The official reasoning behind the decision is as follows: "The FFC wants to concentrate on building youth and grassroots programs (in the country)," with the statement also citing limited financial reach due to the ongoing construction of the country's new national football center in Bati. There is no mention of why the funds provided by FIFA towards the new football center, the sponsorship money from Metfone for the league competition as well as a myriad of other sponsorship deals, is not sufficient for the FFC to manage their finances, in such a way that allows the national team to fulfill even their most basic commitments. The lack of grassroots and youth development by the federation has been painfully obvious, so a commitment to that sounds laudable, but not at the expense of disbanding the national team. The national team is the pinnacle of football in any country - take that away and you leave a void that will be difficult to recover from. The response from online football fans is one of disbelief, an emotion I share. They have suffered in silence whilst the federation have overseen a slump in fortunes that reached an all-time low under South Korean coach Lee Tae-Hoon. The horror show continued in Laos a couple of weeks ago under the now-departed Hok Sochetra. The fans were looking forward to raising their spirits with an incoming new coach, but without any international matches to play, there's no reason to employ anyone, anytime soon. That in itself is a damning indictment of the federation.
The future certainly looks bleak. The SEA Games are at the end of 2013 in Myanmar. For Cambodia's U-23 team. For the senior national team, the next edition of the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifiers is in 2014, whilst the next World Cup qualification competition is in 2015. We have no idea what the federation's plans are, as they rarely speak in public, let alone share their strategic plans for the future. It's a closed shop. They are a law unto themselves. They make decisions unilaterally, usually announce them at the last minute, and leave everyone else to pick up the pieces. In this instance, they have swiped the carpet from under the feet of every football fan in the country, without any reasoning that holds water. I fear for the game of football in Cambodia if this situation continues.
18 comments:
I agree with the smart move by the FFC. Andi, maybe you should put your unbreakale gripe with the FFC aside sometime and see things for what they are. The senior team sucks big time. The players are not international competent. No magical reversal in that trend in anytime soon. I've been reading your blog regarding how the Crown youth team has been developing. I thought you would agree that these younger kids are the ones that will have any chance of reversing the football trend.
For me, the senior national team is a lost cause at this moment. It's like feeding something that you know at the best yield mediocre result. Cut the tube, man. Focus the resources toward the youth, the one that will have a better chance at yielding some respectable result, as they are the ones that are groomed correctly from an early stage.
I would like to hear your thoughts.
The lack of good management at the top is hurting the footballing system as a whole. If this was in the UK, the whole British's Isles would run riot. I think the fans need to voice their disagreement in a way that those sitting comfortably at the top can feel some heats beneath their delinquent decisions. I am a fan as well and I'm not too thrill with this decision, even though I live abroad but I still care about the sport back home because it affects our national identity and pride.
Football in Cambodia is a joke, didn't you know? The biggest clowns in the circus are the Federation, the problem is they aren't funny!
Anon1:55AM,
Of course I have a gripe with the FFC, they not developing the game correctly in Cambodia. I disagree vehemently with disbanding the national team. Its a ridiculous course to take; the national team = national pride & identity. We cannot hope to win every game, we obviously aren't that good, but having a national team gives everyone hope of a better tomorrow. Take away the hope, you take away the heart.
If you think the FFC will focus on youth, think again. Its a cost cutting exercise, which they've been doing for a while now. There are serious questions needing to be asked about the finances in Cambodian football, but the media here have no idea what they are doing, so the FFC will carry on regardless, stupefying football for years to come.
Andi,
What's the spirit and pride in losing game after game? Cutting the cost to the lost cost isn't a bad idea. At least I know now without the senior team playing in AFC this year, there won't be cries when the team loses however many games they are playing, which I think you know in yourself very well is a very likely result.
What's more sad than sending a team when you know almost certainly nothing will come out of it. The team won't advance to another round, the fans will bitch at the results.
Participate so you can have the title of being a participant is pathetic. I am not sure I call that pride and spirit. And, It's not like the fed got rid of the senior team forever. It's just temporary. We can all inject what they are doing right and/or wrong. For me, I am waiting for the kids like the Crown youth team and such to come up and be something. According to your report, it seems the kids are doing great. I hope they turn out to be wonderful football talents as it sounded in your blog posts.
If you know the AFC Challenge Cup competition, you would know that Cambodia would've had to play a home & away pre-qualifier, most likely against a country they would have a good chance of beating (as they did to Macau in last cup). If successful they go into a qualifying group (last time in Maldives). The FFC have simply said - they can't be bothered.
I will disagree with your fundamental argument until the cows come home. Its imperative that every country has a national team, something to strive for (for the players) and something to hope for (the fans). We know we aren't a world power at football, but if you simply give up and throw in the towel, as the FFC have done, you rip away that hope & pride. If you love football, you'll know exactly how I feel.
