Looking ahead

The weekend is coming up fast and whilst Saturday's games don't exactly set the world alight, Sunday's Metfone C-League matches look much more interesting. Game of the weekend is definitely the top of the table meeting between Phnom Penh Crown and the Army. Both have gone off the boil a bit in the last couple of weeks and will be looking to stake a degree of authority over the other by winning the 2.30pm kick-off fixture on Sunday. Who would I put my money on? - I'd have to go for the greater experience of Crown, though my heart says the Army. However, the military management team have a habit of chopping and changing their line-up and that could work against them, in not having a settled side. Surprise package BBU could do it again when they face Preah Khan Reach, who haven't really got going yet this season, though saying that they have netted five goals in each of their last 2 matches. BBU are coming off the back of a draw against Crown and a win over the Army, so they are in confident mood coming into Sunday's game. Saturday's fixtures pitch Prek Pra against Khemara, whilst Wat Phnom will find it hard to overcome Kirivong.

Naga Corp are currently absent from C-League action as they are taking part in the AFC President's Cup in Myanmar. They lost their opening game against Pakistan's KRL (Khan Research Laboratories) side 2-1, with Chin Chum levelling an early opener before they fell to the winner on the half hour. The Sri Lankan team Renown Sports Club proved an easier nut to crack on Wednesday and Teab Vatanak showed he can score against foreign opposition with a neat first half hour hat-trick. Naga won 4-2 with Chhim Sambo rounding it off in the last minute. If they beat Tajikistan's FC Vakhsh in today's game they will qualify for the next round. Ung Chamroeun from the Phnom Penh Post sports team is over in Burma covering the games. Nice gig if you can get it. Eleven clubs are vying for four spots in the tournament proper. The top clubs from each group, Naga are in Group B, and the best runners-up will advance to the competition's finals, which are scheduled to take place in September. This is the third tier of Asian club competitions, with the higher-graded clubs playing in the top tier of the AFC Champions League, followed by the AFC Cup. Clubs from countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei and Turkmenistan are also taking part in the President's Cup. Update: Naga went down 3-0 against FC Vakhsh on Friday and are now on their way home.