Thinking ahead

In looking towards the future of Cambodian football, I think anyone with a brain knows that a structured grassroots program of developing young and talented individuals is the way forwards for any country. You have to get the youngsters early enough, drill good habits into them by coaches who know what they're doing alongwith an enjoyment of the game, and avoid the bad habits that the adult players of today never had the opportunity to avoid. This needs the combined efforts of the football federation in offering up a development plan for the future, an organized schools program that features sports as a key element of the school curriculum and professional clubs to set up and develop their own quality youth programs. We are a long way away from that structure in Cambodia at this moment in time. Currently, only one club has an academy, essentially spending money now building for the future as their goal, whilst some clubs have youth teams on the go, but the federation has no plan that anyone is aware of and the schools involvement is completely missing. Meanwhile, other countries are light years ahead of us. Take the Philippines as an example. With the help of the German FA, they are evaluating their own grassroots program and already training 8-year-olds from all over the country with the AFC Youth and World Championships of 2017 and 2019 in mind. What long term planning does the Cambodian federation have? None that anyone knows about. They tick boxes by holding annual championships at various age levels but they are pretty meaningless as age-cheating is rife and the winners are easy to pick before the competition begins. Much of the grassroots work is being done by groups such as Indochina Starfish and the SALT Academy, rather than the football federation, who should be at the helm of a fully integrated youth development program.

Even if the federation wake-up, join forces with the government and introduce a serious development plan for the future, that won't improve the sorry, sad state that our national team find themselves in at this time. I've already said my piece about the national team coach, so I won't discuss his failures of the last fifteen months again. Instead, how the heck do we turn the tide around and start improving our performances. Besides appointing a new coach, with the right credentials and experience, there are some options that we can consider. Our preparation has to improve, dramatically in my view. There is a dearth of suitably tough friendly matches, our players are not tested against the best the region has to offer, outside of competition, and games against local clubs or university sides from Korea simply don't cut the mustard. Malaysia for example, sent their U-23 squad to Slovakia for months on end and have reaped the rewards with a string of successes. This is something the federation have failed miserably to manage properly and need to improve in the future. They also need to think outside the box, instead of their predictable boot camps in Vietnam. Another avenue to bolster the make-up of the national team is to consider reinforcing the squad with foreign-based Cambodian nationals. I'm not talking about naturalizing players such as Singapore and Vietnam are prone to do, but taking a long, hard look at players with Khmer parentage, who are currently playing for teams in the Unites States, France and elsewhere. In recent months a few names have been banded about the internet, and I think the federation should bite the bullet, invite the best of them for trials with the national team and take it from there. They have nothing to lose and the fresh impetus from a handful of new faces should have a positive effect on the current national team squad. You might ask how the federation would pay for such extravagances, well, they receive substantial annual handouts from FIFA and of course sponsors like Metfone and don't have a grassroots program in place at the moment, so they must be awash with money.

Rubbing shoulders

Kouch Sokumpheak rubbing shoulders with Ronaldo on the cover of 855

The latest edition of 855 Sports Magazine is out today. The cover has two of the leading footballers of their era, Kouch Sokumpheak and Christiano Ronaldo on the front cover, with Phnom Penh Crown's Sokumpheak also featuring as the pull-out poster and in an article about his playing career. There's also a feature on David Booth, the PPCFC coach as well as articles on Naga Corp, Preah Khan Reach and many other local and international sports. This second edition has increased its page size to sixty pages and the price remains at 5,000 riels. It's Cambodia's first-ever glossy magazine devoted entirely to sport and published in the Khmer language.

An article on PPCFC's coach David Booth

Sovan oozes confidence

Sok Sovan in action against Malaysia in the recent SEA Games

Twenty-one year old central defender Sok Sovan is a man on a mission. To establish himself as a regular fixture in the Phnom Penh Crown team and to continue to play for his country, as he did in the recent SEA Games in Indonesia. Born in Phnom Penh and schooled at Bak Touk High School in the city, he initially signed with Khmer Empire in 2006 before they merged to become Phnom Penh Empire a year later. With appearances for the first-team restricted, he was loaned out to the National Police in 2010 and again to Neak Khiev at the start of last season in order to gain valuable experience. He'd already represented Cambodia in Malaysia's festival of football at U-14 level and then played all five matches in the AFC U-16 qualifiers in Indonesia in 2007, where the team acquitted themselves well, beating the hosts and drawing with Vietnam and Hong Kong.

Sovan started last season with some game time in the warm-up matches and in the early Hun Sen Cup ties before his three-game stint with Neak Khiev, who just failed to gain entry to the Metfone League. On his return, Crown coach Bojan Hodak went with more experienced heads and it was left to David Booth to give Sovan his chance at the back-end of last season's Championship-winning campaign. "I got my chance when other players were out through suspension. I was very pleased to get the opportunity to show what I could do, having sat on the bench all season long. I felt fit and strong, very relaxed and happy to show my ability in such important matches for the club." David Booth selected him for the crunch game against Naga and Sovan did well enough to keep his place for the final game of the season against Preah Khan. "I felt confident, fit and keen to play well. They were important games for Crown, the type of games I want to be involved in, week-in, week-out."

Following two friendly matches against the Cambodia U-23s and two substitute appearances in the AFC President's Cup final stages in Taiwan for Crown, Sovan was called into the Cambodian SEA Games squad and played three games in the BIDC Cup and another friendly against Nepal. "I was extremely happy to get the call. I've been in the national team at U-16s but this was for the SEA Games. I felt proud to represent my country at such a prestigious competition. The national coach had faith in me and I have faith in him." Sovan played every minute of the four SEA Games matches played by Cambodia, alongside the vastly experienced Sok Rithy at the heart of the defence, though Cambodia lost each of their matches. "I was happy with my own performances but as a team we didn't do as well as we'd hoped. It was a great experience, playing against such strong teams and to be honest, there wasn't a big difference between us and the other countries. If we can train together as much as they do, I believe we can get a lot closer to them. We had a good team spirit amongst the players, we were proud to represent our country and I hope to be able to do it again." Predictably Sovan is looking forward to the new season. "I've got a lot more self confidence now, after that run of matches. I feel I've improved my game and I can't wait to get started again. I want to be part of a winning team and Phnom Penh Crown are definitely the best club in Cambodia. We have the best coach, the best players, the best facilities, everything to make us the top team. Now we have to go out and prove it again next season."

