Face in the crowd

Teab Vathanak looks out on the action, having moved to the top of the Golden Boot table. Photo nicksellsphotography

Teab Vathanak joined Julius Chukwumeka at the top of the Golden Boot standings for the C-League's leading goalscorer yesterday, with 2 more goals for Naga as they stuttered to a 2-1 win over Prek Pra. That took his tally to 11 goals and both he and Chukwumeka leapfrogged over Nuth Sinoun, who'd led the table with 10 goals, before limping out of his match on Saturday with an ankle injury. Vathanak, 25, is a proven goalscorer in the C-League and was a regular in the Cambodia national team before suffering a spate of injuries. He's now returned to full fitness and his knack of being in the right place at the right time will serve Naga well if they are to retain their C-League title. He's been with Naga for 3 years now and was previously with Kampot and Hello United.

Bee in my bonnet

Cambodia's national team captain Sun Sovanrithy demonstrates how to take a legitimate throw-in. And yes those are long ladies gloves (minus mittens) he's wearing. Photo nicksellsphotography

I have a bee in my bonnet about throw-ins. I see foul throws time and again in the C-League, in fact numerous times every match and the match officials do bugger all about it. I'm absolutely convinced that they don't understand the rules, and neither do the players. Time to get back to basics boys. The thrower must have both feet on the ground, be on or behind the touchline and must use both hands to deliver the ball from behind and over his head. If he delays release of the ball until his hands are below his forehead, it's a foul throw. That's right, a foul throw. Oh, you've not heard of those before. Now I understand. And a quick tip for all linesmen in the C-League, all of the ball must be over the touchline before you start waving your bloody flag. I have a lot more bees buzzing around in my bonnet but I'll spill those beans another day.

All keepers are mad

Khemara keeper Hong Visokra who was in the wars today but still managed to get his kick in first

I'm a bit late with today's match results from the C-League. A poor internet connection at my home is my excuse. Accompanied by their noisy and sometimes obnoxious youthful support, Prek Pra gave Naga a run for their money in the afternoon's first game, but Naga always had enough to win the points, with a 2-1 win. Teab Vathanak netted another two goals for Naga, one in each half and joins Julius Chukwumeka at the top of the goalscorers chart with 11 goals. We had another Mak Theara incident in the game. He's the Naga goalkeeper with a kamikaze deathwish, who has a habit of overstepping the line when collecting the ball in the face of onrushing opposition forwards. His overhead scorpion kicks are definitely the worst but today he caught a ball and then followed through with a straight leg into the chest of Prek Pra's Dennis Nwaizu. The match referee did nothing and let him get away with it. So he will do it again I'm sure. But that was nothing compared to the keeper in the second game today. Khemara gave a debut today to Hong Visokra between the sticks. To be honest he was crap but he suffered a chin injury after 20 minutes that required 4 stitches, and though his catching was abysmal throughout the game, he survived and so did his team, winning 3-2 against the Ministry of National Defense. The facial injury may've given him a need for self-protection but just a few minutes after the half-time break he caught the ball and fly-hacked/karate-kicked Army striker Suong Virak in full view of the referee, who waved play on. I was gob-smacked. The incident deserved a red card and a penalty kick. It got neither. In fact I was the only person in the ground screaming at the referee. And I'm supposed to be neutral. Referees in the C-League have gone too far in protecting goalkeepers. If a striker goes anywhere near a keeper they blow for a foul immediately but as we saw today, if the keeper takes offensive action against the striker, that's allowed and positively encouraged. The referees and their assessors in the C-League are failing miserably in their job. As for the result, it was a big boost for Khemara who had a piss poor 1st half of the season, whilst Army are a shadow of the team that won the Hun Sen Cup and 5 straight league games at the start of the campaign. In-depth match reports to come later.

BBU bubble bursts

The BBU defenders simply couldn't handle the speed and trickery of new Kirivong signing Tran Cong Danh

Of course all attention is being paid to the football results in South Africa and all of England will be glued to the tv set today for the game against USA. Of course we'll win it. We invented football didn't we. Meanwhile, the Metfone Cambodian League continues and league leaders BBU suffered a surprise 4-1 whipping at the hands of a rejuvenated Kirivong team that had new Vietnamese import Tran Cong Danh running rings around a bewildered BBU defence all afternoon. He's tiny but he has lightning quick feet and a body swerve to match and left the BBU defenders trailing in his wake on numerous occasions. We also had 3 red cards, a flurry of yellows and some of the worst refereeing decisions I've seen this season, and that's saying something. I thought the BBU bubble might burst but I didn't expect it to happen so quickly after the start of the 2nd half of the C-League season. In the second game of the afternoon, Preah Khan also handed out a footballing lesson, to Chhma Khmao, winning 5-1. It was a virtual walkover. More on the matches in depth later.

