Prince on the move

Justine, center, celebrating winning the 2010 C-League title with his teammates

One of the foreign players who made the biggest impact on Cambodia football in recent years is set to ply his considerable footballing talents in another country sometime soon. Uche Prince Justine, who is still just 19 years old, and who won the Golden Boot award for scoring the most goals in the 2009 Cambodian League season (21 goals whilst with Spark FC) and who netted another 17 goals for his new team Phnom Penh Crown last term, has just completed a short spell in Thai football. He looks set to remain in Thailand though has irons in the fire elsewhere, but it looks like his time in Cambodia has come to an end. "I want to further my career whilst I am still young and I think I have seen it all in Cambodian football now," he said by email from his new home. "I kept my promise to Crown to stay and win the league championship and that's what I did." Nigerian-born Justine missed the championship-winning final over Preah Khan due to suspension but his 17 goals had him pushing the eventual Golden Boot winner Julius Ononiwu all the way. At the end of the C-League season last month, Justine took himself off to Thailand for a holiday and joined up with Mukdahan FC in the Thai Division 2 Regional League North Eastern Division and scored five goals in their final 4 matches. He'd previously played at Mukdahan in a mid-season competition in June when he was part of the PPC team that came top of a 4-team tournament. His powerful running and thunderous shooting, not forgetting his trademark celebration somersault, will be sorely missed in next season's C-League.

A second defeat

Cambodia's Kuoch Sokumpheak (9, blue) takes on the Vietnam defence

Cambodia's national team came unstuck against their Vietnamese U23 opponents for the second time in four days, losing this afternoon's friendly encounter at the Thong Nhat stadium, 3-0. Goals from Hoang Danh Ngoc and Hoang Van Binh in the 1st half and and Le Van Thang after the break did the damage. The Vietnam U23's are getting in shape for a cup competition involving six other countries next week and of course, gave the Cambodian U23's a lesson in last year's SEA Games, beating them 6-1, so the two friendly results don't exactly come as a surprise. However, the results don't matter as much as the team getting much needed match practice, putting the new coach's playing style, tactics and formation into action and allowing the coach, Lee Tae-Hoon, to get a good look at his squad under match conditions. We still have just over a month before the Cambodian squad returns from their training camp in Vietnam to head for Laos and the qualifying round-robin matches in the AFF Suzuki Cup against Laos, Timor Leste and Philippines.

PPCFC's elite football academy

Some of these Crown youngsters are eligible for the academy, if they are good enough

Phnom Penh Crown are streets ahead of any other professional team in Cambodia. Today's press conference to announce the first-ever residential football academy for young footballers proved exactly that. Trials in 17 locations (including most of the provinces) will take place during October to uncover the best talent the country's young football stars of the future have to offer. Aimed at 12 and 13 year olds, the 22 players that make the final cut will join Phnom Penh Crown on a full-time basis for two years, undergoing a tailored programme that will maximize their football potential and give them a private education as well. We are talking naturally-gifted players being coached every day to improve their technique and understanding of the game, at the club's own training ground in Tuol Kork. The programme they will follow is closely linked to Everton FC, renowned for their production line of talented youngsters who've gone onto play first-team football, through Crown's partners, Asia Pacific Football Academy in New Zealand. House parents will look after the youngster's welfare whilst they are away from home and the goal is to identify and nurture the cream of the country's youngsters, who will continue for another two years after their initial 2-year stint, with progress to the Crown first-team, and beyond, the eventual outcome. There has been nothing like this in Cambodian football before, this is ground-breaking development that is geared towards the overall improvement of Cambodia football. Most of the country's television and written media were present today, including all the tv channels such as Bayon, CTN, Seat, TV5, TV9, Apsara and so on at the press conference at the Phnom Penh Hotel. Phnom Penh Crown are the current Cambodian League champions and they have a vision to improve Cambodian football in the future and today's announcement is the first step of many they will be undertaking towards realizing that dream.

