Table-toppers

The PPCFC Academy 2 team that top the table. Back Row, LtoR: Chanpolin, Sodavid, Soksela, Senteang, Sovann, Titchhy. Front Row: Phearath, Chansopheak, T Chhaya, Nuron, Muslim.

The Phnom Penh Crown Academy teams recorded two more victories in the Cambodia Football Development League U-16s division on Sunday afternoon in week 4. PPCFC 2 lead the table with four straight wins, brushing aside the initially stiff opposition provided by their PPCFC Community team colleagues 5-0. The community boys held out for fifteen minutes until Yeu Muslim struck the cross-bar and Mat Nuron bundled the ball over the goal-line. Muslim finished with ease five minutes later and in time added on at the end of the first-half,  Nuron added his second through a forest of legs. Without goalkeeper Khek Chan Sambattey, the community team would've been looking at a cricket score, as the youngster, who's already made his C-League debut for BBU this season, kept out a series of goal-bound attempts. After the break, Nuron completed his hat-trick, finishing off an In Sodavid cross and then Muslim added a deft-touch to a breakaway for his side's fifth. In the earlier kick-off, PPCFC Academy 1 put RSISA to the sword, winning 7-1 despite a plucky start from their opponents. Suon Noeut opened the floodgates from the penalty spot after Pov Ponvuthy had been upended. Vat Samnang quickly added a second and then set up Mat Sakrovy for a delightful chip from 20 yards out. RSISA managed to pull a goal back but almost immediately, Sakrovy raced clear to score with ease. Just 46 seconds into the second period of thirty minutes each way, Ponvuthy beat the offside trap to dance around the keeper. Sakrovy completed his hat-trick fifteen minutes in with another trademark chip, before Ponvuthy showed another clean pair of heels to a dispirited RSISA defence for the final nail in their coffin. The two Academy teams are first and second in the table. The results for the U-12 and U-14 teams in Crown's colours weren't so encouraging on Sunday morning. The two U-12 teams lost 8-3 to PKR2 and 10-1 to PKR1. In the U-14 competition, PPCFC 1 were beaten 6-0 by PKR and the PPCFC 2 boys went down 7-1 to Youth Shark. Both age groups are finding the league a tough baptism after recently forming their teams, but they continue to play with enthusiasm and spirit and will definitely get better.

The PPCFC Academy 1 team beat RSISA 7-1. Back Row, LtoR: K Chhaya, Chanchav, Baraing, Rozak, Sakrovy, S Samnang. Front Row: David, Noeut, Piphop, V Samnang, Ponvuthy, Ronaldo.

The PPCFC Community team in the U-16 competition

Big day in the sun

300 youngsters celebrate the opening of the CFDL at Olympic Stadium

Long day in the sun. Bright red face. Exhausted but happy as larry, as everything went so smoothly. The morning's youth league opening at the Olympic Stadium went like clockwork considering we had one of world football's top power-brokers on hand to give us his seal of approval. After a quick burger (and indigestion) for lunch it was off to the RSN Stadium to launch the Phnom Penh Crown fan club and hold our first ever open day. Another roaring success in anyone's book. More later when I've had a few moments in a darkened room and applied some after-sun lotion.

Okay I've had said lie-down and am now refreshed. Young footballers from 10-16 are simply not catered for sufficiently in Cambodian football. They get few opportunities for regular sport, let alone well-organised team sports, especially football. The schools rarely cater for it and aside from a handful of clubs, it's all pretty hit and miss. Hence why Phnom Penh Crown have got their heads together with another half a dozen teams to form the new Cambodia Football Development League with age groups set at U-12, U-14 and U-16. It all kicked-off on Sunday morning with a series of friendly showpiece matches, some 300 boys and 1 girl playing across 22 teams, at the Olympic Stadium, on three pitches and a noise level only surpassed by a Justin Bieber concert. The league format competition, which will take place most weekends by the mainly Phnom Penh-based teams, though Kompong Chhnang and Prek Kdam are represented, was timed perfectly to coincide with the visit of Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, one the FIFA's Vice President's no less, who graciously agreed to officially open the league. As soon as he arrived in the country he was whisked off to the stadium, where he was given a rapturous welcome by the youngsters, offered up a speech and then met each team before heading to his hotel. It was a great start for the fledgling competition. The action continued after his departure and all-in-all, an excellently stage-managed event went like clockwork. Hats off to the organisers, oh, that was Phnom Penh Crown then. Now we're off to Tuol Kork.

Guest of honour Prince Ali of Jordan presents one of the PPCFC community teams with a football