Academy victories

PPCFC U-17s, back row, LtoR: Umaru, Sovann, Chhaya, Chanpolin, Titchhy, Chanvuthy. Front: Suleiman, Sodavid, Samnang, Noeut, Baraing - click to enlarge

Saturday 28 March: Result: PPCFC Academy U-17s 3 Asia Europe Univ 1 (Friendly).
The Academy U-17s dominated large parts of this friendly at RSN and deserved their 3-1 success against the C-League team. Crown took the lead on 26 minutes when Seut Baraing's low cross was headed past his own keeper by a defender. On the stroke of half-time Ouk Sovann set up In Sodavid and he calmly rolled the ball in for number 2. Sodavid scored his second 7 minutes after the break with a good finish, again set up by Sovann. AEU netted but were never in the game.
Match report to follow.

PPCFC U-15s, back row, LtoR: Chanmony, Samnang, Chetra, Savey, Sovannaroth, Safy. Front: N David, Rabert, Pisoth, Rina, Davann - click to enlarge

Sunday 29 March: Result: PPCFC Academy U-15s 5 Khmer Olympic 0 (Friendly).
The 1st half of this friendly at RSN was devoid of much action but the 2nd half more than made up for it. The Academy dominated the whole 45 minutes and once they introduced Mao Piseth on the hour it all went in their favour. Within a minute he opened the scoring and went onto score three more goals on 72, 83 and 86 minutes, the last a perfect looping header from Sin Kakada's cross. As the Academy peppered the Olympic goal with a stream of shots, Kakada made the final one count a minute into injury time to end the game at 5-0.
Match report to follow.

All-square

PPCFC vs All Stars, back row, LtoR: Thierry, Kochi, Sokthorn, Kim, Bisan, Obadin. Front: Sokheng, Sothy, Da, Boran, Suhana - click to enlarge

Saturday 28 March 2015: Result: PPCFC 1 African/Eselemo Diamond All Stars 1 (Friendly).
In another of those no-quarter-given type encounters at RSN training pitch this afternoon, the spoils were shared. George Bisan gave PPCFC the lead when he latched onto an Odion Obadin pass, rounded the stranded keeper and fired Crown ahead on 25 minutes. A minute later the striker's fine effort struck the outside of the post. On 33 minutes the African All Stars were awarded a dubious penalty for high foot against Bisan but Obi Ugochukwu blasted the spot kick high and wide. Bisan went close a couple of times in the second half and so did Bin Thierry, before Dzarma Bata drilled a 25-yard shot into the top corner for the equaliser on 78 minutes. In time added on, substitute Kouch Dani's 30-yard free-kick was punched clear and the team's ended the match all-square.
Match report to follow.

Yet another double win

PPCFC U-17s, back row, LtoR: Chanvuthy, Sovann, Sakrovy, Sodavid, Titchhy, Chanpolin. Front: Muslim, Senteang, Samnang, Noeut, Baraing - click to enlarge

Saturday 21 March: Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy U-17s 11 Bayon Wanderers 4 (Friendly).
The Academy U-17s punished Bayon for the audacity of tying the game at 4-4 fifteen minutes into the second-half, by storming away and knocking in 11 goals, which saw Bayon throw in the towel with eight minutes still remaining. Yeu Muslim netted 4 goals, Ouk Sovann 3, Mat Sakrovy 2 and 1 each for Chhuot Senteang and Umaru Samura.
Match Report to follow.

PPCFC U-15s, back row, LtoR: Chanmony, Panha, Safy, Chetra, Savey, Samnang. Front: Samel, Piseth, Pisoth, Rina, Davann - click to enlarge

Sunday 22 March: Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy U-15s 6 Pisnoka FC 4 (Friendly).
An entertaining match with Pisnoka at RSN Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Mao Piseth and Tong Chanmony gave the U-15s the lead only for Pisnoka to level with two goals in as many minutes. Sin Kakada put Crown in front just before the half-time break. On the restart Chanmony put them further ahead only for Pisnoka to score again, before Chanmony completed his hat-trick. The visitors never gave up and scored a fourth but the Academy were always in control and Piseth completed the scoring just before the end.
Match Report to follow.