An outside view

Click on fake shirts, pitch brawls and cheap beer for a visitor's view on their first and last Cambodian football match at the Olympic Stadium. They obviously attended the Phnom Penh Crown v National Police match in early August, so it's taken the author quite a while to write up his story. Nevertheless, he got it right when he said Crown were the best team in the country.

Double Crown triumph

The Crown Champions League team collecting their winning prize

The mixed Premier League team line up for their prize-giving

The RSN Stadium at Tuol Kork was the venue for the start of the third Barclays Capital Indochina Starfish Foundation football league today with five pitches awash with boys and girls football matches throughout the day. The age groups were U-10s and U-14s as well as U-18 girls and the matches also included a team of deaf players from Krousar Thmey amongst the 46 teams taking part. I spoke to a lot of players from the teams who converged on the RSN Stadium and they all said how much they loved playing the games, whether they win or lose. It was so refreshing and a tribute to the work done by the ISF folks with squads from NGO’s, orphanages and schools making up the majority of the teams. The home team, Phnom Penh Crown entered two teams in the U-14 Champions and Premier Leagues, and they both won their respective championships on the day. With all games twenty minutes in duration, it was 7-a-side and the Champions team for Crown were all Academy boys. They beat Komar Athyreach 5-0, Preah Khan Reach 3-1, got a bye in the quarter-final and then beat Sunrise Kandal 2-0 in the semi. With two goals from Mat Sakrovy they then overcame Maruhan Japan Bank/PSE 2-0 in the final. Their passing was crisp and quick, each player played unselfishly and they always had enough gas in the tank to beat their opponents. For Crown's Premier team, it was a mix of Academy and non-Academy boys, including four U-10s. They found it a bit tougher but still won through to the Premier final, where they beat the ISF Flying Tigers team on penalties, with Svang Samnang netting the winning spot-kick after making two saves as his team's keeper. The day's winning teams in the boys and girls league were presented with their prizes of soft drinks and biscuits and will carry on with the championships every week between now and March at the same venue.

The winning teams in each grouping await their prizes

Theang Chhaya (20) heads the line for the Crown Champions League team

Mat Sakrovy scores one of his two goals in the final

The starting Champions League team in the final v PSE. Back Row: Sakrovy, Sopheak, Chanpolin, Titchhy. Front Row: Chansopheak, Sodavid, Muslim

The ISF keeper saves Nop David's penalty in the Premier League final

The Crown Champions league team in the semi-final v Sunrise Kandal

Penalty kicks decided this girls game after the teams drew. The games are played to a result.

This Crown Champions League team beat Preah Khan Reach 3-1

Mat Sakrovy on target again in the 5-0 win over Komar Athyreach

The Crown Champions League team beat Komar Athyreach 5-0 in the opening game

Instructions for the Crown teams from the coaching staff

The FFC view

In an interview with the Football Federation of Cambodia's spokesman, May Tola, in today's Phnom Penh Post, it's clear that the FFC have absolutely no intention of changing the man in charge of the Cambodian national team, Lee Tae-Hoon, who has presided over a litany of disappointing results and early exits from all competitions since he took over fifteen months ago. In explaining the Federation's position, Tola effectively said the FFC know what they are doing, they have the experience and the knowledge, they are fully responsible, they won't listen to public opinion or what he called 'non-technical people's opinions' and that Lee is suitably qualified in technical and player management skills. He said that FFC have no reason to replace the coach and that, in their view, the team is improving.
Though you wouldn't expect him to say anything less, as the FFC are the ones who employed the South Korean coach, albeit the Korean FA pay the man's salary, and who recently gave him an extension to his contract through to July 2012. They simply don't have the balls to admit they made a big mistake in giving the job to someone with the absolute minimum of coaching experience - two spells as assistant coach of the Korean women's team - and who has spent the last fifteen months treading water. I challenge the FFC spokesman to explain exactly how the national team's performances are improving. They look tactically naive, players are played out of position, key players have been ignored, tossed aside or benched, fitness has overshadowed mental toughness and tactical nous, and there is no obvious indication that we are moving in the right direction. Meanwhile, we see countries at our level improving their results and leaving us behind in their wake. But it seems, the FFC are happy to back their choice of coach to the hilt, in the face of mounting criticism from the kingdom's football-loving public.

New blood required

You could hear a pin drop since Lee Tae-Hoon returned from the SEA Games debacle

It's been nearly two weeks since Cambodia's national football coach, Lee Tae-Hoon returned from Jakarta with an ignominious SEA Games record of played 4, lost 4, scored 2, conceded 16, points zero. And that's after the national coaching set-up had publicly stated their key focus this year was squarely on achieving success in the SEA Games, over and above any potential success in the World Cup qualifying rounds or any other competition for that matter. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out did it. But anyone with the slightest awareness of football in the region could've forecast what took place. All of our rivals bust a gut to do well in the SEA Games. They raise their level of performance and intensity. So a blind monkey could've predicted we'd get thumped and we did. The fact is that neither the full national team or the U-23s that played in Indonesia are in any better shape than when the ex-South Korean women's team assistant coach took over 15 months ago. Anyone could've achieved what he's managed, getting knocked out of every competition at the first hurdle. And yet the Federation have remained silent as a mouse since the SEA Games debacle. Not a peep from the people who gave him the job and who pledged their faith in him. They even renewed that commitment with a new twelve month contract a while back and yet we continue to lose ground to every other country in Southeast Asia whilst Lee is at the helm. Cambodia needs new blood, someone with the experience, motivational skills and coaching nous to pick us up by the scruff of the neck, give us a good shaking and take us into a new era. Keeping the current incumbent in his post is not the answer. We now have just under a year before we face our next big international test, qualifying for the AFF Suzuki Cup next October. If the Federation bite the bullet and accept the inevitable sooner rather than later, that will give a new man a fair crack of the whip in terms of moulding the team into what he wants. If we continue as we are, we are doomed to continue to lose touch with our nearest rivals, however much effort our players put into it. We need a new man in charge now.

