Monday, November 22, 2010

Cup roster

The registration deadline for clubs entering the Hun Sen Cup has now passed. Even though the competition doesn't begin until the 2nd week of January 2011, the FFC have demanded that all clubs submit their player rosters, which is a pain for each team as there's still a month and a half to go until the cup matches begin. It also means that players who haven't yet hooked up with a club will not be able to play in the Khmer-only pre-season cup competition.
Phnom Penh Crown
have submitted their list and it contains the following players:
Peng Bunchhay, Hong Visokra, Nim Bunna, Chan Dara, Thul Sothearith, Tieng Tiny, Soeng Vanthan, Sok Sovan, San Narith, Sun Sopanha, Tes Sophat, Hong Ratana, Phoung Narong, Chim Rathanak, Chea Virath, Khim Borey, Kouch Sokumpheak, Chan Chhaya, Sok Pheng, Suong Virak.
There are no foreign players on the roster as the competition is for Khmer players only. You may notice that two regular names from last season are not in the listing, namely Keo Sokngorn and Srey Veasna. Both players came to the end of their contract after the end of last season and have decided to ply their trade elsewhere in the coming season. Srey Veasna was last seen heading to Thailand whilst Sokngorn may be playing for his hometown team Kratie, if rumours are to be believed. Also on the move in the break were Crown's foreign trio from last season, Uche Prince Justine, Oscar Mpoko and Friday Nwakuna. It looks like all three of them will be playing overseas next year.
I've also heard that the Cambodia national team are planning on getting their squad together for a month leading up to the end of the year, ahead of their AFC Challenge Cup qualification round matches against Macau, home and away, on 9 and 16 February 2011. I believe the intention is to play a series of friendly games against the C-League club teams, who are currently in training for the Hun Sen Cup competition. There's definitely a conflict of interests here as on the one hand, the clubs will want a full pre-season together for their players to gel ahead of the start of the Hun Sen Cup, whilst the national team coach Lee Tae-Hoon wants the league's best players in camp, gearing themselves up to face Macau. Phnom Penh Crown for example had six players in the last international line-up against the Philippines, whilst PKR had five. Something will have to give.

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