In-house but one-sided

PPCFC U-17s: Back row, LtoR: Sovann, Ponvuthy, Sakrovy, Soksela, Chanpolin, Titchhy. Front Row: Muslim, Nuron, T Chhaya, Chansopheak, Phearath

The new season is just about to start for Phnom Penh Crown's youth teams. The start of the new Federation-organised U-15 and U-17 Championships is scheduled to begin next Sunday (29 Sept). In preparation for it, the Crown Academy, which will provide the vast majority of the players for the two teams, played against each other earlier today.  The result went decisively in favour of the potential U-17 team, though coach Bouy Dary has yet to decide his final squad line-ups. The game was played at RSN Stadium and the U-17s ran out 7-0 winners with Yeu Muslim netting 4 goals, with 1 apiece for Sraing Titchhy, Mat Nuron and Mat Sakrovy.

PPCFC U-15s: Back Row LtoR: Piphop, Sovannaroth, S Samnang, Chanchav, V Samnang, Baraing. Front Row: Noeut, Saphy, Kakada, Piseth, Rozak.

U-14s pride intact

Cambodia U-14s meet Thailand. LtoR: Komapitu, Saphy, Kakada, David, Sopharith, Samnang (capt). Front Row: Mustafa, Kimhong, Davith, Panha, Piseth.

The Cambodian U-14 national team completed their AFC U-14 Championship qualifiers earlier this morning and can feel well pleased with their debut in the competition. Though they didn't qualify for the finals, which was never a realistic expectation, they did put up some sterling performances and picked up two draws, and two points, out of the five group matches they played. They finished 5th out of the six teams and rounded off their matches with successive solo-goal defeats against the group runaway winners Thailand, and early this morning, Singapore. Goal-less draws against Bangladesh and Laos, either side of a 5-0 defeat to Indonesia, coupled with 1-nil defeats to Thailand and Singapore tell the story of the Bouy Dary-coached team, who got together six weeks before the tournament and surprised their opponents with resilient defending, a tight-knit team formation and a willingness to battle for every ball. Where they did come unstuck was in front of goal, not registering a goal in their five matches. They played all their matches in the near empty 30,000 all-seater Zeyar Thiri Stadium in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, playing five games in seven days. For the record, the majority of the Cambodian team were aged just twelve years old whereas most of their opponents were two years older, so there's a lot of promise and hope for the future if these youngsters continue to develop. This was afterall their first major international competition. Quite a daunting task for anyone, let alone boys so young. They return to Phnom Penh tomorrow evening. The eight teams that qualified for the inaugural U-14 continental competition are Thailand, Timor Leste, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, DPR Korea and Iraq.

The Cambodia boys take a breather at the stadium after their final match, with their coaching staff

A new experience

Cambodia U-14 line-up: Back Row LtoR: Samnang, Sopharith, Chanmony, Saphy, Komapitu, Kakada. Front: Mustafa, Davith, Panha, Kimhong, Piseth

It's a new experience for players making their international debut for Cambodia, to not lose. But that's exactly what happened with the Cambodia U-14 national team today. Meeting Bangladesh in their opening game in Group F of the AFC U-14 Championship qualifiers, Cambodia achieved a creditable 0-0 draw and by all accounts should've won the tie. They did everything but score, including showing their passing ability and teamwork to great effect. Now they just need to find their goalscoring form. Their second match is against Indonesia tomorrow morning. The games are being played in a massive stadium in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar. Yesterday's attendance was a mere 30 people. Bouy Dary is the coach in charge of the team, taking time out from his Phnom Penh Crown Academy duties to lead the squad. The U-14 squad is as follows; Svang Samnang (captain), Sin Kakada, Tong Chanmony, Thy Ronaldo, San Davith, Lim Pisoth, Nop David, Ny Mustafa (all PPCFC), Sao Sopheak, Sem Dona, Tep Komapitu, Heng Kimhong, Mao Piseth, Tang Rithyviwath, Em Sopharith, Chhun Devy, Tray Vicheth (all Svay Rieng), Kong Rafat, Sary Slaiman, Yoe Saphy (all Prek Kdam), Sok Panha (Battambang).

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

ASEAN Champions Trophy for Crown Academy

FAM-Frenz U-15 ASEAN CHAMPIONS TROPHY 2013
 
One of the most exciting developments in Asean youth football for decades will begin this coming weekend, on Saturday 25 May. The first round of matches in the brand new FAM-Frenz U-15 Asean Champions Trophy 2013 will take place with all 11 Asean nations competing for the first time in a Champions League-style club competition. With substantial prize money at stake - US$50,000 going to the champions and US$25,000 to the runners-up - this new competition is the brainchild of the Football Association of Malaysia and the Frenz United Football Academy of Pahang, Malaysia, with major sponsorship partners including the regional airline carrier, Air Asia.

