell to him. On the hour, Sokumpheak looked to have added another but Zaw Naing made a full-length diving save after Sopanha had cleverly set up his teammate. The Burmese team continued to press and Bunchhay got his fingertips to a long-range Aung Moe drive and then did even better to deny a certain goal for substitute Khin Maung Tun, with Sun Sovannrithy also blocking a Pai Soe effort on its way to goal. With seven minutes remaining, Crown broke out of their half with pace and purpose as Sokumpheak and Njoku exchanged neat passes before the latter was left with space to whip his shot past Zaw Naing and book Crown's place in the AFC President's Cup final. There was still time for Bunchhay to thwart two more Yadanarbon efforts and for Tun to blast a 20-yard effort against the cross-bar, as well as Arkar Naing to see a straight red for a whack on Njoku's legs with a minute to go. Crown celebrated their success at the final whistle and now have until Sunday to focus on what they need to do to continue the hunt for their first AFC silverware.
Crown's line-up: Bunchhay, Sovannrithy, Sothearith, Tiny, Obadin, Narith, Sopanha, Borey, Chaya, Njoku (S Pheng 92), Sokumpheak. Subs not used: Visokra, Dara, Vanthan, Sovan, Sophanal, Sophat, Virak, Ratana, H Pheng. Bookings: Borey. Attendance: 422.

The Crown bench moments before kick-off

The teams line-up before entering the field of play

The Yadanarbon starting line-up, who were 3-nil down by half-time

Kingsley Njoku's unsuccessful 8th minute penalty kick

David Booth tries to keep his team's feet on the ground at half-time

The Crown players pay their respects to their beaten opponents

The winning Crown head coach David Booth at the post-match press conference

Hail the heroes

Hail the heroes of Phnom Penh Crown, who literally tore the heart out of last year's AFC President's Cup winners Yadanarbon in the 1st half of tonight's game, leading 3-nil, finally emerging 4-0 winners and securing their place in Sunday's cup final. Kingsley Njoku with two goals, Kouch Sokumpheak and Sun Sopanha scored the goals but it was the whole team who deserve the kudos for an outstanding performance that will rank as one of the most remarkable successes in the club's history. Crown now move onto the competition final, on Sunday 25th at 6pm Cambodian-time, and will know their opponents after the final group matches on Friday. They have already made history by getting to the final, but as coach David Booth said at his after-match press conference; "Now we've got to win it." Match report later.

Crown posters update

Khim Borey - who's wearing no. 27 in this competition

More Phnom Penh Crown posters. Click to enlarge.

Kouch Sokumpheak and Khim Borey

Together We Are Invincible

Chan Chaya

Parting shot

A training session under floodlights at the Fengshan stadium tonight

The Phnom Penh Crown squad of players were able to relax for much of today after yesterday's tough opening game. Besides a mid-day team meeting and breakfast and lunch, the players did their own thing until a 6pm departure for training under floodlights at the Fengshan stadium, where the host team Taiwan Power Company usually play their matches, in an 18,000 capacity arena. Stretching, passing and a bit of fitness work for 45 minutes was enough for David Booth and his team, with some more stretches scheduled for tomorrow morning and then relaxing before the evening kick-off here in Kaohsiung at 7pm tomorrow, against the reigning cup holders Yadanarbon from Myanmar. Obviously, it doesn't take a genius to work out that this game is crucial to Crown's hopes to make the final of the AFC President's Cup. Yadanarbon have been kicking their heels in the Garden Villa Hotel for five days by the time they walk onto the pitch tomorrow night and a lot will depend on how they react to the task in hand. Crown have an advantage as they've played already, and have a win under their belts, though the Burmese were watching the game against Neftchi very closely, so they have an advantage in seeing Crown in action. The teams have never met before, though David Booth has coached the Myanmar national team, that contained five of the Yadanarbon team, so he has knowledge, and respect, for how well Burmese teams can play. They won the cup in their own backyard last season, defeating the experienced Dordoi in extra time 1-0, though they face Crown without their leading goalscorer Yan Paing, who is suspended. It's impossible to call this one, though Crown have the bit between their teeth after the Neftchi success and will give it their all for 90 minutes.