Sokthorn levels it

PPCFC vs Boeungket, back row, LtoR: Sokthorn, Bisan, Thierry, Kim, Obadin, Ary. Front: Da, Sokheng, Koroma, Sothy, Booysen - click to enlarge

Saturday 21 March 2015: Result: Phnom Penh Crown 1 Boeungket 1 (Friendly).
For this friendly clash of the top two teams in the country at RSN Stadium, both sides were without some of their regular starters with Crown missing Kok Boris, Sos Suhana, Ngoy Srin and Sary Matnorotin, but in their absence the two teams offered up an entertaining game in front of a good-sized crowd. In the opening fifteen minutes, Khuon Laboravy sent a free-kick a few feet wide and Paul Omogba blasted a shot well over the crossbar, while Ouk Sothy had a long range effort easily gathered by Kim Makara in the Boeungket goal. The keeper then had to be at his best on 18 minutes as Shane Booysen let rip from nearly 40 yards with a sublime effort which the stopper fingertipped over the bar. Moments later George Bisan looked to have got past Makara but slipped at the crucial moment and the chance went begging. The visitors took the lead on 22 minutes when Laboravy knocked the ball back to Yemi Oyewole on the edge of the penalty area and he arrowed the ball into the top corner. Laboravy also went close when he was played in from a quickly-taken free-kick, but sent his shot wide of the target. From a Booysen cross, Va Sokthorn's far post half-volley was blocked and Bisan's follow-up shot was grabbed low down by Makara. As the play switched from end to end, Ary punched away a free-kick which Keo Sokpheng then returned high and wide, and the keeper was out smartish to take the ball off the toe of Omogba as Boeungket broke quickly. Booysen's deliveries were causing problems and another whipped cross was just inches away from Bisan, with Ouk Sothy's blast blocked on its way to goal. A 30-yard free-kick from Booysen then shaved the top of the crossbar. Ary was alert and saved well to his right as Chhun Sothearath sent in a low drive through a crowd of players, with the keeper again in the right place to push away Sokpheng's far post effort. The half ended with a move that cut Boeungket to pieces but saw Booysen send his final shot across the face of goal and just past the far post.

After the resumption, Crown kept their foot on the pedal and dominated the whole of the second-half. Santigie Koroma fed Bin Thierry and his rasping 30-yard half-volley stunned everyone but bounced back into play off the crossbar. Booysen and Koroma combined to feed Sokthorn through the middle but Peng Bunchhay was out in time to smother the attempt. Another Booysen goal-bound blast was blocked and Sothy's follow-up was held easily. Oyewole missed a sitter with what proved to be Boeungket's only chance of the half, and seconds later Thierry's inch-perfect pass sent in Leng Makara but he fired straight at the oncoming Bunchhay. Bisan blasted over after more good combination work between Booysen and Makara, and the two worked another opening, only for Booysen's effort to be held by the keeper. Bisan sent another effort over the top from Makara's pass, before Crown got the goal that their efforts fully deserved. With six minutes left on the clock, Thierry fed his national teammate Sokthorn on the edge of the box, he turned and sent a low drive in off the foot of the far post, to make it 1-1. Crown went in search of the match-winner and Sokthorn played in Booysen on the left flank but his vicious drive went the wrong side of the upright. With almost the final kick of the game, Thierry's perfect pass found Booysen at the far post but his volley was again blocked on its way to goal, and both teams settled for a share of the spoils from this entertaining encounter.
PPCFC vs BKet: Ary (Kochi 66), Sokheng (C Pisa 74), Da (Chetra 88), Kim, Obadin, Sothy, Thierry, Sokthorn, Koroma (Makara 66), Booysen, Bisan (S Pisa 79). Subs not used: Srey, Ursaphea, Charly, Tola, Sumaila, Yapo. Booked: Bisan. MOTM: Booysen. Goal: Sokthorn (84).