Crown Casino boss Rithy Samnang, who is financing the elite football academy, reads from his notes

The top table at today's press conference included government and federation officials, as well as the main academy sponsor, Rithy Samnang and Crown youth coach Bouy Dary (right)

Friendly defeat

Action from the Cambodia v Vietnam U23 game with Keo Sokngorn (10) involved

The first result to come out of the Cambodian national team's training camp inside Vietnam is a 2-0 defeat against the Vietnamese Under 23 side, earlier today at the Thanh Long stadium. The national team coach Lee Tae-Hoon has moved his team to Saigon from their original camp at HAGL in order to play some matches, as part of their preparation for the forthcoming Suzuki Cup qualifying games in Laos. The Vietnamese U23 side, who were beaten by Malaysia in the SEA Games final at the end of last year, are also preparing for a cup competition, the Thanh Long-Hanoi Cup which will involve U23 teams from Iran, Singapore, Malaysia, Kuwait, North Korea and Australia. The Vietnamese U23 coach is Phan Thanh Hung, who just led Hanoi T&T to the 2010 V-League championship. The Vietnamese goals in today's win were scored by Van Thang and skipper Huu Phuoc. Another friendly match between the two sides is scheduled for the Thong Nhat stadium on 21 September.
The Vietnam press (Thanh Nien News online) have spotlighted Cambodia's talented youngster Keo Sokngorn as having a Vietnamese mother and interest shown in him by two Vietnamese clubs, Binh Duong and Can Tho, while Thai clubs are reportedly sniffing around too. Currently on contract with C-League champions Phnom Penh Crown, I would be very surprised if this isn't anything more than newspaper gossip.

Cambodia in red on the defensive against a rampaging Vietnam U23 team

Round-up

The draw for the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, to be held jointly by Vietnam and Indonesia, was made today. The holders of the cup, Vietnam, who won it in 2008 by beating Thailand 3-2 on aggregate, have been drawn in the strongest group, Group B, alongside Singapore and Myanmar, together with the runners-up from the qualifying tournament in Laos at the back end of next month. In Group A, Thailand will face Indonesia and the SEA Games winners Malaysia, as well as the best of the qualifiers. Cambodia, under new coach Lee Tae-Hoon, will take part in the qualifying matches in Laos, meeting the hosts on 22 October, then Timor Leste two days later and finally Philippines on 26 October. 2 of the the 4 teams will progress to the finals.
The Suzuki Cup group matches will follow from 1-8 December, to be staged in Hanoi and Jakarta. After the group matches, the top two teams in each pool will progress to the two-leg semis to be staged home and away on 15/16 December and 18/19 December. The first leg of the final will be on December 26 with the final three days later.

The Phnom Penh Post broke the news today that the management team at Phnom Penh Crown, manager Makara Be and coach Apisit Im Amphai, have both parted company with the recently crowned 2010 Metfone C-League champions. They appear set to join 2nd Division clubs in Thailand, with the native Thai coach joining Buriram and the former Crown manager linking up with Mukdahan FC as their Marketing and PR boss. It signals the start of a completely new regime at Cambodia's premier club, who are due to announce on Monday, the start of a residential football academy for youngsters, the first of its kind in the Kingdom.

Crown look to the future

I think I'm right in saying that one of only two professional football clubs in Cambodia to have their own website is Phnom Penh Crown FC. And that's just for starters. Over the next few months, Crown are putting in place a series of unique steps that will take the club onto a higher plane as they make concerted efforts to elevate themselves and Cambodian football in general. They are already viewed as the Manchester United of Cambodian football. And this is something they will continue to aspire to in the future. Whilst they focus on their desire to be the best team in the Kingdom, continuing on from winning the Metfone C-League less than a month ago, and to strengthen their image in regional Asean football as well, they also recognise the importance of grooming the future stars of Cambodian football and next Monday will hold a press conference at the Phnom Penh Hotel to announce the beginning of their PPCFC Elite Football Academy. I won't spoil the fun before the press conference itself, but this ground-breaking step forward for Cambodian football is a remarkable development which they believe will be a cornerstone of improving Cambodian football in the long-term. Watch this space for more on Crown's vision of the future. Link: website

