Hok Sochetra's first major test as the new head coach of the Cambodian football team will be the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012 Qualifiers. The draw for the qualifiers and the competition proper was made in Bangkok yesterday and pitches the Cambodian team against Timor Leste in the first tie of the five-team qualifying group, which will be played in Myanmar. The first match will be on 5 October. Playing every two days, Cambodia then face Laos (7 Oct), Brunei (9 Oct) and hosts Myanmar (11 Oct). The two qualifiers from the group will go onto the competition proper which is being held jointly by Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.
The Metfone C-League continued yesterday with Phnom Penh Crown going down 5-1 to newcomers Boeung Ket, who retained their top 4 spot with the victory. Young substitute Keo Sokpheng overshadowed everyone else with a hat-trick and might be an outside contender for a spot in Hok Sochetra's initial 30-man squad for the AFF Suzuki Cup. I was a mite surprised he wasn't involved in the recent U-22 squad. In the second match yesterday afternoon, there was little to choose between National Police and Kirivong, even though Police have been one of this season's revelations and sat in second place before the match began, whilst Kirivong hovered just outside the relegation places. The first-half was instantly forgettable but the game came alive on the hour when Ek Sopheap fired Kirivong into a deserved lead. Police refused to lie down and when Joel Omoraka poked home through a crowd of players with twelve minutes to go, they breathed again. The point from the 1-1 draw puts them level with Preah Khan Reach in top spot.
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About Me
- Andy Brouwer
- I live and work in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. My interests are varied. Website: www.andybrouwer.co.uk/ E:andy.brouwer@btinternet.com All blog content is copyright of Andy Brouwer unless credited.
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July
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- Tough luck on Crown
- With bated breath
- Entertainment value
- We looked dangerous
- No change in 4th
- Chaya nets a brace
- Hotting up
- Better late than never
- The big question
- Dan the man
- Sambo's the match-winner
- A win is a win
- Crown too hot to handle
- Referee capers
- Tajikistan is the host
- Sochetra's Thirty
- Weekend aspirations
- Preparing the ground
- Run of the mill
- Academy frustrated
- Naga stumped
- Stepping-up to AFC Cup
- Captain Sokumpheak sidelined
- Homegrown coaches
- Suzuki draw
- Crown sunk in the rain
- My shot at the 30
- Ito causes a stir
- Bojan is the man
- Under the spotlight
- A point apiece
- The Jet in charge
- Who's in the frame?
- Singapore shots
- Academy praised
- What's next for the national team
- Titanic clash
- Cup Final Heartache
- U22s beaten again
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6 comments:
andy,when do u know the real squad for Cam?any friendly matches?
I was told Hok Sochetra will put out his 30-man provisional squad this weekend, so that the FFC can request clubs release players for training sessions. This is on the back of clubs releasing players recently for the U-22 squad and will impact on the club's own sessions required for the ongoing Metfone C-League. How clubs are supposed to prepare properly for their domestic games when the national team will likely ask for players 3 times a week, is a thorny issue.
The Federation should've announced a series of friendly internationals months ago, in the lead up to the Suzuki Cup. They knew when it was and that games would be needed. But they have announced nothing.
If they have games lined-up then they are keeping quiet at the moment. Don't be surprised if the national team head to Vietnam (or similar) for a few matches, as well as games against C-League teams, but whilst Philippines will be playing 20 friendly matches and Vietnam want 5 high-quality friendlies leading up to their involvement in the Cup, Cambodia have been conspicuous by their silence. We shall see what the FFC can conjure up.
they probably play some friendlies with div 2 clubs across the viet border,... or maybe some club teams in cambodia.... seems like they have frog in well mentality.... i dont see any realistic hope of Cambodia wining any international matches for next few years unless you talking about playing friendlies with some pacific island countries.... and with the standard that cambodia is in now, no decent country would want to invite cambodia over for friendly ,.. unless its for political reasons...
Anon, can't argue with what you say.
However for purely political reasons, I wouldn't turn my nose up at getting invites from China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Thailand in that order. If it means high-quality friendlies, then I'm sure the FFC would jump at the opportunity :-)
Andy. A home match against the Philippines national team has been scheduled prior to Suzuki Cup and, your right, Keo Sokpheng may well have jumped into selection contention following yesterday's heroics especially with his brother Sokngon carrying a niggling injury - for quite while now.
Anon 5:03PM. So that is one of the Philippines' 20 friendly matches they have scheduled in the run up to their involvement in the Suzuki Cup proper. And Cambodia have two, a game against the French/Europe- Khmer Select XI and the Philippines as you indicate. That will not be enough by any stretch of the imagination. But it will save on the coffers of the federation and no-one except the fans are really interested in the national team progressing. Anything for an easy life aye.
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