Twenty-six for the U-23s

Lee Tae-Hoon is back as the head coach of the Cambodia national team. I have made my feelings perfectly clear how I view his re-appointment to the job, so I won't re-hash that particular bugbear. However, its worth taking a look at the first squad he's picked since his return to the post, which was made public today. It's an Under-23 squad rather than a full senior team, as we have U-23 competitions coming up in the BIDC Mekong Cup, at home, in November followed by the SEA Games in Myanmar in December. And looking at the squad, it's like Lee has never been away. He has picked a bunch of his favourite players such as Tum Saray, Touch Pancharong, Phoung Soksana and Srey Oudom, who readily spring to mind as past selections of the South Korean coach. Boeung Ket provide eight players in the 26-man squad that will assemble at the Tonle Bati national training center on 2 September. Champions Svay Rieng have six players called-up and the Army have six as well, despite the military team finishing one place above automatic relegation. There are some new faces, such as Kirivong's Nhem Sovannara, Boeung Ket's Keo Sokpheng and Ros Samoeun, Aim Sovannarath, the Svay Rieng goalkeeper who picked up the keeper of the year award and Phnom Penh Crown's Khmer-French import Bin Thierry. There are also some names who've been around the local football scene for what seems like many years and yet surprisingly, they still make selection for the U-23s. The ageless Peter Pans of Cambodian football I would suggest. Lee Tae-Hoon has also called on his former backroom team of Meas Channa, Ieng Saknida and Oum Savong to assist him.
Here's the 26-man squad:
Phnom Penh Crown: Samrith Seiha, Sos Suahana, Bin Thierry.
National Police: Say Piseth, Srey Oudom.
Kirivong: Nhem Sovannara.
Army: Sou Yaty, Chhin Chhoeun, Phoung Soksana, Khek Khemarin, Ke Vannak, Ung Dara.
Svay Rieng: Aim Sovannarath, Sar Sophea, Sok Rithy, Prak Mony Udom, Tum Saray, Nen Sothearoth.
Boeung Ket: Chan Vatanaka, Keo Sokngon, Keo Sokpheng, Touch Pancharong, Khiev Vibol, Chhun Sothearath, Sok Sovan, Ros Samoeun. 

Unfair reflection

Cambodia U-16s v Myanmar. Back Row LtoR: Ravan, Samnang, Ratana, Baraing, Dinarong, Chanpolin (capt). Front Row: Titchhy, Sodavid, Ponvuthy, Piphop, Noeut - click to enlarge

The immediate reaction from head coach Sam Schweingruber at the final whistle, as his Cambodia U-16s lost 2-1 to hosts Myanmar tonight was; "I'm disappointed, the result was not a true reflection of the game, we were the better side. We improved considerably from the previous game." It was the final Group A match of the AFF U-16 Youth Championships, held in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, and with Australia and Vietnam having already qualified for the semi-finals, this final match was to decide the third spot. With their 2-1 success, 3rd place was claimed by Myanmar, who opened the scoring courtesy of a defensive mistake on 13 minutes with Sa Aung Pyea Ko getting the goal. An own goal from Suon Noeut handed them their second goal on 82 minutes but it was an unfair reflection on Cambodia, who put on a much better performance but with little reward. In the final minute, Myanmar defender Ye Min Thu was red carded for a last-man foul and substitute Ouk Sovann stepped up to blast home the direct free-kick, for a consolation effort.
Cambodia U-16s starting XI: Samnang, Noeut, Baraing (Rozak 83), Titchhy, Dinarong, Sodavid, Chanpolin, Ravan, Ponvuthy (Sokheng 68), Ratana, Piphop (Sovann 68). Subs: Sokundara, Chansopheak, Phearath, Muslim. Unavailable: Mesa, Senteang.

Rithy on his bike

Sok Rithy, pictured at national team training in 2008

NagaCorp have pulled off a bit of a coup by securing the services of rock-solid central defender Sok Rithy from last season's champions Svay Rieng before the Metfone C-League teams begin to reassemble for the start of their pre-season training. Rithy has been a mainstay of the Svay Rieng (previously known as Preah Khan Reach) and Cambodia teams, at various age levels, for the last few years (I recall him making his full debut in the Suzuki Cup in 2008) and winning the title with the military-police backed team last season would've been a highlight for him. His performances have made him one of the most consistent performers in the country for the past few years and despite offers to move, he remained at Svay Rieng. Nevertheless, he's now been tempted away to sign for the casino-backed club and will line-up alongside other national team defenders in the shape of Tieng Tiny, Om Thavrak and Chan Dara in the coming season. I did notice one anomaly though. His official birthdate on the AFF website as supplied by the Cambodian football federation is December 1990, which makes him 22 years old, but to be perfectly frank, he's been around for so long, that is clearly an error of some magnitude. Then I checked on the player's own Facebook page and he quotes his own birthdate as December 1986, which puts his age at 26 years old. A lot more feasible. Must've been a typing error from the FFC, right?  

Through Sam's eyes

Cambodia U-16s head coach Sam Schweingruber reflected on his team's 6-0 defeat to Vietnam on Saturday in the AFF U-16 Youth Championship.
"The first 35 minutes of the game showed us that our objective to win against Vietnam was difficult but certainly possible. The intensity and commitment displayed by the players made me proud. We worked so hard and well.  Individual technical mistakes and a lot of fouls made it difficult for our boys to really build up and keep possession and while Vietnam were strong they did not really cause us trouble or danger other than a corner kick and a shot from distance. We knew that we needed a perfect game and a bit of luck, but neither of it came our way on the day. On 32 minutes I had to replace Senteang after a strong challenge in which he broke his collarbone. Soon after Dinarong needed treatment for a kick in his leg and he played on but in pain. On 38 mins this cost us; a long free kick and Dinarong was a bit slower and less aggressive with his injury and Titchhy was also late to cover and we were down 1-nil. After a corner kick it was Mesa’s turn to get treatment and the late challenge on him should’ve been punished. The game was certainly not over and just before half-time we were robbed of a perfect chance - a 1-touch ball was played through and left 2 of our players alone against the goalkeeper, but the referee decided on a free kick for us and stole a perfect advantage.

At half-time we had to change Mesa and Samnang replaced him. We also had to fix injuries to Sodavid & Ravan who both had trouble breathing after hard hits, Chanpolin and Ponvuthy with ankle issues and Dinarong with his injury. We took a risk to keep Dinarong on the field. After just 3 mins, a nice cross and Dinarong reacted late; it was clear that it was the wrong call to let him continue and a third goal confirmed it. So Sovann replaced him on 55 mins. We had long spells of attacking and I decided to push the team to at least score a goal. On a few occasions we came close - the best chance fell to Sokheng when he went through for a 1-on-1 with their keeper. Vietnam was now pushed back on the defensive and hoping to punish us on the counter attack. We failed to find a way through, wasted some free kicks and good possession and then got punished on the quick break. The final score, 6-0 was a total disappointment. Many players cried, both because of complete exhaustion and in disbelief how such a brave performance can end with such a heavy defeat.