Keeping their eyes peeled

Faces in the crowd include BBU skipper Prum Putsethy (left) and Ung Marady in front and Augustine Ogbni bringing up the rear. Photo nicksellsphotography

Current Metfone C-League leaders Build Bright United may've been the surprise package of the first half of the season but they are determined to prevent some of the bigger names from dominating the 2nd half of the campaign. They presently sit a point above Naga Corp and 3 points above Phnom Penh Crown. In Nuth Sinoun they have the league's leading scorer with 10 goals and a steely determination to continue where they left off. This weekend they face a tricky test against a resurgent Kirivong line-up, as the first match on Saturday and the following Wednesday they come face to face with the team in 2nd spot, Naga. So there's no hiding place for BBU if they really are to offer a strong challenge for this season's championship. Some of the BBU team have been keeping a close eye on proceedings from the Olympic Stadium grandstand.

The C-League's top scorer BBU's Nuth Sinoun is in front (left), mixing with two Prek Pra Keila players, Mat Hasan (blue) and Philip Ali behind (white). Photo nicksellsphotography

More push-ups required

Wat Phnom posted a shock 1-0 win over the Army today

I didn't see that one coming. In the opening game of the 2nd half of the Metfone C-League, the Army succumbed to bottom-but-one Wat Phnom 1-nil at Olympic Stadium this afternoon. To be frank I think Wat Phnom were fired up under new management, the Army took it at half pace and were made to pay dearly by failing to get back the game's only goal on 17 minutes, scored by Ry Phearoeun, who snuck behind a sleepy Army backline and slotted into an empty net. Wat Phnom deserved their 1st half lead, they were on a mission and they caught the Army boys still nursing a hangover from the end of the first half of the campaign. If they don't kickstart their season soon, they could slip further behind in the rankings. As for Wat Phnom, they held out in the second half with 11 men behind the ball at all times, defending desperately as the Army threw 15 corners at them and two glaring late misses by Suong Virak summed up the Army's day. I think the boys will be made to do a lot of extra push-ups after this result. New signing Om Thavrak from Naga had to sit it out as his registration hadn't come through in time and they also lost two players through suspension, but their squad is big enough to cope, so no excuses. It was an Army off day.

A poor start for the Army's 2nd half of the C-League campaign

Strength in depth

I know there are 49 more matches to go but I can't see past Phnom Penh Crown as this year's C-League champions

The half-way stage of the Metfone C-League is upon us. Later this afternoon, the Army (Ministry of National Defense) resume league action when they take on Wat Phnom at the Olympic Stadium, start time 3.30pm. Rain is guaranteed. Bring a coat. I'm rooting for the Army to do well in the 2nd half of the season, primarily because they have some of the league's most exciting players (Nov Soseila, Oum Kumpheak, Suong Virak, Samreth Seiha, Khim Borey to name the obvious ones) and as they're an all-Khmer team. They won the Hun Sen Cup at the start of the season and it would be great for them, and Cambodian football, if they captured the double. It would be like an all-British team winning the Barclays League. That will never happen but I'm sure you get my drift. However, I see a tough road ahead, even if they manage to crowbar Om Thavrak, my favourite player in the C-League, into their line-up, which would make my day I must admit. Hand on head instead of heart, I think Phnom Penh Crown will win the league. They have the best strength in depth, the best of the foreign contingent, most likely the biggest bank balance and a firm belief in themselves that they're the best. I fully expect The Prince and Keo Sokngorn to shine in the second half of the campaign, and if they have signed Olisa Onyemerea as well, that will only strengthen their attacking options. What about the current leaders BBU I hear you shout? Great first half of the season for sure, but they simply don't have the squad to maintain their challenge. Naga and Preah Khan will be there or thereabouts but they too don't have the depth to match Crown. My top four destined for the end of season Super 4 play-offs are Crown, Naga, Army and Preah Khan. Any other team care to make me eat my words? Naga managed to win the title last season against the odds, can anyone match that memorable effort this time around?

