Thursday, June 23, 2011

A wide berth

The Cambodian national team meet Laos in a FIFA World Cup 1st qualifying match next Wednesday, less than a week away. That's right, the World Cup, the most important competition for any international team on the planet. But not in the eyes of the Cambodian football federation and their South Korean coach. In their preparation they have played the Malaysian U-23 Olympic team. Yes, you are not mistaken, one meaningless friendly. Today they play their second, even more meaningless practice match, against a team from one of the provinces in the Mekong Delta. Does it get any more piss-poor than this? The contempt for the country's football fans who would dearly love to see Cambodia win World Cup matches is shocking. Instead of pitting themselves against some of the region's international teams or even top quality club opposition in Thailand, Singapore or Vietnam, the federation have got a game against a Vietnamese 1st Division team. And in the run-up to the game, there is total confusion about the correct name of the opposition. I wouldn't be surprised if a local pub team turns up for the game, still pissed from the night before. It's that level of pathetic arrangements that are the hallmark of the federation. There has been confusion about whether it's the Kien Giang provinicial U-23 team, or Kien Giang FC (no such team exists) or Kienlongbank Kien Giang, who are the most likely opponents, as they are on a mid-season break from their Division 1 duties. Whoever it is, it's effectively scraping the barrel type preparation for the national team ahead of their World Cup double-header but it's in line with the thinking process of the South Korean Coach of the Cambodian team, Lee Tae-Hoon, who couldn't care less about the World Cup. He will tell anyone who asks him that his focus is on the SEA Games in November. Beating Laos over the home and away legs and going onto meet China in the World Cup doesn't interest him. Whatever the focus, a game against a minor team from the Mekong Delta isn't something that will get my juices flowing, so I'll give today's game a wide berth. Added to that, no Phnom Penh Crown players will be appearing either (so I was told). I've much more important things to do. I'll bring you the result later, but does anyone really care?
Postscript;
Well, at least the Cambodian national team didn't lose in their practice match against the visiting team from the Vietnamese 2nd tier of football from Kien Giang province. Tum Saray scored twice before the visitors got one back. Chin Chhoeurn netted just before the break and them Phuong Soksana and Sam El Nasa wrapped up a 5-1 win. A little bird tells me that the four Crown players in the national squad played a part in the game, when I was informed they would be rested ahead of our important league match on Saturday. I am very unhappy to hear this news. It flies in the face of all reason. This was a pointless match against minor opposition. If the players are injured or tired for Crown's important game in two days time, then the FFC and the national coach should be held accountable. I was hopping mad after Monday's performance, and now I'm seething again.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

i want to watch dis match but when i c u post like that so i shouldn't go. It is not an interesting match

Anonymous said...

Why don't you tell us what you really think Andy? Trenchant accurate opinion. Please tell us the Cambodian team list, always amusing Any attackers in defence? Nick

Andy Brouwer said...

Nick,
As I didn't attend I don't know the starting list or subs. All I know is that In Vichheka was played in central defence and was crocked badly in the game. He was limping after the match.

The 4 Crown players all played a part, I think all of them got 45 minutes or thereabouts. Narong in 1st half, then Sokumpheak, Tiny and Sopanha in 2nd half.

The national coaching staff said the PPC and Police players would not play in this game. They blatantly lied. They played 7 players (PPC & Police) who will feature in Saturday's game, just 48 hours before what is Crown's biggest match of the season. It's nothing short of a scandal. The PPC players have played too much football recently already, we played Monday (losing badly) and then the national coach plays them again, in spite of their public statements to the contrary. I know two of our players were carrying knocks after Monday's game, but he still played them.

can anyone see why I am seething after hearing all of this?
Andy

Nakhon Ratchasima FC said...

"He will tell anyone who asks him that his focus is on the SEA Games in November. Beating Laos over the home and away legs and going onto meet China in the World Cup doesn't interest him."

Typical parochial SEA thinking. It's the same in Thailand where the SEA Games and Suzuki Cup are considered more important by most fans than WCQ and Asian Cup.

Anonymous said...

Wasn't you pissed that they weren't fielding Crown players but now that it turned out they did, you are still pissed? Hmm... interesting!

Anonymous said...

Sound scandalous, Andy...Anyway, is their any conspiracy among the football top brass? Anyway, I also don't understand why Mr. Lee didn't call Khmer players playing abroad to help the national team...

Andy Brouwer said...

Anon, the last thing I wanted was for the PPCFC players to play in the national team game. They didn't need it - they needed the rest. The national coach lied, as he said he wouldn't play them.Its a disgrace.
2nd Anon - yes there's a conspiracy, of course there is. isn't there a conspiracy in everything :-)
Nakhon, thanks for your insight. I really don't understand it at all. The World Cup and a potential game v China should be the big focus for the next month...but no, the SEA games keeps getting mentioned. Where Cambodia lose badly every time. They should focus on both not just on one.
Andy

Anonymous said...

@andy, since u took up the media job of crown, you seem to have turned a new leaf completely. I remember u were the number one fan of the FFC and Cambodian team under Scot and ever since scot left acrimoniously, you have seem to have this dislike for the FFC and which has extended to LEE. Common, the Korean Coach has achieved far more than Scot did for his 5 years as coach of Cambodia. Give him a break man.

Andy Brouwer said...

hahaha Anon. Thanks for the laugh. I have never been a fan of the FFC, though I did have respect for Scott's abilities as a coach, that is fair to say. I thought the FFC treated him disgracefully. He was the right man for the job and they buggered it up.
As for Lee Tae-Hoon, he has so far been a complete failure, with our failure to qualify for the Suzuki Cup and Challenge Cup final rounds. His collaboration with the FFC (with his wages paid by the Korean FA) stinks in my view and his complete disregard for the World Cup beggars belief. He, and the FFC, show contempt for the football fans of Cambodia. Unfortunately, they see a 5-1 win against a minor team as a success - so there's no hope really, is there.
We should beat Laos, which I want us to do, but the big downside is that Lee will remain in charge. In fact he'll be in charge whether we win or lose, as the FFC are quite happy that a foreign FA pays his wages. I rest my case.
Give him a break...no thanks.
Andy