With the well-rested Vietnam team (who had 3 complete days to recover before the match) going into the game with a direct and very physical approach and their head coach pushing them to hurt us, it was all too much for our boys. I am very proud of how they tried, how well we played the first 35 mins, how they never gave up and how much they wanted to make Cambodia proud. The disappointing result did not reflect on their brave performance. Luck was not with us today and some of our decisions didn’t work either. We are now looking to recover and learn from today, and will aim to end the tournament with a positive game and result against Myanmar on Wednesday."

Bully boys win

Cambodia U-16s v Vietnam. Back Row LtoR: Ravan, Mesa, Chanpolin, Baraing, Senteang, Dinarong. Front Row: Ponvuthy, Ratana, Noeut, Sodavid, Titchhy (capt) - click to enlarge

Cambodia's U-16s were quite literally kicked off the park by the Vietnam U-16s in their Group A AFF U-16 Youth Championship tie last night. Vietnam muscled and bullied their way to a 6-0 victory, leaving Cambodia's team looking like a scene from a movie massacre at the Zabuthiri Stadium in Naypyidaw, Myanmar. For coach Sam Schweingruber it was going to plan for the opening 35 minutes as his team stuck to their strategy and restricted the opposition, but a sloppy piece of defending gave Vietnam the lead through Bach Hong Han on 39 minutes. By that time, Cambodia had already lost striker Chhuot Senteang with a fractured collar bone following a bad challenge on the half hour and then goalkeeper Sem Mesa was kicked and stamped on and was unable to start the second-half. Just before the break Cambodia's best chance was cancelled as the match referee failed to play advantage and blew for a free-kick when two players were racing clear. Vietnam's Hong Han headed his team further ahead three minutes after the restart and Hoang The Tai netted a third on 54 minutes. Cambodia refused to lie down and took the game to their opponents but a series of reckless challenges on Orn Chanpolin, Pov Ponvuthy, Kunthea Ravan and In Sodavid hindered the team's progress and Vietnam's Le Tien Anh scored on 71 minutes. Despite their brave fighting spirit, Cambodia conceded two more goals in the last two minutes to hat-trick man Hong Han and substitute Nguyen Doan Trung Nhan. Referee Xaypaseuth Phonsanit of Laos finally woke up and brandished a straight red card for Tien Anh on 83 minutes but by then it was too little too late and Vietnam's bully boy tactics had won the day. Cambodia will play the hosts Myanmar in their final group game on Wednesday but will be without Senteang and Mesa.
Cambodia U-16s line-up: Mesa (Samnang 46), Noeut, Baraing, Dinarong (Sovann 59), Titchhy (capt), Sodavid, Chanpolin, Ravan, Ponvuthy, Ratana, Senteang (Sokheng 34). Subs not used: Sokundara, Chansopheak, Phearath, Muslim, Piphop, Rozak.

Brunei left reeling

The Cambodia U-16s celebrate back at their accommodation

I caught up with Sam Schweingruber, the coach of Cambodia's U-16s who'd just thrashed their opponents from Brunei 8-0 and despite the slow internet connections in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, he had this to say about his team's success in their second AFF U-16 Youth Championship tie.

"Well, we knew we would have a chance against Brunei and that they are not a great team but it turned out easier than expected. We made a perfect start which made it a lot easier, our first chance really and the first goal. Ratana again and again caused lots of trouble with his pace and he found Senteang free for the opening goal. We has a few good free-kick opportunities and some chances got wasted before an own goal really made the game safe. Just before half-time we managed to score 2 more goals: the 3rd goal was the same as the first, Ratana with a good run on the left, cut back and Senteang first touch and a goal. The 4th goal came off the crossbar, a rebound header and in the end it went in.

We knew that Brunei were reeling and honestly were hoping to add more goals in the second half. Just minutes after the restart Senteang was sent clear and went around the keeper. Some brilliant short passing and 1 more goal came. Then I made 3 early changes to rest some legs and get more goals. We really played some very nice attacking football and also great build up play, restricting Brunei to only a few shots from distance. They fell apart and this helped us to play so well. I have to admit our second half intensity dropped and we will have to pick it up when we face Vietnam on Saturday (at 7.15pm). They are a strong team as we know.

One more thing. Our captain today was Ravan. I have decided to give a new player the captain's armband for each game, to test them, to give them the chance to show, and to encourage that person to shine in the game a bit more - today Ravan scored 2 goals - it's something new, I've never done this before but because there was no obvious choice for captain, I decided to give it a go."

Cambodia (red) line-up with Brunei before the match

Sam's boys thrash Brunei

Cambodia v Brunei. Back Row LtoR: Titchhy, Ravan (capt), Mesa, Baraing, Dinarong, Chanpolin. Front Row: Ponvuthy, Sodavid, Ratana, Chansopheak, Senteang - click to enlarge

Head coach Sam Schweingruber ended his team talk earlier today with the words, "let's make Cambodia proud." And it seems to have resonated with his Cambodia U-16s national team, who then went out and thrashed their U-16 opponents from Brunei 8-0 in their AFF U-16 Youth Championship tie. These results don't come around often in international football and despite the Brunei coach telling his local news media that he was confident of a semi-final place at least, his team were never in the hunt after Cambodia took the lead in the third minute through Chhuot Senteang, who went onto have a match to remember with 4 goals to his name. It was Senteang who had a cross deflected for an own goal by Mohmd Syakirin Misli to put Cambodia's further ahead on 32 minutes. The young Phnom Penh Crown striker was at it again a minute before the half-time break and then Svay Rieng's Kunthea Ravan wrapped up a 4-goal interval lead in injury time from close range. Two minutes after the restart, Senteang collected his hat-trick. Ten minutes later Ravan, who was the team captain today, scored his second and within twenty minutes, substitute Long Phearath extended it to seven with a long range effort. In the final minute there was no stopping Cambodia and in particular Senteang who collected his fourth and Cambodia's eighth. A fantastic day for Cambodia, who now meet one of the favourites, Vietnam on Saturday with a later 7.15pm kick-off, with their confidence sky-high.
Cambodia U16 line-up: Mesa, Chansopheak, Baraing (Phearath 68), Titchhy, Dinarong, Sodavid (Muslim 68), Chanpolin (Piphop 54), Ravan (capt), Ratana, Ponvuthy, Senteang. Subs not used: Samnang, Sokundara, Sovann, Sokheng, Rozak. Injured: Noeut.

