Twice in a week

Academy 2. Back Row LtoR: Titchhy, Sodavid, Soksela, Sovann, Chanpolin. Front Row: Senteang, T Chhaya, Muslim, Chansopheak, Nuron, Phearath. 

The Svay Rieng club seem to have the Indian Sign over Phnom Penh Crown this week, after their U-16 team beat the Crown Academy 2 team 1-0 in the final of the Cambodia Football Development League U-16 Championship earlier this morning at the RSN Stadium. On Saturday their senior team upset the Crown senior team in the Metfone C-League play-off semi-final and today, the Svay Rieng U-16s turned the form book on its head to win. The match, two halves of thirty minutes each, as expected, was a cagey affair with neither team producing much goalmouth action though the visitors picked up two bookings for rough challenges early on. Crown's Yeu Muslim dragged the best chance of the first-half wide of the mark just before the break with a left-foot shot from Long Phearath's ball forward. The stalemate continued well into the second half until ten minutes before the end, a long ball caught out the home defence and Kunthea Ravann slotted in what turned out to be the winning goal. Despite six minutes of added on time after the Svay Rieng team repeatedly faked injury, the win gave the former Preah Khan Reach club a hat-trick of CFDL titles at U-12, U-14 and U-16 levels in the competition's debut season. 
In the first half of the season, the Academy 2 team reigned supreme with six wins out of six, including a 4-1 thrashing of Svay Rieng in March. After the Academy were accepted into the Asean U-15 Champions Trophy, the league campaign was shelved and play-offs were introduced with the Academy 2 getting to the final at the expense of their Academy 1 teammates. But today, they couldn't repeat the thumping of earlier in the season. Academy coach Bouy Dary had this to say at the final whistle. "I’m disappointed of course, they weren’t better than us but we didn’t concentrate 100% for the whole game and were not good enough to win today. We allowed them to cross the ball too much and didn’t press them quick enough when they had the ball, which is how they scored. We weren’t as fresh as we could’ve been as we have played a lot this month but I was happy that we fought until the end. For me, the difference between us is that we focus more on development than winning the title, if we wanted to win this cup we would’ve put only one team in the competition. Winning in the future is important but not at this stage of their development. Now we will concentrate on our game this Saturday (in Malaysia) and learn from the mistakes we made today." 

Svay Rieng celebrate their success this morning with the CFDL Trophy

Academy win, and lose

The winning Academy 2 team: Back Row LtoR: Sovann, Titchhy, Sodavid, Senteang, Chanpolin, Dara. Front Row: Phearath, Nuron, Chansopheak, Muslim, T Chhaya. Click to enlarge.

The Cambodia Football Development League took a back-seat once the Phnom Penh Crown Academy started playing in the Asean U-15 Champions Trophy. The second half of the season was curtailed into a series of play-off matches and in the U-16 Championship, where the Academy 2 team led the way, followed by the Academy 1 team and Svay Rieng, there was one outstanding match. The semi-final of the U-16s to decide who would meet Svay Rieng in the final. As you might expect, the match-up was between the two Academy teams. In a closely-fought match on Tuesday, and with penalties looking like the eventual outcome, Chhuot Senteang popped up in the box to convert the winning goal in the final minute for the Academy 2 team. The same player had already missed three guilt-edged chances before that, so for his sake he was relieved to put it away, while Mat Sakrovy and Pov Ponvuthy went close for the Academy 1 side. Though it was a match between Academy teammates no quarter was given and at least three players limped off at the final whistle. It was a good warm-up for the Academy squad that will travel to play in Singapore this coming Saturday in the Asean U-15 competition. The date for the U-16s final is yet to be decided. Svay Rieng will be looking for a clean sweep after they carried off both the U-12 and U-14 competition finals a week or so earlier.

Academy 1. Back Row LtoR: Noeut, K Chhaya, Baraing, Chanchav, V Samnang, S Samnang. Front Row: Sakrovy, Ponvuthy, Piphop, David, Rozak. Click to enlarge.