As for the Crown boys and others, they are 4-5 years away from being ready and that's only if they continue on their current pathway. Who's to say the FFC will resurrect the national team now or in 4-5 years time. They are capable of anything. Which leaves the whole of Cambodia's football fraternity in limbo, whether you are a fan, a player of a young Academy boy with dreams of playing for his country.
I know that the national team have not played at their best. They lose confidence. They dont believe that small things can make greater impact or ants can beat bigger enemy. We need to balance the development of youth and national team. Dont you know those national team will train so many talented kids/youths in the future. Dont you know those national team will share their experience, build confidence among kids/youth across the country? We still need many good coach for our children. We also need good coach for our children in the province who are fond of football and have very high potential for the development of Cambodian football.
I agree with Andy. OK, Let say "FFC not send the senior national team for next edition of AFC Challenge cup ".. they are saving money for grassroots program. Mr. May tola should come out and talk to the press and media and say something or show the concrete master plan for developing football in Cambodia especially for young academy program at their new football center at Tonle bati...
He just say " bla bla bla bla "
Where is the concrete master plan Mr. May Tola ?
The reality is corruption. The Federation is cutting the National team so they can take the money. Disgusting but given the endemic culture of corruption here in Cambodia, completely unsurprising.
Great Andi, you have always words to critic FFC...
For me,I think we must have senior national team.They can gain experiences for the juniors and we must mix these old but experienced players with the young but inexperienced ones.For the result we get the worst we must resolve these mistakes and hope for the next matches.we should not escape and do nothing,This's the wrong decision I think.The motivation should have for the players,accept the result and don't scare to play again.We must think we can do better from game to game.Keeping the NT outside the pitch is like keeping the Country in the well.For me I think the FFC want to save some money for the grassroots program or for.....(you know?).They don't need to spend money for the coach,the training,the friendly matches and so on so The FFC decide not to take part in the AFC Challenge cup this year I think.Do you agree with me Andy? From one of your blog supporter,SEYLA.(I'm in Cambodia but I know more about football)
Andi,
If empty hope is better than the so-called no hope is your cup of tea, then go for it, man. But, from the last tournament where the team looked as st and posted no threat to the other side pretty much, going back to the drawing board is where things should start rather than keep feeding the life-live to this mess you call the senior team.
I had this thought for a while now before this new announcement regarding the senior team. I know the players did their best. Most of them, it seemed. When you're best isn't enough, to me, it's pointless to keep doing the same thing (same players). From a pragmatic standpoint, being absent from any international game right now isn't a knife to the heart as you make it sound. Maybe consider that speaking from an emotional self doesn't go together with the logical discussion.
I agree with Andy. If we don't join any international tournament, so we don't need to establish the FFC. The more exposure players to international competition, more experience they have, even coach. This also exist in a Cambodian proverb "to have a sharp and good knife/sword, we need to use more often". If you wait for a youngster generation, you make a big mistake. Every country also develop its grass-root program, even faster than Cambodia. You can see some countries around Cambodia.
I think if the FFC led by a real football lover, he may generate more revenues to develop and join any international matches. A specific example, Mr Hun Many is a proper person for the position. You see now he even create a non-professional league, and ministries or institutions used to not support football now turn to establish a team.
Anon 11:03am,
I totally agree the point that you trying to make, but disbanding the national team and wait for the youth to come in and replace them in years later is by far the last thing you ever want to do to improve the sport. You have to keep playing and gain more experiences along the way and at the same time inspire the younger talents to want to represent the country. I don't know if you watch the Euro12, Republic of Ireland made it to the finals stage for the first time since years, and their fans and country didnt even mind about the scores because they're already proud that their country is represented in the biggest stage and played with the bests in the world. With that experience, u never know they can come out with a bang a few years later. Becoming better takes time, football is too unpredictable these days to call anything. You got to use the mistakes to help improve and strive for the future.
Andy,
Why don't you prepare a petition to the FFC. I will be happy to sign it and will other people.
the problem is FFC does not value public opinion, lacks of consultation with relevant stakeholder, they think the experts of football are only themselves. FFC needs to restructure its management. Now we can see that our football are behind other countries in the region, including the weakest we usually dominate. No worry we are developing our country (football) slowly and slowly. Its called "Peace of Development".
Yes Seyla, I agree that we should continue with the national team - its too important for the nation to allow it to fall into disrepair.
Vichet - no petition from me. I am a foreigner, no-one will take any notice of me. This needs to come from the Khmer supporters on the terrace - they need to raise their voices to be heard.
A staggering decision! Yes, two inept/inexperienced coaches (Lee and Socheatra) have plummeted Cambodian football to an all-time-low FIFA ranking of 192, but to jettison the flagship national team is an appalling decision. The FFC management should resign and Prak Sovannara appointed as director of football to oversee the national team and the restructure of Cambodian football. The fans are rightfully outraged. PPP and PKR run football at grassroots level, the FFC are clueless!
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