Prince wears the crown

The two teams take to the playing field faced by a bank of television cameramen. BBU in blue, Crown in red/black.

Crown line-up with strength in depth against Build Bright United

Phnom Penh Crown gave notice to the C-league teams that they will stand no dissent when it comes to talk of them winning this season's championship. The upstart students from BBU may've had a great first half of the campaign but when it came down to the face-off today, Crown always had enough to put the youngsters in their place and a bit more in the reserve tank as well. With a couple of suspensions and resting big stopper Sani Saidu, Crown were more than a match for BBU and led on 12 minutes when Sok Pheng redirected a Chan Dara cross past Sos Proshim with his head. It was a bloody hot day and the pace of the game was pretty pedestrian, hence Crown didn't score their 2nd until a couple of minutes before half-time. Uche Prince Justine had earlier lobbed one wide, so he was happy to nod in at the far post after Sun Sopanha's free-kick had eluded everyone else. He then opened up the BBU defence with a one-two with Oscar Mpoko, who failed to find the finish the move deserved. Thirty seconds after the start of the 2nd half, The Prince was at it again. Mpoko won the ball in midfield, fed The Prince and he did the rest with a low drive from just outside the box. Earlier this week he had confided to me that his confidence was suffering a bit, but the beaming smile and victory somersault told its own story and he was only denied a hat-trick by the woodwork ten minutes from the end. Though Crown weren't as fluent and fluid as they can be at their best, they always had too much for the students, who netted a consolation through Nelson Oladiji when Peng Bunchhay and Tieng Tiny collided and left him with a tap-in. Crown move to within 2 points of league leaders Naga with this 3-1 victory, whilst BBU are now in third spot.

The BBU boys came unstuck against the title favourites this afternoon

Another in the mini-book of great toss-ups of our time. This one is by referee Sreng Haody.

Goalscorers unite

Uche Prince Justine, who netted 2 goals this afternoon for Phnom Penh Crown. Photo nicksellsphotography

When you have goalscorers of the calibre of Uche Prince Justine and Julius Ononiwu in your team, you have the edge over your opponents and that's how it proved in today's Metfone C-league games at Olympic Stadium. Both Justine and Ononiwu scored a brace apiece as their respective teams recorded 3-1 victories, with Phnom Penh Crown brushing aside the students of BBU and Kirivong putting Khemara to the sword. More later.

England take charge

English football has to take all the positives it can get right now and to hear that referee Howard Webb (left) will be the man in middle for the Netherlands v Spain World Cup Final on Monday morning at 1.30am, is something worth celebrating. Webb has already officiated at three games in the competition and was the powerbrokers choice to get the all-important final. The 38-year-old will be aided by his assistants Darren Cann and Michael Mullarkey during the game in Johannesburg. He will be the first Englishman to referee the final since Jack Taylor in 1974, when Netherlands were beaten by West Germany. The South Yorkshire policeman will make a little piece of football history in that he will become the first person to have refereed the Champions League and the World Cup final in the same year. Well done Webby.

Naga hit seven

Naga added to their points tally at the top of the Metfone C-League with a comfortable 7-0 win over relegation fodder Chhma Khmao this afternoon at Olympic Stadium. The Svay Rieng-based team had no answer to Naga's dominance once Teab Vathanak (pictured right) had opened the floodgates on 25 minutes. It was all one-way traffic after that, though it was only after the half-time interval that the goals started to rain in for Naga, who rested half a dozen regulars. Vathanak completed a hat-trick alongside goals from Jonathan Onyeahiri, Samuel Oseika, Chik Sokhom and Kop Isa. Naga now lead the table with a 5-point gap over Phnom Penh Crown and BBU, having played a game more. There's a juicy encounter this coming Saturday when the two teams on level points in 2nd place, BBU and Crown, meet each other in the early kick-off. Kirivong meet revitalized Khemara in the second game. Preah Khan and the Army should win their games on Sunday.

Way too late

This post isn't about Cambodian football. It's about watching live football in Cambodia. On the television. At 1.30am, in the morning. Yes, the final stages of the World Cup are upon us. Last night the Dutch beat Uruguay 3-2 and tonight the Spanish face the Gerries. The problem is the timing of the games as far as living in Cambodia is concerned. Way too late. I was happy to stay up for the England games at such a ridiculous hour, in a bar with hordes of other English fans, but both semi-finals and the final, which will be played at 1.30am on Monday, are crucifying my sleeping patterns. So I've decided to forgo the semis and save myself for the final (with the commentary in Khmer). Though I have a Dutch surname, Brouwer, there isn't an ounce of Dutch blood in my veins. However, you've got to take the positives where you can so I'll be supporting the team in orange for the final. Fingers crossed it will be against Spain, as no one seriously wants the Gerries to progress do they. Come on Holland.