Could not be prouder

Head coach Sam Schweingruber speaks to the press

Cambodia's U-16 head coach Sam Schweingruber reflected on yesterday's 4-0 defeat against Australia in the AFF U-16 Youth Championships in Myanmar after taking his team in this morning's training session:
"We played against a top team and had our idea on how we wanted to perform but going a goal down after just 3 minutes is hard. We actually started really well but with their first attack, they scored a goal, possibly offside but we didn't react fast enough. We never recovered, tried to build up and play but had no chance in the middle, though some good moments on the wings, but outmuscled. Their 2nd goal was really disappointing, as we prepared to deal with their only corner in the entire game and expect a high ball, they played short and hit a wonder strike. Third goal was a repetition of the first, a ball behind our defense on our left, quick ball in and we didn't have enough numbers to stop them.
For the 2nd half, I could not be prouder of the boys, our task was not to concede for 45 minutes and we worked really well and hard. We had some better moments going forward but didn't get close enough with just two free-kicks and a corner, and only one shot on target. Australia never slowed down and gave us all they had including some crazy challenges and tackles, especially a really bad one on Noeut. But we restricted them to only three chances, with the late goal a huge disappointment as our keeper fumbled and Sovann miskicked his clearance. Now we need to get ready for Brunei. It's going to be a very different game but with the same attitude, I am confident the team will make me proud again."

Cambodia meet Brunei tomorrow at 4.30pm Cambodia-time, at the same Zabuthiri Stadium in Naypyidaw and will be hell bent on putting a good performance together against one of the teams they've identified as being of a similar standard. They played the final seven minutes of their match with Australia with ten players after Suon Noeut was brutally fouled and will almost certainly miss the Brunei game. Cambodia had already made their allotted three substitutions before the incident. Central defender Ouk Dinarong is also a doubt as is wideman Chhoeung Sokheng, with Pov Ponvuthy his likely replacement.

Joeys take the honours

Cambodia U-16 starting XI. Back Row LtoR: Ravann, Mesa (capt), Sokheng, Dinarong, Chanpolin. Front Row: Sodavid, Senteang, Noeut, Ratana, Baraing, Titchhy - click to enlarge

The Cambodia U-16 national team went down 4-0 to their Australian counterparts in the opening Group A game of the AFF U-16 Aya Bank Championships in Naypyidaw, Myanmar earlier this afternoon. As expected the Australians were bigger in stature and began the match on the front foot, scoring the opening goal through Jackson Bandiera after just three minutes. They added a second from a corner which Cambodia should've dealt with better, Jamie Dimitroff netting on fourteen minutes. Bandiera scored his second after 33 minutes and that's how the score remained until the break, 3-nil to the Joeys. After the break Cambodia played the football they would've liked to have started with and were level pegging until injuries to Suon Noeut and Ouk Dinarong weakened the backline and Australia scored their fourth and final goal with six minutes left through Daniel Maskins. 
Cambodia U-16 line-up: Mesa, Noeut, Baraing, Titchhy, Dinarong (Sovann 68), Sodavid, Chanpolin, Ravan (Rozak 82), Sokheng (Ponvuthy 72), Ratana, Senteang. Subs not used: Samnang, Sokundara, Phearath, Muslim, Chansopheak, Piphop.

Cambodia's head coach Sam Schweingruber told the AFF website: "We were outplayed physically but we also made several mistakes which we should not have at this level." Australia's coach, Tony Vidmar commented: "I was happy with the performance in the first half. The second could have been a lot better, but we are satisfied with the result." In the second Group A match played today, Vietnam 
saw off the hosts Myanmar with a 4-0 success including a hat-trick for Bach Hong Han. For Cambodia, their second game will be against Brunei on Thursday as they look to repair the damage from their first outing.

The two teams line-up before the opening game today

Coach Sam Schweingruber speaks to his squad in the brand new changing rooms at the stadium

Myanmar bound

The U-16 boys ready for takeoff from Phnom Penh airport - click to enlarge

The Cambodian U-16s are in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, ahead of their opening AFF U-16 Youth Championship match against Australia at 4.30pm Cambodian-time tomorrow. The 20-strong squad left Phnom Penh on Sunday morning. They are housed at the SEA Games athlete's village, which has been built for the upcoming Southeast Asia Games in December but the simple, basic conditions have not found favour with at least four of the U-16 teams - Singapore, Australia, Philippines and Indonesia - who have moved out to nearby hotels.

The National Women's Championships have been taking place at the Olympic Stadium this past weekend and with just eight teams taking part, the semi-finalists have already been decided. And they do not include Phnom Penh Crown Ladies. However, that doesn't come as a surprise as the team was hastily-assembled after initially being barred from the competition. An eleventh-hour invitation from the federation saw an emergency call go out to the Battambang-based Salt Academy and a squad of young hopefuls was put together under coach Tes Sophat. The original Crown squad, who'd taken part in two recent tournaments, had all switched their allegiance to TriAsia Kandal when the federation had initially snubbed Crown. The new-look Crown girls lost 2-0 to Kompong Thom in their opening game, earned themselves a very creditable 0-0 draw with Phnom Svay of Banteay Meanchey, and on Sunday went down 2-0 in their final group outing, against their alter ego, TriAsia, despite dominating the game for long periods. The dominant Mighty Girls of Battambang are expected to lift the trophy later in the week.

The Phnom Penh Crown Ladies, who didn't qualify for the semi-finals - click to enlarge

U-16 squad announced

Sam Schweingruber encourages his Cambodia U-16s squad

Fourteen members of the Phnom Penh Crown Academy have been selected in the 20-strong Cambodia U-16's national team squad selected earlier today by head coach Sam Schweingruber, who doubles up as head coach at Crown. The U-16s drew 1-1 with Kirivong U-19s first thing this morning at Tonle Bati, with In Sodavid scoring a scorcher of a goal just before half-time. Afterwards Schweingruber announced the twenty players he would be taking to Myanmar on Sunday, for the AFF U-16 Youth Championships, which kicks-off against Australia on 20th. Two players were released from the squad immediately after the match, namely Kim Chhaya and Mat Sakrovy.

The Crown Academy players who will be going to Myanmar are keeper Svang Samnang, defenders Suon Noeut, Long Phearath, Ouk Sovann, Sraing Titchhy, Ken Chansopheak, and Seut Baraing. Midfielders Orn Chanpolin, In Sodavid, Sath Rozak and Men Piphop are going too, alongside strikers Chhuot Senteang, Yeu Muslim and Pov Ponvuthy. Also in the squad are Boeung Ket's keeper Sem Mesa and five players from Svay Rieng, keeper Soam Sokundara, central defender Ouk Dinarong,, Kunthea Ravan and widemen, Chhoeung Sokheng and Chheam Ratana.