Ssshhh

We're in the midst of the mid-season break of the Metfone Cambodian League, which is all of a week's duration, and the action should begin again this Wednesday. Have I seen the fixture list for the 2nd half of the season - no I haven't so it's all a mystery and we're just a couple of days away. For my money that says a lot about the Metfone C-League. What's your view?
update... I've just seen the fixtures for Wednesday and the weekend and Phnom Penh Crown aren't playing. The suggestion is they are still in Thailand, where they went for the mid-season break to play in a tournament. My understanding is they were originally due to play Wednesday. If that's right, and the fixtures have been changed because they are still away, that stinks if you ask me. The C-League should be their main focus not a jolly to Thailand to play meaningless friendlies.
further update... After typing the above, the fixtures for the 2nd half of the season landed in my email in-basket. Tomorrow, Wednesday, will see the Army boys take on Wat Phnom, hoping to get their season back on track with a win. League leaders BBU take on Kirivong on Saturday in the highlight of the weekend matches. The end of the regular league season will be on 8 August before the Super 4 Play-offs take place the following weekend. As you must know already, the team at the top of the league at the end of the regular season is not crowned champions. The league's top 4 teams play off for that title and the weekend of the finals will be 21 and 22 August. Pencil that into your diary now. That will then leave all of September and early October for the national team to get into shape for their important Suzuki Cup (I've just heard the World Cup qualifiers that were due to be played have been put back to 2011) matches later in October. Good luck to them I say, as they'll need it. I have no information at this point on the successor to Scott O'Donell as coach of the national team. If you've heard anything, let me know.

Press talk

My match report from the 'midweek fisticuffs' appeared on the back page of Friday's Phnom Penh Post. Click here.

Midweek fisticuffs

Handbags at five paces was how the teams left the field at the end of the Naga v Crown match Wednesday afternoon

Blood and guts is what football fans love. Take it from me. Of course we all love great football, lots of goals, wonderful on-the-ball artistry but if a game is boiling over the top, the players are giving no quarter, and the referee is losing control, it all adds to the spice of those 90 minutes where nothing else in the world matters but the match. Today's Metfone C-League game between Naga and Phnom Penh Crown was one of those encounters. The final score was 2-2, honours even but when the final whistle blew it signalled a free-for-all that fortunately didn't escalate past handbags at five paces though I would not have liked to have been in the way of Crown's brick outhouse-built defender Sani Saidu at that moment. He was livid and he wanted the whole stadium to know it. It was a bit like Tarzan calling all the jungle animals to help him. Back to the game. Crown started like a runaway train. Keo Sokngorn and Prince Justine put them 2-nil ahead on ten minutes. Naga, who needed a win to go back to the top of the table, reduced the deficit with a Meas Channa free-kick that was straight out of the David Beckham book of free-kicks. Referee Tuy Vichheka is not one of my fave match officials and he proved my point on 77 minutes. He was 40 yards behind play when Teab Vatanak sent out a piercing scream and fell to the ground. Looking at his linesman, who hid behind his flag, Vichheka gave a free-kick on the edge of the box against Tieng Tiny, who was completely non-plussed. As a neutral football fan I was livid with the decision, as were the whole Crown team. Vatanak, who it seems is able to get these decisions from referees on a regular basis, then copied Channa with a glorious up and over the wall free-kick that even Beckham would've been proud of. 2-2 and tempers had reached boiling point. As for Vichheka he booked 7 but surprisingly must've left his red card at home. As for the game, I loved it and hope we get lots more like it in the second half of the C-League which starts in a week's time. Naga remain a point behind leaders BBU with Crown sitting in third and the Army boys in fourth.

Referee Tuy Vichheka doing what he does best, flashing a yellow card at Naga's Sun Sovanrithy (14). Fortunately he left his red card at home. Photo: nicksellsphotography

Press talk

And my match reports from Sunday's C-League games appear in the Tuesday edition of the Phnom Penh Post. Click here.

Press talk

Today's back page of the Phnom Penh Post has my Metfone C-League match reports from Saturday's games. Click here.