Press talk (the final nail)

This is my final match report for the Phnom Penh Post. Sniff, sniff.

Here it is. The last of my football match reports for the Phnom Penh Post. I'm a little teary as I type this (not really). I have been ousted in order for the newspaper's sports pages to grow and develop, apparently. In reality, the sports team's budget probably couldn't afford me and have given the job to a staffer rather than a money-guzzling freelancer. Or maybe my traditional style of football coverage is no longer required. We'll have to wait and see how the future coverage shapes up. If it stinks I'll be writing a letter to the editor, which is what kicked off my initial involvement many moons ago. We could come full circle again. Click here to read online.

End of an era

My match reports in tomorrow's Phnom Penh Post from Sunday's C-League games will be the end of an era. I've been chopped from the Post's sports reporting team in a cost-cutting exercise, now that they have a new Editor and he's demanding changes. Looks like more international sport, and considerably less local coverage (or in short, sharp chunks anyway) will be the new order at the Post. Well that's how its been explained to me. It's a shame for a number of reasons. The pay was a nice earner for sure, but reporting on the local football scene and particularly the national team was and is important. Before I stuck my oar in, there was virtually nothing in the PPP at all on local professional football. Over the past year and more, the football coverage has mushroomed, and now it sounds like the people in charge have decided its time to cut back. I'll still attend the games until the end of the current season and will then reconsider the future. Covering the matches religiously for the Post every Saturday and Sunday means that my weekends have not been my own during the football season, and it would be nice to get them back.

Press talk

Today's Phnom Penh Post carries my match reports from Saturday's C-League action at the Olympic Stadium. Click here.

There's only one Julius

Julius Ononiwu moments after scoring 4 goals against Chhma Khmao this afternoon

With his 4 goals against Chhma Khmao this afternoon, Kirivong's top marksman took his tally to 17 for the season so far and is well on his way to his personal target of 25 goals for the campaign. He particularly likes playing against the Black Cats from Svay Rieng, having netted five against them in the earlier meeting this season. He now leads the race for the C-League's Golden Boot, won by his Nigerian compatriot Uche Prince Justine last season, but he had a surprise in store when I touched base with him for a few minutes after the game. Like Justine, he was born in Imo State in southeast Nigeria and celebrated his 22nd birthday last December. He arrived in Cambodia three years ago and this is his third season with Kirivong Sok Sen Chey. Last year he netted 16 times for the Takeo-based team and has already bettered that tally this time around. Before coming to Cambodia, Julius played academy football in Nigeria with Lentini FC and then had a season in Algeria with JS Kabylie. He sees his time in Cambodia as part of his learning experience and is hoping that his form this season will catapult onto bigger and better things. He also confirmed that his family name is Ononiwu and so from now he should be known as Julius Chukwuma Ononiwu. I'll make sure I get it right in future. Though he missed a penalty last week, his recent form has been red-hot and on his day he can destroy any defence, so with five games left to play, he's aiming for that personal target of 25 goals, and might just make it.

Julius Ononiwu (no 7) fights for possession with Om Thavrak (then with Naga) last season

Surprise Sunday

Kirivong are 4 points off 4th place and a play-off spot after beating Chhma Khmao 4-2. Julius Ononiwu (no 7) scored all 4.

Kirivong turned over bottom club Chhma Khmao 4-2 but didn't have everything their own way in today's Metfone C-League encounter. Julius Ononiwu netted all 4 of the Kirivong goals to take his season's tally to 17 and grab the lead in the race for the Golden Boot. Two of the goals arrived early in the 1st half before Kirivong took their foot off the gas and got sloppy. Two more in a four minute spell, early in the 2nd period handed the game to Kirivong. I managed to catch up with Julius after the game for a 5-minute chat to find out more about him. The Black Cats from Svay Rieng never gave up and scored through Men Piseth (penalty) and Phan Dara. In the second game Phnom Penh Crown were looking to recapture top spot in the table with a win over Khemara, but they didn't manage it. Though Sun Sopanha gave them a 1st half lead with a brilliantly-executed free-kick, Kuoch Sokumpheak let fly with a 30 yarder that skidded through the legs of embarrassed Crown keeper Peng Bunchhay and claimed a point. Khemara had centre-half Kun Kuon sent off for two bookable offenses midway through the second half but held out to put a spoke in Crown's title chances. Book-happy referee Thong Chankethya also flashed six yellow cards. Naga stay top with BBU in close contention and Crown a further point behind.