Alongside Schweingruber, his coaching assistants will be Bouy Dary, the Academy coach at Crown, Keo Kosal (Svay Rieng), Oung Kanyanith (head coach at National Police), John McGlynn, In Sokha (keeper coach from Svay Rieng) and Lidwina Niewold (physio at Crown). The travelling party leave on 18 August and play Australia (20th), Brunei (22nd), Vietnam (24th) and hosts Myanmar (28th). One name you will not of heard before is John McGlynn (pictured below). John is Liverpool-born and has a wealth of playing and coaching experience, particularly in Australia for the past thirty years. He joined up with Crown at the back-end of last season before he returned to Australia to complete his A-license coaching badge. He was with the Aston Villa youth academy before emigrating to Australia as a teenager. He joined the Australian Army for twelve years playing for the defense forces team and the country's amateur squad before taking up coaching with a series of teams in Perth, Western Australia. John progressed to become the head coach of the University and State teams. Having served with the United Nations in Cambodia in 1993, he has returned to support Sam Schweingruber at Crown.

John McGlynn, assistant coach at PPCFC

A real challenge

Sam Schweingruber speaks to the press after this morning's match

Sam Schweingruber is a busy football coach. Not only does he hold the reins at Phnom Penh Crown in the Metfone C-League but he's also in charge of the Cambodia women's team, is a FIFA coach instructor and next Sunday will be taking the Cambodia U-16 national youth team over to Myanmar to take part in the AFF U-16 Youth Championships. Earlier today he reduced the size of his squad to 22 players and will cut two more before the squad leaves these shores. In asking the head coach for his views on the forthcoming AFF Championships, we began with the make-up of his squad, which has an emphasis on players from his own Academy. "The quality of the PPCFC Academy, the first residential program in Cambodia, is obvious. The players have very good foundation and understand the basics. One of the big problems in Cambodia is the control of correct ages and Crown have spent a lot of time and energy selecting the best players at the right age. So to take players from the Crown Academy makes sense. We started the Cambodia Football Development League this season and the U-16 competition was open to players born 1997-2000. We didn't have time to do an extended check, so some players might even have been older. Svay Rieng, who won the title, had a majority of players born in 1997, so a year older than the U-16 national team is allowed to register. Svay Rieng played good physical football and didn't steal the victory in the final, but at the same time they were definitely not the stronger team when it comes to understanding and skill. The players we invited to try out for the national team turned out to be almost all over-age after careful investigation. Also the physical advantage of many players outside the Crown Academy cannot be matched with the deficits on skill and understanding. It's clear that the two teams with proper youth development at this stage are Svay Rieng and Crown."

What system will you employ with the U-16's in Myanmar? "We'll go with a system and try to fit in the players. 4-2-3-1 is how we play, but actually when we're without the ball it's more 4-4-1-1. In some moments of the game the individual players strengths and weaknesses will determine on how we play. A system is a way to organize a team on paper, what happens during the game is not dictated by the system, but how the individuals understand their role in the three key moments of the football game. We have 11 players involved in defending as I don't think we can afford to leave anybody on the pitch without responsibilities when we don't have the ball. If you call it 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 is not that important, the key is for each player to know what to be doing without the ball and how to support the team when we attack. Over the past month the team has shown improved defending against strong opposition but found it hard to score goals and this something we have to work on and improve.

The teams you face in Myanmar will be Australia, Brunei, Vietnam and the hosts Myanmar. What do you know about them and realistically, how good are our chances in this competition? "We know quite well what to expect when we face Australia in the opening game. They are following the Australian curriculum and have to play the Australian way - which is strongly influenced by Dutch football - so they will press us high up the pitch, man on man, etc, so we are working on getting ready for them. As for Brunei, we don't know much and unfortunately they will play their 1st game against us, so we can't watch them before. We have played 2 games against Vietnam's PVF Academy and learned more about their style of play, and they have ten players in the national team. The last game against Myanmar will be okay as I worked with their team last year at the Mandalay Academy and know how they want to play. We also know their coach well, Japanese coach Teshima who was here in Cambodia, and we know his ideas on how to play. We shall see..."

"The experience we gained from the recent Asean U-15 competition is huge. We are now more ready to play 2x45 minutes against strong teams and have also learned a lot of lessons from the different games. Our overall chances are not high. After only drawing twice in the Asean games over the last three months and losing eight matches, we know that we are playing acceptable football but struggle getting the results, often because of a physical mismatch. We get a lot of praise for our players, including how brave we try to play on many occasions, but in the end the results are what counts and that is going to be difficult. The AFF U-16s this year will be much more competitive than any games we've played so far. The regulations are the same as adult football as far as size of field, substitutions and playing time. So we know we are in for a real challenge." The head coach will likely announce his final 20-strong squad on Tuesday and the players will leave on Sunday 18th, with their opening match against Australia in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, two days later.

U-19s just too strong

Cambodia U-16s. Back Row LtoR: Ratana, Mesa, Dinarong, Chanpolin, Ravann, Sovann. Front Row: Titchhy, Senteang, Ponvuthy, Sodavid, Baraing - click to enlarge

The Cambodia U-16 national team have just over a week before they head to Myanmar for the AFF U-16 Youth Championships. So this morning's practice match against their older national colleagues from the U-19 national squad, also in training for an upcoming AFF U-19 competition in Indonesia next month, was timely and a good work out for both sides. Head coach Sam Schweingruber started with what is his likely strongest line-up against the U-19s captained by Svay Rieng's Hoy Phallin and including two of Schweingruber's own Crown players, Chhom Pisa and Ly Morslim. Overnight rain had left the RSN pitch very soggy underfoot and it was the U-19s who got the better of the early exchanges, drawing first blood through a well-placed Ros Ratanak shot on 23 minutes to put them ahead. Sem Mesa in the U-16s goal, kept out two efforts from Morslim with his legs and body and then tipped a point-blank header from Sareth Kriya over the bar. As half-time drew near, Orn Chanpolin's low shot was held by the U-19s stopper and in the closing seconds, the U-16s midfielder won a tackle on the edge of the box and blasted over the bar when an equaliser looked on the cards.

The younger U-16s began the second-half with a purpose but Chanpolin's shot was kept out and too much space allowed to Chhom Pisa just eight minutes in, cost them dearly. The bustling Crown midfielder carried the ball into the box and unleashed an unstoppable shot from fifteen yards out. As Schweingruber put fresh legs on the pitch, the U-19s put the result beyond the younger team when Svay Rieng's Nop Tola flicked in a near post header from a corner for their third goal. Svang Samnang in the U-16s goal came out bravely to block Tola a few minutes later before Chhoeung Sokheng fluffed his team's best chance by firing his shot straight at the keeper, after Long Phearath's mazy run into the box. With four minutes left on the clock, Sraing Titchhy broke through the middle of the U-19s defence and though his first shot was blocked, his perseverance paid off and he slotted the ball home from an acute angle, for a well-deserved consolation goal. 3-1 to the U-19s but a good run out for the U-16s, on a tough pitch, after which the head coach cut four players from his squad - Kung Chanvuthy, Soeung Khantey, Keo Dara and Mat Nuron - and will cut two more before the squad head for Myanmar next Sunday.
Cambodia U-16s: Mesa (Samnang), Sovann (Titchhy), Baraing (Phearath), Titchhy (Noeut), Dinarong, Sodavid, Chanpolin, Ravann (Piphop), Ponvuthy (Sokheng), Ratana (K Chhaya), Senteang (Dara). Subs not used: Sokundara, Chanvuthy, Chansopheak, Khantey, Sakrovy, Muslim, Nuron, Rozak.