All quiet on the footy front

It's all gone very quiet on the football front as the Cambodian national team set about getting themselves in shape for October's Suzuki Cup qualifying rounds in Laos under new South Korean coach Lee Tae-Hoon. It looks like they will move their training camp to Thanh Long in Saigon next week in order to play a couple of friendly games against the Vietnamese Olympic U23 side on 18th and 21st. Meanwhile, promotion to the Metfone C-League is top of the agenda in Battambang at the moment as teams battle it out in the Division AI play-offs. The two teams scheduled to earn the right to play in the C-League next term will be between the Commissariat Police (aka Ministry of Interior), Oddar Meanchey, Phouchung Neak and Rithy Sen from Kompong Chhnang. The two teams due to drop out are Wat Phnom and Chhma Khmao, after they propped up the rest of the 10-team C-League last season. The new league season is due to restart in April or May next year after the Hun Sen Cup competition takes place. Champions Phnom Penh Crown, who beat Preah Khan Reach 4-3 in the play-off final, are already in talks with a batch of new faces as they look to strengthen their vice-like grip on Cambodian football. Update: The Commissariat Police and Rithy Sen will join the C-League next season, after the Police triumphed 3-0 in the Division AI final.

On the touchline

Head national football coach, Lee Tae-Hoon

The 25-strong Cambodian national team squad are currently in training camp across the border in Vietnam, preparing for their important AFF Suzuki Cup qualifying matches in Laos towards the end of October. The coaching team that will support the squad during their month and a half in preparation, and who will select the final 20 players to make the trip to Laos, are shown here. Lee Tae-Hoon (39) is the head coach, recently arriving to take over the post vacated by Australian Scott O'Donell, and who has had two spells as assistant coach of the South Korean women's team and who was a midfielder with K-leaguers Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors for six seasons. His coaching credentials are unknown and the appointment was made at the behest of the Korean football federation, who will pay his salary. Alongside him are his two Cambodian assistant coaches, both former national team players, now AFC B and C-licence qualified coaches respectively, Oum Savong and Ieng Saknida, and goalkeeper coach Prak Sovanny. Savong played for the national team in the 1990s, whilst Saknida has cut his coaching teeth in charge of the Cambodia national U13 and U14 teams after his playing career in midfield took him to Samart United, Hello United, Naga, Preah Khan and Khemara and a regular start in the national team. Prak Sovanny has been the goalkeeping coach under both the last two national coaches, Prak Sovannara and Scott O'Donell and does the same job with Phnom Penh Crown. The team's physio will be Hay Sakiry, who accompanied the national team to Laos for the SEA Games, whilst Vann Ly remains as team manager.

Assistant coach Oum Savong

Assistant coach Ieng Saknida

Goalkeeping coach Prak Sovanny

Physio Hay Sakiry

Courting controversy

The new Cambodian national team coach, South Korean Lee Tae-Hoon, has made the first choices of his new regime by selecting 25 players from a training squad of 38, to travel to Vietnam today, and already he is courting controversy. The month and a half in Vietnam will give the new coach the opportunity to put his new squad through their paces - he is said to believe they are only 60% fit - before they go to Laos for the important AFF Suzuki Cup matches in the second half of October. However, out of the reckoning, at least as far as the trip to Vietnam is concerned, are a who's-who of the country's best players. They include the country's best keeper Samreth Seiha (pictured), defenders Om Thavrak, Sun Sovanrithy and Thong Udom, midfielders Oum Kumpheak, Prak Mony Udom, Pok Chanthan and winger Nov Soseila, whilst up front the national team will have to do without Teab Vathanak and Chan Chhaya. All of them were in previous squads announced by the former coach Scott O'Donell, except teenager Thong Udom. I think Seiha may be carrying an injury, I hope so as he's the best stopper we have. Of the 25 being taken to train at the home of V-Leaguers Hoang Anh Gia Lai, there are a few surprises, not least keeper Peng Bunchhay, who I thought had an average season for Phnom Penh Crown, eight players from the Army side that experienced such an appalling second half of the season and players like Nuth Sinoun and Tum Saray who spent large portions of the last campaign on the bench. Of the players originally announced for the training squad, the players highlighted in blue and in italics have been dropped from the squad that will be in Vietnam. The schedule for the national team in Vietnam has not been announced but it's understood they will play a series of friendly matches as part of their Suzuki Cup preparation.
Goalkeepers: Samreth Seiha, Sou Yaty, Peng Bunchhay, Ouk Mic.
Defenders: Rang Borin, Pheak Rady, Khek Khemarin, Nhim Sovanara, Rim Bunhieng, Touch Sokheng, Sos Nasiet, Tieng Tiny, Chan Dara, Sok Rithy, Lay Raksmey, San Narith, Thul Sothearith.
Midfielders: Sun Sopanha, Ieng Piseth, Soung Vireak, Phuong Soksana, Prum Putsethy, Chhun Sothearath, In Vichheka, Kim Chanbunrith, Sok Chanrasmey, Tum Saray, Khuon Laboravy, Samuth Dalin.
Forwards: Khim Borey, Kuoch Sokumpheak, Sin Dalin, Nuth Sinoun, Teab Vathanak, Keo Sokngorn, Sok Pheng, Kop Isa, Long Nasy.

