Best of Cambodia's youth

PPCFC U-17s vs Cambodia U-23s, back row, LtoR: Sovann, Chanpolin, Chhaya. Titchhy, Thomas, Soksela. Front Row: Suleiman, Baraing, Sodavid, Chansopheak, Piphop - click to enlarge

Friday 10 April 2015: Result: Phnom Penh Crown Academy U-17s 1 Cambodia U-23s 1 (Friendly).
A really good work-out for the best of Cambodia's younger players ended in a deserved draw as the Crown U-17s held their more illustrious opponents on the Western artificial grass pitch. The U-23s held the upper hand in the first-half, moving the ball quickly and two last-ditch tackles by Sraing Titchhy and Jason Thomas snuffed out real danger. Seut Baraing cleared a Moung Makara header off the line before a hint of offside clouded the opening goal, as Nob Tola poked in from Phoung Soksana's pass on 35 minutes to put the U-23s ahead. Just before the break Ouk Sovann blasted the U-17s best chance over the cross-bar.
The second-half was a different story with the U-17s looking for an equaliser, but watched in agony as In Sodavid's effort rebounded off the upright. Prak Mony Udom was the U-23s main threat, but he was snuffed out by an excellent display by Thomas, as Crown's attacking play came to the fore. With a little more composure Mat Sakrovy and Chhuot Senteang should've scored when presented with good opportunities. The deserved equaliser came with five minutes to go as Suleiman Samura won yet another tackle in midfield and as U-23 keeper Prak Mony Phirun fumbled his pass, Senteang stole in and walked the ball into an empty net. The U-17s pressed for a winner but both Suleiman and Pov Ponvuthy's efforts were held by Phirun. Game over, and a 1-1 draw.
Full match report to follow.

Thin layer of gloss

The SEA Games football competition ended for Cambodia U-23s tonight with a 0-0 draw with Thailand. Normally that would be a cause for celebration, as traditionally we always lose to our neighbours. And the players deserve credit for holding the Thais at bay for ninety minutes. But we have to look beyond the bare bones of the scoreline. The Thais rested players for this game as they were already through. Sou Yaty, captaining Cambodia once again, was the difference between the two teams and pulled off half a dozen excellent saves to keep his team in the match, five of them in the second half. Cambodia had three chances in the game. Phourng Soksana had two of them, both snuffed out by the opposing keeper and Chhin Chhoeun fired the other one across the face of the goal. To be frank, Cambodia never looked likely to score, they simply don't possess a finisher in the whole squad. Chan Vathanaka got a rare start in this game but was more focused on kicking the opposition and conceding dangerous free-kicks, which is something the whole team was prone to do, than being the offensive threat he is in the C-League. His effectiveness was blunted. The back-four is a serious problem area. They kept the opposition out tonight, but more by luck than judgement. Ros Samoeun cannot defend and why he was converted into a full-back is beyond me. Another weird and wonderful decision from head coach Lee Tae-Hoon. The single point that Cambodia will take back from the SEA Games, after three successive defeats to Myanmar, Indonesia and Timor Leste, may be seen by some as a positive, but it's not. It's a thin layer of gloss over what has been another unsuccessful adventure overseas under Lee's tutelage. We have now endured such misery all too often over the past couple of years of Lee's control and it's time to call a halt. In fact, that time is way overdue. The Phnom Penh Post hinted at other less attractive misadventures on their sports pages today and anyone with an ounce of gray matter will take one look at Lee's record and realise it's time to call it a day. We need a stronger, driven, football expert to shake up Cambodian football from top to bottom, effectively starting again from scratch, or else we will continue to limp from one disaster to the next, showing no signs of progression whatsoever, as our national team slips further behind every other country in the region. This is the bleak outlook we face unless we take action now to stop the rot.
I was criticised by one of Lee's assistants this evening on facebook, less than an hour after the game, who claimed I didn't support the Cambodia team, but he is so far from the truth. I am the nation's biggest fan (as much as a foreigner can be) but I will not sit idly by and keep quiet, while I see that so much needs to be changed before we will improve. Whether that's the national team and its coach, the domestic C-League and its organisation, cup competitions, match officials, grassroots development and so on. Football is my passion, it always has been and always will be and if I see something that I believe is wrong or needs changing in my opinion, then that is fair game.

Third defeat for Cambodia

More distressing news for Cambodian football fans. The Cambodia U-23 team lost 3-2 to one of the world's minnows Timor Leste in their SEA Games group match this evening. It was their best chance of some success in the SEA Games but they blew it. Sos Suhana put Cambodia ahead on 23 minutes but Timor scored twice before the half-time break. Prak Mony Udom put Cambodia level again but a goal three minutes from time gave Timor the points. Frustration once again for the country's football lovers. PPCFC midfielder Bin Thierry had this to say after the game; "We played poorly in the first-half, lost too many balls, but were so much better in the 2nd half. We could've scored a few goals but lacked the killer touch and didn't have the confidence against some bigger and stronger opposition." The PPCFC trio of Thierry, Suhana and keeper Sou Yaty all played, with the latter captaining the side. At least they broke their drought with a couple of goals but it sounds like the lack of a quality finisher and some dodgy defending meant they were second best to one of the up and coming national teams, who've used naturalized players to improve their strength and quality. Cambodia's final SEA Games tie is against the strongest nation in the competition, Thailand, on 16 December.