1st-ever sports magazine

The front cover of 855 Sports Magazine

The first edition of the brand new, first-ever Cambodian magazine dedicated solely to sport is out on the streets of Phnom Penh, and available from many of the roadside newspaper vendors you see around the city. In fact the second, expanded edition is due out on 25 Nov. With a 5,000 print run of the first edition, the team behind 855 Sports Magazine are keen to make an impression on the sports-loving Cambodian public - the magazine is in the Khmer language - and with its glossy look, middle-page poster pull-out and wide coverage of different sports, they have made a grand entrance into the magazine market. The football-playing prime minister makes the front cover and football gets the lion's share of coverage inside the mag with 20 out of the 48 pages. There's a focus on Phnom Penh Crown, the Cambodian national team and on the Crown Academy, including a feature on one of it's young stars, Vat Samnang. The SEA Games, golf, tennis, boxing and motor sports are also covered, though the text is a little sparse in places as the magazine is pretty rich in photographs. The cover price is 5,000 riels though I believe it may drop to 4,000 for the second edition. This is a first for Cambodian sports fans, their own dedicated magazine published every two weeks covering both local and international sports stories. Now it's up to the magazine team to strive to improve their content and for the public to support them by buying the magazine on a regular basis.

A feature on Vat Samnang, from the Crown Academy

Groin goes pop

PPCFC Academy boys and staff play for fun...and pain!

I experienced the Phnom Penh Crown Academy boys at close quarters yesterday afternoon, as we held a series of friendly matches, with members of the Crown staff allocated to teams of half a dozen Academy boys and playing round-robin matches of twenty minutes each. At 52, being left on your backside by a side-stepping thirteen year old is not good for your ego I can tell you. And then to cap it all, in the final game I stretched for a ball I should've known better to leave alone, and my groin went pop. I hobbled off to leave my team one man short and we lost the final. I couldn't apologise enough. After a BBQ with everyone involved to end the evening, I headed for home, my groin freezing cold from the ice being applied, and vowing to finally call it a day. I should know better than to try and mix it with the stars of Cambodia's footballing future.

SEA Games mis-adventures

Cam U23s v Malaysia. Back Row LtoR: Sovan, Rithy, Soksana, Rady, Sothearath, Laboravy. Front Row: Pancharong, Yaty, Raksmey, Souhana, Chhoeun

There's not much more to say that I haven't said already about Cambodia's SEA Games football mis-adventures. Cambodia came unstuck again, as expected, in their final Group A match of the Jakarta-based SEA Games this afternoon, losing 4-1 to reigning champions Malaysia. Playing their 4th game in the space of seven days, Chhin Chhoeun netted a consolation for Cambodia on the hour, after Malaysia went in 3-nil up at the break - with Sok Rithy having a nightmare at the back - and then added another on full-time when Prak Mony Udom failed to clear his lines. So that's 2 goals in 4 matches for Cambodia, both by Chhoeun, whilst they conceded 16 goals at the other end. Lee Tae-Hoon, Cambodia's Korean coach, selected Sou Yaty between the sticks and stuck with his defensive-minded midfield with an extra defender added for comfort. Conceding a goal after just seven minutes sank his plan, yet again.
Lee's words of infinite wisdom on the team's performances in the competition are worth nothing. "The campaign was not a total loss. The players have been learning from game to game and I think that they are better players as compared to when they first came to Jakarta. I believe that this team can only get stronger and they will definitely be better at the next SEA Games in 2013." Well, we all hope the team will get stronger of course, but I hope that Lee isn't suggesting that he stays in charge for the next SEA Games, as that would be disastrous. He's had his time at the helm, it's now time to hand the baton to someone more experienced and capable. I fully expect the Federation to see sense and end the Korean experiment, which is their 2nd attempt at it, and both have been as unsuccessful as each other. The positives from the four defeats are that the players who did play will benefit from the international experience, though players like Soun Veasna and Keo Sokngorn, who spent most of their time on the bench, were under-utilised by the coach and he has to answer for that. In fact, he has to answer for the last 14 months of poor results, as I've said ad nauseam.
Cam U23s v Malaysia: Yaty, Raksmey, Rady, Sovan, Rithy, Pancharong (Pheng 47), Sothearath, Chhoeun (PM Udom 84), Souhana (Saray 20), Laboravy, Soksana. Subs not used: Vichet, Daravorn, Phearith, Veasna, Dalin, Sokngorn.