Top of the pile

Nuth Sinoun wears the number 10 shirt and that's how many goals he has to-date as the league's leading scorer

BBU, or Build Bright United to you and me, are top of the Metfone C-league. They are there courtesy of their latest win, a straightforward 4-1 success over bottom club Chhma Khmao, and will go into the mid-season break still on top if Naga fail to win on Wednesday. Yet coach Meas Sam Oeurn is down to earth about their season to-date and won't let success go to his head. He even talked about resting the league's top scorer Nuth Sinoun in the after-match press interview. Now just so that you know, Nuth Sinoun is now on 10 goals this season, one ahead of his nearest rival. He's a former Hello United, Royal Navy, Preah Khan Reach and national team striker. He's 25 years old but considered a veteran, so much so that his coach is talking of resting him. Incredible. Sinoun was on target again against Chhma Khmao with two goals. For his first, he strode through and finished with confidence a couple of minutes before the half-time break. And that was two minutes after Chhun Sothearath had chipped BBU ahead with a very neatly taken opener. For his 2nd, Sinoun, who surprisingly stayed on the pitch for the whole game instead of being rested, took an unselfish pass from Oum Chandara and sent a low drive into the far corner. Expertly taken I must say. That was a couple of minutes before the end and BBU sub Chan Sokunthina also scored after Chhma Khmao had registered a goal through Meak Chhordaravuth. But it was all too easy for the students of BBU, who with their lead at the top of the table have given their more-fancied rivals like Phnom Penh Crown and Naga something to ponder on.

BBU are the surprise C-League leaders as we approach the half-way point

Chhma Khmao are finding life very tough in their 1st season in the C-League and sit at the bottom of the standings

All noise no substance

Kirivong's mercurial striker In Vichheka, who netted 3 against Prek Pra

Sunday's C-League matches were noisy but predictable. The noise came mostly from the Prek Pra youngsters who banged their bottles and strained their high voices, whilst the results were as expected. In the first game, Prek Pra offered a bit of resistance until Julius Chukwumeka stabbed in a pass from In Vichheka on 20 minutes. He looked well offside but the assistant referees are a law unto themselves in the C-League and can't even recognise foul throws so there's no hope for technical offside decisions. In Vichheka scored two more before before the break, the 2nd being a tap-in after keeper Yok Ary juggled and dropped the ball onto his foot. Prek Pra suffered a set-back just four minutes after the restart. Sos Sanophy hauled down Vichheka in the box, received a straight red. Vichheka got up, grabbed the ball, plonked it on the spot and coolly lifted the penalty into the roof of the net for his hat-trick. He scored again minutes later but it was ruled out for offside, though I have my doubts. The 2nd half wasn't a classic but Kirivong did enough to cancel out Prek Pra and Chukwumeka scored a 2nd on 78 minutes to make it 5-0 but then fluffed an easier chance to score his hat-trick late on.

Kirivong gave Prek Pra a lesson in finishing, winning 5-nil

Prek Pra Keila brought their enthusiastic young fans with them but failed again

Naga hit the highs

Naga leap to the top of the table with their 3-1 win over Wat Phnom

It crept up without me noticing. I mean that Naga's 3-1 win over Wat Phnom on Saturday took them to the top of the C-League table, leapfrogging three teams to lead the standings by a point for a day, and if they beat Phnom Penh Crown in the final game of the 1st half of the season next Wednesday, they'll be back on top before the week-long rest. Naga dominated the game from the start, with Wat Phnom failing to register a shot on target in the 1st half. They took the lead on 24 minutes when Chin Chum's header sailed into the net though he looked yards offside to me. On 32 minutes Chum got goalside of the Wat Phnom defence and scored at the 2nd attempt. He should've got a 3rd but his curler hit the outside of the upright and he was replaced. The 2nd half was crap to be honest though Phlong Chanthou grabbed one back for Wat Phnom before Naga sub Tong Soto made sure of the victory with a close range effort in time added on. They may be top but Naga have yet to really impress this season. What will they be like when they really get going?

Wat Phnom's season just goes from bad to worse and they find themselves in a relegation dogfight with three other teams

No love lost

Preah Khan rounded off their 1st half of the season with an impressive 4-1 win over the Army

The Army boys will be gutted that they lost their final game of the first half of the C-League season. They'd done so well up til now, including that Hun Sen Cup final victory, so losing 4-1 to their Military Police arch-rivals, Preah Khan on Saturday will hurt. There was some blood and guts tackling at the start and the Army were cock-a-hoop to score the opening goal on 13 minutes, when Nov Soseila fizzed a shot through a crowd of legs. Samreth Seiha in the Army goal was in unbeatable form but suffered an elbow injury at half-time and had to be replaced. Sou Yaty took over and the normally reliable stopper spooned a free-kick to Suon Thuon for the equalizer 10 mins after the break. The game changed on 72 minutes. Red cards seem to follow referee Thong Chankethya around like a bad smell so it was no surprise when Khek Khemarin handled needlessly, got a 2nd yellow and the red, and PKR netted the penalty through Mr Cool, Sam El Nasa. Khim Borey had chances to get the Army back on level terms but failed before half-time sub Khuon Laboravy netted twice in the last 8 minutes. He's been on the bench in recent weeks but give him a chance and Laboravy usually comes up with the goods. This win will give PKR some much-needed confidence after an indifferent start whilst the Army need to pick up and start again when the league season kicks off after a week's break.