U-23s crash again

Cambodia v Indonesia, back row, LtoR: Yaty, PM Udom, Soksana, Sovan, Thierry, Sothearath. Front: Khemrin, Suhana, Pancharong, Samoeun, Chhoeun. Pic by Sovanna Kem/NagaWorld - click to enlarge

The Cambodia U-23s crashed to their second SEA Games defeat in as many games in Yangon this afternoon, though the circumstances left a bitter taste in the mouth for many. A battling performance restored pride after the 3-0 defeat to Myanmar in the opening fixture and the only goal of the game, scored by Indonesia in the 53rd minute, shouldn't have been allowed, judging from multiple television replays. The goalscorer was in an offside position as he ran clear of Sok Sovan and fired a low drive under Sou Yaty, which the keeper got a hand to but couldn't keep out. Despite loud Cambodian protests the goal stood. Without any real threat or punch in attack, a comeback from Cambodia looked unlikely and that's how it proved, as a mediocre Indonesian side ran out winners by that single goal. Chhin Chhoeun had Cambodia's best chance in the first-half but blazed over and that was about it. Too many of Cambodia's players looked ill-equipped to cope with the demands of international football, and though supporters will obviously decry the match officials and curse their luck, Cambodia were simply not good enough. Phnom Penh Crown keeper Yaty was again the stand-out player, whilst Bin Thierry donned the captain's armband once again, for the final 27 minutes and Crown's third player in the line-up, Sos Suhana, had a quiet game and was replaced on 81 minutes. Cambodia's third group game will be against Timor Leste on Thursday evening. The Timorese have lost both their matches by a 3-1 scoreline to Thailand and Myanmar.

Points to the hosts

 Cambodia v Myanmar. Back Row LtoR: Yaty, Soksana, Samoeun, Sovan, Thierry, Sothearath. Front: Pheng, Pancharong, Khemrin, Suhana, Chhoeun - pic by Sovanna Kem/NagaWorld, click to enlarge

Two first-half headers and a third goal early in the 2nd half undid Cambodia U-23s in their opening SEA Games group match against the home nation, Myanmar on Saturday evening. The 3-0 defeat was to be expected with Cambodia going behind on 14 minutes and again just after the half hour, as Myanmar were simply too strong in the air. Sok Pheng and Chhin Chhoeun had good openings for Cambodia before the break but didn't trouble the scorers, whilst Sou Yaty had another stormer of a game for his country between the sticks. Phnom Penh Crown's Sos Suhana and Bin Thierry completed 90 minutes, with the latter taking the captain's armband for the final 18 minutes. Myanmar coach Park Seong-Hwa said before the game that he's looking to lead his team to the SEA Games gold medal, but they will have to play a lot better than they did against Cambodia to achieve that. In the first game of Group B, Thailand beat Timor Leste 3-1. Cambodia next face Indonesia on Monday afternoon.

Blowing in the wind

You can literally hear the wind blowing through the corridors of power at the football federation of Cambodia. The doors are all closed and no-one is venturing out of the safety of their office for fear of being asked questions. Phones have been switched off and everyone is keeping mum. Meanwhile, the Cambodia U-23 squad is in Yangon, preparing to play their opening SEA Games match against the hosts Myanmar early tomorrow evening, minus four of their most experienced players, left behind in Phnom Penh and surrounded by a fog of uncertainty. There was the tiniest thread of confirmation from the head of the FFC, President Sao Sokha, who told the Phnom Penh Post newspaper yesterday: "[The FFC] never does anything without adequate reasons, and the reason [for the sackings] is likely to spoil our nation’s reputation.” So that tells us something but without any real meat on the bones or the reason behind the exclusion of Keo Sokngon, Sok Rithy, Say Piseth and Tum Saray, as well as team manager Chhaing Pisedth, from the SEA Games just a few days before they begin. Both Sokngon and Rithy have been regulars for the Cambodian national team since 2008. Social media has been awash with rumours but it's not expected there will be any official confirmation until after the team return from Myanmar.
The reduced squad of sixteen players - which means Cambodia are severely restricted in their playing options - who will take on Myanmar (7 Dec), Indonesia (9 Dec), Timor Leste (12 Dec) and Thailand (16 Dec) in the group stages of the SEA Games football competition, are:

Phnom Penh Crown: Sou Yaty, Sos Suhana, Bin Thierry.
National Police: Srey Oudom.
Army: Chhin Chhoeun, Phoung Soksana, Khek Khemrin, Ke Vannak.
Svay Rieng: Sar Sophea, Prak Mony Udom.
Boeung Ket: Chan Vathanaka, Sok Pheng, Touch Pancharong, Chhun Sothearath, Sok Sovan, Ros Samoeun.

Missing in action

A serious looking Cambodia team get ready to depart for Myanmar, minus a few squad members - click to enlarge, courtesy of Sabay.com.kh

The Cambodia U-23s flew out from Phnom Penh airport this morning, rather lighter in numbers than they expected. Only a day or so beforehand, the 20-strong squad had been announced, that would represent Cambodia in the upcoming SEA Games in Myanmar, with their first match on 7 December against the host nation. A tough start. Judging by the reduced playing squad that left Phnom Penh - with four experienced players conspicuous by their absence - that task has just got even tougher. There was no sign of Keo Sokngon, Sok Rithy, Say Piseth and Tum Saray when the players and coaching staff gathered for their usual pre-departure photograph. And no word either on where they were. The team manager was also missing in action. Stuck in traffic or lost en route? Cambodia will meet Indonesia, Timor Leste and Thailand after their opening match.