Khemara snatched a point from Crown in a 1-1 draw, despite having a man sent off

Phnom Penh Crown could only draw 1-1 with Khemara to dent their title hopes
Referee Thong Chankethya is an exhibitionist even in his coin-tossing. Everyone else looks on bemused. As usual he was card happy, issuing 6 yellows and 1 red card.

In glorious technicolor

Naga (white) and Preah Khan (red) step out for yesterday's game

Here are some pictures from yesterday's Metfone C-League matches played at Olympic Stadium. With the recent departure of Nick Sells and his camera, you'll have to put up with my less than interesting pictures from now on, which is a pity as Nick's skills at capturing the action and the people at the game had improved to the point of being excellent. Unfortunately, I don't have the same access to the photographs of Nick's replacement.

Naga did just enough to record a 2-1 win and go back to the top. LtoR: [back] Chenla, Oyewole, Theara, Channa, Oseika, Sovanrithy (capt). [front] Chandarasokha, Vathanak, Isa, Sambo, Chanthan.

Preah Khan will feel a mite unlucky to lose the points in their 2-1 defeat. Their goalscorer was capt Sam El Nasa, center of the front row.

BBU moved into 2nd spot with their 4-1 success. LtoR [back] Sothearath, Sam, Bunhieng, Oladiji, Ogbni, Proshim. [front] Pichchealy, Putsethy, Chandara, Veasna, Sovanara.

Relegation candidates Prek Pra Keila went down 4-1 to BBU, the same scoreline as earlier in the season

Referee Yien Kivatanak waiting to catch the perfect coin toss, watched by the team captains. His assistant can't give a toss and prefers to inspect his boots.

Nelson is the man

Hat-trick hero for BBU, Nelson Oladiji

Star of the show from today's two Metfone C-League games was Nelson Oladiji, which is timely as I picked him as my star of the week for Friday's Khmer edition of Sports Today after his performance last weekend. This time around he netted a hat-trick for Build Bright in their 4-1 trouncing of Prek Pra Keila and looks like he's in the goalscoring groove as the second half of the season really gets underway. The win takes BBU into 2nd spot behind Naga, who did just enough, again, to beat Preah Khan 2-1 in the first match of the day. Winning by the odd goal is becoming the norm for Naga as they grind out their results and maintain thier push for the Super 4. Back to BBU, Prek Pra took the lead through Mat Hasan but Oum Chandara levelled two minutes later in the 1st half and with Oladiji netting just before the break, it was the signal for BU to take over. Two goalpoacher goals from Oladiji at the start of the 2nd half sealed it for the students, who had the luxury of leaving top scorer Nuth Sinoun on the bench.
The Naga versus PKR game was a lot closer as two of the league's stronger teams met. PKR kept Khuon Laboravy on the sidelines again, which is a mystery as he's their main source of goals. However, it was keeper Ouk Mic who kept them in the match in the 2nd half with a string of fine saves before the 70th minute winner from Naga sub Jonathan Onyeahiri. Naga had taken the lead on 14 minutes when Suon Thuon netted an own goal after Mic had saved a shot from Kop Isa but the ball rebounded off the defender's knee and rolled over the goal-line in slow motion. 10 minutes later PKR drew level through evergreen Sam El Nasa and could've scored more with a bit of luck. Naga did just enough to win and could even afford for their big shots like Joseph Oyewole, Meas Channa and Teab Vathanak to play well under their normal level of consistency. The win takes Naga back to the top of the table though Phnom Penh Crown play tomorrow and could snatch it back.

Press talk

Monday's PPP match reports

Tuesday's PPP match reports

I've been so occupied that I haven't yet posted the match articles from last weekend's games on my blog. My Phnom Penh Post reports were in the Monday and Tuesday editions as usual. Here are the links: here and here.

There's a juicy encounter to kick-off this weekend's C-League games when Naga meet Preah Khan in the first match on Saturday. That's followed by BBU taking on Prek Pra. Sunday's games will see Kirivong against Chhma Khmao and Phnom Penh versus Khemara.