The Army in bouyant mood before the game, finished it with a whimper

Army skipper Khim Borey (7) asks referee Thong Chankethya to be excused before the kick-off

Naga and BBU vie for top spot

Khuon Laboravy netted twice on his return to league action for Preah Khan

There was a shock in store for the Army in Saturday's opening Metfone C-League game against Preah Khan. They led with a 1st half goal by Nov Soseila and though both teams created chances, I didn't expect Preah Khan to win by such a comfortable margin. PKR were back in the game early in the 2nd half, they took advantage when the Army had a player sent off and Khuon Laboravy came back from the wilderness to score twice after his appearance as a substitute. The Army remain in 3rd but this 4-1 defeat by PKR was a disappointing way to end what was otherwise a great first half of the season for the military men. In the 2nd match, Naga had it all their own way for 80 minutes of their game against Wat Phnom. Their plucky opponents offered some late resistance but it wasn't enough and Naga ran out 3-1 winners to leapfrog into top spot in the C-League table. Chin Chum netted twice in the first half and that helped to give Naga one more point than BBU, who play Chhma Khmao today.
Sunday's C-League encounters saw Kirivong see off the plucky fight of Prek Pra Keila, winning 5-0 with In Vichheka netting a hat-trick and Julius Chukwumeka a brace. Prek Pra brought a noisy band of youthful supporters with them but it was the Kirivong faithful who were cheering at the end. As expected BBU took Chhma Khmao to the cleaners, winning 4-1 to regain top place in the league standings. Nuth Sinoun scored twice to send him to the top of the goalscorers chart with ten goals. More on the individual matches later.

Khmer language only

Star of the Week - Khim Borey

A couple of items in the Khmer language only Sports Today edition, which is included in the Khmer version of the Phnom Penh Post every Friday. Every week I select a Star of the Week from the previous week's football matches and it gets printed in Khmer language only. This week it was Khim Borey and the picture shows how it's presented each week, as part of a two page spotlight on the Metfone C-League. In addition, on the back page of Sports Today there was a whole page focused on recent developments regarding the departure of Scott O'Donell as coach of the Cambodia national team. It included comments from players and fans about the situation, for and against. I've only had a very rough translated summary so can't really comment on it, suffice to say that football fans will always have their views, and that's what makes football the fascinating sport that it is.

Have your say about recent developments, in Khmer language only

Midweek fluff

This afternoon's solitary Metfone C-League match won't make too much impact on the league standings with Naga Corp catching up with one of the games they missed during their Burma adventures, as they face a dispirited Khemara Keila outfit who are going from bad to worse in recent weeks. These two teams finished as champions and runners-up at the end of last season in the Super 4 play-offs, when Naga won 2-1, but they couldn't be much further apart this time around. Naga, unbeaten in their half a dozen games, could go 3rd if they run riot against Khemara today, whilst the team in 7th spot are coming off the back of 4 straight defeats and are really struggling this campaign. I can't make the game as I'm at a work colleague's wedding party. Meanwhile Phnom Penh Crown arrive in Singapore today ready to face the French side Etoile on Friday, who are 2nd in the Singapore League having made quite a splash in their debut season. Interestingly, Crown have included Olisa Onyemerea in their squad. The big Nigerian striker was released by Preah Khan before the start of this season and looks likely to join Crown for the 2nd half of the campaign. Not on the team-sheet in Singapore is Oscar Mpoko.
Match result: As expected, in a pretty drab affair, Naga came out 2-0 winners, with a goal towards the end of each half from Chin Chum and Joseph Oyewole. Referee Tuy Vichheka managed his usual five yellow cards, and Naga stay in 4th spot. The best game of this coming weekend's fixtures is the first one on Saturday, where the Army meet Preah Khan, and I expect an Army win. A week from today Naga face Phnom Penh Crown in the final match of the 1st half of the C-League season.

