Captain Fanastic Seals It

Captain for the day, Kouch Sokumpheak (10) in the tunnel before today's game

Phnom Penh Crown did a professional job on newcomers Boeung Ket Rubber Field at the Army Stadium this afternoon, winning 1-0 to book their passage to the next round of the Hun Sen Cup. There's something about the armband with Crown this week, as Kouch Sokumpheak, today's recipient, hit a scorching drive on 68 minutes to settle the tie in Crown's favour. Leading by example, as he usually does, he led the line and moved back into midfield to shore it up as his teammates were falling by the wayside. Crown began sluggishly but controlled the game after the twenty minute mark and never really looked like conceding to the Kompong Cham-based team, who are newboys in the C-League this year. More from the game later.

Cambodian football suffers

I really do despair at the shenanigans going on between the Army and the football federation. In itself it's a microcosm of the ills that affect everyday life throughout Cambodia. The powerful and wealthy flex their muscles (in this case the Army), the paper-pushers do what they're told (the FFC) and the small man at the foot of the chain is the one to suffer (the player). The Cambodian football federation's refusal to allow Khim Borey to play in Saturday's Hun Sen Cup match against the National Police was another kick in the teeth to a player who doesn't know whether he's coming or going. And we are talking about one of the country's very best footballers over the past four or five years. The Army have been unhappy since Borey joined Phnom Penh Crown before the start of last season. He was out of his playing contract with the Army team and as a free agent, he moved across to join Crown. The Army weren't happy and threw a spanner in the works immediately, with the FFC jumping on the bandwagon and refusing to allow him to play in last season's Hun Sen Cup competition. The problem went away for a few months as Borey, with the FFC's agreement, linked up with Thai Premier Division club Sisaket, but resurfaced when he returned to Crown at the back-end of the C-League season. He was again denied his place in the last few league matches by the FFC with no reason given. In an about face, the FFC did give their thumbs up for his inclusion in the AFC President's Cup finals in Taiwan and all seemed set for the new season. Borey took his place in the Crown line-up for their opening Hun Sen Cup tie against Kratie last week and scored. Then, on Friday, Crown received a letter from the FFC again saying Borey was ineligible, as the Army had again raised their previous objections, saying that as a member of the Army he couldn't play for anyone else. Despite a last-minute appeal, Borey's name was scrubbed from the start list. The player himself was crestfallen. He thought the kerfuffle had been resolved, only for the Army to stick their oar in again (and have now added Boeung Ket's Sin Dalin to their objection targets) and leave him high and dry.

This problem has now been on the FFC's table for a year with Army claiming he's still with them, whilst Crown have a contract with the player, having abided by FIFA rules and regulations in signing him. The FFC remain completely ineffectual, having changed their minds twice already to allow Borey to play in Taiwan and then against Kratie, before the latest ban. The Army obviously hold great sway over the FCC leadership and are prepared to do anything they can to ruin the player's career. For them, it's not about the player, but more the flexing of their muscle to show everyone who's boss when it comes to Cambodian football. As I inferred at the beginning, it clearly demonstrates that Cambodia and its football remain locked in the Stone Age, unable to shake off the shackles of its past. Basically the Army's ultimatum is this; play for us or play for no-one. Players like Borey and Dalin wish to further their football career but the Army will do everything in their power, which is considerable, to deny them their livelihood. And the federation, who should be protecting player's rights, simply look the other way. Safeguards against this restriction of livelihood need to be introduced, which could include a player's union for example, the federation need to act like a real federation and abide by the rules of FIFA over player's transfers and contracts, and the Army must decide whether they are a military unit that wears football boots or they are a separate professional football club, and if the latter, they should act like one.

Crown net nine

The 2nd half Academy line-up v CCOLT. Back Row LtoR: Titchhy, Sodavid, Piphop, Chanpolin. Front: Ponvuthy, Chhaya, Muslim, Phearath, Chanchav.