Look of resignation

Time to face the music for Lee Tae-Hoon

The look on the face of Lee Tae-Hoon, the national coach of Cambodia, at the final whistle of yesterday's 4-0 SEA Games defeat to Thailand, said it all. He looked glum and weary after another of his tactical howlers came unstuck. Thailand let Cambodia off the hook with just the four goals, the scoreline could've been a lot worse as Lee's attempts to restrict his opponents came undone at the seams. His decision to play an extra defender in a five-man midfield was horribly exposed as Pancharong was given the runaround and his midfield colleagues, Saray and Souhana were conspicuous by their complete absence from the action. Playing a five-man midfield can work with the right personnel but Lee's choices came back to haunt him again, much as they did in the previous matches against Indonesia and Singapore. The South Korean coach, who came into the competition on the back of a catalogue of disastrous results in his 14 months in charge, finally gave Keo Sokngorn a starting place against Thailand but had seen enough by half-time to take him off. That was after the Kratie-born youngster was given 20 minutes and 2 minutes against Indonesia and Singapore respectively. Sokngorn is one of two players in the Cambodian squad who can single-handedly turn a match, Khuon Laboravy is the other, but under Lee's reign, he doesn't know whether he's coming or going and coupled with a foot injury that required injections just before the SEA Games began, Sokngorn's presence has been wasted. Lee did the same to Khim Borey a while back, calling him up for matches and then sitting him in the stand and on the bench, and then incredulously failed to invite him to Jakarta for this competition. Without his attacking talent, Cambodia have looked toothless in front of goal and another selection clanger has come home to roost. Lee instead opted for Phoung Soksana and Laboravy as his main attacking threats, though Laboravy's two yellow cards aginst Singapore, meant he sat out yesterday's game. On his own, Soksana looked lost and woefully short of international pedigree, as did too many in the Cambodian line-up yesterday. I feel for Soun Veasna, who had a good season for Preah Khan Reach last term but under Lee has merited just a 2 minute cameo in this SEA Games so far. With Chhun Sothearath suspended, I would've thought Veasna, or the lesser-able Pov Phearith, would get the nod. But Lee had other ideas. He doesn't even trust his own players in their normal positions, instead giving defender Touch Pancharong the holding role in the middle of the park. Decisions like that smack of desperation and that's basically where Lee has arrived at in his management of the national team. He now has to select a line-up to face the reigning champions Malaysia on Sunday. He should make the most of it because it should be his last as the national coach, either by way of falling on his own sword and admitting enough is enough, being withdrawn by his paymasters (the Korean FA) or the Cambodian federation calling time on their misguided appointment of 14 months ago.

... and again

Cam U-23s v Thailand: Back Row LtoR: Raksmey, Vichet, Rady, Sokngorn, Sovan, Rithy. Front Row: Saray, Pancharong, Soksana, Souhan, Chhoeun

We have to face facts, the Cambodian team is simply not equipped, tactically, mentally and physically, to mix it with the best in Southeast Asia. That was again demonstrated in this afternoon's match with Thailand in the SEA Games Group A. I only watched the second half on live stream on my lap-top and aside from a header by substitute Sok Pheng and a free-kick by Prak Mony Udom, both of which forced the Thai keeper into tip-over saves, it was all one-way traffic for the whole game. Thailand ran out easy 4-0 winners. Keeper Um Vichet, in for the injured Sou Yaty, did well to keep the scoreline down with a few fine stops and the woodwork saved further embarrassment on at least three occasions. Cambodia couldn't hang onto the ball and there were too many anonymous players on the park - particularly Souhana, Pancharong, Saray and Soksana - leaving Thailand to have the lion share of possession and frequently pressing the Cambodian backline in numbers. If you face that much pressure you will concede goals, as Cambodia did. I didn't agree with coach Lee Tae-Hoon's starting line-up or his substitutions for that matter, but it mattered not a jot. Whatever team he selected from his squad would've found it hard going, after suspensions ruled out Khuon Laboravy, Chhun Sothearath and injury left Yaty off the pitch. The players looked jaded as the 2nd half wore on and you've got to believe that a similar scoreline is likely when they meet Malaysia on Sunday in their final match. I fear the worst. I fully expect that match to be the final game of Lee Tae-Hoon's stint as the national coach. He's had 14+ months to get his act together and the team simply shows no sign of improvement. Time for a new broom to sweep clean. It's up to the federation to make it happen and to put both Lee and the Cambodian football public out of their misery.
Cam U-23s v Thailand: Vichet, Rady, Raksmey, Rithy, Sovan, Pancharong, Saray (PM Udom 66), Sokngorn (Pheng 46), Souhana, Chhoeun (Dalin 70), Soksana. Subs not used: Yaty, Daravorn, Phearith, Veasna. Suspended: Laboravy, Sothearath.

Cambodia's stand-in skipper Sok Rithy (3) tries to stem the Thai flood

Cambodia crash

Cam U-23s v Singapore. Lost 2-1. Back Row LtoR: Laboravy, Sovan, Sothearath, Soksana, Raksmey, Rithy. Front Row: Saray, Souhan, Yaty, Chhoeun, Pancharong

I'm just in the door after six days away and catching up on the SEA Games results. Obviously I'm disappointed that Cambodia have begun the competition with two defeats but am I surprised, obviously not. The 6-0 thrashing by Indonesia on Monday was to be expected, with the home team on a high at the start of their competition and in front of a sell-out crowd. They whipped in four goals in a 15-minute spell in the 1st half and that was game over. Lee Tae-Hoon decided to start with the inexperienced Sos Souhana, leaving Keo Sokngorn and Sok Pheng on the bench. In goal he went with Sou Yaty, whilst Pheak Rady got the nod over Lay Raksmey at full back. Aside from Chhun Sothearath, the midfield looked lightweight in the extreme and Indonesia must've thought Christmas had come early. Last night Cambodia played their 2nd match in the Group of Death - Group A and lost out 2-1 to Singapore after taking the lead with a flukey cross from Chhin Chhoeun that sailed over the head of the goalkeeper and in at the far post on 35 minutes. At least Cambodia will go home with a goal in their goals scored column if little else. As you'd expect, Singapore rallied in the 2nd half and netted twice to sink Cambodia's hopes of a surprise result. To add to their misery, skipper Khuon Laboravy got a 2nd yellow card and a red one to boot in the final minute. The only change that Lee Tae-Hoon made to his starting line-up was bringing in Raksmey for Rady. Cambodia play Thailand tomorrow (Friday) at 5pm in the third of their four matches. I would expect the coach to make changes, to at least start with Sokngorn, or what was the point in taking him in the first place. I'd also give starts to Soun Veasna and Sok Pheng, in place of Souhana and Soksana, and Yaty needs a rest after picking the ball out of the net 8 times in two games, so Um Vichet should get the nod this time around. Thailand lost 2-1 to Malaysia in their only game so far, so they'll be gunning for a win from the first whistle tomorrow, so Cambodia's tactics will need to reflect that.