Beggars belief

There's a story on the back page of today's Phnom Penh Post that effectively gives the Cambodian Football Federation's so-called response to remarks made by Scott O'Donell when I interviewed him recently regarding his decision not to stay in the job at the end of his contract, which finishes this month. In it, May Tola, the FFC spokesman implies that Scott didn't understand how the federation works and was unwilling to work around the complications of arranging friendly international matches. In essence, it's a face-saving piece from the FFC who are now looking to get a South Korean coach on the cheap, or failing that, a local coach. To be frank, it beggars belief. If the FFC were professional and passionate about the national team, they would've bust a gut to support a coach that clearly knows his stuff and had presented a plan of action for the 10 months leading up to crucial games in October. They have failed miserably in their duty to the national team and if the spokesman's thinking pans out, they may play a friendly or two in the month prior to the series of cruicial matches in October, that have World Cup and Suzuki Cup qualifying as their goal. He also stated that there is no desperate pressure to get a new coach. If that is their idea of suitable preparation then there is absolutely no hope for Cambodian football in the international arena in the foreseeable future. They can make all the excuses they like about a 'crowded domestic programme' and 'problems with resource mobilization' but they are simply inept excuses that won't cut the mustard with anyone that has a brain. The Cambodian players and the Cambodian public deserve better.
The article here in the PPP is by H S Manjunath, an Indian sports journo who is in the country for a few months and doing some freelance work for the Post. He was reporting for them on the day that Wilson Mene died at the Olympic Stadium.

Press talk

The back page of today's Phnom Penh Post

Today's back page of the Phnom Penh Post carries my match reports from Sunday's Metfone C-League wins for the Army and league leaders BBU. Click here.

Borey is a shining star

I promise you that the player with his face obscured by the ball is Khim Borey, the Army's number 7 and skipper. Photo nicksellsphotography

Each week as the regular press guy from Phnom Penh Post at the majority of the Metfone C-League games, I get to pick the STAR of the Week, who then gets a write-up and photo in the Friday Khmer Sports edition. I'm always pleased when a Khmer players stands out above the rest so I was only too happy to select Khim Borey as this week's star. Not only did he score a hat-trick in the Army's demolition of Chhma Khmao, he led from the front as well as dropping back into midfield to orchestrate his team's offense. He takes his captain's responsibilities seriously despite still being just 21 years old, and a Cambodian international for what seems like eons. I reckon he must've got his first cap when he was still in nappies (actually it was in 2007, when he was playing for both the country's youth and full national teams). He was the Golden Boot winner for most goals in 2008 but has suffered a bit with injuries since, so it's great to see him getting back to fitness and top form. Likeable guy, who is quite shy off the pitch, but one of Cambodia's best on it.

By way of further evidence, here is Khim Borey (white shirt, number 7) challenging for a high ball. Photo nicksellsphotography

Last but not least, perhaps one of the most unflattering photos of me, ever, captured by happy snapper Nick Sells at the Olympic Stadium yesterday. Photo nicksellsphotography

Radio whore

Someone called me a radio whore yesterday. Maybe I am. On Thursday BBC Radio 5 in the UK interviewed me about Bou Meng's new book. Today, Radio Australia and their Connect Asia program included part of an interview I did with Liam Cochrane about the pitfalls of a football career in Cambodia. You can read a transcript and hear more here.
The intro to the piece reads as follows:
The sudden death of a Nigerian soccer player during a game in Phnom Penh earlier this month has raised questions about foreign players who migrate to Cambodia in the hope of securing a football contract. Mostly Nigerian, they arrive with expectations of big money and the chance to be drafted into the more prestigious leagues in neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam. But for many, what they find is disappointment and hardship.
Radio Australia focuses on Asia and the Pacific region and regularly has news items from Cambodia and neighbouring countries. I did a few pieces for them in December last year on the SEA Games. I am available for more whoring (of the non-sexual variety of course) upon request.

Press talk

The back page of today's PPP

My match reports from the two Saturday C-League games are on the back page of today's Phnom Penh Post. Click here.

Ladies gloves

Naga's Meas Channa (7) with his long white ladies gloves. Photo: nicksellsphotography

Here's some pictures by Nick Sells from yesterday's games and something I noticed a few weeks ago in the Naga team. I saw skipper Sun Sovanrithy with what I could only describe as long white ladies gloves before a game and now it seems the fashion has caught on with three more Naga players Meas Channa, Teab Vatanak and Kim Chanbunrith. The finger mittens have gone but the white sleeves remain. Surely it would just be easier to get some long sleeved shirts wouldn't it lads?