The Phnom Penh Crown Academy youngsters, already top of the table in the Barclays Capital ISF Champions League, cemented their position with a 9-0 victory over CCOLT (Cambodian Children Orphanage for Living and Training) this morning. CCOLT proved tough nuts to crack initially with their goalkeeper in outstanding form and it took an own goal to dent their confidence. Fine individual goals from In Sodavid and Mat Sakrovy increased Crown's lead at the interval to 3-0. As often happens in their matches, the Academy's unrelenting pass and move style as well as their superior fitness took a heavy toll on their opponents. Orn Chanpolin started the goal-rush and headed a second soon after, with Pon Ponvuthy, Sraing Titchhy (penalty), Yeu Muslim and Theang Chhaya also adding to CCOLT's woes in the 2nd half. The Champions League team have now won all six of their matches, netting 62 goals and conceding none. The 'B' team, made up of a mix of Academy and non-Academy boys also enjoyed a goal feast, beating the deaf team from Krousar Thmey 13-0, with Ly Heng netting five. Matches were taking place all day today, as they do every Sunday, at Crown's Tuol Kork headquarters, where a disabled toilet was under construction to help with the increased disabled involvement in the ISF competition this year. ISF supporters Tim Lacey and Dubai Larrikins have helped with the funding.

Sraing Titchhy makes no mistake from the penalty spot

Yeu Muslim is felled in the box for a penalty

Yeu Muslim sprints clear of the last defender

Listening intently to their coach

Ken Chansopheak breaking into the penalty area

In Sodavid in a midfield tussle

The 1st half Academy team v CCOLT. Back Row LtoR: Baraing, Sodavid, Titchhy, Sovann, Sakrovy. Front: Noeut, Chansopheak, Rozak, Samnang.

Skipper In Sodavid (23) paying attention to the match officials

The Crown 'B' team before their 13-0 win today

Mat Sakrovy before the kick-off

Focusing on the pre-match instructions; Sovann, Sodavid and Rozak

Coach Bouy Dary with his Academy boys

Tiny to the rescue

PPCFC v National Police. Back Row LtoR: Dara, H Pheng, Chamrouen, Seyha, S Pheng, Tiny. Front: Suhana, Sothy, Sovan, Sovanna, Sokumpheak

The absence of Khim Borey from the Phnom Penh Crown starting line-up meant a last-minute change to coach David Booth's gameplan and it showed as Crown began their Hun Sen Cup Group D match against National Police in sluggish mode at the Olympic Stadium. The first action of note took place in the 13th minute when Crown's new keeper Sam Chamrouen flapped at a cross and a few minutes later, came out to challenge Srey Udom, who went down as if he'd been shot, with referee Chuob Visal having none of it. Crown were looking a pale shadow of the team that walloped Kratie 16-0 two days earlier but should've taken the lead on 27 minutes. A disguised free-kick set up Ouk Sothy in space, ten yards out, but his shot cleared the crossbar and the chance was gone. Another free-kick gave Sok Pheng time and space to send a 25-yard drive goalwards, only for Police stopper Thong Chanraksmey to push it around the foot of his post. Hong Pheng went close on his Crown starting debut with a backward header on 36 minutes, which Chanraksmey did well to fingertip past the post as he backpedalled. Crown had the better of the first half but were still waiting to click into top gear.

The Police began the second half with more purpose and Crown keeper Chamrouen had to be alert to catch Noun Borey's downward header. Police looked to the linesman when Srey Udom's close range header was ruled offside, but it was the correct decision, though they were much happier on 58 minutes when Tith Dina's first-time strike from 30 yards out fizzed past Chamrouen and nestled inside the net. The ball fell kindly to Dina and his hit 'n' hope dipper caught Chamrouen by surprise. Crown's day went from bad to worse on 69 minutes when Chan Dara was dismissed for a deliberate trip as Ngoun Chansothea broke through the defensive back-line. Dara was caught for pace and his ankle-tap as Chansothea looked to enter the box was cynical, leaving referee Visal no option but to produce a straight red card. Dina launched the free-kick miles over the bar. A couple of minutes later and Crown skipper Tieng Tiny registered his intentions when his 40 yard punt into the penalty area was fumbled over his head by Chanraksmey, whose blushes were saved when Say Piseth hooked the ball off the goal-line.

