It was wonderful

Ouk ‘Messi’ Sothy is one of our longest-serving players, with Crown for more than five years, having arrived in November 2011 from Flying Bikes. “I’m happy at PPCFC, it’s the best club in Cambodia and we are developing football the right way in my view. My ambition this year is to put another star on the club badge and to win the Hun Sen Cup for the first time.” Messi, a nickname he picked up as a teenager, won the 2014 Championship with Crown but was forced to sit out the following years’ title success with a debilitating ACL injury he suffered whilst training with the Cambodia national team. “I played two friendly games for Cambodia in 2014 (against Malaysia and Indonesia) and would love another chance, but it’s up to the new coach. Playing for the national team was a dream come true for me, it was wonderful and a real confidence-booster.” He also appeared for the Cambodia Futsal national team. Messi will turn thirty later this year and says of his teammates: “We have a good mix of young and senior players at the club. Our youngsters show great character, a big heart and give 100% and it’s a pleasure to play with them as one of the older heads in the team.” 
Born: 5/Oct/1987 in Phnom Penh. Hobbies: Romantic music and swimming.

Messi signs on

Ouk Sothy and his extended contract

Winning the Championship is a great way to encourage your best players to stay and seek to retain the title, which is what is happening at Phnom Penh Crown with many of the squad pledging themselves to the club for the next year or two. One of those who did that yesterday was Ouk Sothy. Known to all as Messi, he signed a two-year contract extension, that will take the midfielder through to the end of the 2016 season. Currently training with the Cambodia national team squad ahead of the Suzuki Cup involvement, he was a prominent part of our midfield engine-room during our Championship success. Coach Sam Schweingruber commented on Sothy's contract extension: "He has been a key player in this year's success and has shown great progress, and for many games in a row was my personal 'man of the match,' which earned him the title 'most improved player of season 2014'. This has also been noticed by the national team coach and other clubs, who tempted Messi with big offers. I am proud for him to choose what is best for his future, as I hope he will be with us beyond his years as a player and stay involved as a coach and mentor to the next generation. His work ethic, skills and discipline together with improved physical strength and understanding, will make him a key player for the next few years. I hope he will soon start scoring again - something we only see in training and not in the games. I wish him success in the team and continued further improvement." Sothy joined Crown in November 2011 after playing local football with Flying Bikes and as a member of the Cambodia national futsal team.

Ouk Sothy

Next we move into the engine room of the Phnom Penh Crown squad to bring you another of the new arrivals, namely our very own 'Messi', a nickname that Ouk Sothy picked up while playing for the top local amateur team, Flying Bikes in Phnom Penh. He was picked out by the coaching staff as one of the most outstanding local prospects and signed a contract with the club in November. He was with Flying Bikes for six years and also played for the Cambodian futsal national team.

Name: Ouk Sothy
Position: Midfield
Squad Number: 8
Date of birth: 5 Oct 1993
Place of birth: Tuol Svay Prey, Phnom Penh
Height: 1.70m
Weight: 63.5kg
Joined PPCFC: November 2011
Previous clubs: Flying Bikes. Also played futsal for Flying Bikes, Preah Khan Reach and Cambodia.