Academy beat themselves

PPCFC Academy 2. Back Row LtoR: Titchhy, Senteang, Sodavid, Soksela, Sovann, Chanpolin. Front: Chansopheak, Nuron, T Chhaya, Muslim, Phearath.

Saturday morning saw the match of the day in the Cambodia Football Development League U-16 competition as the Phnom Penh Crown Academy came face to face with itself. The league leaders, Academy 2 were up against the 2nd-placed team, Academy 1 at the club's RSN Stadium. There was little to choose between the sides for much of the first half besides an opening goal after five minutes for Academy 2. Mat Nuron squeezed in a cross from the bye-line and Yeu Muslim was on hand to poach a goal from close range. In the first minute after the restart Chhuot Senteang crashed a shot against the cross-bar whilst keeper Keo Sokseyla at the other end, pulled off a great 1-handed save from Vat Samnang's free-kick. Academy 1 went down to 10-men when Choun Chanchav limped off and Academy 2 increased their lead 20 minutes into the second period. In a repeat of the first goal, Nuron set up Muslim, who tucked his shot inside the post. Svang Samnang in the Academy 1 goal pulled off a great double save to deny Senteang and Muslim, but could only parry Senteang's last minute shot, which the striker followed up to give Academy 2 a 3-0 victory, and bragging rights for the rest of the week.

PPCFC Academy 1. Back Row LtoR: K Chhaya, S Samnang, Ronaldo, V Samnang, Baraing, Chanchav. Front: Rozak, Piphop, Ponvuthy, David, Noeut.

Academy are 1 and 2

Academy1. Back row LtoR: Kao Kiry (coach), Noeut, S Samnang, Baraing, K Chhaya, Sakrovy. Front Row: Piphop, David, V Samnang, Ponvuthy, Rozak, Chanchav.

The Phnom Penh Crown Academy teams both won their matches in the CFDL U-16 competition, with the Academy 1 team playing on Saturday morning, beating the Army U-16s 3-0, with all the goals coming in the last five minutes. Svang Samnang kept the Army at bay early doors with a couple of saves, but the Academy were always on top and let their superior stamina make its mark late on. Vat Samnang opened the scoring and then set up Men Piphop twice, to wrap up the victory. Academy 2 lie 2nd in the table. In the Sunday afternoon encounter with RSISA, Academy 2 kept their lead intact at the top of the competition with an emphatic 9-1 success. RSISA started off on the wrong foot, fielding just seven players until reinforcements arrived by the time they were three goals behind. Ouk Sovann headed the first on two minutes with Yeu Muslim and Theang Chhaya quickly adding two more. Chhuot Senteang netted a quick-fire double, both times racing clear of his marker, and then set up Chhaya for his second. Mat Nuron's quick feet was rewarded when his inch-perfect cross was headed home by Orn Chanpolin for 7-0 at the interval. Chanpolin cantered through for his second after the break before Senteang rounded off his hat-trick with a cute finish. RSISA netted a late consolation, and will be glad they kept it under double figures. The other club results from the CFDL matches on Sunday, saw the PPCFC 1 team beat their teammates in PPCFC 2 in the U-12's match, 6-3. In the U-14 division, PPCFC 1 beat Young Wolf 6-3, but PPCFC 2 lost 4-1 to SSCA 2. The PPCFC Community team in the U-16s age group went down to SSCA 4-0.

Academy 2. Back row, LtoR: Chanpolin, Senteang, Soksela, Sovann, Titchhy. Front: Muslim, Chansopheak, T Chhaya, Nuron, Phearath, Sodavid.