Back down to earth

The Cambodia U-23s came back down to earth tonight, beaten 1-0 by the Singapore U-23 side that will compete in next month's SEA Games, after Cambodia had managed to beat a weaker home line-up two days earlier. The match was on grass at the Hougang Stadium and the Cambodia starting line-up included three Phnom Penh Crown players in Sou Yaty, Sos Suhana and the return of Bin Thierry. Yaty got the MOTM vote for a series of saves that kept his team in the game until Singapore scored the match winner on 75 minutes, with Touch Pancharong getting the final touch to send it over the line, though Suhana blasted over when well-placed ten minutes earlier with Cambodia's best chance of the game. Coach Lee Tae-Hoon had this to say: “Of course I’m not happy, no coach is happy to lose a game. But Singapore is a better team than Cambodia and I like our players’ performances tonight.” The Singapore coach summed up Cambodia thus: “It’s not easy playing a team like Cambodia, who will sit back and stay compact,” which pretty much hits the nail on the head in terms of Cambodia's tactics as they head towards the SEA Games. Lee's strategy is clearly one of containment rather than taking the game to the opposition - he made that blatantly clear against Guam by not playing a striker for an hour - and he will have his work cut out to keep Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia and Timor Leste from going on the rampage when they meet Cambodia in Yangon between 7-16 December.

Singapore success

The Cambodia U-23s v Singapore. Back Row: Yaty, Sovan, Soksana, Sokngon, Samoeun, Rithy. Front: Saray, Pancharong, Sothearath, Suhana, Chhoeun - click to enlarge, pic courtesy of B P Chua/aXrosstheline.com

The Cambodian U-23s are in Singapore for a couple of friendly matches, as part of the final leg of their preparation for the SEA Games next month. Last night they played what was called a Singapore U-23 B team and will be cock-a-hoop that they came away with a 1-0 success, courtesy of a Chan Vathanaka goal on 72 minutes. A result they wouldn't have expected but will be very happy with. Any result away from home in international competition is never easy to come by for a country like Cambodia. Especially playing on the all-weather surface at Jalan Besar against a team well-versed in the conditions. We can safely assume that Singapore will have got a rocket from their coach in the dressing room after the match. Phnom Penh Crown's Sou Yaty and Sos Suhana both started the game in what looked like Lee Tae-Hoon's favoured starting eleven. There's a view held by Lee and other coaches that wunderkind Vathanaka cannot last ninety minutes, which is why he is used as a game-changing substitute by club and country. It worked again last night. Though, how the heck a 19-year-old professional footballer cannot last 90 minutes is beyond me. Expect the same tactic in the SEA Games. Lee's comments after their success: “We have never played on artificial pitch before, and we had also played five games in 15 days before this. There is little recovery time and the players are tired. But every time we win, we’re very happy!" Obviously the happy moments are few and far between under Lee.

The second friendly is on Sunday night on a different pitch and apparently, has been deemed a full A-list FIFA-recognised international. Which is obviously bonkers. The Cambodian squad is clearly their U-23s with Tieng Tiny sitting on the bench as their only 'official' over-age player. The Singapore team is said to be their U-23 A team, ie. the one that will play in the SEA Games. Those two facts alone would negate that the match is a senior international - but whatever, the result will count as far as FIFA-ranking points are concerned. Though perhaps the biggest surprise is the return to the national team fold by Crown's mercurial midfield playmaker, Bin Thierry, who announced the following on Facebook on Saturday morning: "I have been asked to return to the Cambodia national team, and have agreed. I will rejoin the national team in Singapore today." Short and sharp and to the point, Thierry flew out mid-day and met his teammates for a training session on Saturday night after, just twelve days ago, announcing his retirement from international football for personal reasons, which he never divulged. The uproar by the Cambodian footballing public at that news could be heard as far away as Singapore, so at least the clamour for his return will die down.

Thierry shocker

Bin Thierry has announced that he is retiring from international football

Breaking news...Bin Thierry, Phnom Penh Crown's playmaking midfielder who starred for Cambodia U-23s in the recent BIDC Cup matches, has stunned the Khmer football fraternity by announcing his retirement from international football with immediate effect. No reasons were given, just that it was a painful and difficult decision for the French-born player, who would not say any more on the background to his decision. This was his statement:
"Anyone that knows me will understand that one of the proudest moments of my life was pulling on the Cambodian national football team jersey to represent the country of my parents birth. Playing for the Khmer-Europe team and being welcomed to Cambodian football by Phnom Penh Crown FC was the start of a fantastic journey for me. It made the possibility of playing for Cambodia a reality and I was very happy to be selected for the Cambodia U-23 SEA Games squad. To then play against Malaysia, Laos and Thailand in the BIDC Cup was a dream come true. My dad even came over from France to watch my matches. The support and encouragement of the Cambodian football fans has made the experience even better than I could've ever hoped for. For these reasons, it is with considerable regret that I am announcing my retirement from the Cambodian national football team, with immediate effect due to personal reasons, which I will not divulge at this time. This has been a very painful and difficult decision for me to make, but with the support of the people closest to me, I believe it is one I have to make. LONG LIVE CAMBODIA!"
The online reaction to the news has been one of incredulity, after the player lived up to his messiah-like reputation in last week's matches in the BIDC Cup. Cambodia were using the competition as a warm-up for their trip to Myanmar in the SEA Games at the start of next month. Now, they will have to do without arguably their most influential player. Meanwhile, Thierry will join his Crown colleagues for a week-long tournament in Nanning, southern China from Thursday of this week.

Worst fears

Just over a month before the SEA Games kick off in Myanmar, Cambodia's worst fears were realised when the draw for the men's football competition was made this week. Drawn in what is regarded as the toughest grouping, Group B, they will face the hosts Myanmar, Indonesia, East Timor and their BIDC Cup victors Thailand for a place in the knock-out stages of a tournament expected to be a highlight of the 27th biannual Games. The draw took place at the Wunna Theikdi Stadium, a new 30,000-seater built in Naypyidaw to host the SEA Games’ track and field events. The football matches in Group A (involving Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Laos and Brunei) will be played at the Zayar Thiri Stadium, a replica of the Wunna Theikdi located a half-hour drive across town in Naypyidaw’s main military area. However, Cambodia's matches in Group B will take place in Yangon, at the Thuwunna Youth Training Centre Stadium.