A mid-day team meeting in the head coach's hotel bedroom

Crown coach David Booth at yesterday's after-match press conference

Final words from Crown coach David Booth after yesterday's 2-1 win over Neftchi

The rain coming down heavily for the Taiwan Power v Istiklol game yesterday evening

More fans please

Crown coach David Booth congratulates Sun Sopanha and Khim Borey on being selected for dope testing

The official attendance at our game yesterday was 118. How sad that a game of this stature can only attract a handful of spectators. When the home team, Taiwan Power Comapny played at 7pm - albeit under very wet and rainy conditions - only 1,400 people turned up to watch. In a stadium holding at least 40,000 that's a bit embarrassing. Taiwan were awarded this competition by the AFC and I understand that entry to the games is free if you get a ticket beforehand, so I would expect many more spectators than what we've seen so far. Phnom Penh Crown wanted to host the final stage but were overlooked, which is a pity as we would've had thousands of fans inside the Olympic Stadium for the matches. here are some more pictures from yesterday's match. In the 2nd game last night, Taiwan Power beat Istiklol 2-0 on a waterlogged pitch which made it anyone's game and the home team got through on desire and adrenaline alone.

Kouch Sokumpheak was vomiting at half-time but still completed 90 minutes

That's Peng Bunchhay flat-out in injury-time on the stadium's massive screen

Though they look like ants, that's San Narith's unsuccessful penalty just before half-time

The Crown bench just before kick-off

Thul Sothearith leads out the Crown team in red & black

More words of wisdom from head coach David Booth and his assistant Bouy Dary

Peng Bunchhay in his dressing-room cubicle before he got a knee to his temple at the end of the game

Dressing-room pep-talk from coach David Booth

Pre-match warm-up for Chan Chay and Kouch Sokumpheak

Whatever Kingsley Njoku was looking for, he got it with the 1st goal, a sublime chip from 20 yards

Pre-match warming-up session on the stadium pitch

Crown president, Rithy Samnang, his wife and supporters in the VIP area

Getting the mind right

Crown head coach David Booth

With the excitement of yesterday's 2-1 victory over Neftchi still giving everyone in the Phnom Penh Crown party a warm glow this morning, here's a few things that head coach David Booth said to the players in their mid-day pre-match team meeting yesterday. These aren't trade secrets but part of the motivation that the English coach has used successfully since he came to manage the Crown team in July. I've picked out just a few of his comments.
"We have to play differently from how we play in the Cambodian League, this is international competition and we have to step up to that level... We mustn't allow them to play, we must fight them, fight for everything, we cannot let them control the game... They are not special at all, they make mistakes and they can be beaten. I know we can play quick and hurt them. When we have the ball, everyone must move forwards as a team. Don't slow the game down. We have a big advantage - the speed in our team. With this we can succeed... You don't get chances like this too often... but in the few months that I've been here, I've seen something in you. You've always performed for me. I have a high regard for the work you've put in. You are special because you know you are trying to get better. Sometimes talking is as important as training and fitness - what goes on in your head is important too. If we can think and play at the same time, we will have the advantage over others... If you get your mind right, you can beat this team. We can pass better than this team, we have more speed, we have more movement and we have better discipline. We have 1 chance only... work for the team, play for the team, support each other... I want you to go back to Cambodia and let everyone understand what we have done. It's time to go back to Cambodia and hold you head up high."

The players responded and performed to a level that was good enough to beat an experienced eastern European team like Neftchi, and with something in reserve. Sun Sopanha said after the game; "we never do this before, we never beat a team like this, we always lose but now we can win. I've never known this from a Cambodian team. It makes me so proud." At today's twenty minute mid-day team meeting, the head coach continued. "Last night you proved you can play at this level and win at this level. It was a true team performance. You beat the favourites for the competition... In the 9 games in the Cambodian League, you did what I asked you to do. Against the national team in two matches you did the same. Yesterday, you raised your standard and did exactly what I asked you to do... I think you can do more. I saw in you the pride, the determination, the winning mentality... I want you to show that you can move up the next level; work for the team, work for each other and work together."