Final 20

Will this be the starting line-up on Monday? I hope not.

The Cambodian U-23 squad list of 20 players for the SEA Games has finally seen the light of day, with the players travelling to Jakarta tomorrow and meeting Indonesia in their first match on Monday. The players to get the nod from South Korean head coach Lee Tae-Hoon are as follows:
Goalkeepers: Sou Yaty, Um Vichet.
Defenders: Sok Sovan, Sok Rithy, Lay Raksmey, Pheak Rady, Moul Daravorn, Touch Pancharong, Samuth Dalin.
Midfield: Suon Veasna, Pov Phearith, Chhun Sothearath, Tum Saray, Prak Monu Udom, Chin Chhoeurn, Sos Souhana, Phoung Soksana.
Strikers: Sok Pheng, Khuon Laboravy, Keo Sokngorn.
Do I agree with the coaches' final pick? As far as it goes, most of them pick themselves with the exception of half a dozen players, who I don't believe will cut the mustard at this level of international competition. My gut feeling is that we will end up getting thumped by all four of our opponents. I sincerely hope that won't happen, but I wouldn't bet against it. You need tactical nous at this level of high octane regional rivalry and I don't believe the coach possesses anywhere near enough to prevent his team being handed a footballing lesson or four. Indonesia are first up, followed by Singapore, Thailand and then reigning football champions Malaysia; all four of them are desperate for regional success and all four will expect to beat Cambodia comprehensively at this level. If I had to select the starting XI from the 20-man squad then I would go for: Yaty, Raksmey, Rady, Sovan, Rithy, Veasna, Sothearath, PM Udom, Sokngorn, Laboravy, Pheng.

Under pressure

I've heard from Sok Sovan today that he and Phnom Penh Crown teammate Sok Pheng are both included in the final party of 20 players selected for the Cambodian U-23 squad for the forthcoming SEA Games in Indonesia. The team travel to Jakarta on Saturday and face their first big hurdle when they meet the hosts, Indonesia, on Monday. There have been lots of financial inducements bounded about for the Cambodian participants in the SEA Games who come home with medals from NagaWorld and the Prime Minister chipping in as well, though that is very unlikely to happen with the football team. They are ranked well below most of the countries competing in this month's Games and are pretty much guaranteed to finish bottom of the 'Group of Death,' Group A, unless there's a series of minor miracles in their matches against Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. It ain't gonna happen. Even the Phnom Penh Post, known for their fence-sitting, came out of their hole in the ground to heap a bit more pressure on Lee Tae-Hoon, Cambodia's national team coach, on their back page today. PPP's Indian sports writer Manju admits Lee has been less successful than the coach had hoped and had been unable to get the best out of his team. With Cambodia's series of inept results during Lee's tenure over the last 14 months, I'd call that a gross understatement. Neverthless, Manju reckons that Lee is determined to answer his critics and prove his detractors wrong. Well, this writer is all for that. Bringing home the SEA Games gold medal would be just dandy. The PPP journo also talks about the World Cup defeat in Laos and suggests that 'the controversy rumbled on in another form when armchair critics and self styled experts pounced on him with accusations of playing down the significance of World Cup qualifiers.' Bollocks. The Cambodian camp had said well before the Laos games that the SEA Games were the target and the World Cup was basically an inconvenience. You don't have to be an armchair critic or self styled expert to point out that those sort of ill-informed comments fly in the face of every football fan in the country and anyone who has an interest in the beautiful game. Success in the World Cup, however fleeting, is something to treasure and should not be derided in favour of a regional competition, in which you know you will get badly mauled anyway. I've never been a big fan of Manju's reporting style and his sneer at anyone who dares to comment on local football or the national team takes the biscuit as he and the PPP rarely climb from underneath their rock with any opinion piece worthy of the name when it comes to football. They are usually far too busy with the tennis.
The final 20-man selection should be published tomorrow. With the Group A games taking place on the following dates, I will most likely be out of internet range for all of them except the final game, so I apologise beforehand for not providing my usual service when it comes to crucial games and especially national team games. I'll be on an island in the middle of the Mekong River.
Cambodia's SEA Games schedule:
7 Nov Indonesia v Cambodia at 7pm
9 Nov Singapore v Cambodia at 7pm
11 Nov Thailand v Cambodia at 5pm
13 Nov Malaysia v Cambodia at 4pm

The waiting game

The Crown squad and staff wait to collect their AFC President's Cup runners-up medals in Taiwan

We are still awaiting the outcome of the AFC investigation into the circumstances of the last few moments of the AFC President's Cup between Phnom Penh Crown and the hosts, Taiwan Power Company. The match was played on 25 September and the AFC have had access to the referee's report and the television footage by the local tv station, as well as reports and statements from both clubs. The punishment for the three Crown players red-carded for pushing referee Marai Mohammed Alawaji from Saudi Arabia after he failed to award a nailed-on penalty in injury-time, remains to be seen, as does any disciplinary fall-out from the fighting that took place at the final whistle between both camps. There's no point in speculating what the AFC might do until they reach their conclusion. However, there was a somewhat similar incident with players and officials brawling in the full glare of the television cameras, in a recent AFC Champions League match, and the disciplinary committee issued a six-game ban on two coaches and a player after handing out 1 match suspensions to a handful of others.

