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.

As expected

There are no surprises in the Cambodia U-23 national squad announced ahead of the team leaving tomorrow for the SEA Games in Myanmar. South Korean coach Lee Tae-Hoon has effectively picked the players he selected in the recent BIDC Cup competition and various friendlies against Guam and Singapore.
The 20-man SEA Games squad is:
Phnom Penh Crown: Sou Yaty, Sos Suhana, Bin Thierry.
National Police: Say Piseth, Srey Oudom.
Army: Chhin Chhoeun, Phoung Soksana, Khek Khemrin, Ke Vannak.
Svay Rieng: Sar Sophea, Prak Mony Udom, Tum Saray.
Boeung Ket: Chan Vathanaka, Keo Sokngon, Sok Pheng, Touch Pancharong, Chhun Sothearath, Sok Sovan, Ros Samoeun.
NagaCorp: Sok Rithy.

Missing out on a trip to the SEA Games from the squad that has been training at Tonle Bati for the past two months are Samrith Seiha, Aim Sovannarath, Nen Sothearoth, Khiev Vibol and Ung Dara.
Cambodia will begin their tough series of SEA Games matches on Saturday 7 December against the host nation.
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. 

Time for change

As we approach the SEA Games in Myanmar in just over a couple of weeks time, I want everyone to be very clear about Cambodia's record under the current head coach, Lee Tae-Hoon. In competitive football matches under his command, Cambodia has played 24 games and won just 4.  In what we could term serious friendlies, such as the recent matches against Guam and in Singapore, the record is played 11 and won just two. In Myanmar, we are in the toughest group and will come face to face with Thailand, Indonesia, the hosts Myanmar and Timor-Leste. None of those games will bring any respite from the numerous reversals we have suffered. Of course, the position of coach of the Cambodian football team is not an easy one. Some might say it's a thankless task. I disagree. You get the right man for the job and as we have seen in other countries, take Guam as an obvious example, miracles are indeed possible. So it doesn't take a genius to work out my despair when Lee returned to coach the national team in August. His abysmal record and frankly his negative tactics are in my opinion, not moving Cambodian football forward in any way, shape or form. It's time for everyone to wake up and smell the coffee. In the best interests of Cambodian football, we need to make a change now.
This is Lee Tae-Hoon's record whilst in charge of the Cambodia national team:
Competition Results:
22 Oct 2010 v Laos (AFF Suzuki Cup) Away. Drew 0-0
24 Oct 2010 v Timor Leste (AFF Suzuki Cup) Away. Won 4-2 Borey 3, Sinoun
26 Oct 2010 v Philippines (AFF Suzuki Cup) Away. Drew 0-0
9 Feb 2011 v Macau (AFC Challenge Cup Qual) Home. Won 3-1 El Nasa 2, Laboravy
16 Feb 2011 v Macau (AFC Challenge Cup Qual) Away. Lost 2-3 Borey, El Nasa
21 Mar 2011 v Maldives (AFC Challenge Cup) Away. Lost 0-4
23 Mar 2011 v Tajikistan (AFC Challenge Cup) Away. Lost 0-3
25 Mar 2011 v Kyrgyzstan (AFC Challenge Cup) Away. Lost 3-4 Sokumpheak, Rithy
29 Jun 2011 v Laos (World Cup Qual) Home. Won 4-2 Laboravy, El Nasa 2, Sokumpheak
3 Jul 2011 v Laos (World Cup Qual) Away. Lost 2-6 aet Chhoeun, Sokumpheak
9 Oct 2011 v Laos (Mekong BIDC Cup) Home. Won 2-0 Soksana, Laboravy
12 Oct 2011 v Myanmar (Mekong BIDC Cup) Home. Drew 2-2 Udom pen, Saray
14 Oct 2011 v Thailand (Mekong BIDC Cup) Home. Lost 1-2 Sovan
7 Nov 2011 v Indonesia (SEA Games) Away. Lost 0-6
9 Nov 2011 v Singapore (SEA Games) Away. Lost 1-2 Chhoeun
11 Nov 2011 v Thailand (SEA Games) Away. Lost 0-4
13 Nov 2011 v Malaysia (SEA Games) Away. Lost 1-4 Chhoeun
25 Feb 2012 v Brunei (Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy) Away. Lost 2-3 Udom pen, Vathanaka
27 Feb 2012 v Vietnam (HBT) Away. Lost 1-2 Vathanak
29 Feb 2012 v Timor Leste (HBT) Away. Lost 0-1
5 Mar 2012 v Malaysia (HBT) Away. Lost 1-3 Sothearath
2 Nov 2013 v Malaysia (BIDC Cup) Home. Drew 2-2 Sokngon, Vathanaka
6 Nov 2013 v Laos (BIDC Cup) Home. Drew 2-2 Sokngon, Chhoeun
8 Nov 2013 v Thailand (BIDC Cup) Home. Lost 1-2 aet Samoeun
Record: Pld 24 Won 4 Drew 5 Lost 15 Goals For 34 Agst 60