Shane signs on at Crown

Shane Booysen signs on the dotted line with Sam Schweingruber

The lightning quick feet and outstanding ball control of South African-born Shane Booysen are expected to be a prominent feature for PPCFC in the 2015 Metfone C-League competition after the 26-year-old signed a 1-year contract with the club. Booysen, after a year playing in Thailand, arrived on trial in February, scored two goals in his first friendly match against BBU and has impressed everyone who has seen him play. Crown Head coach Sam Schweingruber was happy to see Booysen put pen to paper: “We are delighted Shane has signed with us, he was our target player to get on board. He is both experienced and talented and his outstanding technique has in the past weeks excited teammates, staff and fans. We are looking forward to Shane’s contribution to defend the title.”
Booysen was born in Cape Town, the second-largest city in South Africa and began playing football at Ajax Cape Town as a ten-year-old. Four years later he joined the full-time Hellenic FC Academy, one of the best in the country, for three years and appeared for the Western Province U-17s. In his mid-teens he moved to the country’s most successful club Mamelodi Sundowns and played for their reserves for two years before spells at Gleneden United, back to Ajax Cape Town and a loan stint in the National First Division with Ikapa Sporting. In March of last year (2014), Booysen took the decision to pursue his career goals abroad, moved to Thailand and played regularly for Rbac Mittraphap and Bangkok Christian College-Tero in the Thai Regional League Division 2 before joining Crown in February.
Booysen looks set to become a fans favourite, having already impressed in a handful of friendly matches. He was delighted to sign for Crown: “I feel honoured to join the league champions of Cambodia. We are a good team and I know we will work well together. The players and staff are like a family and they have welcomed me since day 1. I will do my best for the team, my coach and the fans. I’m really excited for the season ahead, I can’t wait for us to progress together and I know we will defend our title”.

Thierry's triumph

Bin Thierry's arrival in Cambodia in Oct 2012, with Sam Schweingruber

Bin Thierry will remember today for a very long time, after he scored a wonderful free-kick goal against Macau on his FIFA World Cup debut, as Cambodia drew 1-1 in Macau to progress to the second qualifying round for the first time ever. Cambodia led 3-0 after last week's home leg and progress 4-1 on aggregate. In the next qualifying round they will play eight matches in a group competition. Thierry always said he wanted to represent the country of his parents' birth and his goal and the team's success will give him a lot of satisfaction. FLASHBACK: When Thierry arrived in Cambodia in October 2012 and met with Phnom Penh Crown coach Sam Schweingruber at the airport, his intention was clear, to win the C-League with Crown and to play for his country. He will now have to re-write his football ambitions, having captured the league crown last year, and scored for his country in the World Cup. Well done to Thierry, well done to Va Sokthorn, Sos Suhana and Ngoy Srin, the three other Crown players who all started the match in Macau, and well done to the Cambodia national team on getting through to the second round for the first time.

Another lesson handed out

PPCFC U-15s, back row, LtoR: Chanmony, Chetra, Davann, N David, Safy, Samnang. Front: Kakada, Rina, Piseth, Pisoth, Panha - click to enlarge

Sunday 15 March 2015: Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy U-15s 5 Chamkarmon 1 (Friendly).
The Academy U-15s swept to another victory at RSN this afternoon against the adult Chamkarmon team. Mao Piseth gave the U-15s a two-goal lead by halftime with goals on 20 and 43 minutes. The visitors scored 3 minutes after the break and Svang Samnang made two outstanding saves before the introduction of Ouk Sovann and Yeu Muslim returned control to Crown and the converted central defender netted two more goals on 66 and 85 minutes before Sok Panha rounded it off with a free-kick which the keeper juggled over the goal-line five minutes into added-on time.
More match details later.

Seniors win, just

PPCFC 1st Team, back row, LtoR: Bisan, Makara, Boris, S Pisa, Obadin, Ary. Front: Da, Boran, Santigie, Booysen, Sothy - click to enlarge

Saturday 14 March 2015: Result: Phnom Penh Crown 6 PPCFC Academy U-17s 4 (Friendly).
A great advertisement for football at RSN Stadium this afternoon saw the Crown 1st Team fend off the challenge of the Academy youngsters to win 6-4. It was a close game throughout though the seniors got themselves 3-1 in front by halftime with George Bisan netting a hat-trick with goals on 21, 31 and 45 minutes. Kim Chhaya grabbed a goal back on 39 minutes. Within 10 minutes of the restart the Academy were on level terms with goals from In Sodavid and Orn Chanpolin, but Santigie Koroma raced clear to put the seniors ahead on 61 minutes. Two goals in two minutes, saw Leng Makara and Shane Booysen put the 1st Team further in front with 11 minutes left, only for the Academy's Chhuot Senteang to hit a spectacular volley to make the final score 6-4. A fabulous game.
Match details to follow.