Twelve hand-picked teams regarded as the best in each country, which will include two from the Frenz United Academy in Malaysia, will play home and away matches in two groups, with the top two teams going onto contest Semi-Finals and the Final over two legs. Cambodia’s representative will be the Phnom Penh Crown Academy, regarded as possessing the cream of U-15 youth footballers in the Kingdom amongst their ranks. For their competition debut, PPCFC Academy will travel to meet Vietnam’s PVF Academy in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday 25 May for a 7.30pm evening kick-off. The following Saturday, 1 June, PPCFC Academy will be on home soil for the first time to entertain the Frenz Malaysia Academy side, with the game scheduled for the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh. Kick-off time to be confirmed next week.

The organisers and their sponsors are guaranteeing the cost of flights, accommodation, food and transport for all teams’ away matches, so when the PPCFC Academy plays away for example, all costs will be covered for twenty players and five officials. For home matches, it is PPCFC Academy’s responsibility to host their visitors at the Olympic Stadium. There will be an admission charge to watch the games at the Olympic Stadium.
The two groups are as follows:
Group A: Frenz Malaysia A, Singapore NFA, Vietnam PVF Academy, Phnom Penh Crown Academy, Thailand Chonburi Academy, Timor Leste U-15s.
Group B: Frenz Indonesia, Myanmar Mandalay Academy, Lao Toyota Academy, Brunei U-15, Philippines U-15, Frenz Malaysia B.

The fixtures for the PPCFC Academy are as follows:
Saturday 25 May AWAY v Vietnam PVF FA at Thanh Long Sports Center, Ho Chi Minh. KO 7.30pm.
Saturday 1 June HOME v Frenz Malaysia A at Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh. KO to be confirmed.
*Thursday 6 June AWAY v Singapore NFA at Jalan Besar, Singapore. KO 7.45pm.
Saturday 15 June AWAY v Timor Leste U-15 at Municipal Stadium, Dili. KO 3.45pm.
Saturday 22 June HOME v Chonburi FC Thailand at Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh. KO to be confirmed.
Saturday 29 June AWAY v Chonburi FC Thailand at Chonburi Stadium. KO 6pm.
Saturday 6 July HOME v Timor Leste U-15 at Olympic Stadium, Phom Penh. KO to be confirmed.
*Saturday 13 July HOME v Singapore NFA at Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh. KO to be confirmed.
Saturday 20 July AWAY v Frenz Malaysia A at Frenz Stadium, Pahang. KO 8.30pm.
Saturday 27 July HOME v Vietnam PVF FA at Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh. KO to be confirmed.
2 Leg Semi Finals on 3 and 17 August. 2 Leg Final on 24 Aug and 1 Sept.
*Provisional Dates to be confirmed.

At the Official Press Conference to announce the competition, held at the weekend in Kuala Lumpur, the Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) deputy president HRH Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said; “This Under-15 tournament should not just be a tournament for the younger players to gain exposure, but it should be the place where they learn to become champions. It must start at this stage, and the coaches must play their roles to bring up these champions. I am very proud that the tournament is taking place in Pahang (where he is the Crown Prince, and home of Frenz United), and my hope is to see a Malaysia team win the US$100,000 prize money.”
Phnom Penh Crown President, Mr Rithy Samnang, spoke about the benefits of the new U-15 Asean Champions Trophy. "This new competition is a fantastic opportunity for Cambodia's best U-15 players to compare themselves against the best players of the same age across the Asean region. It’s a ground-breaking competition which will allow the young players of Cambodia to understand what is required to match their Asean neighbours, who have historically performed better than Cambodia on the international stage. I am so excited by this Asean Champions Trophy, and I urge all Cambodian football fans to support this new competition."

Academy Timeline

Lest we forget the progress made by the Phnom Penh Crown Academy in the little over two years it's been in existence, here's a brief potted history of the Academy:
February 2011 saw a new chapter begin in the Phnom Penh Crown FC story. Following trials in seventeen provinces around Cambodia, twenty-two young players, aged 13 and under, became the first intake at the club’s Elite Football Academy, the first full-time residential Academy in the country.
It is the vision of Crown President Rithy Samnang to develop well-rounded, technically-gifted players who will represent both club and country in the years to come. With support from the Asia Pacific Football Academy (APFA), the Academy programme is individually tailored and provides players with an opportunity to maximise their football potential whilst placing a strong emphasis on their academic studies. Not only interested in developing great football players, Crown are also aiming to develop great people as well.
Under the leadership of Academy head coach Bouy Dary and assisted by Kao Kiry, both former Cambodian international players and qualified coaches, the Academy squad surpassed all expectations in their first year of existence. International exposure is a key element of the youngsters’ development and half of the squad returned from a six-match visit to the Singapore Sixes youth tournament in June with a creditable third place. The other half of the Academy pool of players enjoyed a three match training tour to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and included a 6-3 success over the Vinamilk-Arsenal Soccer School on their travels.
Closer to home, Crown hosted the inaugural First State Gold Investment Cup in September 2011 with both Academy teams getting through to the cup final to ensure the trophy stayed at home, with the match televised live on national TV. In domestic competition, they carried off the Barclays Capital Indochina Starfish U-13 Championship in May 2011 and repeated the feat in the U-14 Championship in March 2012, scoring 127 goals and winning all twelve matches they played.
July 2012 saw the Academy return to take part in the Singapore Sixes youth tournament, losing out in the final on penalty kicks. A month earlier, 17 of the 22 Academy squad were selected to represent Cambodia in the AFC U-14 Festival of Football in Malaysia. Two Academy players, Orn Chanpolin and Chhuot Senteang travelled to Vietnam in August to represent Cambodia in the Aspire Football Dreams trials.
At the beginning of 2013, the Cambodia Football Development League for youth players at U-12, U-14 and U-16 age levels began and Crown currently sit in first place in the U-16 category with six wins out of six. The Academy have also travelled to play matches against local teams in provinces across the country. Three of the Academy’s youngest players have been selected in the Cambodia U-14 squad for the AFC U-14 championships in Myanmar in May.
All twenty-two players are now in their second full year at the Academy, living in dormitory accommodation at the club’s Tuol Kork training headquarters and attending coaching sessions each morning and private school every afternoon. They have also benefitted from coaching visits from none other than Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, as well as former Chelsea Manager Ken Shellito and Austrian assistant national coach Fritz Schmid.