Chanraksmey stood firm to punch away another Tiny goal-bound effort soon after and then acrobatically denied Kouch Sokumpheak, when the Crown striker whipped in a shot on the turn that had goal written all over it. Sokumpheak held his head in his hands. A minute later, Crown coach Booth sent on the experienced campaigner Hok Sochivorn as skipper Tiny prepared to take a free-kick. He curled in the dead ball from 35 yards out, from the left-side touchline, which Chanraksmey saw coming but took his eye off the flight as Sochivorn challenged and the ball ended up in the net. Tiny claimed the goal, Sochivorn concurred and Crown had come back from the dead to share the spoils with his match-saving equalizer arriving on 86 minutes. Five minutes of injury time produced a Sok Pheng hit and hope that sailed harmlessly wide and the match ended all-square. Crown will meet newcomers Boeung Ket Rubber Field on Monday 6 Feb (2pm at Army Stadium) and need a point to progress to the knock-out stage of the Hun Sen Cup. Boeung Ket demolished the hapless Kratie 17-1 in the 2nd game of the day, with Keo Sokngorn netting no less than 12 times, as his teammates lined-up to lay his chances on a plate in an obvious attempt to earn him the Golden Boot award.
PPCFC line-up: Chamrouen, Dara, Seyha, Tiny, Sovan, Sovanna (Sochivorn 85), Sothy, Suhana, Sok Pheng, Hong Pheng (Makara 61), Sokumpheak. Subs not used: Ary, Oudom, Da, Vanthan, Lika, Kimhor, Sophanal, Srin, Borey. Bookings: Suhana, Tiny, Dara (red card). Referee: Chuob Visal.

Tieng Tiny and Srey Udom are the opposing captains

Tieng Tiny leads out the Crown starting line-up

David Booth giving his team last-minute instructions in the changing rooms

The National Police starting line-up

Hong Pheng, moments after he's told he's making his starting debut

Crown scrape a point

There's no hiding behind the fact that Phnom Penh Crown were woefully under the level of performance demanded by their coach David Booth today. And he left them in no doubt about that after the final whistle. A freak goal four minutes shy of the ninety from skipper Tieng Tiny's 35-yard free-kick out on the left-side touchline, levelled the tie at 1-1 but it was touch and go and Crown can count themselves a mite fortunate. National Police offered only mediocre resistance and led through a hit 'n' hope from Tith Dina 13 minutes after the interval but it was Crown's inability to keep the ball and string their passes together, as well as losing full-back Chan Dara to a straight red card with twenty minutes remaining, that will need remedying before Monday's final Hun Sen Cup Group D decider with Boeung Ket.

The main talking point before, during and after the match however, was the Cambodian football federation's refusal to allow Khim Borey to take his place in the Crown starting line-up. It's believed the Army team wrote to the FFC demanding that Borey and Boeung Ket's Sin Dalin, both former Army players, should not be allowed to play, and the FFC fell into line with their command. Borey's name was scrubbed from the start list. The Army did exactly the same in last season's Hun Sen Cup and Borey was left kicking his heels then as he was today. Crown appealed the decision thirty minutes before the start of the game and Borey was allowed to be named as one of the substitute's, which in itself makes a mockery of the FFC's decision. It left the Crown line-up depleted and the team's game-plan with last minute changes.
More from today's match later.