More Academy victories

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

The two Phnom Penh Crown Academy teams recorded victories in the Cambodia Football Development League on Sunday afternoon, as they brought down the curtain on no less than eleven youth matches at the RSN Stadium in Tuol Kork at U-12, U-14 and U-16 age levels throughout the day. Just a few weeks ago, up to 300 youngsters were not playing regular competitive football, but they are now. And they are loving it. You just have to see some of the goal celebrations to know that. The Academy 2 team maintained their winning record at the top of the U-16 table. They beat Prek Kdam 4-2 despite going behind. Chhuot Senteang equalised from Orn Chanpolin's pass, and two minutes later Yeu Muslim slotted home after Senteang's initial shot was blocked. In the second half, Ken Chansopheak was felled and Sraing Titchhy netted from the penalty spot. Senteang wrapped it up with another cool finish from Long Phearath's cross. In the preceding game, the Academy 1 team had put the PPCFC 3 community team in their place, 3-1, after they went behind to an own goal, headed in by Seut Baraing. After the interval, the Academy stepped on the gas and Baraing saved face by putting a penalty in the top corner, after Pov Ponvuthy was fouled. Ponvuthy then raced clear to finish and Mat Sakrovy wrapped it up, but only after the same player had his spot-kick saved, awarded for a trip on Nop David. In the morning CFDL games, the PPCFC 2 U-12 team came a cropper, losing 13-0 to Prek Kdam. In the U-14 games, both PPCFC teams fought gallantly before going down to defeat. PPCFC 2 lost 2-1 to Young Wolf and PPCFC 1 just couldn't pull back the deficit against SSCA 1, losing 4-3.

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

The PPCFC 3 Community team in the U-16s competition

Hat-trick for U-16s

PPCFC2 starting line-up. Back Row LtoR: Sodavid, Sovann, Soksela, Senteang, Chanpolin, Titchhy. Front: Phearath, Muslim, Nuron, T Chhaya, Chansopheak - click to enlarge

The match of the day in the Cambodia Football Development League on Sunday morning at RSN Stadium was the crunch game between the Phnom Penh Academy 2 team and Preah Khan Reach in the U-16 competition. The week before PKR had beaten the Academy 1 team and were out to make it a double. They were in for a rude awakening. It took just 26 seconds for Chhuot Senteang to send a 25-yard drive into the top corner for the opening Academy goal. Four minutes later and In Sodavid tapped in a Senteang pass for number two. PKR scored from a dubious penalty award but a minute before the break, Senteang blocked a goalkeeper clearance and Mat Nuron rolled the loose ball into the net. Yeu Muslim hit the post with a chip before Senteang made the game safe nine minutes into the second half when he challenged the keeper on the edge of the box and rounded him to score with ease. A match of the day worthy of the tag with the Academy 2 boys winning 4-1. In the earlier game, the Academy 1 team beat Prek Kdam 4-0 with Mat Sakrovy on fire, scoring all four goals, with three of them coming in the second-half. The third Crown team in the U-16 comp, the community boys under Kouch Sokumpheak, made it a hat-trick of wins with their first success, 2-1 against Rising Stars. In the U-12s the PPCFC 1 team went down 5-1 to PKR1 under the watchful eye of their new coach, ex-Cambodian U-16 girls player Srey Teav.

PPCFC 1 team. Back Row LtoR: Sakrovy, Beut, Chanchav, S Samnang, Baraing, K Chhaya. Front: Piphop, Rozak, V Samnang, Ponvuthy, David

The PPCFC 3 community boys team, 2-1 winners on the day at U-16

Srey Teav with the PPCFC 1 and 2 U-12 teams - click to enlarge

Crown down AEU

PPCFC line-up. Back Row LtoR: Seyha, Njoku, Srin, Hasan, Lika, Ary. Front: Kano, Sothy, Pisa, Morslim, Phearun.

Coach Sam Schweingruber pitched his unused squad players against Asia Euro University this morning in a practice match at the RSN Stadium. The Phnom Penh Crown team contained two of the playing substitutes from the day before, namely Ouk Sothy and Chhom Pisa, but the remainder were either on the bench or not selected for the 5-0 win over Senate. Kingsley Njoku, who's been training with the team for the last week as he keeps fit whilst looking for a new club, started up front. Seut Baraing, the 13-year-old Academy full-back who trains with the senior players each morning, played for the last thirty minutes, the second time he's appeared in practice matches. Mart Hasan scored the opening goal on 11 minutes from the edge of the penalty box and Pisa, with a customary powerful shot, made the final scoreline 2-0 in Crown's favour two minutes before the end.