The other photos show the moment where Preah Khan were reduced to 10 men in the 20th minute of their match against Phnom Penh Crown. Anthony Nzekwest, who's hiding behind Ouk Mic, tries to ignore referee Duong Socheat's red card after he pulled back Prince Justine in a run on goal. He'd been booked 9 minutes earlier so the referee had no choice but to give him his marching orders. Finally, how many more defeats can Khemara's owner Lah Salakhan take before he reviews the position of coach Solomon Demagudu, who took charge of the team at the start of the current season but has seen his outfit crash to 5 defeats in their 8 games played. The coach is currently taking his AFC C License coaching badge course after enjoying a less than successful stint with Phuchung Neak last term; they were relegated. Khemara were beaten into 2nd place by Naga in last season's championship but look a shadow of that team in recent weeks.

Referee Duong Socheat advises Preah Khan's Anthony Nzekwest of his early bath. Photo nicksellsphotography

Khemara coach Solomon Demagudu (green) watches the action with owner Lah Salakhan. Photo nicksellsphotography

One-sided

Khim Borey's hat-trick for the Army helped to defeat the Black Cats 5-1

The scorelines from this afternoon's two Metfone C-league matches at Olympic Stadium were both 5-1 in favour of the Army and BBU and suggest two one-sided fixtures. But actually that wasn't the case with Chhma Khmao and Khemara putting up some dogged resistance but finally caving in at the end, leaving BBU to go back to the top of the league and the Army in third place.
The first match kicked off in the middle of a thunderstorm, with rain coming down in buckets, most of the umbrellas surrounding the pitch had blown away, as had one of the portable dug-outs. The downpour left puddles on the pitch surface and the rain carried on until half-time. The Army netted their first after 6 minutes and it looked like it was going to be a mauling, when Khim Borey finished off a neat move between Pum Tola and Sin Dalin. However, though Army had the best of the possession, the better chances fell to the Black Cats from Svay Rieng. Sok Kolamara chipped Army keeper Sou Yaty but saw his effort rebound off the post whilst Yaty had to be at his very best to keep out Mom Davy's penalty five minutes before the break. It was a superb stop at the foot of the post with a strong left hand from Yaty keeping his team in front.

With the game kicking off in a thunderstorm, the Army automatically line-up for a team photo with no photographers present

A look at the sky above Olympic just before the storm began

The Ministry of National Defense set about their task with purpose after the interval, in a game which saw both teams line-up with only Khmer players on show. Sin Dalin and Khim Borey hit the woodwork but the latter was in acres of space to nod in a cross to the far post by Pum Tola ten minutes into the 2nd half. With the Black Cats' keeper carried off, his replacement's first task was to pick the ball out of the net just past the hour when Sin Dalin volleyed in a Pum Tola cross from close range. Five minutes later Khim Borey registered his hat-trick, controlling another Tola pass on his chest and firing in a near post shot that the keeper failed to block. Centre-half Thong Oudom joined in the fun and games with a powerful header at a corner on 82 minutes before Sok Kolamara slalomed through three tackles and netted a neat finish past Yaty to give the Cats a small consolation, just before the end. To little, too late and the Army consolidated third place.

The BBU line-up that beat Khemara 5-1 to move back to the top. LtoR (back) Pich Chealy, Sinoun, Ogbni, Sothearath, Bun Hieng, Simay (front) Sam, Chandara, Putsethy, Sovannara, Veasna.

Despite some appalling recent form, Khemara were in the mood for their match against BBU and for 35 minutes gave as good as they got but two goals in three minutes killed them off and confined them to yet another heavy defeat. Build Bright weren't at their best early doors but with a bullet header from full-back Nhim Sovannara and a clever shot on the turn from Nuth Sinoun, they went in two goals ahead at the interval. 4 minutes in, Khemara sensed a possible comeback when stand-in striker Suon Makara netted but a minute later Nuth Sinoun scored again and the resistance was broken. Just another five minutes later and Prum Putsethy put it beyond doubt with a curler into the far post. Twelve minutes from time Oum Chandara cashed in on a Kun Kuon mishap, walloping the ball in from a yard out to give BBU a 5-1 finish and regain top spot in the table from Crown.