Hun Sen Cup action

The National Police team prior to their 1-0 win over Boeung Ket

So what's been happening in the early games in the Hun Sen Cup you ask? Well, after Phnom Penh Crown whacked 16 goals past Kratie without reply (with Kouch Sokumpheak grabbing a personal haul of 10 goals), the other two teams in Group D, National Police and Boeung Ket Rubber Field were better matched and it took a penalty from Srey Udom four minutes from the end to separate the two teams. Crown now take on the Police tomorrow at the Olympic Stadium at 2pm, followed by Boeung Ket against Kratie. Police have added speedy winger Nov Soseila to their line-up this season after the former Army man has spent nearly two years kicking his heels due to shenanigans by the military outfit. It's great to see him back in action. In Group C, Preah Khan Reach kicked off with a comprehensive 8-1 win over Koh Kong and Khuon Laboravy was amongst the goals again with half a dozen. He was last season's cup Golden Boot winner with 22 goals. BBU put Stung Treng to the sword, winning 9-2 and Chhun Sothearath netted a hat-trick. Over in Group B, the teams have both played twice. Army looked easy 5-0 winners over Asia Euro University but then stumbled to a 1-1 draw with Kirivong this afternoon. Kirivong edged past Kampot 3-2 in their first game, while AEU put six past Kampot without reply. Finally to Group A, where Teab Vathanak was on song for Naga with 5 goals in their 9-0 thrashing of Pailin. Then Naga faltered and conceded a late equaliser to draw 2-2 with Chhlam Samuth earlier today. Chhlam Samuth beat Battambang 5-2 in their first match, though the 2nd city team beat neighbours Pailin 1-0 today. Tomorrow's matches will give us a better view of how the teams are poised in Groups C and D, ahead of the final group matches on Sunday and Monday. The games are coming thick and fast.

Hok Sochivorn

Last but not least, the most experienced player in the Phnom Penh Crown squad is Hok Sochivorn. He's seen service with quite a few clubs and was a regular for the Cambodian national team for eight years. He joined Crown at the start of last season after coaching the Stung Treng team in the Hun Sen Cup.

Name: Hok Sochivorn
Position: Forward, Central Defender
Squad Number: 24
Date of birth: 23 Sept 1983
Place of birth: Sangkat Lek, Phnom Penh
Height: 1.82m
Weight: 72kg
Joined PPCFC: February 2011
Previous clubs: Royal Navy, Hello United, Naga Corp, Preah Khan Reach, Phuchung Neak, Post Tel, Kirivong, Stung Treng, Cambodia Seniors.

Tieng Tiny

Regarded as one of his country's best defenders for the last few years, Tieng Tiny has been a regular for the Cambodia national team since his international debut in 2006. He joined Crown in 2008 after a season with Naga Corp, having previously signed on with Khemara and Phnom Penh Empire.

Name: Tieng Tiny
Position: Central Defender
Squad Number: 4
Date of birth: 9 June 1986
Place of birth: Boeung Daun Pa, Siem Reap
Height: 1.78m
Weight: 71kg
Joined PPCFC: November 2008
Previous clubs: Siem Reap province, Khemara Keila, Phnom Penh Empire, Naga Corp, Cambodia U-23 & Seniors.

Sok Sovan

Despite playing only a handful of matches for Phnom Penh Crown last season, Sok Sovan's rise to prominence has been meteoric. He played every minute of the SEA Games matches for the Cambodian U-23 team recently, establishing himself as a central defender for the future. Whilst with Crown, he's been loaned out twice to National Police and Neak Khiev to gain more experience.

Name: Sok Sovan
Position: Central Defender
Squad Number: 6
Date of birth: 5 April 1992
Place of birth: O'Russei 2, Phnom Penh
Height: 1.75m
Weight: 70kg
Joined PPCFC: November 2007
Previous clubs: Khmer Empire, Phnom Penh Empire, National Police, Neak Khiev, Cambodia U-14, U-16, U-19, U-21 & U-23s.

Hong Pheng

One of the players looking to make the breakthrough and gain a regular place this season is exciting striker Hong Pheng. Signed after impressing in the Hun Sen Cup for Siem Reap's Baksey Chamkrong at the start of last season, his opportunities were limited last season for this Battambang native.

Name: Hong Pheng
Position: Forward
Squad Number: 25
Date of birth: 1 Nov 1989
Place of birth: Wat Leap, Battambang
Height: 1.73m
Weight: 65kg
Joined PPCFC: February 2011
Previous clubs: Battambang province, Baksey Chamkrong

Chan Dara

Experienced defender Chan Dara was given the captain's armband for Phnom Penh Crown's first game of the season against Kratie yesterday. Another player who spent time with Khemara Keila before joining Crown in November 2009.

Name: Chan Dara
Position: Defender
Squad Number: 2
Date of birth: 1 March 1986
Place of birth: Kompong Svay, Banteay Meanchey
Height: 1.76m
Weight: 65kg
Joined PPCFC: November 2009
Previous clubs: Banteay Meanchey province, Khemara Keila, Cambodia U-23 & Seniors.

