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| The National Police team who remain in 2nd place in the C-League |
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| Naga failed to leap-frog over the Police and stay in 3rd spot |
With Preah Khan Reach sitting at the top of the Metfone C-League table, the first match this afternoon saw 2nd placed National Police face the team a spot behind them, NagaCorp. A win for Police would've put them top but as it turned out, the two teams cancelled each other out and had to settle for a 2-2 draw. Naga drew first blood through top scorer Chuon Chum on 20 minutes. The former national team player is in the middle of a purple patch in front of goal, though he'll curse that he missed a great chance later in the half. Police levelled when Srey Udom smashed a shot against the cross-bar and Man Ritavann was first to the rebound. With Police still celebrating, Naga's Sun Sopanha sent in an inswinging corner that Thong Chanraksmey made a hash of and punched the ball into his own net. On the stroke of half-time Police's Tith Dina equalized for a second time and that's how the first half ended, and the match. I don't even recall a serious chance for either team after the break. Police have certainly been the surprise package this season, a team without stars but hard-working and able to grind out results and they hold onto second spot, a point behind PKR.
Dan Ito was the star of the show in this afternoon's second match. Japanese-born, he's journeyed around Asia for the past decade and his latest port of call is Build Bright United. No less than fourteen countries have welcomed the 36-year-old midfield playmaker and he showed that he has picked up a thing or two along the way. I won't mention all of his clubs but they include Woodlands Wellington, Saigon Port, Kitchee, Penang, DPMM and more recently Manang Marshyangdi in Nepal. He wasn't BBU's only foreigner either, as they have added Nigerian Badmus Bolaji to their team as well. As it turned out, Ito led from the front on his debut and despite winning and then failing to convert a penalty, he powered in a header and then set up the final goal in BBU's 4-2 success over Chhlam Samuth. Bolaji opened the scoring for the students before Bisan George thundered in an exocet-like free-kick to level, only for Ito's powerful far post header to put BBU back in front a minute later. Two goals after the break from Prum Putsethy, the second laid on by Ito, were spaced either side of another Bisan George effort, which he headed onto the bar and as it dropped it hit the back of keeper Hem Simay and crossed the goal-line. A notable debut for the second Japanese player in the C-League, after Takahito Ota who is playing with National Police.
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| Japanese import Dan Ito (36) gets a welcome to Cambodian football |
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| BBU ran out comfortable 4-2 winners against Chhlam Samuth |
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| The Preah Khan Reach team that lined-up yesterday against PPCFC |
3 comments:
Andy, could you always include an updated table of the Metfone C-League in your blog?
Thanks
Mr. Brouwer, what do you think of picking chuon chum for national team? If you consider form alone he should be picked. I dont understand the FFC habit of picking whole bunch of PRK and NDM players for the national team. Those players are too young and inconsistent especially in the midfield. During last couple of years I have seen many PRK and NDM got picked and most them are not yet 20. They are not picked on their laurel but on "string". National team players around the world used players well into their 30s for their experience while Cambodian players are overlooked as soon as they turn 25. We need to blend young and experience.
Thanks for questions...honestly I avoid posting a league table in my blog because I simply don't like them! They are fiddly, they obviously change whenever someone plays a match so they are always out of date very quickly and if you need to see a table, you can find them on the FIFA - Cambodia page or soccerway for example.
I agree with picking players in form. Chum has been on target a lot this season but hasn't been so effective the last few years. If the national team coach can harness his current form, then definitely select him for the squad. I also agree that the coach has to mix experience with talented youngsters. We will have to wait and see who Hok Sochetra selects for his Suzuki Cup squad and where he stands on the selection issue. I will have a look at each team in the next few days and select my own squad of 30...to see if we are thinking along the same lines.
Andy
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