The Cambodia U-19s starting line-up this morning

It's raining seats in Myanmar

Naypyidaw fans caught in the act of throwing seats onto the pitch

Yangon United have just clinched their third consecutive Myanmar National League championship but it isn't all sweetness and light as the country gears up to host the forthcoming SEA Games in December. Two matches involving the champions have seen crowd disturbances in recent weeks, both of them in matches away from Yangon. Visiting supporters were escorted out of the ground and onto their buses by police during a match at Yadanarbon recently for their own safety. Then last week, their game in the capital of Naypyidaw was abandoned before half-time when a section of the home fans went on the rampage, throwing plastic seats from the grandstand onto the pitch, and invading the playing area while the game was in progress. No doubt the crowd of 20,000 went home pissed when the rioters caused the game to be abandoned and Yangon awarded the match as they were leading at the time. There were no police at the stadium only security guards, who struggled to control the riot. The brand new Wunna Theikdi stadium, which was being used for the first time, will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the SEA Games that will begin at the start of December. If you are thinking of attending, take a crash helmet. In fact, the Cambodian U-16s go to Naypyidaw in a little over a week to play in the AFF U-16 Championships. Let's hope the local fans are less upset watching the youth players perform.

Security struggle to restrain an unruly Naypyidaw fan from invading the pitch

Broken seats litter the ground. Over 150 seats were ruined. Pictures from Yangon Utd Facebook.

AEU teach a lesson

Cambodia U-16's. Back Row LtoR: Sovann, Dinarong, Sokheng, Mesa, Chanpolin, Ravann. Front Row: Baraing, Noeut, Sodavid,  Ratana, Senteang - click to enlarge.

Sam Schweingruber will shave half a dozen names off his player roster for the Cambodia U-16 national squad after this weekend. The team will be jetting off to Myanmar on 18 August for the AFF U-16 Youth Championship with their first game against Australia two days later. Earlier this morning, the squad played their first practice match, against the adult Asia Euro University team, and came unstuck, with a 4-0 defeat. AEU have just been relegated from the Metfone C-League and impressed many observers this season, but found the going tough in the first-half of today's game. The half-time score was nil-nil and the best chance of an otherwise nondescript opening half fell to Chhuot Senteang, who free and racing down on goal, sent his drive inches wide of the upright. The U-16s were without Sraing Titchhy, sitting forlornly on the touchlines with a knee injury and included six Phnom Penh Crown youngsters, four from Svay Rieng and one from Boeung Ket in the starting line-up. Svang Samnang replaced Sem Mesa in goal for the U-16s at the break and was called into action to make three telling saves in the opening eight minutes. With AEU piling on the pressure, two goals in just under a minute, fifteen minutes in, swung the balance of the match firmly in AEU's favour. On 70 minutes AEU netted a third and though In Sodavid struck a fierce shot which Mak Theara finger-tipped over the bar, AEU made sure of the victory with their final goal with eight minutes to go. It was a lesson for the U-16s who worked hard in the first-half but succumbed a little too easily after the break. Schweingruber expressed his disappointment after the game and knows he has his work cut out over the next two weeks to gel his squad together for matches against Australia, Brunei, Vietnam and hosts Myanmar. 23 of the 25 squad members got some playing time with only Sath Rozak and Mat Nuron not getting on the pitch. The coaching staff, including Crown Academy head coach Bouy Dary, will reduce the squad to twenty names over the next few days. The players who played against AEU were: Mesa (Samnang/Sokundara/Chanvuthy), Noeut (Chansopheak), Sovann, Dinarong (K Chhaya), Baraing (Khantey/Phearath), Sodavid, Chanpolin (Sakrovy), Ravann (Piphop), Ratana (Muslim), Sokheng (Ponvuthy), Senteang (Dara). Subs not used: Nuron, Rozak. Injured: Titchhy.

Coach Sam Schweingruber practicing a little magic

Disaster waiting to happen

Cambodia's football authorities are setting the national football team up for another big fall. Their next serious international competition is the SEA Games in December, which will be held in Myanmar. That's five months away. Cambodia have yet to publicly announce the return of Lee Tae-Hoon as the national team coach, though its been reported in the local media, so presumably the first task he will undertake is to put together a squad to compete in the SEA Games. That's an under-23 competition. And that's where the decision-makers at the federation have lost valuable time compared with their southeast asian neighbours, who've stolen a march by having their teams picked and in training for the past few months. As far as I can tell, only Cambodia have yet to get off their butts and organise their SEA Games football team. Take the minnows of Brunei for example. They've had their squad picked and in training every day since April. They have a friendly coming up against Indonesia, runner's up in the last competition, very soon and Indonesia have been in training since May and playing games. Vietnam have been indulging in friendlies against opposition from Japan and France, whilst Myanmar are training with the South Korean team and will play Hong Kong next month. Malaysia are taking it so seriously that they've been over in Eastern Europe for seven months playing a series of friendly matches against club sides. Pre-Games favourties Thailand have appointed Zico as their coach and mean business, playing most of their squad in this week's friendly against visiting Liverpool, as do Singapore, who recently beat Indonesia in a friendly as part of their build-up. In fact every country has got their act together, except Cambodia. The lack of preparation is telling and even though the Mekong BIDC Cup competition will be held in Phnom Penh in November, that's too little too late, in terms of gelling together a squad capable of competing against any of their SEA neighbours. In reality, its a disaster waiting to happen as the football authorities once again fail miserably to plan ahead and make decisions that are beneficial to the nation's footballing reputation. November 2011 was the last SEA Games debacle for Cambodia, which brought four defeats in as many games under the stewardship of Lee Tae-Hoon, in his previous stint in charge, and I see a very similar story playing out this time around.

Muslim corker fails to stem reverse

PPCFC Academy v PVF. Back Row LtoR: Chanpolin, Sodavid, Baraing, Senteang, Mesa, Sovann (capt). Front Row: Noeut, Muslim, Piphop, K Chhaya, Ponvuthy - click to enlarge.