Taking heart

The PPCFC U-13 line-up that beat Brunei 2-0 this morning

A team under the Phnom Penh Crown name wrapped up their matches in the Thailand Invitation U-13 Tournament in Bangkok this morning. It's actually the Cambodia U-14 national team getting excellent preparation ahead of their AFC U-14 Championship qualifiers later this month in Myanmar, under head coach Bouy Dary. A few weeks ago a squad of 20 boys was selected after try-outs and have been training together, and living together, at Crown's RSN Stadium in Tuol Kork ever since. For the majority of the squad their trip to Bangkok was their first outside their own country and was a perfect baptism ahead of the more important AFC games coming up. Realistically, the tournament in Bangkok was to test the side's teamwork and to gain experience, winning matches was not expected, or a priority. They faced Malaysia in their first match on Wednesday and started badly, conceding a goal in the first minute. Malaysia struck three more before substitute Chhun Devy grabbed a last minute consolation for the Crown youngsters, who went down 4-1. The following day, Thailand were the opposition and proved too strong, running out 4-0 winners. In a much closer match on Friday, Laos managed to grab the all-important goal on 41 minutes and squeezed home 1-0. This morning was Crown's final match, against a Brunei team who'd finished bottom of their 4-team group. This time it was Crown's turn to celebrate with a two-goal salvo from Tang Rithyviwath, on 23 and 29 minutes, giving the Cambodian youngsters something to take home and take heart from ahead of their Myanmar trip. Captain of the team was Crown Academy goalkeeper Svang Samnang, who is just twelve years old and won't be 13 until October, though he towers over the rest of the squad in height. Two of the squad, Devy and Sary Slaiman are just ten years of age and two more are a year older. So its a extremely youthful squad that will take the lessons from Bangkok and put them to good use in the lead-up time to the AFC Championships. In Myanmar, Cambodia have been drawn in the same group, Group F, as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore and Thailand and play their first match on 28 May. The 20-strong squad is: Svang Samnang, Sao Sopheak, Kong Rafat, Sary Slaiman, Sin Kakada, Tong Chanmony, Sem Dona, Tep Veasna Komapitu, Yoe Saphy,  Thy Ronaldo, San Davith, Nop David, Lim Pisoth, Heng Kimhong, Sok Panha, Mao Piseth, Tang Rithyviwath, Em Sopharith, Ny Mustafa, Chhun Devy.

The PPCFC team that went down 4-0 to hosts Thailand

Playing for Cambodia

The Phnom Penh Crown U-15 Academy, expected to provide the bulk of the Cambodia U-16 squad - click to enlarge

This year will see a wealth of opportunities for the best young football talent in Cambodia to get the chance to represent their country in age group competitions at U-14, U-16 and U-19 levels. First up is the U-14 national team who will travel to Myanmar between 28 May-3 June to play in the brand new AFC U-14 Championship qualifiers. 46 nations in 8 groups with eight teams qualifying for the finals in 2014. Cambodia have been drawn into group F alongside Bangladesh, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore and Thailand. In the middle of last year, Bouy Dary, the Academy coach at Phnom Penh Crown, took charge of the Cambodia U-14 team which travelled to Malaysia to take part in the AFC U-14 Festival of Football. In their nine matches, Cambodia drew three and lost six of their games, in what Dary described as a very promising series of performances against such nations as Australia, Thailand and Vietnam. This year, the new U-14 Championship will enable at least half a dozen of that squad to try for selection again because of their tender years. There has been no news from the Federation yet as to who will be in charge.