Sok Pheng

One player who has enjoyed a new lease of life under head coach David Booth at Phnom Penh Crown is striker Sok Pheng. With previous experience at other clubs, he joined Crown in November 2010 and has now forced his way into the reckoning of the Cambodian national team.

Name: Sok Pheng
Position: Forward
Squad Number: 19
Date of birth: 2 Oct 1990
Place of birth: Koki, Kien Svay, Kandal
Height: 1.70m
Weight: 74kg
Joined PPCFC: November 2010
Previous clubs: Navy, National Defense Ministry, Khemara Keila, Cambodia U-15 & U-23s

A window on today's game

Chan Dara donned the captain's armband for Crown this afternoon

More pictures from this afternoon's Hun Sen Cup encounter between Phnom Penh Crown and Kratie. It didn't look promising when the boys from the Mekong River town only appeared with 13 players and two of them were goalkeepers. They were already 9-nil down when their skipper was sent off for a second bookable offence, which was a bit harsh I must say. The pitch was as much a nightmare as it was last season and is simply not conducive to playing attractive football. The players simply don't know what the ball is going to do next. On a good surface, the scoreline could've looked even more embarrassing, so in that respect, it worked in Kratie's favour. Crown tried to play their passing game, which went as well as possible on such a crap playing surface, but the uneven bounce and bobble made it hard work. The lack of changing rooms, leaving the players to get changed in the stand and the playing surface simply shows up what an unsuitable venue the Army Stadium is for any competition, let alone Cambodia's FA Cup. The decision by the football federation to squeeze all the matches into twelve days beggars belief.

Half-time team talk by the coach

The 'bench' moments before the start of the game, including 7 team officials

Kratie, with holes already showing in their team line-up

Chan Dara leads out the Crown team in red and black

David Booth talks tactics with his 3-player strikeforce

David Booth doing the rounds before kick-off

Khim Borey in sprinting mode

David Booth speaks to Sok Sovan, whilst the others enjoy a joke

These are the Army Stadium changing rooms - a sorry state of affairs

Bayon TV's view of the press conference earlier this week

Khim Borey on Bayon TV earlier this week

Goal by goal, all 16 of them

PPCFC v Kratie: Back Row LtoR: Sam Chamrouen, Ouk Sothy, Tieng Tiny, Sok Sovan, Chan Dara, Khim Borey. Front: Sok Pheng, Men Seyha, Sos Suhana, Kouch Sokumpheak, Chhun Sovanna

He wears the number 10 jersey, so presumably Kouch Sokumpheak felt he had to live up to his number in this afternoon's Hun Sen Cup tie against Kratie. Three goals in the 1st half and then another seven after the interval by one individual is pretty good going in anyone's book. Phnom Penh Crown coach David Booth said after the game; "I left him on the pitch as he got married, had some time off, so for his own benefit, fitness-wise, I felt he should stay on the pitch." That decision certainly paid rich dividends as Sokumpheak led Crown to a massive 16-0 victory in the first of their three Group D matches. Booth gave six players their Hun Sen Cup debuts including Khim Borey, who was barred from last year's competition. In the 2nd minute, their new giant of a keeper, Sam Chamrouen nervously fumbled a cross and Kratie poked their only chance of the game wide of the post. They simply weren't in it after that. With Crown playing a quick passing game, despite the grass and mud surface that made such football a tough proposition in the conditions, Kratie were chasing shadows for the rest of the game. Ouk Sothy and Chhun Sovanna were particularly noticeable in the middle of the park for Crown, playing neat interchanges before releasing their three-pronged strikeforce, though the Crown forwards did their fair share of winning the ball and setting themselves on a course for their opponents goal. You won't be surprised to hear Crown missed a hatful of chances in the game. The most glaring misses befell Sok Pheng and Ouk Sothy in the first half, and Hong Pheng in the 2nd, though Sokumpheak himself had another half a dozen chances which were blocked by the Kratie goalkeeper, Mean Kiara. The visitors were reduced to ten men just after the hour when their skipper, Pha Kolboth picked up a 2nd yellow and saw red. It certainly wasn't that type of game to warrant a booking, let alone a dismissal.