The regular season came to an end for the Phnom Penh Crown Academy boys today, though they still have the small matter of the AFF U-16 Youth Championships in Myanmar in a few weeks time. Their final game, at home against one of the favourites, the PVF Academy from Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam, was always going to be a tough end to their FAM-Frenz U-15 Asean Champions Trophy exploits, with PVF needing the win to aid their qualifying efforts. Sam Schweingruber took charge of the team, with regular coach Bouy Dary feeling the effects of a bad cold and gave the youngsters two main goals for the match, have fun and stay disciplined. And the fun element certainly rang true when Yeu Muslim gave the team a 16th minute lead with a glorious goal. The look on the face of the goalscorer and his teammates was pure joy. Up til that point, PVF's Pham Tan Tai had sent two hopeful punts over the cross-bar at the other end but it was Muslim who gave the home side the head start they were looking for. Seut Baraing's long ball sailed over the top of the PVF backline and as Chhuot Senteang chased it, the opposing keeper Phan Van Bieu Tran came to the edge of his box to head it away. Muslim, 30 yards from goal, sent an instep volley back over his head for a beautifully-finished opening goal. Sem Mesa in the Crown goal caught another Tan Tai effort as PVF looked to bounce back but found Baraing and skipper Ouk Sovann in a dominant mood in the home defence. A poor challenge from PVF's Pham The Try sent Senteang off the pitch for treatment and the Vietnam defender was booked soon after for a similar clumsy challenge on Men Piphop. Pham Trong Hoa worked an opening for himself in the box but sent his dipping shot wide of the far post, whilst Tran Van Hoa volleyed a half-chance awry and Kim Chhaya made a last-ditch block to deny Trong Hoa as the half-time whistle came with Crown leading 1-nil.

Mesa was well-placed to catch Nguyen Vu Tin's header at the start of the second-half and Muslim's lack of inches meant that Piphop's quick break and cross went wide at the other end. Two minutes before the hour mark and PVF drew level. Vu Tin and Ho Minh Di played a neat one-two which got behind Suon Noeut and Minh Di crashed his effort in off the underside of the cross-bar from twelve yards out. PVF were back in the game. Soon after Le Van Diep headed well wide at the far post but it wasn't long until PVF imposed themselves and grabbed what turned out to be the match winning goal. On 68 minutes Lam Thuan's cross from the right found Vu Tin in space at the edge of the penalty area and his well-directed header went in off the foot of the upright, with Mesa's despairing dive in vain. A flurry of substitutions for both sides didn't help the flow of the game and Mesa had to be alert to grab a drive from Vu Tin. As the minutes ticked away, Baraing tried his luck from at least forty yards out and in time added on, shouts for a penalty as Vat Samnang went down under the keeper's challenge fell on deaf ears by the presence of a linesman's flag for offside. PVF, defensively strong and good on the ball, took the three points and have one game to go against Frenz Malaysia to confirm their place in the semi-finals of the competition. For Crown, they finished bottom of the six-team Group A with two points from their ten matches.

Schweingruber's reaction at the final whistle. "It was good to be a goal up but we played a little too defensively - its a product of us playing all these games against strong opposition and trying to limit the damage. I liked that we were well disciplined and more switched on than in recent games. In the 1st half PVF weren’t that dangerous, just a couple of shots from distance. In the 2nd half, they scored a pretty nice goal but we should’ve dealt with the cross better for the 2nd goal." Looking ahead to the upcoming AFF U-16 Youth Championships in Myanmar, for which Schweingruber will be in charge of the Cambodia U-16 national team and will include many of the PPCFC Academy in his squad, he commented. "We've got to work very hard over the next 3 weeks before we go to Myanmar. Our dream is to qualify out of the group of five countries. Getting positive results will obviously not be easy. But as a team we have shown that over 90 minutes we can play disciplined football. Vietnam will play a similar style to what we saw today and it looks to me that we should have a chance against Brunei, Vietnam and Myanmar. If Australia bring their strongest team, we will find ourselves up against world-class opposition."
PPCFC Academy line-up: Mesa, Noeut, K Chhaya (Phearath 72), Baraing, Sovann, Chanpolin, Sodavid, Piphop (Sakrovy 70), Ponvuthy (Dara 77), Muslim (Nuron 66), Senteang (V Samnang 83). Subs not used: S Samnang, Chansopheak, Rozak, Chanchav. Bookings: None. MOTM: Baraing.

The winning PVF line-up from Vietnam

Lee Tae-Hoon gets 2 years

Lee Tae-Hoon, back in charge for another 2 years

Okay, back to one of my favourite hobbyhorses, the national coach position of the Cambodian football team. Sabay tells us today that Lee Tae-Hoon has been appointed as the national coach for the next two years, beginning in August. The FFC have reverted back to a man who was singularly unsuccessful in his first spell in charge of the national team - just 4 wins out of 21 competitive matches during a 22-month period - and who has been twiddling his thumbs whilst his successors, Hok Sochetra and Prak Sovannara, who has been unceremoniously jettisoned for a second time, both failed to ignite the football loving country or its team. Seemingly devoid of other options - though I know for a fact that the FFC have been contacted by a stream of experienced coaches already working in Asia - the country's decision-makers have welcomed back Lee Tae-Hoon with open arms to have another crack at moving the national team's fortunes forward.

So what can we expect from the South Korean tactician? For starters, his concentration will be on players eligible for the SEA Games that begin on 1 December in Myanmar. So that means the Under-23 age group, as the SEA Games is not a senior international competition. He has the Mekong BIDC Cup, which will be held in Phnom Penh for eight teams, before that in November, so presumably he will be looking to bed-in his U-23 team in that tournament. As Cambodia have failed to qualify for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup, he won't have to worry his head about that next year, but will have to face up to the AFF Suzuki Cup later in 2014. Luckily for him, there is no qualification for this competition, which will be held in Vietnam and Singapore around October time. Cambodia don't enter the AFC Asian Cup and the draw for the next FIFA World Cup isn't until July 2015, so he doesn't have that to concern him, especially as he's professed his complete indifference to that competition in the past. With the FFC's reluctance over the past few years to pepper the football calendar with international friendlies, aside from meaningless games with Ulsan University and the like, don't expect Lee Tae-Hoon to uproot any trees with his dogged approach. He will put his emphasis on fitness rather than any tactical expertise, if his first spell in charge is anything to go by. He claims he has some fresh ideas according to a recent interview, so we can await what those are with bated breath. For the sake of the country's international reputation - which is at an all-time low with a FIFA world ranking of 198 - his second spell in charge needs to generate a buzz about it and he can start with success in the BIDC Cup in November, on home soil. Now that would be a coup to prove his doubters wrong, of which this writer is one of many.

Singapore pick Crown's pocket

Back Row LtoR: Chanpolin, S Samnang, Baraing, Senteang, Sovann, Titchhy. Front Row: Sodavid, Rozak, Noeut, K Chhaya, Piphop - click to enlarge.

In a game the Phnom Penh Crown Academy were looking to win, the visiting NFA Singapore, the country's national academy U-15 team, bided their time before pickpocketing the three points on offer in this FAM-Frenz U-15 Asean Champions Trophy match, played at the Olympic Stadium earlier today. Both teams have found the step-up into the Asean-wide competition a tough ask this season and neither side had registered a win in eight games. For most of the opening forty-five minutes, Crown held onto the ball, controlling possession but failing to open up their opponents and create enough telling opportunities to trouble the scoreboard. Their normal flowing style, that has excited their fans in previous matches, was missing and the build-up was too predictable and laboured. In the fifth minute a foul on Orn Chanpolin, who attempted to surge through the Singapore backline on a number of occasions, saw Seut Baraing fire the free-kick into the defensive wall. Chanpolin burst through again midway through the half but his shot was blocked and moments later, sent a rasping 25-yard drive inches over the cross-bar. Seven minutes before the break, Singapore finally produced their first attempt on goal, as the ball carried safely into the arms of Svang Samnang. On the stroke of half-time, Crown lost Sraing Titchhy with a leg injury.