Indonesia, SEA Games runners-up last time out in a penalty shoot-out with Malaysia, have a couple of prep matches versus Hong Kong sides in the next few days, and drew 0-0 with Timor Leste in a recent friendly. Thailand coach Kiatisak Senamuang announced he was pleased to be in what he felt was the weaker group, as his squad began a training camp in Chiang Mai. Wouldn't it be great to wipe the smile off his face. None of the players who beat Cambodia in the BIDC Cup yesterday will feature in the SEA Games. Myanmar, as the hosts, have set a gold medal as their target after their third place in the last Games two years ago, so lots of pressure for their Korean coach Park Seong-Hwa, whilst Timor Leste included players from at least six different countries in that friendlyin Indonesia under their Japanese coach Norio Tsukitate.

The SEA Games matches for Cambodia:
7 Dec: Myanmar v Cambodia 6.45pm
9 Dec: Cambodia v Indonesia 4pm
12 Dec: Cambodia v Timor Leste 6.45pm
16 Dec: Thailand v Cambodia 6.45pm.

Thailand progress

Cambodia U-23s crashed out of the Mekong Region BIDC Cup (aka MRYUIFTBIDCCup2013) this afternoon at the semi-final stage, under a hot sun and against the old enemy, Thailand, 2-1 after extra time. Not so bad you might think, and with a bit more fortune it might've been a different result, but that would hide the reality. Yes, Cambodia hit the woodwork a couple of times and once again, came from behind with a scorcher of a goal from Ros Samoeun, but for the most part, coach Lee Tae-Hoon's safety-first tactics and toothless attack didn't cause Thailand enough problems and his decision to leave Chan Vathanaka on the bench until ten minutes before the end of normal time, is a reflection of his unadventurous mentality. When you realise that of the Thai team, who won the game in extra time with their own wonder strike, not one of them will appear in the SEA Games next month, then you start to appreciate the gulf between the two countries at this level. One of the positives to come out of this match and the other two group games for Cambodia, both 2-2 draws against Malaysia and Laos, is the growing support and enthusiasm on the terraces. That's very encouraging and reminiscent of the 2009 BIDC Cup success for the country. Only for those hopes to be cruelly dashed once the SEA Games got under way in Laos. I fear exactly the same will happen next month in Myanmar.

With Prak Mony Udom out with a thigh strain, the team virtually picked itself as the coach reverted to his favoured 4-1-4-1 formation, with Bin Thierry sitting deep and Keo Sokngon as the main focus of the attack. Cambodia shaded the first half with Sos Suhana letting rip with an effort that shaved the upright on 11 minutes, and Chhin Chhoeun lacking accuracy as he fired over when well-placed five minutes later. Thailand themselves had lacked adventure and failed to trouble Sou Yaty in the Cambodia goal in the opening 45 minutes. That began to change after the interval as Yaty dived full length to punch away a dangerous cross and watched as Chana Sonwiset's drive fizzed across the face of his goal. At the other end of the pitch, Sokngon chested down a long ball from Sok Rithy but the danger was quickly snuffed out and Thierry let rip with a 25-yard effort that sailed high. On the half hour mark, Cambodia were caught napping and Jirawut Saranan got a touch to a low center from Wanit Jaisaen, which Yaty blocked but the rebound fell kindly to the Thai striker and he tapped home. Going behind was the cue for coach Lee to finally throw on Vathanaka for the final ten minutes, way too late in my view, though it almost paid dividends as the mercurial youngster fed Suhana and his poke goalwards hit the foot of the post. With five minutes left on the clock, a free-kick was cleared out to Ros Samoeun, 35 yards from goal and seizing the opportunity, the young full-back-cum-winger kicked his legs, slalomed around three opponents in what looked like a scene from the parting of the Red Sea, and sent a thunderous left foot drive into the roof of the net from ten yards out. The noise lifted the roof off the grandstand. Game on.

Khek Khemrin replaced Touch Pancharong as Lee looked to shore up his defence with the clock ticking down and extra time approaching. In time added on, Saranan cheekily executed an overhead flourish which Khemrin cleared for a corner. The game went into thirty minutes of extra time. Yaty was alert to catch a shot by Anon Sanmad, dubbed the Neymar of Thailand by his club BEC Tero. The same player was then denied by another Khemrin block. In the second period of extra time, Sanmad left Khemrin for dead with a neat Neymar-esque overhead flick but Yaty was out smartish to block his shot. Not to be denied, on 112 minutes, a corner was cleared to Sanmad at the edge of the box and he slammed a ferocious drive past everyone including Yaty and into the roof of the net to win the tie. Cambodia were floored and had nothing left in the tank. Thailand moved through to the final, where they will meet Myanmar, 1-0 victors over Malaysia in the later semi-final. The final takes place on Sunday, 4pm at Olympic Stadium. For Cambodia, they have a friendly against Guam on 19 November before the squad heads off to Burma for the SEA Games. The SEA Games draw has not been kind to Cambodia, who will face hosts Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia and Timor Leste. For coach Lee, who appears to have his team already fixed in his head, six goals conceded in three matches this week, will give him nightmares and with few attacking options that pose real danger, suggests that the trip to Myanmar will be a long, hard slog.
Cambodia U-23s v Thailand: Yaty, Pancharong (Khemrin 89), Samoeun, Sovan, Rithy, Thierry, Suhana, Sothearath (Vathanaka 80), Chhoeun, Soksana (Pheng 56), Sokngon. Subs not used: Sophea, Piseth, Sothearoth, Saray, PM Udom, Dara. Bookings: Rithy. MOTM: Rithy - much improved from previous games and stood firm. Goal: Samoeun (85).