Academy U-17s, back row, LtoR; Umaru, Chanpolin, Soksela, Chhaya, Titchhy, V Samnang. Front: Sodavid, Chansopheak, Suleiman, Phearath, Rozak - click to enlarge

Fighting spirit

PPCFC U-17s vs Naga, back row, LtoR: Umaru, Chanchav, Chhaya, Sakrovy, Soksela, V Samnang (capt). Front: Sovann, Rozak, Chansopheak, Suleiman, Phearath - click to enlarge

Sunday 8 March 2015: Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy U-17s 1 Nagaworld 3 (Friendly).
In a thrilling encounter, the Academy U-17s showed their fighting spirit against a strong Naga line-up at RSN Stadium and can count themselves unfortunate not to get a positive result. Naga struck on 10 minutes, though Ouk Sovann went close twice before the break. In the second of three 30-minute periods, the Academy had Naga on the back foot with Sovann, Chhuot Senteang and Choun Chanchav unable to score. Debutant Umaru Samura was twice denied by good saves before Naga netted a fortunate second goal on 68 minutes. Crown's Orn Chanpolin's quick thinking put in Senteang who finished well to reduce the arrears two minutes later before they were finally undone by a breakaway goal on 78 minutes by Naga's Barry Lelouma. Stand-out performer for the Academy was debutant Suleiman Samura, with his tough tackling and distribution.

Match report to follow.

PPCFC U-15s vs FFC, back row, LtoR: Samnang, Savey, Safy, Panha, N David, Sovannaroth. Front: Pisoth, Piseth, Samel, Davann, Kakada - click to enlarge

Sunday 8 March 2015: Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy U-15s 3 FFC Academy 0 (Friendly).
It was business as usual for the Crown U-15s as they recorded their 10th consecutive victory over the FFC Academy at Tonle Bati this morning. Mao Piseth grabbed all three goals, his first coming on 11 minutes with a gorgeous curling free-kick over the defensive wall. After the break, PPCFC stepped up the pace and dominated much of the play. 7 minutes into the 2nd half and Piseth netted his second after a neat one-two with Pich Sovannaroth and he calmly rolled the ball under the advancing goalkeeper. Piseth's hat-trick came on 78 minutes when Sovannaroth was again the provider and Piseth crashed in a far post volley to round-off another deserved victory. 
Match report to follow.

Booysen on the double

PPCFC vs Army, back row, LtoR: C Pisa, Kim, Obadin, Polo, Srey, Chanpolin. Front: Charly, Sakrovy, Boran, Sokheng, Koroma - click to enlarge

Saturday 7 March 2015: Result: Phnom Penh Crown 3 Army 1 (Friendly).
In this afternoon's friendly at RSN Stadium, it was another two goals from South African trialist Shane Booysen, and a real beauty from In Sodavid that won the game for Crown, after Army had led 1-nil at the interval. Pov Phearath struck an arrow-like half volley to give Army the lead on 32 minutes. Booysen scored from the penalty spot after he had been knocked over in the box 7 minutes into the second half. On 71 minutes Booysen capitalised on a Sean Pisa long ball and rolled in his second goal. Army were never out of it and Nelson Oladiji went close a couple of times before Academy midfielder In Sodavid made it 3-1 with a 22-yard drive into the top corner with 6 minutes to go.
Match report to follow.