Heading for disaster

He's had more lives than your average cat, Cambodia's coach, Lee Ta-Hoon

The feeling that Cambodia are heading for a disaster in the upcoming SEA Games is getting stronger by the minute. I saw for myself in 2009 how seriously the other teams in southeast Asia take this competition and how prepared their football teams are. Even though its played at U-23 level, countries like Vietnam and Thailand are determined to show their regional sporting strength and play as if their lives depended on it. Cambodia's team, who lost 1-0 to Nepal last night, and it wasn't Nepal's full senior squad in action whatever anyone tries to tell you, showed little in the way of sparkle considering they have this important competition just days away. In fact, Lee Tae-Hoon's teams rarely show anything resembling the kind of football that will get the Cambodian public on the edge of their seats. If there was ever a tide, it's definitely turned against the South Korean coach who has been responsible for a series of disappointing results in various competitions over the past 14 months. His suggestion that the World Cup was unimportant compared to the SEA Games may just be about to explode in his face, judging by the strength of the teams Cambodia will soon find themselves up against. For the players sake, I hope they do well and can hold their heads up, but frankly, I fear the worst. I simply don't believe the Korean has the tactical nous against the standard of opposition they will face, or the motivational skills to pump his team up for these high pressure matches. He has made his own bed and now has to lie in it, especially after refusing to include proven quality players like Khim Borey in his gameplan. The football federation in Cambodia must shoulder the blame for what's about to happen. They appointed an unproven and inexperienced coach because he came with the blessing, and financial backing, of the South Korean FA. Essentially, you get what you pay for and with Cambodia not footing the coach's salary, I'm sure you get the picture. It's too late to change anything now, we missed that particular boat long ago, and we'll just have to ride out the storm that's just about to break. So I suggest we batten down the hatches, because it's going to be a very rough ride in Jakarta.
Here are some photos from last night's 1-0 defeat friendly international to Nepal. Judging by the lethargic performance, it was one game too many following the BIDC Cup tournament and I hear that the coach was bemoaning a few injuries his team have picked up. let's hope they clear up over the next few days before the team take on the hosts Indonesia on 7 November. Apologies for the picture quality, my camera doesn't like night-time.

The Cambodian team line-up for the press, and my piss-poor camera

The tv camera catches the players singing the national anthem

The Cambodian bench with the coach on the far left

PPCFC's Sok Pheng (20), man-of-the-match Sou Yaty and capt Khuon Laboravy (11)

Some of the Cambodian team lining up before the match begins

All smiles before the start from Sok Sovan, Sok Rithy and Chhun Sothearath

Nepal's coach, and former England & Spurs defender, Graham Roberts

All round winners

The Crown Academy team in the 1st half. Back Row LtoR: Sovann, K Chhaya, Chanpolin, S Samnang, Baraing, Sakrovy. Front Row: Rozak, Ponvuthy, Sodavid, Muslim, Sovannaroth.

The Academy team that started the 2nd half: Back Row LtoR: Titchhy, S Samnang, Sopheak, Senteang, Chanchav, David. Front Row: Phearath, Noeut, T Chhaya, Chansopheak, V Samnang.

Though the Phnom Penh Crown first team are taking an end of season break, there is no such thing for the club's Academy players. As part of the 22-boy Elite Academy, the youngsters who come from all over the country, are in the Academy for the long run, getting football coaching and fitness training every morning and a private schooling at Beltei every afternoon, except for a holiday each Sunday. They reside in dormitories at the club's RSN Stadium in Tuol Kork, and have been there since February of this year. This morning, they played their first practice match for a month against the club's U-16 squad and came out on top, again, winning 7-3 played over three 30-minute periods. The U-16 boys had the audacity to open the scoring but Seut Baraing put a free-kick into the top corner and then Yeu Muslim poked home a goalkeeping mistake before the first break to make it 2-1. With Long Phearath whacking another into the top corner, it was all one-way traffic in the second period, with Suon Noeut racing clear on two occasions and finishing coolly in identical fashion and Ken Chansopheak showing some trickery in the box before lashing his shot home. In the third period, the U-16s made a fist of it with two more goals, though Pov Ponvuthy had a penalty saved and the Academy wrapped up the scoring after forcing an own goal by the U-16s defence. A good work-out for both squads in the hot sun and on a spongy pitch. The Academy youngsters have also begun extra English language lessons in recent weeks to add to their private schooling, which will add another layer to their ongoing development, not only as excellent footballers, but as fully-rounded individuals.

This free-kick from Baraing evaded everyone, including the keeper

Ponvuthy's penalty kick, that was saved late-on

Vat Samnang showing some neat trickery in the penalty box

The Academy boys listen to their head coach, Bouy Dary before the match begins

All change

News just in that the match dates for the SEA Games have already been changed, despite the draw being made just a few days ago. It sounds remarkably like the way the football federation in Cambodia handle their competitions. The changes see every match in group A, that includes Cambodia, has been brought forward by two days from the original date. So, the matches for Cambodia in the SEA Games next month now look like this:
Cambodia's SEA Games football fixtures:
7 Nov Indonesia v Cambodia at 7pm
9 Nov Singapore v Cambodia at 7pm
11 Nov Thailand v Cambodia at 5pm
13 Nov Malaysia v Cambodia at 4pm
All matches will be played at the 88,000 capacity Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.