Cambodia are through

PPCFC's trio - Thierry, Yaty and Suhana - go through to the semi-finals with Cambodia U-23s - click to enlarge

It was back to the Olympic Stadium this afternoon for round 2 of the Cambodia U-23s build-up to the forthcoming SEA Games, and hoping to do well in the six-team competition they are hosting, the Mekong Region BIDC Cup (aka MRYUIFTBIDCCup2013). At least a draw against Laos would put them in the semi-final so they went into the game knowing exactly what was required. Coach Lee Tae-Hoon went for an even more defensive formation, 4-2-3-1 for this game, recalling Touch Pancharong and Prak Mony Udom, alongside the three Phnom Penh Crown players, Sou Yaty, Bin Thierry and Sos Suhana. In front of another big crowd at the Olympic Stadium, the first half was notable for just three incidents. On six minutes, Yaty was quick to react to a goal-bound attempt and pushed it away from danger. At the other end, on 23 minutes, Phoung Soksana evaded his marker but sent his diving header well wide. Then two yellow cards in two minutes, for two late challenges by the same player, Ketsada Souksavanh, gave Cambodia a numerical advantage to take into the second half. Except that within 18 seconds of the restart, Laos caught the home defence wiping the sleep from their eyes and scored from close range through Khonesavanh Sihavong. From the kick-off, Laos strung seven passes together before tapping in the opening goal. It was far too simple. However, in less than a minute, it was all square as Ros Samoeun made amends for his fluffed clearance moments earlier by speeding down the left flank onto a long ball from Sok Sovan. His cross found Keo Sokngon at the near post who swung a foot, missed the ball and fell over, but had the presence of mind to poke the loose ball over the goal-line.

Despite a man down, Laos pressed and on the hour, poor control by Sovan allowed the fleet-footed Phoutthasay Khochalern to enter the box, leave Sok Rithy for dead and squeeze his shot inside Yaty's near post. It stunned the large audience into momentary silence. Lee Tae-Hoon's response was to send on Sok Pheng, whilst everyone else was screaming for the introduction of Chan Vathanaka. Moments later Sokngon released Soksana through the middle but his touch deserted him and he rolled his shot agonisingly wide, when it looked easier to score. An injury forced Laos to change their keeper, Vathanaka finally entered the fray for an out-of-sorts Soksana and Cambodia finally found the key to unlock the visitors defence. Thierry threaded a inch-perfect pass through the center to Chhin Chhoeun, who kept his composure to clip the ball past the onrushing keeper for the equaliser on 72 minutes. And that was about it as far as goalmouth action for the rest of the game. Neither team were prepared to bust a gut to go for the winner and Laos went out of the competition with a whimper. Meanwhile, Cambodia go through to meet Thailand, who won both of their group matches, in Friday's semi-final. Malaysia will meet Myanmar in the other semi.
Cambodia U-23s v Laos: Yaty, Pancharong, Samoeun, Sovan, Rithy, Thierry (Sothearath 92), Suhana, PM Udom (Pheng 65), Chhoeun, Soksana (Vathanaka 69), Sokngon. Subs not used: Sophea, Khemarin, Sothearoth, Piseth, Saray, Dara. Bookings: Yaty. MOTM: Thierry - rolled up his sleeves, battled hard and superb pass for equaliser. Goals: Sokngon (47), Chhoeun (72).

Last-gasp equaliser

PPCFC's trio for Cambodia U-23: LtoR, Sos Suhana, Sou Yaty and Bin Thierry - click to enlarge

The international-match starved Cambodian football fans came out in large numbers this afternoon to support the Cambodia U-23s in their first match in the Mekong Region BIDC Cup (aka MRYUIFTBIDCCup2013) and they went home happy enough with a last-gasp equaliser ending the game at 2-2. With Myanmar surprising Vietnam 1-0 in the early kick-off, Cambodia went into their game with Malaysia, who didn't send their full SEA Games team but were more than a match for the home side throughout the game, with three Phnom Penh Crown players in the starting line-up - keeper Sou Yaty, midfield anchor Bin Thierry and Sos Suhana. Coach Lee Tae-Hoon went for a defensive line-up with Keo Sokngon as the lone striker, while Boeung Ket's young winger Ros Samoeun found himself in the starting XI at left-back and Sok Rithy as skipper. Yaty was easily the busiest of the two goalkeepers throughout the match and made more than half a dozen good saves, his best coming on 16 minutes when he finger-tipped a six-yard header from Ahmad Hazwan Bakri over the cross-bar. Two minutes later and Sokngon found himself in space but screwed his shot wide of the far post. Yaty saved well low down from Malaysian skipper Irfan Fazail and on 37 minutes, Thierry's peach of a pass sent Sokngon racing clear, only for his weak effort to be blocked by keeper Tarmizi Roslan. With Yaty beaten, Nen Sothearoth cleared a Bakri header off the line and in injury time, Yaty was again well-placed to catch Thamil Arasu's point-blank header.