National team triumph at last

PPCFC vs NT, back row, LtoR: Kochi, S Pisa, Boris, Kim, Makara, Obadin. Front Row: Sothy, Da, Sokheng, Tola, Booysen - click to enlarge

Result: Phnom Penh Crown 1 Cambodia National Team 2 (Friendly).
The Cambodia national team finally broke their hoodoo against Crown and came out on top in this afternoon's friendly match at RSN Stadium, as they prepare for next week's World Cup game against Macau. In previous matches between Crown and the national team it was the club side who held an unbeaten record, until today. With Lee Tae-Hoon's team playing their second match in two days, following a 1-0 win over Naga, he was unable to include Bin Thierry against his own team, after he picked up an ankle injury the day before. Crown coach Sam Schweingruber was missing the injured George Bisan and Momoh Sumaila and gave a starting place in midfield to Sean Pisa, with new arrival from Sierra Leone, Santigie Koroma on the bench. The visitors began brightly with Chan Vathanak blasting over and Odion Obadin denying Khuon Laboravy with a timely block. On 11 minutes Shane Booysen found himself in space but his attempted lob went straight to keeper Um Sereyrath. With three Crown players playing against their own club side, it was Va Sokthorn who posed the most threat and another Obadin block and tackle denied his Khmer-French teammate a clear shot on goal. Japanese goalkeeper Jun Kochi kept out a shot by Chan Vathanaka, before Jeongho Kim challenged Sereyrath for a Thourng Da cross, only for the keeper to gather it at the second attempt. On 25 minutes, Vathanaka went down all-too easily as Kochi came out to gather and the referee pointed to the spot. The Japanese keeper, who has been playing in Thailand for the last few years, made amends with a brilliant dive to his right to push Vathanaka's penalty wide. Booysen was fouled on the edge of the penalty box but his curling free-kick was wide of the far post by a yard. Ngoy Srin found himself in a good position but sent his effort wide before Kim capitalised on a defensive error by Say Piseth and bore down on goal, only to get a shove in the back as he fired over, with the referee turning a blind eye to the obvious infringement.

With five minutes of the first half remaining, the national team broke the deadlock. A wayward backpass by Leng Makara was pounced on by Vathanaka and he had the easy task of rolling it wide of Kochi for the opening goal. Two minutes later, Obadin broke past two defenders into the box and his precise pass was skewed wide of the far poat by Ouk Sothy, when an equaliser looked on the cards. Kochi recovered from a slip to keep out Sokthorn's effort but he was left stranded when Hoy Phallin supplied Vathanaka and his low cross was turned in by Laboravy for their second goal on the stroke of halftime. There was still time for Laboravy to send another good chance wide of the target with only Kochi to beat. At the break, the national team changed all eleven players whilst Crown sent on Koroma for his first taste of the action. The youngster, who played for Sierra Leone's U-20s last year, didn't have to wait long before making an impact. Booysen's chip over the backline created confusion with Sou Yaty and Touch Pancharong colliding, leaving Koroma the easy task of tapping the ball home from a yard with his first touch. A nice way for the teenager to announce his arrival. His pace was causing Pancharong problems though his eagerness saw him caught offside three times in quick succession. Obadin's ball forward was back-headed by Booysen as Yaty collected the ball on the goal-line, and Koroma's tricky wing play set up Makara close-in but his miskick went astray. At the other end, Moung Makara's shot was blocked by Kochi's legs, and Da made a timely tackle on Kouch Sokumpheak as he looked set to get a shot away. An Obadin back-pass fell short and Sary Matnorotin rounded Kochi but his effort struck the upright, with Makara also lobbing a 20-yard effort against the Crown cross-bar. Crown's Makara sent a dipping volley goalwards with the home team's final chance but Yaty dived to his left to keep out the shot at the foot of the post, to deny the team he left a few weeks before. On the balance of play, a win for the national team was just about deserved.
PPCFC vs NT: Kochi (Ary 77), Da, Sokheng (Boran 46), Boris (Titchhy 90), Obadin, Sothy, S Pisa (Chanpolin 46), Makara (Polo 86), Tola (Koroma 46), Booysen, Kim (Yapo 78). Subs not used: Srey, Chhaya, Sovann, C Pisa, Baraing, Charly. MOTM: Kochi. Goal: Koroma (47).

The starting national team XI, included PPCFC's Sokthorn, Srin and Suhana