Here are the goals:
1st half: 15 mins - Chan Dara short pass to Sokumpheak who left a defender on his arse and slid the ball through to Sok Pheng on the right side of the area. Pheng rounded the keeper and slotted in from a tight angle.
25 mins - Khim Borey slipped a pass inside the full-back and Sokumpheak waited for his moment before lashing his shot inside the near post.
28 mins - Ouk Sothy broke forward, fed Khim Borey, who cut inside and whacked in a 20-yard drive that sailed into the top corner.
31 mins - Chhun Sovanna won a tackle, left another defender in his wake and finished coolly with a neat sidefoot shot.
40 mins - Sos Suhana fed Sokumpheak wide on the left, he nipped past the last defender, opened up his body and rolled the ball across the keeper and in at the far post.
44 mins - Tieng Tiny's headed cross was headed goalwards by Borey, but was saved and Sokumpheak's rebound shot hit a hand and nestled in the net. The referee gave a penalty for the handball offence. Sokumpheak sent his penalty high into the roof of the net. 6-0 and three for No 10.

2nd half: 56 mins - Borey linked up again with Sokumpheak, and the goal-machine took his time and picked his spot from fifteen yards out.
57 mins - Sokumpheak broke into the penalty area and onto Sok Pheng's pass, only for the keeper, Mean Kiara to trip him. Sokumpheak got up, dusted himself down and sent the penalty kick into the top corner.
60 mins - Suhana fed Sokumpheak on the right, he rounded the keeper and fired his shot straight and true from a very acute angle.
65 mins - Chan Dara and Hong Pheng combined on the right wing, Pheng sent in a hard and low cross and Leng Makara, just on 4 mins earlier, tapped into an empty net.
68 mins - Hong Pheng's byeline cross was volleyed in by Sokumpheak at close range.
77 mins - Makara's left-wing cross to the far post was chested down by Sokumpheak and he calmly rolled in his 8th goal.
78 mins - Sothy's pass put Sokumpheak in space, he took his time and drove in his shot from 10 yards out.
84 mins - Men Seyha broke down the left wing, and his byeline cross was tapped in by Sokumpheak from six yards out, for his 10th goal of the game.
87 mins - Sothy's driving run into the box, and his byeline pull-back was powerfully headed in by Leng Makara.
90+1 mins - Sothy robbed the last man and rolled the ball to Makara who fired in the game's 16th goal from a wide angle.

Crown head coach David Booth was pleased with the result. After the match, he commented; "We scored early on, which helped to settle us. Apart from the pitch, I was pleased with our performance, as we kept running, kept passing and kept working hard for each other. We made lots of chances, and we scored lots of goals which always helps to build up confidence,. We had a lot of new players playing today. I want to win every game and its important to find out if the new players can play under pressure. Today we did well. Our midfield gave the ball away a lot early on, but got better as the game wore on. I demanded that we pressed the opposition at the right time and we did it very well, stopping them playing out. I took off Sok Pheng as I want him to be ready for the next game and mistakenly took Borey off as I thought he had a knock. I felt a bit for the opposition, there was no need for the red card and it made it hard for them." Crown now face the stiffer task of National Police on Saturday at the Olympic Stadium at 2pm. Police won a close game with Boeung Ket with a late Srey Udom penalty, 1-0 immediately after the Crown match.
PPCFC line-up: Chamrouen, Dara (capt), Seyha, Tiny (Lika 65), Sovan, Sovanna, Sothy, Suhana, Sok Pheng (Hong Pheng 60), Borey (Makara 61), Sokumpheak. Subs not used: Ary, Oudom, Da, Vanthan, Srin, Kimhor, Sophanal, Sochivorn. Bookings: None. Ref: Saing Sopheak.

Coach David Booth tells Sokumpheak he's expecting another 7 goals in the 2nd half. The striker duly obliged.

