Crown add to their ranks

South Korean Jeongho Kim returns to join PPCFC

Phnom Penh Crown have announced the re-signing of the highly-popular utility South Korean player Jeongho Kim and are looking at other foreign acquisitions ahead of the new season, believed to be starting in late March of early April. The Federation are yet to confirm the start date or fixtures. The 23-year-old Kim was with the club last season and made a big impression despite his limited number of opportunities in the first-team, as Crown collected the Metfone Cambodia League Championship. He netted three league goals before he left the club in August and was training with Boeungket at one stage. Head coach Sam Schweingruber had this to say about the return of the highly-popular player: “Jeongho was an important player in our squad last season, even though he didn’t play enough. Whenever we gave him playing time, he impressed and showed his potential in training and in games. We first tried to sign him again last year but as Jeongho was asking for more playing time, we didn’t know we could agree to his demands. Finally, after the departure of Adriano and recent developments, we have agreed terms and hope that our Korean jewel will come to shine in 2015!" As a schoolboy Jeongho was a star striker for his school in Busan, earning a scholarship at the prestigious Kwangoon University and training spells overseas. His University playing career was cut short with a serious ankle injury but last season he showed his potential in a variety of positions, both in defence and as a striker, and that ability to play in a variety of positions, will be invaluable to Crown again this season.

Wing wizard Shane Booysen has spent the past year in Thailand

Involved in their friendly match with BBU on Saturday were four trialists, including the easily-recognisable, Momoh Degule Sumaila (aged 29), who has been a regular with Boeungket for the past three years. In fact the Nigerian midfielder made his debut for them against Crown, scoring, in June 2011. In goal for PPCFC was the experienced Jun Kochi, a 31-year-old Japanese import who has been playing in Thailand for Army, Sriracha and Pattaya after a career in his home country and a stint in Singapore with Albirex Niigata. Making quite an impression with two goals and some quick footwork on the wing was 26-year-old Shane Booysen who spent the past year in Thailand with Rbac Mittraphap and then BCC-Tero, after moving from his South African homeland where he appeared for Mamelodi Sundowns, Gleneden and iKapa Sporting academy. Also getting a start was striker Marcel Hugues Togbe (25), from Ivory Coast, who had spells in Oman with Al-Nadha and Al-Oruba before moving to Thailand with Nakhon Ratchasima. It will be up to coach Sam Schweingruber how he progresses with his foreign signings ahead of the new season. It's believed clubs will be allowed 5 foreigners, with three to play at any one time, though that small detail is not yet confirmed by the Federation, with Crown now confirming they have three on their books in Jeongho Kim, Odion Obadin and George Bisan.