Academy aftermath

In the aftermath of the Phnom Penh Crown Academy's defeat in the first game of the FAM-Frenz U-15 Asean Champions Trophy, losing 4-0 to PVF from Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday night, Academy coach Bouy Dary, who flew straight to Myanmar to coach the Cambodian U-14 national team, had this to say. "Though we lost, I was happy enough because the team fought as a team, and we played the way I want to play by starting to defend in our own half. Then we did really well when we got the ball and were brave. We made four good chances in the first half, but we were obviously smaller and slower than them. Now we know where we need to improve and this will help us plan our training. To play 90 minutes is not easy against bigger and stronger teams, so we must work harder than before to be fit and last the whole match. I'm already looking forward to the return match at home, as we were cleverer than they were." With Dary now in Myanmar for the AFC U-14 Championships, the build-up to next Saturday's second ACT game, at home, for the Crown Academy will be overseen by the club's head coach Sam Schweingruber.

Sam was with the team in Vietnam and offered up his thoughts on what the Crown Academy learned from the 4-0 defeat to PVF. "The Academy will train every morning from Monday to Friday in preparation for the next game on Saturday with Frenz. I expect the game to be similarly difficult. We have to build up our endurance and resistance to be able to compete over 90 minutes at this level. We need to improve our preparation so that key players don’t go out with cramps, etc. We play well, we know the game, we have good skills but under constant pressure and with physical disadvantages (such as height, strength, speed and endurance) we obviously end up making mistakes, and that will be our goal to eliminate these mistakes. We also lack some conviction around the opponents box, we have good build up but problems with the final pass and we fail to create enough chances against good teams. So lots to work on, but this is precisely why we have joined the Asean Champions Trophy, to test ourselves against stronger opposition." The kick-off time has yet to be confirmed but the Olympic Stadium will be the venue for Saturday's (1 June) hosting of the Frenz Malaysia A team, who beat NFA Singapore 2-1 in their tie on Sunday.

The Cambodia U-14 national team flew out from Phnom Penh on Sunday to Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar (Burma) to take part in the AFC U-14 Championships qualifying group stages. Crown Academy coach Bouy Dary is in charge and he has flown straight from Vietnam to join the squad, alongwith goalkeeper Svang Samnang, after yesterday's Asean Champions Trophy match. Assisting Dary will be assistant coaches Oum Savong and Ouk Mic and Lidwina Niewold as physio. The U-14s matches are as follows:
28 May v Bangladesh - 3.30pm
29 May v Indonesia - 9am
31 May v Laos - 6pm
2 Jun v Thailand - 3.30pm
3 Jun v Singapore - 9am

The Cambodia U-14s flying to Myanmar for the AFC U-14 Championships