Divided loyalties

The PPCFC Academy in Timor with their police escort riders

Torn in two is how Phnom Penh Crown fans will feel this coming Saturday. Their C-League heroes, galloping towards the championship play-offs, have their final league match of the regular domestic season. But at the same time, the Crown Academy, loved universally for their enterprising style of play and carrying the hopes of Khmer football in the future, will also be in action, across town at a different venue. Unable to swap with other C-League matches, the senior team will face Kirivong at 4pm at Olympic Stadium, aiming to continue their end of season flourish, as well as seeking to break the C-League record for conceding the least number of goals in a season. They currently stand at a miserly13 goals, the record, held by Phnom Penh Empire in 2008, is fifteen. At the Old/Army Stadium, the Academy will entertain the Timor-Leste U-15s in another exciting Asean U-15 Champions Trophy tie, which will start at 3.45pm. It was only last week that Crown lost in Timor 4-1, so revenge is on everyone's mind this weekend. With less riding on the game at Olympic, as the seniors have already qualified for the play-off semi-finals, many PPCFC fans have already decided to pledge their support for the Academy youngsters, whilst others are torn between the two. It's an agonizing decision for many to make.