Less than two minutes after the restart and Malaysia went in front. The Cambodian defenders stood off and allowed Thamil Arasu the time to bend his 20-yard effort around Yaty's despairing dive. Fortunately, the Cambodian fans had to wait less than three minutes for an equaliser. Suhana fed Phoung Soksana and his low cross evaded the Malay defenders and Sokngon was on hand to force the ball into the roof of the net from close range. Soksana fired high and wide and Yaty rushed off his line to deny Bakri, before the Crown keeper pushed an Arasu shot on the turn, around the foot of the upright. With ten minutes remaining, Malaysia made their superiority count when Arasu finished with lightning reflexes from a cross into the box and silenced the home crowd for a few moments. Another Yaty finger-tip save denied Arasu but that was the last we saw of Malaysia who sat back and allowed Cambodia to push forward for the final five minutes. Soksana broke clear but fired his shot the wrong side of the post, Sokngon had two more chances saved easily by keeper Roslan and it was left to substitute Chan Vathanaka to rescue the game, four minutes into time added on. Thierry's ball forward was taken inside two defenders by Vathanaka and his low drive appeared to wrong-foot Roslan, much to the delight of the vociferous home crowd, as the ball nestled in the net. There wasn't even time to take the kick-off and Cambodia claimed a precious BIDC Cup point with a 2-2 draw. It wasn't a particularly good performance from Cambodia, with the visitors looking quicker and slicker for the most part, but the final five minutes (plus stoppage time) will remain in the memory, much more than the previous 85, and that gloss will give the home fans heart that Wednesday's game against Laos may just see Cambodia go one better and beat their neighbours. Yaty was outstanding throughout and Thierry, pumped full of pride at representing his country for the first time in a competitive match, ran him a close second as MOTM, with Suhana busy as usual, a hallmark of his national team appearances.
Cambodia U-23s v Malaysia: Yaty, Sothearoth (Pancharong 51), Samoeun, Sovan (Khemarin 81), Rithy, Thierry, Sothearath (Vathanaka 66), Suhana, Chhoeun, Soksana, Sokngon. Subs not used: Sophea, Piseth, PM Udom, Pheng, Saray, Dara. Bookings: Rithy, Thierry. MOTM: Yaty. Goals: Sokngon (50), Vathanaka (94)

Praying for a miracle

The country's football fans, starved of national team action for much of the year, can get their teeth into the MRYUIFTBIDCCup2013 from this coming weekend. That mouthful is the Mekong Region Youth U23 International Football Tournament BIDC Cup 2013 to you and me. Six countries have made it, despite it being billed a few months ago as an eight-country competition including two teams from China. That didn't happen. Instead, six teams are expected though its already been made clear that only one or two of them will be bringing their SEA Games squads to Phnom Penh. Cambodia will. We'll have to wait and see who else turns up. The games start on Saturday (2 November), 2pm at the Olympic Stadium with Cambodia's U-23s meeting Malaysia at 4pm in Group B. On 6 November, again at 4pm, Laos will be Cambodia's opponents. The top two countries of each group will progress to the semi-finals on 8 November and the final will be at 4pm on Sunday 10 November. The countries in Group A are Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar. With the football public on a life-support machine as far as the national team are concerned - Cambodia lie in 198th position in the FIFA rankings, despite not having played for ever it seems - the matches are sure to get the supporters juices flowing, though with the U-23s build-up under the leadership of Lee Tae-Hoon on his return to steer the ship, not exactly uprooting any trees, they lost twice to Phnom Penh Crown in friendlies for example, the fans will be relying on hope (and the odd miracle) rather than expectation. Everyone will be keeping their fingers and toes crossed that players like Chan Vathanaka, Chhin Chhoeun and Bin Thierry play out of their skins and deliver the goods. Home advantage could count for something, especially if the supporters turn out in force, and with the team containing a number of players who've appeared in previous SEA Games competitions, so at least have the experience that few of their opponents can match, maybe a miracle might just happen. But don't bet your house on it. I hear the team have another game lined up, against visiting Guam, on 19 November, as the countdown moves into its final stages before the squad heads off to Myanmar for the SEA Games, and an even sterner test of their credentials.

My way or the highway

The Cambodia U-23s receiving pre-match instructions

Anyone who has read Kingdom of Football before will likely be aware of my dissent with the current occupant of the hottest seat in Khmer football, the Cambodian national football team. I don't think he's the right man for the job. Plain and simple. But I seem to be a lone voice in the football wilderness on that one. He's currently responsible for the U-23 squad who are preparing for the BIDC Cup competition, in Phnom Penh early next month, and more importantly, the SEA Games in December over in Myanmar. The squad have been together, training twice each day, for a month and a half and will be in training camp lock-down at the Tonle Bati center from Monday. That has meant that each of those 25 players has not been available to their domestic clubs for that period of time and will not be released back to their clubs until after the SEA Games is over. So for the whole of the pre-season preparation, build-up and practice matches, clubs have had to manage without their best players. If they are lucky, they may get them back for a few days before the Hun Sen Cup competition begins on 17 December. Those are the facts. To me that stinks. How the heck can clubs prepare their teams properly, both tactically, mentally and physically, if their best players are absent for what will be more than three months? It's simply not possible. For purely selfish reasons the federation and the national coach decided they had complete control over the players, ignoring the fact that they are on contracts with their domestic teams. I don't believe there was any attempt to find a reasonable compromise, for example say two days a week with their own clubs, the rest of the time with the national set-up. It was their way or the highway, so to speak. Of course, everyone wants the national team to succeed but not at the expense of teams in the domestic competitions. It should be a partnership, not a them or us situation. Another area of the game where massive improvements need to be made.
The 25-man U-23 squad currently squirreled away is:
Phnom Penh Crown: Sou Yaty, Sos Suhana, Bin Thierry.
National Police: Say Piseth, Srey Oudom.
Army: Sou Yaty, Chhin Chhoeun, Phoung Soksana, Khek Khemarin, Ke Vannak, Ung Dara.
Svay Rieng: Aim Sovannarath, Sar Sophea, Prak Mony Udom, Tum Saray, Nen Sothearoth.
Boeung Ket: Chan Vathanaka, Keo Sokngon, Sok Pheng, Touch Pancharong, Khiev Vibol, Chhun Sothearath, Sok Sovan, Ros Samoeun.
Naga: Samrith Seiha, Sok Rithy.