Crown triumph

The Crown starting line-up. Back Row LtoR: Sovannrithy, Obadin, Tiny, Sopanha, Njoku, Bunchhay. Front Row: Narith, Sokumpheak, Chaya, Borey, Sothearith

It doesn't happen often but when it does, it's worth crowing about. Phnom Penh Crown beat Netfchi from Kyrgyzstan 2-1 this afternoon in their first Group B match of the final stage of the AFC President's Cup, here in Kaohsiung, in southern Taiwan. That's a very rare away win for any Cambodian team but in this particular case, it's a Crown team who are really believing in themselves and going from strength to strength under the leadership of head coach David Booth. And to be honest they should've made it even easier on themselves. With that win, they now have a great opportunity to progress to the final, if they can offer up a repeat or better showing on Wednesday, when they meet Yadanarbon, the reigning cup holders. However, the Crown coach wasn't over the moon with what he'd just witnessed. "Up until the last 10-15 minutes, we played well, we created lots of chances, good chances. However, I wasn't happy after half-time. I wasn't impressed in the 2nd half, as we didn't play the football I wanted us to play and we panicked in the last ten minutes - there was no need for it. It's a new experience for us to be winning towards the end of the game at this level of football. We need to address that. It's a big learning process for my young players. The last ten minutes took the gloss of the rest of the performance." David Booth is a hard man to please, and rightly so after his team came close to undermining all of their own hard work. With Neftchi reduced to nine men and four minutes of injury time ticking down, it needed a full-length fingertip save by Peng Bunchhay, diving to his right side, to keep out a low shot from Mamatov Bakytbek with Bunchhay getting a knee in the head for his troubles in the ensuing melee. Why the coach was unhappy is that he felt Crown had failed to capitalize on a handful of earlier chances.

Neftchi began the game with a couple of half chances including a break into the box by Tarasov Vadym though he fired weakly into the side netting. A scissor-kick by Kouch Sokumpheak fizzed inches over the cross-bar from Sun Sopanha's corner on 17 minutes but the game remained tight with chances at a premium. Neftchi picked up a couple of bookings for late tackles and were happy to hit the long ball to their front players rather than work it through the midfield. On 28 minutes Chan Chaya raced through and went down under the challenge of Neftchi goalkeeper Dzhalilov Zakir but instead of pointing to the spot, the referee acknowledged the raised flag of the linesman for offside. Next it was Crown's turn to look concerned when Orozaliev Aibek had space on the edge of the box and as he fired in his shot, Sokumpheak came out of nowhere to block his drive. Then on 34 minutes, Kingsley Njoku broke the deadlock. The ball broke in the center and Chaya slipped a pass into the path of the Nigerian striker who raced clear of the backline and produced a deft chip from twenty yards out as the keeper came to meet him. Five minutes later and Njoku had laid the perfect pass to Sokumpheak but his low drive found Zakir in top form to push his effort aside. With three minutes of the first half remaining, Bunchhay in the Crown goal was called on to spread himself to deny Askarov Sardorbek's well-hit shot with Odion Obadin then getting in a timely block to thwart Pavlov Pavel at the far post. Neftchi were reduced to ten men with a minute to go when Sardorbek's vicious kick at San Narith was deemed worthy of a straight red card by South Korean referee Kim Jong Hyeok. In time added on, Crown should've extended their lead after Njoku had chased down a long ball, rounded the keeper and been bundled over by Rakhmanjonov Ahrorjon in the box. San Narith took the spot-kick but Zakir dived to his right and saved, with the last kick of the half.

Kinglsey Njoku produced an explosive run three minutes after the break that needed another Zakir save to deny him, after the Crown strongman had swerved past three defenders and sent in a 25-yard rasping effort. Crown made their numerical advantage pay on 56 minutes as Sun Sopanha surged forward and split the defence with a superbly weighted pass for Chan Chaya to run onto, keep his cool, and lift the ball over the keeper's onrushing body. Chaya sank to his knees in celebration. With lots of room to exploit, Chaya was away again but was thwarted after a linesman flagged for a foul that only he saw. Crown received a wake-up call with ten minutes to go, as Peng Bunchhay parried a shot only for substitute Alimove Iliaz to nip in and score. Neftchi's cause wasn't helped by a second yellow and a red card for Aibek after a very poor tackle on Khim Borey with 84 minutes gone. In the final minute of normal time, two Crown substitutes Sok Sovan and Sok Pheng linked up to put in Sokumpheak but Zakir was alert and blocked his goal-bound effort. And then that last-gasp Bunchhay save meant Crown had held onto win and head to their second match on Wednesday in very good spirits.