Crown step up

Phnom Penh Crown scorer Sok Pheng, who was also sent off before the interval

Phnom Penh Crown returned to the top of the Metfone C-League Wednesday with a 3-1 win over Wat Phnom, but it came at a price. They led 2-nil at the half-time interval but lost striker Sok Pheng moments before the break with a red card for a second bookable offence. Pheng had given Crown the lead on 22 minutes, with a penalty from Oscar Mpoko doubling that on the half hour on his return after a lengthy injury absence. Yang Ty netted a penalty for Wat Phnom a couple of minutes after the half-time breather before Hong Ratana sealed it with Crown's 3rd on 54 minutes. Naga and Crown are level on 28 points from 12 games but Crown lead on goal difference, 31-19. BBU are 2 points behind and Preah Khan a further point off in 4th.

Mockery of the game

The 1st half is just about to end at Olympic Stadium during the Kirivong v PKR match

Sunday's C-League matches couldn't have been more different. BBU went back into 2nd spot with a regulation 6-0 stuffing of Wat Phnom with Nelson Oladiji and Sophat Chansokunthina both grabbing two goals apiece. Prum Putsethy and Chan Veasna also scored for the students. Wat Phhom had Chan Youhan needlessly sent off. In the 2nd game, PKR's solitary winner against Kirivong came from Sok Chanrasmey half an hour into the second half. But the game should never have been played, especially after the half-time interval. This was a mockery of the game of football. The torrential downpour flooded the pitch and they were lucky to get to half-time. A 30-minute break ensued before the referee, Khuon Ly, brought the teams back out again, even though the public address had announced the game was abandoned and some people left the stadium. They played on but the ball couldn't travel over the surface so both teams resorted to kick and rush. The ball spent most of the time in the air, and when it was on the ground, sliding tackles reigned supreme. PKR actually adapted better to the conditions and got the game's decider but the match should never have been allowed to take place. Kirivong will rue a penalty by Julius Chukwumeka that brought out the best in PKR keeper Ouk Mic.

BBU put six past Wat Phnom without reply

Substitute Sophat Chansokunthina netted two late goals for BBU

A television cameraman takes shelter at the back of the main stand during the downpour

The match officials make a pitch inspection and declared it unfit, then changed their minds. Believe me, it was totally unplayable.Preah Khan line up before the rain-soaked win over Kirivong

Naga slip into top spot

Naga returned to the top of the league table with their 1-nil win

The Army in red, beaten by a single goal in a rain-affected defeat by Naga

Naga go back to the top of the Metfone C-League with this afternoon's rain-soaked 1-nil victory over the Army, who suffered their 5th defeat in a row. Chhim Sambo got the decisive goal, aided by the appalling conditions, though a draw would've been a fairer result. In the other game, Khemara put Chhma Khmao to the sword, or so they thought, as the bottom club gave them a few scares before finally going down 6-4. Ek Vannak and Samut Dalin got two goals apiece for Khemara, with Suon Makara and Hou Sambo also on the scoresheet. The Black Cats' scorers were Sok Kolamara, But Chanra, Meak Chhordaravuth and a Som Chandaravuth penalty. The latter also saw red in the closing stages with a pointless sending off by the referee.

Khim Borey (red) leads out the Army, and national teammate Sun Sovanrithy (white) captains Naga

Khemara hit Chhma Khmao for six, but the bottom club scored 4 in reply

Samut Dalin grabbed two goals for Khemara in their victory

Meak Chhordaravuth (in red) netted for the Black Cats in their 6-4 defeat

The weekend ahead

New C-League leaders Phnom Penh Crown take a breather this weekend and will lose out on the top spot if Naga can inflict more damage on the Army's recent form, which is in tatters with four straight defeats, after they began the season with such promise. It would've been the first opportunity for hard-man Om Thavrak to face his former club after his recent mid-season move, but with two bookings in his first two games for the Army, I think he'll be watching the game from the main stand. If the Army can re-discover some backbone the final result could be close. In the other game Saturday, Khemara need to show their mettle and put Chhma Khmao in their place or else they could find themselves getting dragged ever closer to the relegation drop zone. Sunday's big match-up is Kirivong against Preah Khan. Both teams are in good form and its the Chukwumeka v Laboravy contest, as the two in-form strikers battle it out for top-dog bragging rights in this game. The first match on Sunday is deposed leaders BBU facing Wat Phnom, with the students likely to win that one.

