Successful trialists

Mart Hasan, one of the new faces at PPCFC - click to enlarge

The recently completed open trials at Phnom Penh Crown allowed new coach Sam Schweingruber to run the rule over some of the country's untapped talent. He was suitably impressed by five Cambodian trialists who have been offered, and have agreed, contracts with the club. The five young players are as follows:
Mart Hasan, a 22-year-old striker who has been on the fringes of the Cambodian national team over the past year, whilst with Prek Pra Keila. He joined his home town team Prek Pra when he was sixteen years old and studying at Chbar Ampov High School. He's a confident young man who was courted by other clubs, including Preah Khan, where he spent a month training before deciding his future lay with Crown.
Seventeen year old Chhom Pisa is nicknamed Lion by his friends and was born in 13 Makara village, Prek Preah Sdach, Battambang, where he played for his high school, Net Yang and his provincial team for the last couple of years. He prefers to use his battling qualities in a midfield role and says he is very happy to join such a professional club.   
Chea Dara, aged 20, is the second of three Battambang natives to join Crown from the trials. Dara comes from Ang village in Ou Char, Battambang and attended Samdech Euv High School, where he played his football, going onto join the provincial team, who won the Division A2 championship against Stung Treng earlier this year. He is a central defender, his nickname is Chhruy and he hopes Crown can go onto win honours next season with his help.
The third product of Battambang is another 20-year-old defender, Mak Phearun, who joined the SALT Academy at fifteen as well as playing for Net Yang High School and the Battambang province team for the past four years. Born in Oukjea village in the city, he will help to coach the Crown Academy boys, having been a coach with SALT under Sam Schweingruber's guidance.
Completing a trio of 20-year-olds is Tin Kano, who played as a defender for the 2011 Division 1 provincial champions, Kandal. Born in Tuol Ngouk, Ponhea Leu, Kandal, he represented his high school, Tep Pranam in Kompong Speu as well as his home province team. He's currently studying business at Norton University in the capital.