The same goes for the Cambodia U-16 team that will travel to Napyidaw in Myanmar to take part in the AFF U-16 Championship qualifiers between 20-31 August. Cambodia are in group A with Brunei, Vietnam, Myanmar and Australia. The last time Cambodia played at U-16 level, they got walloped in the AFC U-16s under the tutelage of Daisuke Yoshioka. Again, we await the name of the coach that will be installed by the FFC. The make-up of the U-16 squad will be interesting with the Phnom Penh Crown Academy youngsters having beaten all before them on the domestic stage and having gained experience playing overseas in Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. They should provide the bulk of the squad, though only three of them have reached their 15th birthday, most of the others are just 14. Nevertheless, only Preah Khan Reach can live with them out of the local teams, so expect PKR to supply a few squad players too. In the AFF U-19 Championship category, Cambodia will travel to Dili in East Timor between 21-28 September, having been drawn in group A with Laos, Philippines, Australia, Timor Leste and Singapore. Expect quite a few PKR names in that squad, whoever is appointed coach. Also on the horizon, in girls football, are the national championship in the middle of May, and an international tournament in late July. 

Senate slaughtered

PPCFC Line-up v Senate. Back Row LtoR: Pheng, Srin, Suhana, Dary, Rady, Seyha. Front: Borey, Makara, Seiha, Hasan, Da. Click to enlarge

The selection of assistant coach Bouy Dary in a deep-lying central midfield role was the surprise decision of Phnom Penh Crown head coach Sam Schweingruber for this afternoon's practice match against the Senate Secretariat at the RSN Stadium. Schweingruber was looking for his assistant to be his enforcer on the field and it turned out to be a gentle re-introduction for the former Royal Navy and national teamer as Crown ran out comfortable 9-2 victors over the C-League's new faces. Bin Thierry and Chea Dara sat out the game through injury, with long-term absentee Kouch Sokumpheak, also watching on. It was pretty much one-way traffic from the beginning with Khim Borey heading in, but flagged offside and then Leng Makara volleying one across the face of goal. On 13 minutes Sos Suhana opened the floodgates, released by Borey and guiding the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper. Four minutes later and Borey himself burst between two defenders and smashed his drive powerfully in from fifteen yards. Twenty-one minutes gone and Borey played a neat one-two with Hong Pheng, allowing the latter to find the net with a simple finish. Just after the hour the Senate team scored with their first real attack but were quickly thwarted by a second goal for Pheng, on 35 minutes, after Makara had eluded two tackles and rolled the ball into the young striker's path. His hat-trick, courtesy of quick feet from Suhana and then Borey, was another simple finish four minutes before the break.

Crown quickened up the pace for the second half and went looking for goals. Mart Hasan was denied by keeper Mak Theara, and then blazed over, as did rampaging full-back Thourng Da. On 63 minutes, Hasan got to the bye-line, and his low cross was tucked in smartly from an acute angle by Suhana. Three minutes later, it was Men Seyha's turn to tee up Suhana, and the national teamer powered a shot into the roof of the net from fifteen yards out for his hat-trick. Pheng and Seyha both went close, the former leaning back and firing over from six yards, while Seyha rode three tackles but toe-poked his effort perilously close. A fourth goal for Suhana arrived on 72 minutes after Pheng's initial shot had rebounded off the cross-bar and Makara laid the ball into the path of the attacking midfielder, who made no mistake from ten yards. Kok Boris replaced Bouy Dary before play restarted and within thirty seconds had powered his way into the box, only to send his shot a foot wide. Pheng was also looking to add to his tally, but his thrust into the box saw his strike smash against the cross-bar. Thourng Da's ankle-tap allowed Senate to score from the penalty spot but it was scant consolation for the visitors. A Boris header should've counted but the linesman failed to spot the ball had crossed the line before Theara clawed it back into play. Finally, Pheng netted his fourth, with five minutes to go, sending his drive into the top corner after a neat exchange with Kouch Dani. There was still time for Hasan to sting Theara's hands with another powerful effort. Game over and a comfortable win for Crown with Dary doing well enough to suggest an extra option in the head coach's plans for the new season. The game was the final time for Fritz Schmid to aid Schweingruber and his squad, with his two weeks of mentoring and advising coming to an end. The Austrian No 2 has enjoyed his time with the Crown team and given them much food for thought.
PPCFC line-up: Seiha, Da, Seyha (Dani 80), Srin (Lika 86), Rady, Dary (Boris 72), Hasan, Suhana, Makara, Pheng, Borey (Sothy 72). Subs not used: Ary, Chamrouen, Phearun, Pisa, Morslim, Sochetra, Kano. Bookings: None.