Tired and listless

Cambodia's starting line-up. Back Row LtoR: Sothearath, Rithy, Yaty, Raksmey, Sovan, Laboravy. Front row: Dalin, Chhoeurn, Phearith, Soksana, Pheng (pic Tep Phany)

We are a matter of days away from the SEA Games, expectations are mounting but tonight's performance by the Cambodia U-23s, who will be representing us at the SEA Games, was anything but encouraging. If they put on a repeat showing at the Games against the four higher-ranked teams they face in Group A, god help them. On tour Nepal won tonight's game 1-0, with a goal five minutes before the final whistle. To be honest, they were the better team, busy and buzzy and giving Sou Yaty a lot of practice in the Cambodian goal, but it looked to be heading for a goalless stalemate until Santhosh Shahukhala popped up, unmarked, at a corner and headed home powerfully past Yaty amidst a static defence. It came from a quickly-taken corner kick by Rabin Shrestha and found Cambodia disorganized and looking at each other for someone to blame. They were all guilty. Nepal had deserved it without really showing why they are ranked 32 places higher than the home team in the FIFA rankings, though Cambodia fielded their u-23s and Nepal's team was packed with similar-aged players. With former England and Spurs hard-man Graham Roberts at their helm and directing operations from the touchline, Nepal began the game brightly, breaking quickly and keeping Cambodia on the back foot for the first half-hour. Aside from Sok Pheng's weak header early on, Nepal pulled all the strings and gave Sou Yaty the opportunity to show why he's rated as the Kingdom's number one stopper. Two point blank saves from Yaty, on 26 minutes and another five minutes later, were top drawer. A quick free-kick bamboozled the home defence and Yaty needed to be quick off his line to deny Jumanu Rai close in. Next up, Bharat Khawas must've thought his far post, kneeling down header was the game's opening goal, only for Yaty to pull off another wonder stop. And that was essentially the last action of the half. Cambodia's coach Lee Tae-Hoon inexplicably replaced Sok Pheng on 32 minutes, though anyone of his team at that stage, could've been removed for their lack of purpose, guile, endeavour and enterprise. The whole team looked tired, listless and lethargic, which is a real concern with a major competition just around the corner.

Four minutes after the break, Yaty fumbled a low driven free-kick by skipper Sagar Thapa but was spared his blushes as Jumanu Rai blazed the loose ball over the top. Ten minutes in and substitute Shahukhala nipped in front of Sok Rithy to whip his shot against the upright, before the home team managed their first shot of the match, on the hour, with Chhun Sothearath firing over the bar from 25 yards out. Shahukhala wriggled free but fired wide when well placed and Phuong Soksana got a touch to a Khuon Laboravy pass but failed to beat Nepal keeper Kiran Limbu at the near post. A spell of Cambodian pressure around the 77 minute mark was the home team's best moments of the game. Sos Souhana blasted miles over from the edge of the box, Sok Sovan headed a corner towards goal at the far post but the danger was hacked clear and then Sothearath tried a cheeky chip from 20 yards that Limbu touched over as he frantically backpedaled. That was as good as it got for the hosts. As the game headed towards a goalless conclusion, Shahukhala had other ideas and was in the perfect place to head the game's winner with five minutes to go, to give Nepal their first win in their 4-game tour. It was more than most of the Cambodian fans could take as they headed for the exits. A poor showing, with everyone, except Sou Yaty and defenders Sok Sovan and Sok Rithy who emerged with their reputations intact, playing under-par, it was hard to see how coach Lee Tae-Hoon could put a positive spin on this result. Without the goalscoring threat of someone like the unselected Khim Borey or Keo Sokngorn, who remained on the bench throughout the game, Cambodia rely too much on their skipper Laboravy and this was one of his quietest and least-inspiring matches. The writing is on the wall for Lee Tae-Hoon with matches against far better opposition than Nepal waiting in the wings.
Cambodia's line-up: Yaty, Raksmey, Dalin, Sovan, Rithy, Phearith (Souhana 57), Sothearath, Chhoeurn, Laboravy, Soksana (PM Udom 80), Pheng (Saray 32). Subs not used: Vichet, Sorphea, Rady, Daravorn, Pancharong, CM Seang, Dina, Veasna, Sokngorn. Bookings: Phearith, Sothearath.

The Nepalese team, who won 1-0. You have to tilt your head slightly (pic Tep Phany)

Crown release 2

Phnom Penh Crown are busy behind the scenes, preparing for the new season, which will begin with the Hun Sen Cup in early January. At the moment, the playing staff are on a well-earned close season break before they return for fitness training in the middle of November and then step up a gear, with two sessions a day, from the start of December. Head coach David Booth and his coaching team have identified changes to the playing squad, despite the club lifting the Metfone C-League championship and finishing as runners-up in the AFC President's Cup last season. Two players who have been released from their contracts with the club are the experienced pairing of San Narith (pictured) and Sun Sovannrithy. Both are former national team players who joined Crown last season and played their part in the club's successful campaign, though ended it with red cards in the AFC President's Cup final in Taiwan. It looks likely they will join Naga Corp, according to reports.

End of the road

After their abject failure at the AFC President's Cup and a disastrous league campaign, Myanmar's Yadanarbon have sacked their French manager, Yoan Girard and replaced him with Brazilian Jose Alves Borges. That is despite Girard guiding the club to a President's Cup victory in 2010, two Myanmar league championships and a Myanmar Cup success in the three years he was at the helm. You are only as good as your last game is the age-old football adage, and in Girard's case, his previous record counted for nothing as his services were dispensed with. Girard coached in France and Morocco as well as with Muangthong in Thailand, before linking up with Yadanarbon. The club have returned to Muangthong for their next coach, with Borges acting as the Thai club's technical director this year after previous coaching success with junior Thai teams and Tobacco Monopoly, who won the Thai title in 2004, and TTM Phichit in the Thai Premier. To spice up their pre-season Yadanarbon have announced that they will undertake a European tour and meet Division 2 clubs in Spain, Italy, Germany and Belgium in June next year. In this season's AFC President's Cup they lost 4-0 to Phnom Penh Crown and then 8-2 to Neftchi, which was simply too much for the club's owners to take. The club eventually finished in 9th spot in the 12-team league championship, which was won by Yangon United. The other team that Phnom Penh Crown faced, and beat, in the group stage of the AFC President's Cup, Neftchi from Kyrgyzstan, finished runners-up in their league title race, with Dordoi-Dynamo reclaiming the trophy they'd won six times in a row before Neftchi's 2010 success.