Notable absentees

I've managed to get the list of 37 players called for national team squad training tomorrow morning translated and there are some notable absentees from the list. Top of the names that are missing is Sun Sovanrithy (pictured), the U23 skipper under Scott O'Donell and without doubt one of the top players in Cambodian football. His absence is a massive clanger by the coaches who selected the training squad. There's a suggestion that its because of his performance in the play-off semi-final when he got himself sent off, and if that's the case someone needs to get their head out of their ass and think about the bigger picture. Sovanrithy is a major part of the national team and the new coach Lee Tae-Hoon will be at a big disadvantage without him. Another nailed-on certainty for the national team should be Oum Kumpheak from the Army. I can only think that he's injured, hence his absence. He missed the last few Army games so that must be the reason. Already out of the picture was Nov Soseila who fell out with the Army coach and hasn't been seen for months. Another balls-up which will impact on the national team. Other players missing who I think deserve a spot in the squad are centre-half Thong Udom (Army) and midfielder Pok Chanthan (Naga). 4 players who were in the last national squad, Om Thavrak, Prak Mony Udom, Lorn Sotheara and Chan Chhaya, have played so few games this season that I can understand their omission.

Here is a list of the 37 players called-up by the football federation to take part in training sessions this week, in order to identify a reduced squad of about 25 that will head to Vietnam for a training camp on the 31st of this month. The 45-day camp will be at the home of V-Leaguers Hoang Anh Gia Lai. HAGL were one of the teams that joined in the BIDC Cup in Phnom Penh before last year's SEA Games, and they have pledged $4 million towards the construction of the new Cambodian national football center being built in the Bati district of Takeo.
Goalkeepers: Samreth Seiha, Sou Yaty, Peng Bunchhay, Ouk Mic.
Defenders: Rang Borin, Pheak Rady, Khek Khemarin, Nhim Sovanara, Rim Bunhieng, Touch Sokheng, Sos Nasiet, Tieng Tiny, Chan Dara, Sok Rithy, Lay Raksmey, San Narith.
Midfielders: Sun Sopanha, Ieng Piseth, Soung Vireak, Phuong Soksana, Prum Putsethy, Chhun Sothearath, In Vichheka, Kim Chanbunrith, Sok Chanrasmey, Tum Saray, Khuon Laboravy, Samuth Dalin.
Forwards: Khim Borey, Kuoch Sokumpheak, Sin Dalin, Nuth Sinoun, Teab Vathanak, Keo Sokngorn, Sok Pheng, Kop Isa, Long Nasy (Ministry of Interior, and only player outside the CPL).

Tae-Hoon meets and greets

Lee Tae-Hoon, the new national team coach of Cambodia, at Olympic Stadium this afternoon

The new national football team coach of Cambodia - Lee Tae-Hoon - met his players for the first time this afternoon. A squad of 36 players were called into the federation headquarters at Olympic Stadium to introduce themselves to the 39-year-old coach from South Korea and to hear more of the immediate plans before the squad is reduced to about 25 players for the training camp in Vietnam from the 31st of this month. Serious training will begin tomorrow morning at Olympic Stadium under the new coach, who's most recent experience was as the assistant coach of the South Korean national women's team. 8 of the players who reported in today are carrying injuries including Keo Sokngorn, San Narith, Samreth Seiha and Khim Borey. How serious those injuries are will have to be determined by the medical staff. Lee Tae-Hoon - his family name is Lee - spoke briefly to the players through an interpreter and introduced his backroom team, assistant coaches Ieng Saknida, Oum Savong, goalkeeping coach Prak Sovanny and physio Hay Sakiry.