Happy slappy time prior to kick-off

Head coach Sam Schweingruber receives advice from Fritz Schmid (red)

Academy back in gear

PPCFC Academy in the first-half v Army

It has been exactly a month since the Phnom Penh Crown Academy youngsters played their last match. And it showed. The boys were rusty in the early stages of their match this morning, against an Army team who were mostly boys a year or two older than the Crown Academy line-up. Though their passing game on a soggy RSN Stadium pitch wasn't up to their usual standard initially, they were still too good for the Army team, and their shooting came to the fore, particularly in the first-half. In fact I recall only one serious attempt on goal by the Army team in the whole 90-minute match, when Ouk Sovann cleared off the goal-line. At the other end, Crown took a three-goal half-time lead and with a completely changed line-up at the interval, went onto record a 4-0 victory. Long Phearath ventured forward to open the scoring on ten minutes with a left-foot stinging half-volley from a wide angle. Twenty minutes later In Sodavid picked his spot, the top left-hand corner, with a powerful sidefoot from 22 yards out. On the stroke of half-time, Orn Chanpolin lashed in another screamer from 25 yards, which gave the hapless keeper no chance. 10-men Crown had played for twenty minutes without centre-half Sraing Titchhy who twisted his ankle. After the break, the Army successfully repelled Crown's advances until ten minutes from time when Mat Sakrovy cut inside his marker and unleashed another thundering effort into the top corner. Four fabulous strikes, all from outside the penalty box. Another successful day at the office for the Crown Academy.

The 2nd half Academy team

In Sodavid breaks into the Army penalty box

Half-time team talk from coach Bouy Dary

Back Row, LtoR: Kiry (coach), Ponvuthy, Chanchav, Sodavid, Piphop, Senteang, Titchhy, Chanpolin, S Samnang, Baraing, K Chhaya, Sakrovy, Sovann. Front Row: Phearath, T Chhaya, David, Muslim, Noeut, Chansopheak, Ronaldo, Nuron, Rozak, V Samnang, Dary (coach)

Determined fightback

Wednesday morning, the Phnom Penh Crown Academy boys took on the U-16s from Preah Khan Reach at the 3G all-weather pitches in the city. This was the Academy's last run-out before the boys get the chance to head home for the Pchum Ben festival to spend time with their families. Academy coach Bouy Dary tried a different approach for this game and it didn't work out as he'd hoped as Preah Khan stormed into a four-goal lead before Orn Chanpolin pulled a goal back. Seut Baraing and Chanpolin scored again as the Academy reduced the deficit, only for PKR to wrap the result up, at 5-3, with a late goal. If you don't try it, you never know.

The dream is on

Orn Chanpolin will get to follow his dream in Saigon

Two members of the Phnom Penh Crown Academy, Orn Chanpolin and Chhuot Senteang, will line up with 48 same-age Vietnamese youngsters next week, all hoping to get selected as the best three players who will get the chance to try-out for a scholarship at the Aspire Sports Academy for Excellence in Qatar. The Aspire Football Dreams programme is exactly what it says, an opportunity for these boys to live their dream and to be part of a world-class football academy. No less than 60,000 boys aged 13-15 from Vietnam have been taking part in regional trials, alongwith around 600 youngsters in four centers in Cambodia. Chanpolin and Senteang were the best of the Khmer trialists after sessions were held in Phnom Penh, Pursat, Kompong Chhnang and Battambang. The top fifty boys will now undergo the final selection phase; an intensive three day assessment period at Thanh Long Sports Complex in Ho Chi Minh City from 6-8 August. The best three youngsters will then head for a critical month in Doha, Qatar for careful evaluation, training and development from Aspire's dedicated team of experts before their futures are decided. Amongst the coaches who will assess the boys in Saigon will be Lionel Messi's former coach, Arseni, as well as Xavier and Oscar (who also came to assess the boys in Cambodia), all from FC Barcelona. Make no mistake, Aspire are taking this very seriously. They started their unique scouting project to identify talented young footballers across the world in 2007. The boys are selected based on their physical, tactical and team integration abilities. Both Chanpolin and Senteang are fourteen years old and have been part of the Crown Elite Academy since its inception. Chanpolin hails from Phnom Penh and usually plays in midfield whilst Senteang, from Banteay Meanchey, is a striker who doubles up as a very good goalkeeper. Accompanying them to the Saigon trials will be the Crown Academy head coach Bouy Dary, who also leads the Cambodian U-14 national team.
Update: The two boys have returned home after their Aspire experience in Ho Chi Minh. They both enjoyed the opportunity to pit themselves against the 48 Vietnam youngsters but ultimately didn't qualify for the top two places that were selected to go to Qatar. Chanpolin made the final best twenty and both acquitted themselves extremely well according to Bouy Dary. Aspire are keen to expand their talent search throughout Cambodia next year and more trials will be held, which will increase the representation from Cambodia.

Weekend aspirations

Back in April I told you to keep your eyes peeled for a plan to uncover the very best young footballers in the country. Aspire Football Dreams is a worldwide search for the stars of tomorrow. Since 2007, when the project was launched, over 1 million young footballers from Asia, Latin America and Africa have been tested to see if they have what it takes to become a top player of the future. With support from Nike and Unicef, and with the involvement of coaches from Barcelona, the top players from each region travel to Doha in Qatar and are hosted at Aspire Academy, where they receive top-level training during their sports scholarship. Now Aspire are bringing their search to Cambodia and will hold trials this coming weekend in four centers to identify the best footballing talent aged 13-15 years old. The first trial will be at the RSN Stadium in Tuol Kork on Friday when 200 boys are expected to attend, including members of the Phnom Penh Crown Academy, then the trials will move onto Pursat, Battambang and Kompong Chhnang with similar numbers of youngsters involved. The coach-scouts from Aspire and local coaches such as Bouy Dary and Sam Schweingruber will pick only the very best, perhaps three at the most, who will move onto the final selection stage, to be held in Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam next month, and from there the best of the best from Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam will go to Qatar. This is a never-before opportunity for the cream of Cambodian youth football to rise to the top. Let's hope they make it.