With Crown struggling to find their normal rhythm, and looking jaded after a series of away matches and extensive travelling, Singapore stunned their hosts with a goal from their first serious effort of the game. Ten minutes after the break, Zulquarnaen Suzliman's snap-shot was palmed aside by Samnang, only for Rusyaidi Salime to follow-up and poke the ball over the goal-line. Singapore were elated, Crown were in shock. It took another fifteen minutes for Crown to find their feet and were denied an equaliser when Chhuot Senteang connected with Sath Rozak's right-wing cross only for Singapore keeper Adib Azahari to get his body in the way. Five minutes later, and with Crown stepping up the urgency in their play, In Sodavid slotted a pass through to Rozak who toe-poked a shot goalwards, which was only partially saved by Azahari before Salime cleared the danger from the goal-line. Crown's remaining efforts were rebuffed as frustration grew and fresh faces introduced, but to no avail. Singapore held out for their first victory in the competition and Crown were left to rue the one that got away.

The Academy head coach Bouy Dary gave his views at the final whistle. "In the first half we kept hold of the ball well but didn't create enough chances. We don't normally dominate possession that much in this competition and today, we struggled to make it count. I changed a few players in the second half and we got better, played faster and created some opportunities, especially in the final twenty minutes. We have to improve our play in the final third, work harder on creating goalscoring opportunities, as well as tighten up on our defending. Physically we are okay but playing these matches, home and away, takes a toll mentally on the boys. But its great experience for them and the final game on Saturday against Vietnam, will be even harder. They are bigger and stronger and we'll have to work a lot harder and smarter than we did today."
PPCFC Academy v Singapore: S Samnang, Noeut, K Chhaya, Baraing, Sovann, Chanpolin (Sakrovy 69), Sodavid, Rozak (Chansopheak 80), Piphop (Muslim 87), Titchhy (Ponvuthy 45), Senteang. Subs not used: Mesa, Phearath, Chanchav, V Samnang, Nuron. Bookings: None. MOTM: Baraing.

NFA Singapore went home happy with a 1-0 victory, their 1st in the competition

The unthinkable becomes reality

"Did I hear what rumour? Its not a rumour my boy, it's a reality."

The Phnom Penh Post today broke the rumour that Lee Tae-Hoon will soon return as the coach of the Cambodia national team. This just about takes the biscuit. Lee Tae-Hoon's previous 22-month stint in charge was a disaster. Since he's been away - he left in the middle of 2012 - he's been coaching with some youth teams in his native South Korea and yet he tells PPP that: "I know most of the players and I have been watching them. I have some fresh ideas and let's see." Presumably those fresh ideas will include throwing his former coaching manual out into the dustbin and starting with a blank sheet of paper.

Let me repeat a post I made at the time of his departure, in June 2012.
As football is a results-driven sport, let's take a look at Lee Tae-Hoon's twenty-two months in charge of the Cambodian team, following his arrival in August 2010, through the results his teams achieved. In competitive football, his selections played 21 matches, winning four times, drawing three and losing 14 games. They scored 29 goals and conceded 54. The competitions included the AFF Suzuki Cup, AFC Challenge Cup, FIFA World Cup, Mekong BIDC Cup, SEA Games and the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy. His teams also played what could be classed as serious friendly matches. In these, his record was played 8, won 1, drawn 1 and lost six, scoring 6 goals and conceding 16. I haven't included the results of  another 15+ matches which his teams played against Metfone C-League clubs as warm-up games. Obviously, results don't tell the whole story, and I have covered in depth in many previous posts about my thoughts on his selections, his tactics and his results. I won't go over old ground again. Suffice to say I wasn't his greatest fan and really felt that he lost the plot when he gave such scant importance to our World Cup qualifying ambitions in 2011. That was simply inexcusable. Here are the results in black and white:

Competition Results:
22 Oct 2010 v Laos (AFF Suzuki Cup) Away. Drew 0-0
24 Oct 2010 v Timor Leste (AFF Suzuki Cup) Away. Won 4-2 Borey 3, Sinoun
26 Oct 2010 v Philippines (AFF Suzuki Cup) Away. Drew 0-0
9 Feb 2011 v Macau (AFC Challenge Cup Qual) Home. Won 3-1 El Nasa 2, Laboravy
16 Feb 2011 v Macau (AFC Challenge Cup Qual) Away. Lost 2-3 Borey, El Nasa
21 Mar 2011 v Maldives (AFC Challenge Cup) Away. Lost 0-4
23 Mar 2011 v Tajikistan (AFC Challenge Cup) Away. Lost 0-3
25 Mar 2011 v Kyrgyzstan (AFC Challenge Cup) Away. Lost 3-4 Sokumpheak, Rithy
29 Jun 2011 v Laos (World Cup Qual) Home. Won 4-2 Laboravy, El Nasa 2, Sokumpheak
3 Jul 2011 v Laos (World Cup Qual) Away. Lost 2-6 aet Chhoeun, Sokumpheak
9 Oct 2011 v Laos (Mekong BIDC Cup) Home. Won 2-0 Soksana, Laboravy
12 Oct 2011 v Myanmar (Mekong BIDC Cup) Home. Drew 2-2 Udom pen, Saray
14 Oct 2011 v Thailand (Mekong BIDC Cup) Home. Lost 1-2 Sovan
7 Nov 2011 v Indonesia (SEA Games) Away. Lost 0-6
9 Nov 2011 v Singapore (SEA Games) Away. Lost 1-2 Chhoeun
11 Nov 2011 v Thailand (SEA Games) Away. Lost 0-4
13 Nov 2011 v Malaysia (SEA Games) Away. Lost 1-4 Chhoeun
25 Feb 2012 v Brunei (Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy) Away. Lost 2-3 Udom pen, Vathanaka
27 Feb 2012 v Vietnam (HBT) Away. Lost 1-2 Vathanaka
29 Feb 2012 v Timor Leste (HBT) Away. Lost 0-1
5 Mar 2012 v Malaysia (HBT) Away. Lost 1-3 Sothearath
Record: Pld 21 Won 4 Drew 3 Lost 14 Goals For 29 Agst 54

Friendlies:
18 Sep 2010 v Vietnam U-23 Away. Lost 0-2
21 Sep 2010 v Vietnam U-23 Away. Lost 0-3
5 Dec 2010 v Ulsan University Home. Lost 1-4 own goal
7 Jun 2011 v Malaysia Olympic XI Home. Won 1-0 Laboravy
28 Oct 2011 v Nepal U-23 Home. Lost 0-1
14 Jan 2012 v Malaysia U-23 Home. Lost 0-1
27 Jan 2012 v Ulsan University Home. Drew 3-3 Vathanaka, Chhoeun, S Udom
29 Jan 2012 v Ulsan University Home. Lost 1-2 Vathanaka

Record: Pld 8 Won 1 Drew 1 Lost 6 Goals For 6 Agst 16

Obviously, I have a lot more I want to say on the subject, including commenting on a wave of support for the coach from some of the football community on Facebook. I'm sorry to say that some people view any foreign coach, even an unsuccessful one, as better than the current coach Prak Sovannara or any Khmer for that matter. The fact that he's South Korean may even sway their judgement further, especially with the current Khmer penchant for all-things Korean. I do agree that a foreign coach is best suited to shake-up the current lethargy of Cambodian football on the international scene, but not one that has a proven track record of failure. Anyway, the PPP have broken the story so we'll have to wait to hear from the Federation themselves. Fat chance of that.

