The big question

Looking glum - Khuon Laboravy

The big question on everyone's lips is why Khuon Laboravy has not been included in the provisional squad of thirty players selected by Cambodia's new head coach Hok Sochetra. It's as clear as the nose on anyone's face that Laboravy is one of the few players in Cambodia that can win games on his own, with a burst of his electrifying pace or his eye for goal. He's proved that over the past couple of seasons in domestic football, time and again, both in league and cup competitions, and though an injury put him on the sidelines earlier this season, he's now back on the pitch and chipping in with goals in Preah Khan Reach's push for a Super 4 slot. However, that doesn't hold sufficient sway with Sochetra, who has decided to omit the lanky frontman from his AFF Suzuki Cup preparations, which began last week, much to the consternation of the football fraternity in the capital. Laboravy would be a kingpin in pretty much everyone else's squad, except the newly-appointed head coach. It's a decision that needs investigating, though Sochetra's response when the question was put to him yesterday was abrupt and to the point: "Ravy cannot play in my system.  I need players who will run forwards and run back." Sorry coach, but that won't wash with me and many others. Firstly, there are so very few quality strikers available to you, that to jettison one of the best is opening the door wide for a shower of criticism so early in your stint in charge and secondly, if it's the case that the player doesn't defend enough to your liking, make him do it or at least give him a chance to fail in the attempt. To simply leave him out of the reckoning for such an important series of competitive games for the national team, their first in over a year, is mind-boggling. On the other hand, a coach will live or die, figuratively-speaking, by his decisions on who to include and who to leave out and the country's football fans will be able to judge for themselves by the results when Cambodia go to Myanmar in October for the qualifying competition.

Of course, in any other country, the sports press would be asking these questions, putting the new coach through the ringer about his squad selections player by player, his preparations for the competition, in-depth queries about his preferred style of play and tactical awareness, why other countries have lined up a glut of friendly matches and yet Cambodia seem intent with just a couple of warm-up games, and so on. Not so in Cambodia, where the sports press is toothless, inept and blatantly couldn't give a shit unless there's something in it for them. Take the Phnom Penh Post for example, who are only interested in tennis and coverage of the Olympics on the back of sponsorship from Naga-World - apparently the best integrated business, leisure and entertainment hub in Indochina - my foot. They finally got around to mentioning that the AFC President's Cup finals have been awarded to Tajikistan in today's edition, after the announcement was made last Wednesday. Pathetic.

Laboravy - man of the moment

Preah Khan's scorers in the cup final, Sam El Nasa (left) and Khuon Laboravy

The celebrations begin as Preah Khan receive the Hun Sen Cup from Kep Chuktema

I recovered face by predicting the winners of both today's Hun Sen Cup Final and yesterday's 3rd place play-off, but to be honest, it didn't take a genius to work it out. Naga proved that old heads do win trophies, if only it's the third place cheque rather than silverware, whilst Preah Khan Reach proved a bit too strong for the students of BBU today, as predicted. It was left to the competition's leading scorer Khuon Laboravy to fittingly add the final nail in the BBU coffin after Sam El Nasa had given the Military Police-backed side the lead on 35 minutes. El Nasa was johnny-on-the-spot after Sos Proshim spilled a shot from Tum Saray and the national team striker made no mistake from eight yards out. The veteran striker looked certain to have netted a second a minute before the break when Lay Raksmey's pinpoint cross landed on his forehead, but uncharacteristically, he nodded it inches wide and BBU went into the break just a goal down and with a fighting chance. Five minutes into the 2nd half and BBU's best chance came and went when Chan Sokunthina had his shot stopped by Ouk Mic and his follow up shot rebounded off the cross-bar, after that it was all PKR. Most of the offensive action came through Laboravy. He's always a danger on the break, though today he looked a little under-par until the 76th minute when he ghosted into the near post to head in a Prak Mony Udom corner and seal PKR's cup success. It was his 22nd goal of the competition and a well-deserved Golden Boot award awaited him at the final whistle. That was it, bar the shouting and celebrations as referee Thong Chankethya blew for full-time and the first Hun Sen Cup success for the in-form PKR team. Lifting the cup will give them bags of confidence ahead of the new season as the governor of Phnom Penh, Kep Chuktema, handed over the medals, winner's cheque and cup to the winning team.
An unexpected sight was the appearance of Srey Veasna on the pitch for BBU. Last season he played for Phnom Penh Crown before joining Thai third tier team Loei City, so to see him turn up for the cup final and get a game was a surprise to say the least. Presumably, he's broken his contract with Loei (who he played for last week), completed his international transfer certificate and signed-on for BBU before the expiry of the cup registration deadline, which was about two months ago. If he didn't fulfil those criteria there's no way he should've been playing in today's game. If BBU had won, I would've been very interested in what PKR had to say about it.

The PKR starting line-up, 2-nil cup final winners

The students of BBU were found wanting at the final hurdle

Referee Thong Chankethya manages to compete the toss-up without booking anyone

The two fashion-conscious coaches shake hands after the final whistle. Left is Rith Dikar and right is BBU's Meas Sam OeurnMan of the moment and top scorer with 22 goals, Khuon Laboravy, faces the television cameras

PKR's successful coach Rith Dikar answers the press

Another opportunity to celebrate their cup success for PKR

Laboravy 3 Neak Khiev 2

Preah Khan Reach just squeezed through to the QF's with a slender win over Neak Khiev

Yesterday's Hun Sen Cup games went according to expectations in terms of wins for Preah Khan Reach and Phnom Penh Crown, but for PKR they will breathe a huge sigh of relief after coming back from behind to kill the hopes of the underdogs with just 5 minutes of the game remaining. It was tough luck on the plucky players of the rubber plantation-backed Kompong Cham team Neak Khiev, under their coach Prak Vuthy, the brother of Naga coach Prak Sovannara. PKR had begun according to plan, taking a 10th minute lead when Khuon Laboravy volleyed in the dropping ball after Sam El Nasa's header had rebounded off the crossbar. Neak Khiev dusted themselves down and came storming back, not allowing PKR to settle into a rhythm, and they drew level on 23 minutes when lanky striker Yarb Ramatorn outpaced his marker and smashed the ball past Ouk Mic. Just after the half hour, the provincial team took the lead and deservedly so. Taing Sul, who'd set up Ramatorn for the 1st goal, flicked on a long ball and Sok Rithy reacted quickly to cut it out, only to send a toe-poke over the head of his own keeper to give Neak Khiev a 2-1 interval lead.
PKR were picking up bookings but little else, including a silly yellow card for Sam El Nasa for dissent that was soon to come back and haunt him. Then, 15 minutes into the 2nd half, Laboravy again showed his class to draw PKR level. A needlessly conceded free-kick, 25 yards out, was all he needed for a sight on goal as he curled his shot inside the near post of keeper Soun Pisal. Five minutes later and El Nasa was on his way to an early bath as PKR were reduced to ten men. He stuck out an arm to control the ball and gave referee Thong Chankethya little option to flash yellow and red in quick succession. Laboravy tested Soun Pisal with two more efforts before Taing Sul held his head in disbelief at the other end, when he fired wide when it looked easier to score. Up stepped Laboravy to win it for PKR with five minutes on the clock, and a penalty shoot-out looming. He was on the spot as Prak Mony Udom's corner was swung in and a well-placed header sent his team through to the quarter-finals, amidst some mightily-relieved PKR fans and officials.

Plucky is the perfect word for the performance of Neak Khiev against PKR

PKR skipper Sam El Nasa (red) and Neak Khiev's Phoeurn Saoroum