Academy praised

In Sodavid, the Academy top scorer in Singapore with six goals

Phnom Penh Crown Academy coach Bouy Dary praised his charges for their runners-up spot in last weekend's Singapore Cricket Club International Soccer Sixes U-14 Charity tournament but felt there was much to learn from the experience for the ten players who made the trip. "We were dominant in every game, including the final but we lacked concentration at the start of the last match, conceding twice before playing well for the rest of the game. We pulled it back to 2-2 but we should've scored half a dozen. Our finishing was not great and its frustrating because Bali had only two chances in the whole game. When it came to the penalties we missed twice and I think it was down to nerves. Everyone who watched the game told me the boys played exceptionally well but they must take their chances when they come along. Another lesson to learn." Dary took ten youngsters to Singapore for the two-day competition, though only nine actually played any game-time as Phoeun Sopheak is still recovering from his knee injury. The nine were: Svang Samnang, Men Piphop, Seut Baraing, Orn Chanpolin, Chhuot Senteang, In Sodavid, Yeu Muslim, Ken Chansopheak, Pov Ponvuthy. They were keen to better their third place from the previous year's competition and did exactly that, though they will kick themselves for not bringing back the winners trophy. There's a possibility of a trip to Thailand later this month for a series of games but more pressing is a match against a Banteay Meanchey representative team tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at RSN Stadium.

On the first day of the Soccer Sixes competition, Crown began like a runaway train. Playing two seven minute halves and six-a-side for each of the group matches, they met the Hevea MK Palembang team from Indonesia in the 1st game and led with two early goals from Seut Baraing before wrapping up the 4-0 win through Ken Chansopheak and Yeu Muslim. Next up was the Muhammadiyah Association from Singapore and they were easily dispensed 6-0. Muslim started the rout, Orn Chanpolin and In Sodavid both chipped in with two goals each before Pov Ponvuthy added the icing on the cake. Sodavid made an immediate impression in the third match with two goals in the first two minutes. He netted his hat-trick after Ponvuthy and Chansopheak had also scored in a 5-0 success over the Youth Football Home team from Phuket in Thailand. So far so good. The next morning the Rumah Faith Home from Malaysia were easily brushed aside in the 18 minute semi-final, with Crown winning 6-0 and looking on course for the trophy. Chanpolin, Ponvuthy, Chansopheak (2), an own goal and Sodavid were the goalscorers and Crown were through to the U-14 Charity Cup final where they would face last year's champions, Bali Sports Foundation from Indonesia. Two lapses of concentration handed the edge to Bali early doors only for Chanpolin and Ponvuthy to score and level the final tie. Rueing a few missed opportunities, the match went into three penalty-kicks per team and with two misses, Crown lost out 2-1 on sudden death spot-kicks.

Cup Final Heartache

Pov Ponvuthy celebrating one of his goals in last year's Soccer Sixes

It hurts to lose any match by way of a penalty shoot-out but it hurts even more when it's a cup final. Now the Phnom Penh Crown Academy know exactly how that pain feels after going down 2-1 on penalties in the final of the Singapore Cricket Club International Soccer Sixes U-14 Charity Tournament earlier this afternoon at the Padang cricket ground. Coming into the final the Academy boys had swept all before them with 21 goals scored in four matches and none conceded. That is until they faced last year's U-14 Singapore cup winners, Bali Sports Foundation from Indonesia. Bali took a quick two-goal lead in the final and led at half-time. The Academy youngsters recovered in the second period, pulling the game level with goals from Orn Chanpolin and Pov Ponvuthy to make it 2-2 at the final whistle, but it was the sudden-death penalties that finally undid the Academy. They lost 2-1 in the shoot-out and had to settle for second place, an improvement on last year's performance, but still a bitter pill to swallow after showing so much promise leading up to the final. Coach Bouy Dary and his ten-strong squad will return to Phnom Penh tomorrow, when I'll bring you a full report from the tournament.