Plucky Khemara put up a fight but it wasn't good enough

The sun was out for the start of the 2nd match with Kuoch Sokumpheak leading out Khemara in red/white

Sunday blues

After yesterday's games, Phnom Penh Crown lead the Metfone C-League table by 2 points over BBU. It's a precarious position for Crown as the blue shirts of BBU, or maybe they'll play in white today, will have the opportunity to leapfrog over Crown if they beat Khemara this afternoon in the 4.30pm kick-off. And that's likely considering BBU's recent showings and Khemara's self destruct form of the last few weeks. For BBU to be in serious contention around the half-way stage of the season is a surprise to many, including me. They've got players like Nuth Sinoun and keeper Hem Simay playing out of their skin, skipper Prum Putsethy can conjure a goal out of nothing and playmaker Chhun Sothearath is anchoring midfield alongside the busy Chan Veasna. They aren't the most attractive footballing side in the league, but at the moment, they're the most effective, having only lost one game in seven. In the earlier kick-off, I expect the Army to steamroller Chhma Khmao and if they get stuck in early, it could be a cricket score.

Saturday action

Naga coach Prak Sovannara reflects on his team's success after their return from Burma

As expected, there were wins this afternoon for Naga Corp, fresh from their Burmese adventures in the AFC President's Cup, and Phnom Penh Crown, who returned to top spot in the Metfone C-League. Naga beat Kirivong 2-1 in the first game today and just about deserved it. But their winner was handed to them on a plate by an outrageous dive by Teab Vatanak and gullible referee Sreng Haody. With 20 minutes on the clock in the 2nd half, Vatanak crumpled when confronted by Kirivong defender Bryan Edem and Haody couldn't run and point to the spot quick enough. Sun Sovanrithy stepped up and despatched the spot-kick to put Naga 2-1 ahead and that's how it stayed. They'd begun slowly and conceded the first goal after 8 minutes. Chan Darasokha clumsily brought down Un Sopheak and Julius Chukwumeka netted twice from the twice-taken penalty, the 2nd one counted. Within 5 minutes Joseph Oyewole had timed his run to perfection to nod in Meas Channa's pin-point center. Naga deserved a 2nd and got it on 36 minutes but a ridiculous decision by the linesman wiped out Chin Chum's header from another Channa cross. It looked an appalling decision from my seat in the grandstand. Both teams hit the woodwork late on, but it was Naga's day and they move into 4th spot.

The Naga Corp starting line-up front row adopt a very friendly pose

Kirivong look more business-like in their pre-match posture

Games between Phnom Penh Crown and Preah Khan Reach are always eagerly-awaited and this one proved to be as enthralling as ever. Crown eventually wore down their tired opponents but it was touch and go until Prince Justine levelled the scoring just after the hour mark and then it was one-way traffic. Up until then, Preah Khan had led through a Chea Samnang goal on 8 minutes after he benefitted from a moment of madness in his own 6-yard box from Keo Sokngorn. Another moment of red mist saw Preah Khan's big stopper Anthony Nzekwest sent off after 20 minutes for two bookable offences. His first yellow was for talking, his 2nd was a pull on the arm of Prince Justine as he sped away. He had no complaints. Crown levelled six minutes before the break, or they thought they had. Sani Saidu poked the ball over the line after Ouk Mic had fumbled a Tieng Ting free-kick but the linesman thought otherwise, with another shocker of a decision.

The PPCrown line-up: LtoR (back) Tiny, Nwakuna, Rithy, Bunchhay, Sokngorn, Saidu (front) Justine, Sokly, Chea, Narong, Sothearith.

After 3 misses, the Prince redeemed himself with a wallop of a shot that screamed into the roof of the net for a dramatic equaliser accompanied by his trademark somersault on 64 minutes. Two more goals in the last ten minutes wrapped it up for Crown. Keo Sokngorn made up for his earlier error with a scorcher of a shot from 25 yards that left Mic rooted to the spot. Two minutes later Prince Justine naughtily tapped in a shot from Hong Ratana on the line and was lucky not to be flagged for offside, but got away with it for his 2nd and Crown's third. He should've made it three in time added on but was foiled at the end of a surging run by Mic's body. Crown return to the top pending Sunday's games and their trip overseas for the Singapore Cup on Wednesday when they face the French team Etoile two days later.

A perfect toss by referee Duong Socheat, who went onto issue 6 yellow cards and 1 red

2-goal Prince Justine and Crown Manager Makara Be face the tv cameras after the game