It all starts now

The next bout of football to get excited about for Cambodian football fans will be the national team's involvement in the qualifying rounds of the AFF Suzuki Cup, which have today been confirmed as taking place in Vientiane, Laos between 22-30 October. Cambodia will join the host country, Philippines and Timor Leste in battling out for the two places up for grabs in the competition finals which will be shared between Vietnam and Indonesia from 1-29 December, with the group games scheduled from 1-8 December. The draw for the qualifying round and competition proper will take place on 15 September, and the teams who've already booked their finals place are Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar. The winners will collect $100,000 and all games will be screened on ESPN Star Sports tv channel. Vietnam are the current Suzuki Cup holders, beating Thailand 3-2 over two legs in December 2008. Cambodia qualified for the finals in 2008 though suffered three reversals in their group matches, against Singapore (5-0), Indonesia (4-0) and Myanmar (3-2).

Now that the Cambodian League season has come to a close, the focus will turn to the Cambodia national team and the new South Korean coach, Lee Tae-Hoon, who arrived in Phnom Penh on Friday, just in time to watch the season's finale, where Phnom Penh Crown defeated Preah Khan Reach 4-3. Lee Tae-Hoon will meet his training squad of players tomorrow at the Olympic Stadium for the first time. The expanded squad will head off to Vietnam soon to prepare for their AFF Suzuki Cup qualifying games in Laos between 22-30 October. That gives him just over a month and a half to whip the team into shape, though in my opinion, the national team virtually picks itself already. The new coach will have his own ideas about formations and styles of play but having watched the majority of this season's C-League matches, the following team line-up is my take on the best eleven that the national team coach can field (with club and age in brackets):
Goalkeeper:
Samreth Seiha (Army, 20)
Defenders:
Lay Raksmey (Preah Khan, 21)
Sun Sovanrithy (Naga, 23)
Tieng Tiny (PPCrown, 24)
Sok Rithy (Preah Khan, 19)
Midfielders:
Chhun Sothearath (BBU, 20)
Sun Sopanha (PPCrown, 23)
Keo Sokngorn (PPCrown, 18)
Khuon Laboravy (Preah Khan, 21)
Forwards:
Kuoch Sokumpheak (Khemara, 23)
Khim Borey (Army, 20).

Samreth Seiha and Sou Yaty are easily the two best goalkeepers in the C-League and they both play for the Army, though Seiha gets my nod by a whisker. In Raksmey and Sovanrithy, the team have two full-backs who love to gallop forward, and Sovanrithy is equally effective in midfield. Tieng Tiny (pictured) is head and shoulders the best defender in the C-League and Sok Rithy has recovered from injury but needs to cut out playing the ball out of defence and just hoof it away. Sothearath and Sopanha have both had great seasons and are similar in style, so I'd have them patrolling the middle of the park and keeping it tight. That would enable Laboravy to push forward down the left with Keo Sokngorn given a free role to wander wherever he likes. In attack both Sokumpheak and Borey know where the goal is, they have tremendous experience despite their tender ages and they also work their butts off. No surprises in my selection as these eleven players are the best the C-League has to offer. There are one or two others who could argue their way into the line-up but in my opinion, this is the best starting team that Cambodia can put out.