Another defeat for U-23s

PPCFC Line-up, back row LtoR: Pheng, Keo, Borey, Obadin, Turdera, Boris. Front Row: Sothy, Sosela, Ary, Da, Sokumpheak - click to enlarge

Phnom Penh Crown crashed the Cambodia U-23 party again this morning, posting another 2-1 scoreline to defeat the country's U-23s who are building up for the BIDC Cup and Sea Games in the next two months. The U-23s were beaten by the same score the week before. Crown were without two of their foreign contingent for this morning's encounter at the Olympic Stadium, with Kyle King and Liam Hutchisnson both nursing serious colds and eye infections. In the U-23 team, three Crown players were in the starting line-up to face their parent club; Sou Yaty, Sos Suhana and Bin Thierry. Khim Borey continued his goalscoring form with the opener after just ten minutes. A Neou Sosela corner was headed back across goal by Odion Obadin where Borey was waiting at the far post to fire in, with the ball taking a slight deflection past Yaty. Crown were comfortably in control for much of the first half but it needed Yok Ary to charge out of his area to tackle Chhin Chhoeun as he bore down on goal and when Ary headed clear, Phoung Soksana's return effort was easily swept clear by Kok Boris. 

Though both teams made no changes at the interval, the second half saw numerous comings and goings which interrupted the flow of the game. Fifteen minutes after the break a raking long ball from Obadin landed on Leng Makara's head but he could only direct his header into the arms of Yaty. With George Bisan, Boeung Ket's top scorer last term, on the pitch for Crown, his glancing header from Makara's corner, was the closest anyone came in the opening half-hour. A miss-kick by Ngoy Srin gave Ung Dara a sight of goal but Ary was equal to his drive. The same player also sent a header across the face of goal as the U-23s enjoyed a spell in control. As the match entered its final ten minutes, Bisan went on a powerful run past three defenders and his lay-off to Makara saw the young striker's powerful drive tipped over the bar by a stretching Yaty. With five minutes to go, Chan Vathanaka took a tumble in the box as he was challenged by San Sarak and the young defender received a yellow card for his troubles. Vathanaka made no mistake from the penalty spot. Despite the set-back, Crown went up the other end and with two minutes remaining, a Chhom Pisa corner was headed into the box by Obadin and Bisan, with his back to goal, looped the ball over his head and into the corner of Yaty's net for the match-winner. There was still time for Vathanaka to break clear but his finish was high and wide.

Crown coach Sam Schweingruber commented after his team's second successive victory over the U-23 national team; "We are clearly preparing for the season ahead and not these individual games, when you look at our fitness and our speed. For example we had two hard sessions yesterday so people were tired this morning. But its good to see someone like Boris looking so comfortable after his return from France. I also liked Tola's speed and energy. A few other players did well whilst some others disappointed me. So we still have much work to do. For tomorrow's match against BBU we'll rotate players to make sure everyone gets 90 minutes under their belt." Crown meet BBU at the Army Stadium tomorrow at 2pm.
PPCFC v U-23s: Ary, Da (Sarak 72), Keo (Srin 34), Boris (Makara 58), Obadin, Sothy (Sokheng 64), Sokumpheak (Pisa 80), Pheng, Sosela (Bisan 64), Marcelo (Tola 58), Borey (Titchhy 80). Subs not used: Soksela, Morslim, Phearun. Booked: Sarak. MOTM: Obadin - commanding in defence and two assists in attack. Goals: Borey (10), Bisan (88). 

U-23s Line-up. Back Row LtoR: PM Udom, Pheng, THIERRY, YATY, Rithy, Samoeun. Front Row: Sovan, Chhoeun, Soksana, SUHANA, Khemarin

Crown on top

PPCFC. Back Row LtoR: Hutchinson, King, Srin, Turdera, Pheng, Obadin. Front Row: Da, Sosela, Ary, Sokumpheak, Borey - click to enlarge

Phnom Penh Crown head coach Sam Schweingruber was upbeat at the final whistle of this morning's 2-1 victory for his Crown side over the Cambodia U-23s at Olympic Stadium. "It was a good work-out and I was surprised at how well players like Sokumpheak lasted for the whole 90 minutes. Some players did very well, others looked off the pace a bit, but we started our sessions less than a week ago. It also gave our foreigners a challenge and asked them the question, are you better than the best Khmer players? It was a good session." Previously unbeaten in half a dozen matches, the U-23s included three Crown players in their starting eleven - Thierry, Suhana and Yaty - as well as their most recent recruit, Chhunly Pagenburg. Crown included four foreigners in their line-up, three of them on trial. Disappointingly the groundstaff at the stadium had failed to paint the white lines or cut the grass, so small plastic cones identified the touchlines. A sorry state of affairs. Marcelo Turdera blasted a 25-yard shot high and wide in the first effort on goal after 18 minutes. Sok Sovan did the same at the other end, while Ros Samoeun's long range effort was grasped by the diving Yok Ary. Just before the half hour, Pagenburg was in the action but sent his header, as he stretched, wide of the mark. On 39 minutes, the German-born striker's next touch was decisive. His deep cross from the left touchline eluded Hong Pheng at the far post but Tum Saray was on hand to volley past Ary from a couple of yards out. 1-nil to the U-23s. Moments later it looked likely that Pagenburg would double their lead as he played a one-two with Phoung Soksana and left the defenders in his wake, only to push the ball too wide of Ary and lose possession at the crucial moment. With a minute left on the clock, Crown skipper Khim Borey received a pass from Turdera, cut onto his left foot and unleashed a wicked 25-yard dipping drive that arced over Yaty for a brilliant equaliser.