Friendlies:
18 Sep 2010 v Vietnam U-23 Away. Lost 0-2
21 Sep 2010 v Vietnam U-23 Away. Lost 0-3
5 Dec 2010 v Ulsan University Home. Lost 1-4 own goal
7 Jun 2011 v Malaysia Olympic XI Home. Won 1-0 Laboravy
28 Oct 2011 v Nepal U-23 Home. Lost 0-1
14 Jan 2012 v Malaysia U-23 Home. Lost 0-1
27 Jan 2012 v Ulsan University Home. Drew 3-3 Vathanaka, Chhoeun, S Udom
29 Jan 2012 v Ulsan University Home. Lost 1-2 Vathanaka
19 Nov 2013 v Guam Home. Lost 0-2
22 Nov 2013 v Singapore U-23 Away. Won 1-0 Vathanaka
24 Nov 2013 v Singapore U-23 Away. Lost 0-1.

Record: Pld 11 Won 2 Drew 1 Lost 8 Goals For 7 Agst 19

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.

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.

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.

Disaster waiting to happen

Cambodia's football authorities are setting the national football team up for another big fall. Their next serious international competition is the SEA Games in December, which will be held in Myanmar. That's five months away. Cambodia have yet to publicly announce the return of Lee Tae-Hoon as the national team coach, though its been reported in the local media, so presumably the first task he will undertake is to put together a squad to compete in the SEA Games. That's an under-23 competition. And that's where the decision-makers at the federation have lost valuable time compared with their southeast asian neighbours, who've stolen a march by having their teams picked and in training for the past few months. As far as I can tell, only Cambodia have yet to get off their butts and organise their SEA Games football team. Take the minnows of Brunei for example. They've had their squad picked and in training every day since April. They have a friendly coming up against Indonesia, runner's up in the last competition, very soon and Indonesia have been in training since May and playing games. Vietnam have been indulging in friendlies against opposition from Japan and France, whilst Myanmar are training with the South Korean team and will play Hong Kong next month. Malaysia are taking it so seriously that they've been over in Eastern Europe for seven months playing a series of friendly matches against club sides. Pre-Games favourties Thailand have appointed Zico as their coach and mean business, playing most of their squad in this week's friendly against visiting Liverpool, as do Singapore, who recently beat Indonesia in a friendly as part of their build-up. In fact every country has got their act together, except Cambodia. The lack of preparation is telling and even though the Mekong BIDC Cup competition will be held in Phnom Penh in November, that's too little too late, in terms of gelling together a squad capable of competing against any of their SEA neighbours. In reality, its a disaster waiting to happen as the football authorities once again fail miserably to plan ahead and make decisions that are beneficial to the nation's footballing reputation. November 2011 was the last SEA Games debacle for Cambodia, which brought four defeats in as many games under the stewardship of Lee Tae-Hoon, in his previous stint in charge, and I see a very similar story playing out this time around.

Lee Tae-Hoon gets 2 years

Lee Tae-Hoon, back in charge for another 2 years

Okay, back to one of my favourite hobbyhorses, the national coach position of the Cambodian football team. Sabay tells us today that Lee Tae-Hoon has been appointed as the national coach for the next two years, beginning in August. The FFC have reverted back to a man who was singularly unsuccessful in his first spell in charge of the national team - just 4 wins out of 21 competitive matches during a 22-month period - and who has been twiddling his thumbs whilst his successors, Hok Sochetra and Prak Sovannara, who has been unceremoniously jettisoned for a second time, both failed to ignite the football loving country or its team. Seemingly devoid of other options - though I know for a fact that the FFC have been contacted by a stream of experienced coaches already working in Asia - the country's decision-makers have welcomed back Lee Tae-Hoon with open arms to have another crack at moving the national team's fortunes forward.

So what can we expect from the South Korean tactician? For starters, his concentration will be on players eligible for the SEA Games that begin on 1 December in Myanmar. So that means the Under-23 age group, as the SEA Games is not a senior international competition. He has the Mekong BIDC Cup, which will be held in Phnom Penh for eight teams, before that in November, so presumably he will be looking to bed-in his U-23 team in that tournament. As Cambodia have failed to qualify for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup, he won't have to worry his head about that next year, but will have to face up to the AFF Suzuki Cup later in 2014. Luckily for him, there is no qualification for this competition, which will be held in Vietnam and Singapore around October time. Cambodia don't enter the AFC Asian Cup and the draw for the next FIFA World Cup isn't until July 2015, so he doesn't have that to concern him, especially as he's professed his complete indifference to that competition in the past. With the FFC's reluctance over the past few years to pepper the football calendar with international friendlies, aside from meaningless games with Ulsan University and the like, don't expect Lee Tae-Hoon to uproot any trees with his dogged approach. He will put his emphasis on fitness rather than any tactical expertise, if his first spell in charge is anything to go by. He claims he has some fresh ideas according to a recent interview, so we can await what those are with bated breath. For the sake of the country's international reputation - which is at an all-time low with a FIFA world ranking of 198 - his second spell in charge needs to generate a buzz about it and he can start with success in the BIDC Cup in November, on home soil. Now that would be a coup to prove his doubters wrong, of which this writer is one of many.