Random snaps

The Crown supporters came out in force yesterday with t-shirts, flags, horns, banners and loud voices

To finish off the action and events of yesterday's Metfone C-League championship final, won 4-3 by Phnom Penh Crown over Preah Khan Reach, here are a few snaps taken during the afternoon. One picture I didn't take was of the new national team coach, Lee Tae-Hoon, from South Korea. He arrived in Phnom Penh on Friday evening and attended the game yesterday but he didn't hang around afterwards, so I didn't manage to get a picture. At least he saw the cup final before the season came to a close and will now have just over a month and a half to prepare for the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifying games that will take place in Laos. Between 16-24 October, Cambodia will battle with Laos, Philippines and Timor Leste for two spots in the finals, to be held in Indonesia and Vietnam in December. I've been told that a training squad of players will be making their way to Vietnam, where the new coach can get his first look up close with the players who've been selected for him by his assistant coaches and by recommendations from the CPL teams. I asked a federation official whether the new coach would be holding a press conference, even though he doesn't speak Khmer or English, but nothing has been arranged as yet. I await further developments with the national team with interest. The 6-month season has just finished and now the players have to prove themselves all over again to the new coach, who I hope has been taking advantage of available technology and watching videos of the national team and club teams, which are taken at every game. I'll ask him that if I get the chance...maybe in Korean!

Leading the cheerleading was suspended striker Uche Prince Justine, who is seen here running around the stand holding aloft a flag and blowing a horn

Hong Makara came on as a sub for Crown and netted their important 3rd goal

Crown celebrate their win immediately after the final whistle

In front of the cameras, Crown's coach Apisit Amphai and manager Be Makara

Crown defender Tieng Tiny relaxes on the bench before returning to the festivities

Dejected and inconsolable, the Preah Khan players await their medals

A military band brought colour and music to the awards ceremony

Tieng Tiny introduces his daughter to the spotlight, his medal and the national anthem

More joy for the Crown squad as they celebrate with the championship trophy, held aloft by Keo Sokngorn

Thought it would be nice to end with these two lovely ladies who provide cold bottled water to the teams and officials at every match. They are a god-send.

The other winners

Joy unrestrained for Phnom Penh Crown. LtoR; Saidu, Nwakuna, Justine and Mpoko

Whilst Phnom Penh Crown collected the Metfone C-League trophy and the double cash prize as champions and 4th place league finishers of 54 million riels, every team in the C-League got in on the money with even relegated Wat Phnom and Chhma Khamo received 20 million riels apiece. BBU netted a cool 42 million as the 3rd place team (following their penalty success against Naga on Friday) as well as receiving the Fair Play award. 18-year-old Keo Sokngorn added the season's best player award to his championship winners medal, whilst his national teammate Sou Yaty, from Ministry of National Defense, picked up the best goalkeeper award. Top coach of the year went to Rith Dakar, who'd led his Preah Khan Reach team to the final as well as 3rd place in the regular league season. There was no catching Julius Ononiwu, who leapt to the top of the goalscorer's chart a few weeks ago and collected his Golden Boot award for his 25 goals for Kirivong Sok Sen Chey. One of the first to congratulate him was last season's award winner Prince Justine, who missed out on the final due to suspension. Last but not least the best refereeing team award went to Thong Chankeytha, Kuong Ly, Kimsy Pisal and Tuy Vichheka, who all participated in yesterday's final, and collect 4 million riels between them.

Golden Boot winner with 25 goals, Kirivong's Julius Ononiwu

Preah Khan's young coach Rith Dikar collected the best coach award

BBU had a successful season and collected 42 million riels to show for it

The Army goalkeeper Sou Yaty, who collected the best keeper award

Saturday's match officials were awarded the best refereeing team accolade. LtoR: Kuong Ly, Thong Chankeytha,Tuy Vichheka and Kimsy Pisal.

Sokngorn's success

Keo Sokngorn, 2 goals in the final and the best player of the season award

One young man will certainly remember yesterday's championship-deciding play-off final at Olympic Stadium, even though he's already enjoyed considerable success as a teenager. Keo Sokngorn is the wonder-kid of Cambodian football. He has a great talent and can display his skills for Phnom Penh Crown and the Cambodia national team in midfield or up front with equal prowess. Yesterday he scored two of Crown's goals in their 4-3 success over Preah Khan Reach, including a tap-in two minutes from full-time that turned out to be the winner. His first was a cool-as-you-like penalty with a two-step run up to level the game after Preah Khan had taken an early lead. Sokngorn not only collected his winners medal but the best player of the season award, and 2 million riels, to cement his stature as the best of the homegrown talent on display in the Metfone C-League. Add the fact that he's a likeable 18-year-old with his head screwed on and you just about have the perfect package. Fresh from this season's successes, he's sure to play a key part in the national team's important Suzuki Cup matches in Laos in October under new South Korean coach Seijin Yeo.