"We played beautiful football"

Bouy Dary, head coach of Cambodia's U-14 national team

I caught up with Bouy Dary this week to look back at his experiences as the Cambodia U-14 head coach and his team of promising youngsters, who returned recently from the AFC U-14 Festival of Football, impressing many with their style of play, their positive attitude and their sportsmanship throughout the tournament, which took place in Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia earlier this month. In their nine matches, Cambodia drew three and lost six of their games, in what Dary described as a very promising series of performances against such nations as Australia, Thailand and Vietnam. The AFC themselves do not release the results of the games played at the Festival. They prefer to keep the competitive edge out of the Festival and to concentrate more on the teamwork, friendship and sportsmanship elements of the 12-nation tournament.
"I couldn't ask any more from my boys," said Dary. "We surprised everyone with our style of play. We played beautiful, passing football, all of the players have improved and they proved they could play at the highest level that their age allows. The two teams that I selected were of equal ability, everyone followed the style of play we set out for them. I must single out Long Phearath, who was fantastic. He was quite outstanding, especially against the bigger boys, as was Mat Nuron. But everyone played their part, it was a real team effort.
The boys have learnt so much. They were exposed to the culture of the different people they met from so many countries. They have learned a lot from the games they played and how to adapt their own game to different opposition. They learned from the AFC green card system of fair play and sportsmanship. Many of the boys had never flown before, but they followed our plan and were able to adapt to all the new experiences they faced quickly and easily. Personally, I took on board what the AFC were keen to promote, that the development of the boys at this age is more important than winning. I also gained a good insight and understanding into how other countries operate, which is important for us to learn from other nations.
We played good football in each match and we played fair. I am proud of the way the team performed on and off the field. Absolutely no problems. As a coaching team we also worked really hard and I can say it was a successful experience for all concerned. We were fit, our recovery was good but when we played against some of the teams like Vietnam and Thailand, they were very big by comparison and that made it hard, particularly in the attacking and defending thirds. I'm not sure about the ages of the teams we played, it's not an excuse but I looked at the teams on and off the field and many of them acted far older than their age and their attitude was very different. We held our own in most of the matches but some of the teams played the long ball and used their superior height to best advantage.
Cambodian boys are physically smaller at this age, it's all down to their background and their diet. You can see that in some of the boys who come from a good stable background, they are physically stronger. We need to work on their balance, improve their strength, their body weight and I believe they will be ready at sixteen or seventeen. I feel confident that if we look after our young players, get them good accommodation, the right food and diet and play games against good foreign opposition over the next two years, that we will improve and be in a position to win games at the U-16 level of competition. These teams are not better than us, many of our boys are already tactically and technically better, but we must look after them. It's so important. I talk to the boys a lot to encourage them, as a team and individually. They must work hard to improve and show their commitment, but now they know what the other teams are like and they can see for themselves there is no difference. That will give them great encouragement. We need to keep this group together for the next two years and I hope the Football Federation will help me to do this."
Bouy Dary is also the head coach of the Phnom Penh Crown Academy, who supplied 17 of the 22-strong squad that the Cambodia U-14s took to the AFC Festival.

Bouy Dary working with his U-14 national team squad

Spotlight on Sunday

Bouy Dary gives his Academy team a pre-match talk in Kompong Cham province

The Academy starting line-up for the 1st half v Tbong Khmoum district opponents

Svang Samnang gets a start in goal

Warming-up exercises before the game

The boys listen to the pre-match talk from the coach

The half-time team-talk attracted hordes of listeners

Head over the ball, In Sodavid with the penalty kick that won the match 3-2

Suon Noeut demonstrates the perfect cross

Men Piphop with a throw-in

The Academy line-up that started the 2nd half of the 3-period game

The Phnom Penh Crown Academy youngsters took themselves and the name of their club to the provinces on Sunday to play a representative team from a district deep into the rubber tree territory of Kompong Cham. Here are more photographs from their weekend away. Coach Bouy Dary expressed satisfaction with the trip, designed at making new friends, giving his Academy team new experiences and to play on a pitch and against opposition they wouldn't normally encounter.

Festival Day 2

The results from day 2 of the AFC U-14 Festival of Football in Malaysia are just in. The bare bones of the results, with matches played over a thirty minute period, are as follows:
Cambodia 1 v 4 Timor Leste - Cambodia goal scored by Kim Hap in the 1st minute.
Cambodia 0 v 2 Thailand
Cambodia 0 v 0 Myanmar.
Head coach Bouy Dary felt that his youngsters began the first game against Timor Leste really well and took an early lead through Preah Khan Reach's Kim Hap, only for the boys to switch off, stop doing as they'd be told and allowed Timor Leste to storm back into the game. Against Thailand, who were bigger in stature as Cambodian are finding most of the teams in this competition, the head coach was suitably impressed by his team, who played good football and the match could've gone either way. It went in favour of Thailand who scored twice, including an own goal. The goalless draw against Myanmar in the final game today was a repeat of yesterday's drawn tie. Dary declared himself happy with the way his team have competed and played, regardless of the results and the Cambodian team have also impressed the other coaches and fans as well, he reports.

The Cambodian youngsters will be involved in a skills test day tomorrow with members of the C-Licence coaching course that is being held simultaneously with the Festival. On Saturday the Cambodian U-14 team move onto the second stage of games, lasting sixty minutes each, with a half-time break. The 22-strong squad will be split into two 11-a-side teams, as it has for the first round of matches, and Team 1 will play in the first-half and Team 2 will change places with them for the 2nd half. 3 substitutions are allowed to any team. The Cambodians meet Myanmar again at 2pm on Saturday and then in the Festival's final day of competition, they come up against the hosts, Malaysia at 10.45am and then finish with a game against Vietnam U-14s at 3.30pm.

