Player hot-line

Baldwin Ngwa, Jeongho Kim and Rafael Oliveira celebrate our Championship success with a selfie

Phnom Penh Crown player movements: Head coach Sam Schweingruber confirmed today that two of the club's foreign players, Rafael Oliveira and Jeongho Kim, will not have their contracts renewed and are leaving the club. Sam had this to say about Brazilian midfielder Rafael; "Rafael came to us with a big reputation from his time in Vietnam. However, his spell in Cambodia was full of very bad luck. Injuries have put him out of action and when finally he was back fit, our team was on a winning streak and he didn’t manage to get enough chances to play. He deserved to be playing more as he has impressed everyone at the club with his professional attitude and good character. The rules of only allowing 3 foreigners involved in any game made it difficult for Rafael to break into the team. We wish him all the best for his future in football." Crown's head coach was equally appreciative of the part played by South Korean import Jeongho. "We are sad to say good bye to one of everyone's favorites - Jeongho. We will always remember his amazing goals he scored for us. While he always gave his best, he has failed to break into the team on a regular basis - also because of injustice when he was banned for a total of 4 games by the FFC. As a young player of his qualities, he deserves to be part of a team that he gets to play more often - of which there is no guarantee at Crown. This is why we are letting him move on. We wish him success in the future and thank him for his contribution whilst with the club." Oliveira was previously with Brazilian clubs Fluminense RJ, Atletico MG, Democrata GV, then The Cong, Navibank Saigon and Than Quang Ninh in Vietnam, before half a season back in Brazil with America FC. Kim was a top youngster with Kwangwoon University in Korea before joining Crown. Both spent a season with the Cambodian champions.

Putting pen to paper for the next two years to cap a great weekend, is Khim Borey, who got engaged on Saturday, before extending his contract today, to keep him at the club until the end of the 2016 season. Borey joined Crown at the end of 2010 before a season-long loan to Sisaket in the Thai Premier League. Last season he contributed 14 goals in league and cup matches and is widely recognised as one of the country's most talented players, so his contract extension is great news for the Crown fans. Head coach Sam Schweingruber said: "Borey's an important player on the field with his experience, good skill and some very important goals - a few were super important for our season - the late equalizer against Svay Rieng and the free kick goal vs Western. I have often played him out of his usual position - not striker but wing and he always serves the team with his best efforts. Off the field Borey is equally as important with leadership and guidance for our younger players. I am very happy he has chosen to be with us for another 2 years." Borey is one of the few (I dont know of anyone else) who has scored a hat-trick of goals for his country (when he netted 3 v Timor-Leste in 2010), yet the current Korean coach has overlooked him in recent times. His experience and versatility would get him into my squad any day.