Keo Sokngorn receiving his 2 million riel award as the season's best player

Keo Sokngorn holds a shirt saying Samnang = Lucky as he steps up to the podium

FFC President Sao Sokha adorns Keo Sokngorn (10) with his championship medal

Keo Sokngorn and the championship trophy, with his strike partner, Prince Justine looking on

The television cameras catch up with the teenager at the end of the presentations

Cup Final fever

Crown skipper Thul Sothearith receives the Metfone trophy from FFC President Sao Sokha with his jubilant teammates looking on

A scorching sun overhead, suspensions affecting the line-ups, even changes to both teams because of warm-up injuries and fitness test failures, as well as the appearance of the new national team coach for the first time, today's Metfone C-League championship play-off final had it all, even before it kicked-off. Add to that mix, the big crowds brought by both teams, resplendent in their club colours and t-shirts, horns, flags and banners, the expectation of a Phnom Penh Crown win and the determination of the military police side, Preah Khan Reach not to buckle under the pressure, and kick-off was eagerly awaited. Within 7 minutes of the start PKR had the ball in the net and must've had thoughts of an upset. Khuon Laboravy used his head instead of his left foot to get on the end of Suon Thuon's centre and the bounce beat the ineffectual dive of keeper Peng Bunchhay to silence one half of the stadium, whilst the other half erupted. Ten minutes later and Crown levelled when referee Thong Chankethya awarded a pretty dubious penalty for a push on Hong Ratana by Moul Daravorn, and up stepped cool-as-a-cucumber Keo Sokngorn to whip his spot-kick past Ouk Mic. With both teams employing just one solo striker, PKR edged ahead again on 34 minutes. A Thuon free-kick was cleared by Sani Saidu to the edge of the penalty area where Tum Saray, controlled the ball, shimmied and then curled a beauty of a shot over Bunchhay's flailing arms to send Preah Khan's fans into more raptures. A few minutes later Saray was booked for falling over Tieng Tiny's legs in the box, though it looked like a penalty to me and with Bunchhay producing two one-handed saves to deny Devide Njoku and Laboravy, PKR remained ahead at the break.
PKR bolstered their attack with the introduction of Sam El Nasa, a surprise starting omission, just after the break but it was Crown who drew first blood when Srey Veasna fired past Ouk Mic from fifteen yards after Suon Thuon failed to clear a Sun Sopanha cross, just eight minutes into the 2nd half. Olisa Onyemerea, in the starting line-up in place of the suspended Prince Justine, was using his strength to harry the PKR defenders and with 9 minutes left on the clock, his brutish run was halted but the ball fell to Srey Veasna, who whipped another shot goalwards. The upright kept his shot out but the ball fell invitingly at the feet of Hong Makara, who whacked it past Ouk Mic to put Crown in front for the first time. With 2 minutes to go, Veasna sent Makara away on the left and his low cross was food and drink to Keo Sokngorn, who tapped home for his second and Crown's 4th. It was all over bar the shouting. That is until the 4th minute of added-on time when Sam El Nasa nodded in Khuon Laboravy's pinpoint cross, only for referee Chankethya to blow his final whistle moments later. 4-3 to Crown, their players mobbed the coaching staff and vice versa, everyone, including the suspended Prince Justine, who was seen running through the main stand holding a Crown flag aloft, had a smile from ear to ear and the party could begin.
The scoreline reflected the tightness of the match itself. It wasn't a classic but it was touch and go and a draw (and penalties) had looked on the cards until Crown's late burst. They just about deserved it, but only just, which will be little consolation to Preah Khan, who sat on the pitch, dejected whilst the Crown players and staff danced and sang their way towards the medal ceremony. Crown picked up the trophy and a cheque for 54 million riel, while Keo Sokngorn also netted 2 million as the season's best player. The Army's Sou Yaty collected the best goalkeeping award, Preah Khan's Rith Dakar was named top coach, Julius Ononiwu from Kirivong topped the goalscoring charts with 25 goals and BBU earned the Fair Play trophy. That about wrapped it up as Phnom Penh Crown continued to bask in the glory of their championship success.