Coach David Booth looked ahead to his team's second match against Yadanarbon. "In any competition where you put yourselves in a good position, we need to carry on and get a good result on Wednesday. The Myanmar team are a strong team. I know 4 or 5 of their players from my days as national coach and they will play fast and furious and are much more experienced than us. To be frank they will be much stronger than my team. But my team is improving every week, so it'll be a good game for us to have. If we show the same spirit, we can do well. We will always make chances because we have good speed in our team." There were muted celebrations from the players with the realization that the task was half complete, with Sun Sopanha and Khim Borey selected for random dope testing and disappearing at the final whistle. Both had to stay behind at the stadium whilst the rest of their teammates went off to eat dinner back at their hotel, with a big smile on their faces.
PPCFC line-up: Bunchhay, Sovannrithy, Sothearith (Sovan 85), Tiny, Obadin, Narith, Sopanha, Borey, Chaya (Ratana 78), Sokumpheak, Njoku (S Pheng 77). Subs not used. Visokra, Dara, Sophanal, Vanthan, Virak, Sophat, H Pheng. Bookings: none.

The experienced Neftchi line-up who went down 2-1 to Crown

Peng Bunchhay gets ice treatment to his head at the final whistle

The view from the Crown dug-out with 5 minutes to go

The dressing room team-talk by coach David Booth (dark blue)

Frayed nerves

My nerves are completely frayed. I watched most of the game from the press box trying to keep the Phnom Penh Crown facebook page updated with all the action but my lap-top battery died on me, so for the last ten minutes I went and sat in the Crown dugout at the side of the pitch. Don't worry, as press officer I have that privilege. But it was even worse sat on the bench as the team went through the nervous nineties and into time added on. A head injury to Peng Bunchhay added a bit more time on until the South Korean referee blew his whistle and we could all relax. We'd achieved what few Cambodian teams do, we'd won away from home in the final stage of a major cup competition and have given ourselves a great opportunity to get through to the final. But the job is half done. We now face the reigning cup winners from Burma, so we have to go through it all again on Wednesday. I don't think my nerves can take much more. Match report to follow.

Ingenuity called for

The hastily-updated playing jersey for Khim Borey

Things never quite go as smoothly as you wish, do they. Phnom Penh Crown believed they'd submitted their playing list a while ago to the suits at the AFC, ahead of the AFC President's Cup final stage. Yesterday at training, it transpired that the AFC had Khim Borey listed as jersey number 27, instead of the number 7 that he always wears. Somewhere amongst the emails back and forth, something had got lost in translation. Despite pleading, the AFC refused to budge, so it was time for a bit of ingenuity on the part of the assistant coaches. With the sports shops closed and no jersey numbers available, white spray paint was purchased and a number template fashioned. Cue the spray paint artwork. You can see the result in the photo above. Not perfect by any means but it'll have to do in the circumstances. Just to compound the problem, the firm that affixed the numbers and names in Phnom Penh had spelt his name incorrectly as well, so he's now Khim Burey!
Dope tests are an important feature of key competitions like the AFC President's Cup. Forms have to be filled in for all teams, showing what medicines players are taking up to 72 hours before the game, any vitamins and so on. A failure to report this properly can land a club in hot water. Two players from each team will be selected to undergo doping tests immediately after each game, which means providing a urine sample. This can take a while as the players have sweated out most of the excess fluids in their bodies and it's been known for some players to wait two hours or more before they can provide the sample. Detailed forms also have to be completed for all injuries and illnesses picked up in training and competition. Peng Bunchhay and Sok Sovan reported feeling a bit feverish last night but were fine today at breakfast. So Crown have a clean bill of health going into this afternoon's match.