Sokumpheak scores from the penalty spot on 57 minutes

Last minute instructions from the coach to his starting eleven

Leng Makara scored a hat-trick on his debut as a substitute for the last 30 minutes

Crown wallop Kratie

Kouch Sokumpheak moments after completing his 10-goal haul this afternoon

Full match report to follow but the news is that Phnom Penh Crown beat Kratie 16-0 in their first Hun Sen Cup match of the new season in Group D. Kouch Sokumpheak scored 10 of them including two penalties, young sub Leng Makara came on to score a hat-trick in his first appearance, with further goals from Sok Pheng, Khim Borey and Chhun Sovanna. Crown led 6-0 at the interval and did a thoroughly professional job on a crap surface at the Army Stadium. David Booth declared himself pleased with his team; "We scored early on, which helped to settle us. Apart from the pitch, I was pleased with our performance, as we kept running, kept passing and kept working hard for each other. We made lots of chances, and scored lots of goals which always helps to build up confidence. We had a lot of new players playing today. I want to win every game and its important to find out if the new players can play under pressure. Today we did well." More later.

Kouch Sokumpheak

Kouch Sokumpheak wearing the new Crown jersey

A player who needs little introduction is Kouch Sokumpheak, widely regarded by many as the country's best player. I would agree with that assessment. He joined Phnom Penh Crown before the start of last season after giving sterling service at Khemara Keila for four years. In his school days he helped Hun Sen Balaing high school win the national school championships twice. Sokumpheak made his international debut for Cambodia in 2006 and has been a constant ever since. He's also been the Hun Sen Cup Golden Boot winner on three occasions.

Name: Kouch Sokumpheak
Position: Forward
Squad Number: 10
Date of birth: 15 Feb 1987
Place of birth: Porbakor, Stung Sen, Kompong Thom
Height: 1.68m
Weight: 63kg
Joined PPCFC: November 2010
Previous clubs: Khemara Keila, Cambodia U-21, U-23 & Seniors.

Chhun Sovanna

The last of the new faces in the Phnom Penh Crown squad isn't actually a new face. Chhun Sovanna was a member of the Phnom Penh Empire team until 2009 when he left the then-named Crown. A midfield play maker, he began to show his talent for the game whilst playing his football at Tuol Svay Prey high school in the city. He's looking to make a fresh start with Crown this season.

Name: Chhun Sovanna
Position: Midfield
Squad Number: 27
Date of birth: 27 April 1992
Place of birth: Tuol Svay Prey, Phnom Penh
Height: 1.69m
Weight: 56kg
Joined PPCFC: November 2011
Previous clubs: Phnom Penh Empire

Ly Kimhor

Ly Kimhor is still pinching himself that it's true, after impressing David Booth sufficiently enough to be awarded a contract after Phnom Penh Crown held trials in early December. He played football whilst at Udong high school but after moving to Phnom Penh, he hasn't been involved with a club, until impressing at the open trial.

Name: Ly Kimhor
Position: Midfield
Squad Number: 11
Date of birth: 16 Oct 1994
Place of birth: Veang Chas, Udong, Kompong Speu
Height: 1.65m
Weight: 56kg
Joined PPCFC: December 2011
Previous clubs: None

Ngoy Srin

Coming through the open trials and joining Phnom Penh Crown is a dream scenario for defender Ngoy Srin, who was born in Takeo but has lived in Koh Kong for many years. He represented his provincial team and signed his first contract as a professional player in December.

Name: Ngoy Srin
Position: Defender
Squad Number: 26
Date of birth: 1 Sept 1993
Place of birth: Phnom Runteas, Kirivong, Takeo
Height: 1.73m
Weight: 65kg
Joined PPCFC: December 2011
Previous clubs: Koh Kong province

Soeng Vanthan

A member of the Phnom Penh Crown squad since November 2008, having previously been involved with both Khmer Empire and Phnom Penh Empire, Soeng Vanthan is determined to make the breakthrough this season. He's represented Cambodia at both U-17 and U-19 levels.

Name: Soeng Vanthan
Position: Defender
Squad Number: 5
Date of birth: 8 Aug 1992
Place of birth: Boeung Trabek, Phnom Penh
Height: 1.75m
Weight: 65kg
Joined PPCFC: November 2008
Previous clubs: Khmer Empire, Phnom Penh Empire, Cambodia U-17 and U-19s.