The Phnom Penh Crown starting line-up for today's C-League play-off final. LtoR (back) Tiny, Saidu, Dara, Veasna, Onyemerea, Nwakuna, (front), Sokngorn, Sopanha, Bunchhay, Ratana, Sothearith.

Preah Khan Reach pose before the final begins. LtoR (back) Njoku, Daravorn, Thuon, Laboravy, Rithy, Mic, (front), Samnang, Veasna, Saray, Narith, PM Udom.

The match officials line up with the two captains, PKR's Ouk Mic (yellow) and Crown's Thul Sothearith (blue)

It's time for celebrations to begin with Crown manager Makara Be (white shirt) joining in

This time team manager Makara Be is the celebration, as he's lofted high by the Crown players

The Crown players milk the celebrations for their own enjoyment and camera snaps

Crown are crowned champions

PPCrown celebrate their championship success this afternoon

Phnom Penh Crown achieved what everyone expected them to, by beating Preah Khan Reach 4-3 in today's Metfone C-League championship decider at the Olympic Stadium, though they did it the hard way by going behind twice before two goals in the last ten minutes finally sealed their capture of the gold trophy. Their celebrations went on long and loud and was a double celebration for their teenage star Keo Sokngorn, who not only grabbed a couple of goals in today's final, but also picked up the best player of the season cup to boot. Srey Veasna and Hong Makara netted the other two Crown goals whilst Khuon Laboravy, Tum Saray and Sam El Nasa scored for PKR. More on today's final a little later.

BBU grab 3rd

BBU's Tuy Sam decided the penalty kick competition after the normal time 3rd place play-off ended 2-2

The Metfone C-League third place play-off decider today went down to the wire with Build Bright United grabbing the glory and the extra cash, with a 5-3 penalty-kick success over Naga Corp. Though Naga shaded the game in normal time, BBU had two great chances to win the game at the death, fluffed them both but then came good in the spot-kick shoot-out. The game had ended 2-2 at the full-time whistle. The glory of the winning penalty kick went to full-back Tuy Sam, who was mobbed by his teammates after he successfully converted past Mak Theara in the Naga goal. All of the goals in normal time came in the first-half. Oum Chandara poked BBU ahead from about a yard after just three minutes as Naga failed to clear a corner. The game's best player, Joseph Oyewole levelled on 25 minutes when he stole in unnoticed to powerfully head home from Tiet Chandarasokha's cross. When Nhim Sovannara handled Teab Vathanak's shot, referee Khuon Virak waved play on until he spotted Yien Kivatanak's raised flag and decided to award a penalty afterall. Meas Channa made the most of the referee's change of mind a minute before time, from the spot. In time added on, BBU substitute Nuth Sinoun netted a fine solo goal to equalize, when he kept his cool to roll the ball under the advancing Mak Theara. The second half was devoid of much goalmouth activity, especially for Naga's Teab Vathanak who was starved of chances to add to his 21-goal tally. BBU did miss a couple of guilt-edged opportunities in the closing seconds but weren't left to rue them for too long, with their success in the spot-kick competition. Eight of the 9 penalties taken were scored and it was Meas Channa, who scored a penalty in normal time, who had his spot-kick saved by Sos Proshim, right at the start of sudden-death. Nuth Sinoun, Prum Putsethy, Chan Veasna, Oum Chandara and Tuy Sam netted from the spot for BBU, with Joseph Oyewole, Pok Chanthan and Soeung Monyroath scoring for Naga. It was tough on Naga, who won the regular season league competition with just 1 defeat in 18 games but for BBU, finishing third capped a great campaign for the students. Now all eyes will turn to Saturday's play-off final at 2pm with PKR aiming to overturn the pundit's prediction of a Phnom Penh Crown victory. We shall see.

The students of BBU won the game 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw

Naga Corp were missing 2 players with suspension but only had themselves to blame for the penalty-kick defeat by BBU

Not exactly one of the greatest toss-ups of our time, as ref Khuon Virak waits to catch his coin, watched by the team captains

The teams take to the Olympic Stadium pitch in today's 3rd place play-off. BBU are in blue.