At the stadium

Final words from Crown coach David Booth at the end of their training session

More photos from the training session by Phnom Penh Crown on the almost perfect playing surface at the Kaohsiung national stadium in southern Taiwan (or Chinese Taipei to be politically correct). All six teams were allowed a 1-hour session prior to their first games. The stadium was built in 2009 with over 8,800 solar panels on the roof, the first of its kind, and covers an area of 19 hectares. Construction took two years ahead of the World Games held two years ago.

This is the open-ended part of the stadium with the giant scoreboard

Assistant coach Prak Vanny with his two goalkeepers

Stretching exercises under the watchful eye of David Booth

Crown prepare pitchside for their training session

Kaohsiung national stadium - a horseshoe-shaped steel-rod structure with a roof covered with solar panels

The impressive sweep of the stadium's seating area

The stadium’s unique, semi-spiral shape imitates a dragon

Another view of the national stadium in Kaohsiung

The outside entranceway at the national stadium

My friend is my enemy

David Booth, the Crown coach, getting his players into the right frame of mind

A pep-talk from the Crown coach, David Booth, to his players at the national stadium

We had some fun and games at the national stadium this afternoon. A couple of hours earlier, at the press conference for the AFC President's Cup, the Neftchi coach had been very complimentary about Phnom Penh Crown, saying how well they'd hosted the qualifying stage and how strong Crown were as a team. He was then seen in the stands watching Crown's private training session on the main pitch and was asked to leave the arena by the AFC officials. Crown meet Neftchi from Kyrgyzstan in the first game of the final stages tomorrow at 4pm local time. However friendly the teams are off the pitch, and the relationship between Crown and Neftchi is based on mutual respect, when it comes to the actual competition, your best friend becomes your enemy. Crown coach David Booth announced himself happy with his team's 1-hour training session on the excellent stadium surface. "I was pleased with that session. We looked sharp, quick and hungry. We have the chance to make history tomorrow and that's what I've told the players. It's their time." It was the first look at the pitch for the players and staff at the 40,000-seater stadium, built in 2009 for the World Games. With a running track around it, and its futuristic ceiling cover which actually contains thousands of solar panels to capture the sun's energy, the stadium is pretty impressive in size and design.

At the earlier 2pm press conference at the Garden Villa Hotel, the coaches and team captains from the Group B teams, which are Crown, Neftchi and Yadanarbon faced the press. David Booth said; "We have a chance to promote Cambodian football, we are fortunate to be in this position, it doesn't happen too often. Cambodian teams are not renowned for travelling well outside Cambodia, we want to change that - though we know it will be very difficult. We know Neftchi are strong, we saw that in the qualifying round. Myanmar have the experience and are the team to beat, though all three teams have prepared properly and will want to put on a good exhibition for the competition. We are up against it a little bit, but that brings out the fight in you and I want that from my players. We want to raise the bar for Cambodia." Crown skipper Thul Sothearith also spoke; "Thank you to the AFC and local organizing committee for the warm welcome we've been given. We know we will play against very strong teams but we have prepared very well and we will try our hardest to do well for ourselves and for Cambodia." The coach for Yadanarbon tried to play down his teams chances saying; "We are the defending champions, but I don't believe we have any advantage. All teams at this stage of the competition are difficult to play and we have studied our opponents beforehand." In the press conference for the Group A teams, the host team, Taiwan Power Company and their coach came out fighting, rejecting suggestions that his team lacked stamina or competitiveness. "We have a special training programme for our players, we will have the same stamina as everyone else and I will make them focus for the whole game, from the first to the last minute. I have no foreign players, nine national players but our playing style is a secret. We believe we can win this tournament, we are in front of our own fans and most important, we can show the Taiwanese spirit to the whole world." One piece of good news for Crown was that Yadanarbon's hotshot striker Yan Paing will miss the game against Crown on Wednesday after picking up two yellow cards in the qualifying stages. He must serve his 1-match suspension in the first game of the final round. Paing is the Myanmar national team's main striker and scored in all three games of the qualifying competition. He also made his U-23 debut for his country when David Booth was Myanmar's national team coach, so the two know each other well.

Crown skipper Thul Sothearith and coach David Booth at today's press conference

The six coaches from the 6 teams in the AFC President's Cup final stages

The coaches and captains from the three Group B teams

This is the trophy that everyone wants to win

A street sign advertising the AFC President's Cup final stage