Bangkok line-ups

PPCFC v Nonthaburi FC; [Back row LtoR] Narong, Sopanha, Bunchhay, Vanthan, Sothearith, Pheng [Front row] Tiny, Narith, Chaya, Sokumpheak, Borey.

I didn't manage to make it over to Bangkok for the two friendly matches played by Phnom Penh Crown against Thai opponents, but here are the two starting line-ups for Crown from the two games. I spoke to coach Bojan Hodak today and he was pleased with the application and effort from his team in both games, Crown having the majority of possession and they played the ball around confidently. Their finishing was on song in the first game, which they won 5-1, but was a bit awry in the second match, a 3-1 defeat. Some training ground maneuvers paid off and as a bonding session, the trip was a great success. Unfortunately, the two Nigerian players were unable to make the trip, so the all-Khmer line-up was able to use the games as a pre-cursor to their Hun Sen Cup matches that begin in Kompong Thom on 7 January. Crown have been unable to fix a game against the North Korean Olympic team that is training at Cheng Meng at the moment, so will concentrate on doing their own thing before heading for Kompong Thom the day before their first game. Hodak will not be present for the club's three Group D matches in the province as he is returning to his Croatian homeland to undergo part of his UEFA ‘Pro’ coaching license. The qualification, which is aimed at the elite band of football coaches in Europe, can take a couple of years to complete and consists of a minimum of 240 hours, of which 90 hours are practical. Hodak will have to join residential courses and gain competence in modules such as mental preparation, fitness and conditioning, sports medicine, business management, ethics and code of conduct, contracts and agents, as well as the media and technology. However, his visit is a short-term one and he will be back in Phnom Penh in the middle of January.

PPCFC v Osotspa M-150 Saraburi; [Back row, LtoR] Dara, Tiny, Pheng, Visokra, Sopanha, Narong [Front row] Narith, Chaya, Sokumpheak, Borey, Sothearith.