The line-ups for the three matches today:
v Timor Leste: Chanvuthy, Phearath, Noeut, Titchhy (capt), Senteang, Chanchav, Ravann, T Chhaya, Nuron, Hap, Sakrovy.
v Thailand: Pheakdey, K Chhaya, Senteang, Baraing, Sovann (capt), Chanpolin, Rosak, Sodavid, Chansopheak (Nuron), Ponvuthy, Muslim.
v Myanmar: Chanvuthy, Phearath, Sovann, Titchhy (capt), Senteang, Chanchav, Sodavid, Ravann, Nuron, Hap, Sakrovy.

Opening day results

The Cambodia U-14's line-up in the first match v Philippines - click to enlarge

I spoke to Cambodia U-14s head coach Bouy Dary straight after the youngsters final match of the opening day of the AFC U-14 Festival of Football, played in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia and it was clear that he was immensely pleased and proud of how his young squad had performed in their three matches today. Not only was he happy with their showing in the three games but others watching the matches had also commented to him on how talented the Cambodian youngsters were and how their style of play was a pleasure to watch. The U-14s began the day against the Philippines and found themselves on the wrong end of a 2-0 defeat, though Dary felt his youngsters had the measure of their opponents towards the end of the 30-minute game. All the matches in the first two days are of thirty minute duration. The Philippines team had spent the last couple of months at a training camp in Palermo, Italy and had played a dozen warm-up matches whilst overseas, showing the difference in preparation between the two countries, with Dary having access to his squad for three days a week for the last two months. The second and third matches of the day for the Cambodian U-14s were in the afternoon. Dary played two line-ups of eleven players each, ensuring all of his squad players got game-time. The match against Myanmar couldn't have started any better with a goal by Kunthea Ravann of Preah Khan Reach after just a minute. Despite this head start, Myanmar later equalised though the head coach felt his team were always the better side on display as the teams fought out a 1-1 draw at the final whistle. For their final game on day 1, Cambodia faced the much taller and physically stronger team from West Australia but that didn't deter the Cambodian youngsters who were unlucky not to record their first win. A goal by Yeu Muslim on eleven minutes gave Cambodia the lead but Australia levelled and a penalty by Pov Ponvuthy went astray leaving a final score of 1-1. Dary was full of praise for his boys in both matches against bigger opposition and felt they were the better team in both encounters. The U-14's have three games tomorrow against Timor Leste, Thailand and Myanmar again, all of thirty minutes duration, before three more games that will be played for an hour apiece on Saturday and Sunday.
The line-ups for the three matches today:
v Philippines: Pheakdey, K Chhaya, Piphop, Baraing, Sovann (capt), Chanpolin, Rosak, Sodavid, Chansopheak, Ponvuthy, Muslim.
v Myanmar: Chanvuthy, Phearath, Noeut, Titchhy (capt), Senteang, Chanchav, Ravann, T Chhaya, Nuron, Hap, Sakrovy.
v West Australia: Pheakdey, K Chhaya, Piphop, Baraing, Sovann (capt), Chanpolin, Rosak, Sodavid, Chansopheak, Ponvuthy, Muslim.

The Cambodia U-14s for the 1-1 with Myanmar - click to enlarge

The Australia team in yellow completely dwarf their Cambodian opponents in blue

Dary makes his point

Some of the Cambodian U-14 squad, who are likely smaller in stature than their upcoming opponents

The Cambodia U-14 national team leave these shores for the AFC Festival of Football in Malaysia this weekend, full of youthful hope and optimism. And why not, they are the best of their age-group in the country and have worked hard to put into practice the style of quick, passing football that head coach Bouy Dary wants to see his youngsters play. One point that Dary makes forcibly is on age-cheating. This is where players are given fictitious birthdates/passports that allow them to appear in age-group competitions when their real birthdates would make them ineligible, as they are too old. This has been a blight on youth football for many years in Asia and Africa and FIFA have made great strides over the last few years to cut it out. "I disagree strongly with this practice and will make sure it will not be allowed to happen whilst I'm responsible for this team. I'm sure our boys will be physically smaller, but for me, we must take the correct age for the boys, see how they perform against other countries and then we can see how much we need to develop them, in order to be competitive. I feel very strongly about this." He's also keen to keep his squad together after this festival and will talk to the federation about getting them together, perhaps once or twice a month. There is little doubt that this U-14 squad will be the best prepared and the most closely-knit of any Cambodian team of its age, especially with 17 of the 22-strong squad coming from the Phnom Penh Crown Academy team, which Dary mentors as the Crown head coach. The Malaysia festival will be the fifth and final AFC Festival of Football this season after four regional festivals that have already taken place in Qatar, Pakistan, China and Nepal. There are twelve nations joining the South East Asia regional series in Kinabalu, Malaysia with Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Australia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam joining the hosts and Cambodia.

The Nepal U-14s who led their festival and look considerably bigger and stronger than their Cambodian counterparts