Roberts pulls no punches

Nepalese national coach Graham Roberts (pictured) was pulling no punches when he was asked for his opinion of the Nepal results from their current Asean tour, which roles into Cambodia this week with a friendly match against the Cambodian U-23 team on Friday 28 October at the Olympic Stadium at 6pm. He simply wasn't satisfield with the 4-0 defeat by the Philippines and a 2-0 loss to the Malaysian Olympic team and is expecting a much improved performance against Cambodia before two final tour games in Thailand. Nepal are on tour in order to prepare for the South Asian Football Federation Cup which will be held in India in December. They will also be hosting the finals of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup in their home country with eight teams competing for the coveted title next March. In qualifying for the finals, Nepal opened up with a 1-0 win over Afghanistan, and although they fell to North Korea by the same score, a goalless draw with Sri Lanka ensured their progress as group runners-up. Cambodia failed to qualify for the finals. Currently ranked at 144 in the FIFA World Rankings, while Cambodia languish at 176, Nepal's steady progress has been enhanced since Graham Roberts took charge at the start of this year. The former Spurs, Rangers, Chelsea and West Brom defender was previously coach with Pakistan before linking up with Nepal. My own memories of Roberts was as a prodigious youngster with Dorchester and Yeovil (a team he later managed) in the Southern League before his career took off on signing for Spurs, with the tough tackling hard man going onto win six caps for England.

Looking ahead to 2012

Next month's SEA Games will be the main focus for the Cambodian national team, even though it's being played at U-23 age level, until the latter part of next year, 2012, when the qualifiers for the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup will take place. Fortunately, Cambodia didn't have to qualify for the SEA Games, though the 'group of death' in which they've been drawn - which includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand - makes it impossible for them to progress. That's a given. After the team return from the SEA Games, there will be a barren international programme until those Suzuki Cup qualifiers in October next year, which will unveil the countries for the finals, two months later, to be held in Malaysia and Thailand. Lee Tae-Hoon was the coach in charge when we failed to qualify for the last finals in October 2010 with Laos and Philippines getting the nod instead. Next year will also see the finals of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup, the AFC's second-tier of international competition behind the AFC Asian Cup. Cambodia won't be there as earlier this year, we lost out to Maldives, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in the qualifying rounds. The host of the finals will be Nepal in March next year. And of course, there will be no World Cup qualifying matches to look forward to either. So a pretty lifeless few months ahead for the Cambodian national team after the SEA Games, though that's exactly when the football federation and the national coach should be arranging a series of international friendly matches that will test the squad, bring them much-needed practice against higher-standard opposition and boost their confidence ahead of the Suzuki Cup qualifiers. Matches against C-League teams, Korean university teams and a training camp in Vietnam do not cut the mustard, the federation have to be much braver than they have in the past, and start engaging far better opponents for the national team. In the run up to the SEA Games, Malaysia have spent three months in a training camp in Slovakia for example. Or look at Nepal, who Cambodia meet in a friendly game in Phnom Penh on 28 October. They've been preparing for the South Asian Football Federation Cup with an overseas tour of Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand. Both countries have been thinking outside the box. Something our football federation are not renowned for. Do I think anything will change? Most likely not, but we can always live in hope.

Incredulous decision

A jubilant Khim Borey after scoring for his country in the AFF Suzuki Cup in 2008

How the heck can the head coach of a national football team go to a major championship without his best striker? But that's exactly what Cambodia's coach Lee Tae-Hoon is planning to do with the SEA Games, held every two years, just around the corner. It's hard enough to understand him at press conferences as it is, but to try and get inside his head with this decision, is simply impossible. Pure and simple, it makes no sense whatsoever. Khim Borey is a proven goalscorer in international football. His record makes that abundantly clear even to the most one-eyed of football analysts. Yet, the inscrutable South Korean coach refuses to be budged and will not be taking the Phnom Penh Crown marksman to the Games in Jakarta. Borey has a pretty impressive CV considering he's only just turned 22 years old. He was the Cambodian League’s Golden Boot winner when he top scored with 18 goals in 2008 as his team finished in 2nd spot in the Cambodian League, and he captained the Army team to a Hun Sen Cup Final success in 2010, against Phnom Penh Crown. On the international scene, Borey made his debut for his country against Syria in the Nehru Cup in 2007, having progressed rapidly in that same year from the national youth team through the Under-23 side to full international. In 2008 he scored five goals in eleven appearances for his country and then registered a rare international hat-trick against Timor Leste in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup qualifiers held in Laos. Born in the village of Kouk Kanhchab in Takeo Province in southern Cambodia, he first came to prominence playing for the Koh Kong provincial team as a sixteen year old, before joining the National Defense Ministry club in 2006. He’d played for the Army boy’s team a couple of years earlier and conveniently lived next door to the Army headquarters in Phnom Penh. Operating primarily as a striker throughout his career, he missed five months of the 2009 season with a persistent ankle injury and in 2010 was regularly used in a deep-lying midfield role by the Army team. Before the start of the 2011 season, Borey joined Phnom Penh Crown but was denied a starting place in the Hun Sen Cup competition by the football federation. At the same time, current Crown coach David Booth, then coach at Thai Premier team Sisaket, took him on a season-long loan to northeast Thailand, where he played ten games in one of the best leagues in Asia before returning to Crown in time to line-up in the club's AFC President's Cup successes in Taiwan last month. Quite simply, Borey has been one of the country's outstanding performers over the last four years, yet Lee Tae-Hoon seems to be the only one that doesn't see it. Pointedly, Borey has more international experience as a player, despite his young age, than Lee has as a national team coach. It's a truly incredulous decision and one which will surely come back to bite the coach on his arse.