PPCFC line-up: Ary, Kano (Dara 45), Seyha (Phearun 60), Srin, Lika, Phearun (Rady 45), Pisa, Sothy (Njoku 75), Morslim (Baraing 60), Hasan, Njoku (Dary 45).

The Cambodia Football Development League enjoyed its second weekend of matches at the RSN Stadium on Sunday morning. The U-12 and U-14 teams played games on the grass and all-weather pitches at the stadium. In the U-12 competition, the PPCFC 1 team lost 0-5 v Prek Kdam and the PPCFC 2 team lost 0-12 v Preah Khan Reach 2. It was only the second games played for the newly-formed PPCFC U-12 teams, which are coached by Mak Phearun. For the U-14 competition, PPCFC 1 beat Rising Stars 5-4 in a close encounter but the PPCFC 2 team lost 1-9 to SSCA 1 in a more one-sided game. The U-14 boys with PPCFC are coached by Pheak Rady. There were no matches for the U-16 boys this weekend. Many of the youngsters in the PPCFC community teams then came to the Olympic Stadium to cheer the Crown senior players against Senate in the afternoon.

CFDL opens its arms

Coach Kouch Sokumpheak with his PPCFC 3 U-16 community team

Sunday morning at 7.30am, and the first game in the brand new Cambodia Football Development League kicked-off with the PPCFC 3 team taking on the Army. Phnom Penh Crown captain Kouch Sokumpheak had got out of bed early to take charge of his U-16 team, all of which are youngsters from the surrounding community and playing together for the first time. They were up against a well-drilled U-16 team from Army and their debut was definitely a baptism of fire. They went down 6-0. Sokumpheak refused to resign, despite ribbing from some of his colleagues. For the boys, they may've lost but at last the formation of the league gives them the opportunity to play competitive football with boys of their own age for the first time and on a regular basis. The U-16 competition looks set to be hotly disputed. The third match of the morning was the PPCFC 2 team, made up of the older Academy players aged 14 and 15, and they faced up against the SCCA team. In chareg as usual with Academy games was coach Bouy Dary. Though the Academy were dominant throughout they missed chances, including a penalty, before Theang Chhaya lobbed the ball in from 25 yards and that proved to be the only goal of the game. In the final U-16 match, PPCFC 1, the younger Academy players aged 12 and 13, found the going tough against the U-16s of Preah Khan Reach and they too missed a penalty early on. Vat Samnang did score from the spot but they went down 5-1. So a mixed bag of results and a great start to the U-16 campaign. Matches are for an hour, 11-a-side on the full-size pitch. In the U-12s, which is 5-a-side and played on the astro-turf at RSN Stadium, the PPCFC 1 team came up against the PPCFC 2 side and won 7-1. Nearly thirty youngsters turned up to join in and this already looks to be a thriving addition to the club's community engagement program with most of the boys coming from the Tuol Kork district. The U-14s begin their matches next Sunday morning. This initiative is Phnom Penh Crown's but it needs the support from all the clubs taking part as well as teams to supply referees to officiate at the games. Members of the Crown senior squad also played their part in taking charge of a couple of matches as well.

These ten U-12s began the PPCFC 1 v PPCFC 2 match on the astro-turf

The U-16 PPCFC 2 team, who won 1-0 v SCCA. Back Row LtoR: Chanpolin, Sodavid, Senteang, Soksela, Sovann, Titchhy. Front: Muslim, Chhaya, Nuron, Chansopheak, Phearath.

The PPCFC 1 U-16s team who lost to PKR. Back row LtoR: K Chhaya, S Samnang, Baraing, Sakrovy, Noeut. Front: Ponvuthy, David, Rozak, V Samnang, Chanchav, Piphop.

In Sodavid, the outstanding midfielder for the PPCFC 2 team, takes aim