Cambodia coach Lee Tae-Hoon changed his whole line-up for the second-half while his opposite number kept faith with his team for another fifteen minutes after the restart. Nine minutes in and Prak Mony Udom hit a thunderbolt from 25-yards that crashed against the cross-bar and was cleared as it bounced down. Moments later, Kyle King jigged his way into the six-yard box past two defenders only for the U-23 keeper, Aim Sovannarath to get a hand to palm the ball for a corner. Crown looked the more composed of the two teams and made four changes on the hour mark. Three minutes later and Leng Makara set up Turdera, whose low shot was pushed aside by Sovannarath, only for David Talevski to retrieve it and plonk it onto Turdera's head and into the net. However, his celebration was cut short as the linesman had decided the ball had gone out of play, despite there being no line markings for him to judge correctly. Chhin Chhoeun tried to chip Ary but the keeper was alert  and from a corner, Pagenburg headed over at the far post, while Sok Pheng blasted wide on the run. Makara's pace on the right was causing problems and his cut back was missed by Jeremy Molina but Talevski followed up to send his right-footed shot inches wide of the mark. Odion Obadin was a tower of strength in defence and got in a great block to deny Pagenburg as the game entered its last few minutes. With four minutes to go, Bun Keo fed Borey and his delightful left-foot cross to the far post was finished off by Makara at close range, to earn Crown their deserved victory. In time added on, Chhoeun went down in the box under a Keo challenge, only for the referee to brandish a yellow card for simulation. The match ended and the U-23s unbeaten record came to an end. In truth, their performance didn't warrant any other result. A lot of work ahead for the U-23s to challenge at the SEA Games, while Schweingruber will look to step up his team's pre-season conditioning over the coming weeks ahead.
PPCFC: Ary, Da (Sarak), Pheng (Keo), Srin (Sokheng (Sothy)), Obadin, Hutchinson (Boris), Sokumpheak, Sosela (Makara (Pisa)), Borey (Talevski), Turdera (Molina), King (Borey). Subs not used: Soksela, Tola, Morslim, Phearun, Dara. Booked: Makara. MOTM: Borey - two sublime touches, two goals. Goals: Borey (44), Makara (86).

Cam U23s. Back Row LtoR: Yaty, Pagenburg, Thierry, Sovan, Soksana, Piseth. Front Row: Pancharong, Suhana, Sothearath, Saray, Samoeun - click to enlarge

PPCFC's 3 U23 players, LtoR: Thierry, Yaty, Suhana - click to enlarge

Snippets of news

• A Cambodian U-12 football squad under PPCFC's Academy head coach Bouy Dary is heading for South Korea tomorrow for a youth festival. 18 players from PPCFC, Svay Rieng, Prek Kdam and Battambang. Matches will be thirty minutes and 9-a-side. Its taking place in Incheon, Korea's third largest city. Great experience for the youngsters especially as they are camping in tents with over 1,000 other boys.

• Word on the grapevine is that Phnom Penh Crown have been invited to a pre-season tournament in an Asian country that the club have never visited before. More when the tournament is confirmed.

• The Cambodia U-23s continue their build-up to the BIDC Cup in November and the SEA Games in December by playing friendlies against local opposition. And I mean very local. They beat Kirivong 5-0 last week and then drew 2-2 with their U-19 national team counterparts. They will continue on the same theme when they meet National Police tomorrow at 7.30am at the Olympic Stadium. Three PPCFC players are in the U-23 training squad: new signing Sou Yaty, Bin Thierry and Sos Suhana. Postscript: The U-23s won 4-1 against National Police. Goals by Sokngon, Chhoeun, Vathanaka, Udom.

• Balkan FC from Turkmenistan, who beat Boeung Ket 2-0 in Phnom Penh back in May during the qualifiers, have been crowned this year's AFC President's Cup champions with a 1-0 win in the final over KRL from Pakistan. The final stages were held in neutral Malaysia. Balkan topped their group in the final stage with wins over Three Star (Nepal) 6-0 and Erchim (Mongolia) 4-0 but needed a winning goal three minutes from time to beat the Pakistan champions.

Twenty-six for the U-23s

Lee Tae-Hoon is back as the head coach of the Cambodia national team. I have made my feelings perfectly clear how I view his re-appointment to the job, so I won't re-hash that particular bugbear. However, its worth taking a look at the first squad he's picked since his return to the post, which was made public today. It's an Under-23 squad rather than a full senior team, as we have U-23 competitions coming up in the BIDC Mekong Cup, at home, in November followed by the SEA Games in Myanmar in December. And looking at the squad, it's like Lee has never been away. He has picked a bunch of his favourite players such as Tum Saray, Touch Pancharong, Phoung Soksana and Srey Oudom, who readily spring to mind as past selections of the South Korean coach. Boeung Ket provide eight players in the 26-man squad that will assemble at the Tonle Bati national training center on 2 September. Champions Svay Rieng have six players called-up and the Army have six as well, despite the military team finishing one place above automatic relegation. There are some new faces, such as Kirivong's Nhem Sovannara, Boeung Ket's Keo Sokpheng and Ros Samoeun, Aim Sovannarath, the Svay Rieng goalkeeper who picked up the keeper of the year award and Phnom Penh Crown's Khmer-French import Bin Thierry. There are also some names who've been around the local football scene for what seems like many years and yet surprisingly, they still make selection for the U-23s. The ageless Peter Pans of Cambodian football I would suggest. Lee Tae-Hoon has also called on his former backroom team of Meas Channa, Ieng Saknida and Oum Savong to assist him.
Here's the 26-man squad:
Phnom Penh Crown: Samrith Seiha, Sos Suahana, Bin Thierry.
National Police: Say Piseth, Srey Oudom.
Kirivong: Nhem Sovannara.
Army: Sou Yaty, Chhin Chhoeun, Phoung Soksana, Khek Khemarin, Ke Vannak, Ung Dara.
Svay Rieng: Aim Sovannarath, Sar Sophea, Sok Rithy, Prak Mony Udom, Tum Saray, Nen Sothearoth.
Boeung Ket: Chan Vatanaka, Keo Sokngon, Keo Sokpheng, Touch Pancharong, Khiev Vibol, Chhun Sothearath, Sok Sovan, Ros Samoeun.