Crown move into top spot

2-goal Uche Prince Justine (right) with Phnom Penh Crown coach Apisit Im Amphai

I don't want to say, 'I told you so', but Phnom Penh Crown moved to the top of the Metfone C-League yesterday afternoon with a 3-2 win over relegation-threatened Prek Pra Keila and things are looking ominous for the rest of the league when you consider Crown's strength in depth compared to the other squads. They chopped and changed the line-up again yesterday from the team that banged nine past Chhma Khmao, though found Prek Pra a more difficult proposition than they might've expected. Chan Chhaya netted a goal for Crown in between two for Uche Prince Justine to give them a commanding three-goal advantage at the break. A strike from Sos Souhana just after the restart and another from Mat Hasan had Crown in a bit of a lather but they held out to take the points and move above Naga on goal difference. Crown's is 29, Naga's is 18. They are both on 25 points after 11 games. In a re-run of last season, Prince Justine has again taken over at the head of the race for the Golden Boot award with 14 goals and we're only just past the half-way point in the season. Expect a lot more goals from The Prince, as the focal point of the Crown attack.

Press talk

Today's Phnom Penh Post carries my match reports from Sunday's Metfone C-League game. Click here.

Press talk

Saturday's C-League match reports appear in today's edition of the Phnom Penh Post. Click here.

And finally...

I'm the cameraman in white shirt and shorts taking a pre-match photo of the Army line-up

Late Sunday evening I switched on the television to watch some World Cup action and local station CTN were re-showing their live coverage of Saturday's Kirivong versus Ministry of National Defense game. As a rule I miss their coverage as I'm at the games myself, so it was good to see what the local television audience see every Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately I was pretty knackered and fell asleep midway through the tv programme but not before I snapped a couple of screen-shots of myself in the pre-match preamble.

A screen-shot from CTN's coverage as the teams line-up. I'm the white blob just off-center, showing my bare legs.

A complete mismatch

Keo Sokngorn (10 in red/black) leads out his team of Crown youngsters

The final game of the weekend was a complete mismatch. Phnom Penh Crown beat bottom team Chhma Khmao 9-0 in their meeting earlier in the season and this time around, after Crown had been absent from Metfone C-League action for a few weeks, was very nearly the same. The final score was 9-1 with Ung Dara grabbing a late consolation effort for the no-hopers with a sweetly struck thunderbolt. As for Crown, their line-up was a collection of youngsters led by skipper for the day, 18 yearold Keo Sokngorn. He took his responsibilities seriously and scored twice in the 1st half. Uche Prince Justine did likewise, with two more to his tally and Heng Sokly rolled one in to give Crown a 5-nil half-time headstart. In the second half, The Prince completed his hat-trick, but missed a hatful of others, to take him to 12 for the season, 1 behind Julius Chukwumeka. Substitute Sok Pheng came on to grab a couple, both set up by The Prince and Friday Nwakuna also scored as Crown gave the bottom team a footballing lesson, despite leaving at least half a dozen regulars on the bench.

Phnom Penh Crown before their 9-1 demolition of Chhma Khmao

Nothing short of a miracle can save Chhma Khmao from relegation in their 1st season in the top flight

PKR have too much in the tank

Khuon Laboravy, just after his 3-goal haul against Khemara

For Sunday's matches we had our fair share of rain again but this time, it was accompanied by 19 goals in the two C-League games, so no-one went home complaining. In the first game, Preah Khan Reach always had too much for Khemara, but the losers put up a good showing and in Suon Makara they have a central striker in the making. They stuck the lanky defender up front a few weeks ago out of desperation but he's grown into the role and his touch, his confidence and everything else has visibly grown in between. They'll need him firing on all cylinders if they are to stave off a relegation battle after their skipper Kuoch Sokumpheak limped off just after the break. Makara netted a neat headed goal early in the 2nd half but Preah Khan were already well in front by then. Sokumpheak had given them early hope with a superbly-struck free-kick from 18 yards. But PKR were never really in danger. Sok Chanrasmey and Khuon Laboravy gave them a 2-1 half-time lead. Laboravy netted two more for his hat-trick, as well as missing a glut of other chances. The youngster has certainly rewarded his coach for recalling him to the team in recent weeks and now has 10 goals for the season. Tum Saray popped up to score a couple of goals as well. The other Khemara consolation was scored by Paris Zidougha, who lost sub Net Veasna to a red card for a last-man foul just before the end. Preah Khan stay in 4th spot in the league table and will be buoyed by the return to the side of a fit-again Sok Rithy.

Preah Khan Reach ran out fairly comfortable 6-3 winners

Khemara were just not strong enough to handle Preah Khan

The best toss-up of the weekend, with referee Thong Chankethya in the middle of two of the country's best players, Kuoch Sokumpheak (blue) and Sam El Nasa (red)