Reverse on the road

PPCFC v Frenz: Back Row LtoR: Sovann, Senteang, Baraing, S Samnang, Chanpolin, K Chhaya. Front Row: Nuron, Noeut, Rozak, Sodavid, Ponvuthy.

For their final away game of the FAM-Frenz U-15 Asean Champions Trophy experience, the Phnom Penh Crown Academy boys travelled to Pahang in Malaysia to meet the joint organisers, Frenz Malaysia A. The match was played at 8.45pm Cambodian-time this evening and screened live on tv both in Malaysia and here in Cambodia. Coach Bouy Dary made a few changes to his line-up with Suon Noeut, Kim Chhaya and Sath Rozak coming in for their first starts in the competition. It was clear from the beginning that Frenz would use the high ball to put Crown under pressure and so it proved, though it was Orn Chanpolin who headed wide early on from Seut Baraing's free-kick. Pov Ponvuthy was well-placed to clear Naaim Razak's header off the goal-line from a corner and a few minutes later the same player headed against the top of the upright as Frenz piled on the pressure. Crown's Chhuot Senteang could've done better on 24 minutes when he stabbed Chanpolin's pass wide of the mark but two minutes later, the home side grabbed the lead. Abdul Ismawi's cross from the right was met by the steaming run and head of Hafi Zuki, which gave Svang Samnang no chance in the Crown goal. The keeper came out to snuff out danger at the foot of  Zuki soon after and then  Akhmar Haiqal took the ball around the prone stopper, only to foul Noeut wiuth the goal at his mercy.

Two off the ball incidents left Crown's Senteang and Rozak lying on the ground but the match officials saw nothing. Television replays showed a punch to the back of Rozak's head out of the referee's view. Frenz were determined to win at all costs. Samnang saved low from Ismawi's drive but was beaten again on 38 minutes. Haziq Hossain's through ball saw Haiqal fend off Ouk Sovann's attentions and slip the ball past Samnang for their 2nd goal. As the first-half came to a close, Mat Nuron's cross gave Ponvuthy a sight of goal but his shot was blocked by a combination of keeper Adam Zaini and a defender. With the last kick of the half, Frenz's Razak missed from a yard out as his team went in two goals up at the break. Ten minutes after the re-start and Frenz celebrated their third goal of the night. The Crown defence were caught ball-watching as Ismawi's long ball arrowed through the middle and Haiqal raced onto it and slipped it wide of Samnang. Effectively it was game over, though a minute later Nuron fed Senteang but his first-time effort went wide. Much of the second half was even-steven, with numerous substitutions and cautions by the Thai referee interrupting the flow of the game. As the match fizzled out both Baraing and Sovann sent long range free-kicks over the cross-bar while Akmal Aziz struck the post for Frenz, who moved into third place with their victory.

Crown coach Bouy Dary spoke of the plus points these matches bring for his young team. "There have been a lot of benefits playing in this competition. We haven't been involved in such an international tournament before and our boys have improved a lot from the first game, they are fitter and have a better understanding. These boys will play for the Cambodia national U-16 team, so these matches give us greater experience and we now know where we are in comparison to other countries. This is important to us." PPCFC Academy line-up v Frenz: S Samnang, Noeut, K Chhaya, Baraing, Sovann, Chanpolin (Muslim), Sodavid, Rozak (Piphop), Ponvuthy (Sakrovy), Nuron (Titchhy), Senteang (V Samnang). Subs not used: Mesa, Chansopheak, Phearath, Chanchav. Bookings: Noeut, Chanpolin, Titchhy. MOTM: S Samnang. In other ACT matches tonight, Thailand's Chonburi went top with a 4-1 win over Singapore and Vietnam's PVF went 2nd beating Timor-Leste 7-1. Crown have 2 more matches to play in the competition, both at home. They entertain NFA Singapore on Tuesday (23 July) at 4pm and Vietnam PVF on Saturday (27 July), also at 4pm, with both games at the Olympic Stadium.

All done and dusted

The PPCFC team collect their medals and 3rd place cheque

The Phnom Penh Crown players collected their third place medals and a cheque for 36,000,000 million riels (that's $9,000) at the closing ceremony for the Metfone C-League this afternoon. That wasn't the main event but perhaps the highlight for some. The rain was coming down in buckets at that time. Earlier in the afternoon, it was not much more than a drizzle as Svay Rieng (who changed their name from Preah Khan Reach in mid-season) took on Boeung Ket in the Championship Play-off Final. The two teams finished in the top two places in the league, so if we must have this farce of a play-off then they were the two teams who merited it. On the day, ex-PKR registered their first MCL title with a single goal success, courtesy of a Khuon Laboravy strike from 25 yards just five minutes before half-time. Not only has the striker battled back from a serious knee injury, but he also collected the Golden Boot with 20 goals and to cap it all, the FFC gave him the Best Player of the Season award. Bags of credit to the popular striker, though the stand-out best player of the season award should've gone to Chukwuma Ohuruogu, the Boeung Ket defender. The final itself was even-steven for most of the first period, aside from that Laboravy strike, with the Rubbermen putting on more pressure after the break but unable to get past the game's outstanding player, Sok Rithy. He was a mountain in the ex-PKR backline. Billed as a clash of the goalscoring giants, Laboravy won that battle hands down as Boeung Ket's Bisan George was quiet as a mouse. The crowd was clocked at 6,000, though I never believe any attendance figures, with Boeung Ket giving away free t-shirts at the gate to anyone who would pledge their 90-minutes allegiance to the Rubbermen. The other awards went to ex-PKR's Sam Vandeth as coach of the year, Boeung Ket scooped up the Fair Play award, with the cash prizes of $14,500 for 1st place and $12,000 for the runners-up. Two more awards that I must take issue with are the top goalkeeper award that was given to ex-PKR's second-choice stopper Am Sovannarath, who played just half a season of games, and the annual award of the best referee to Thong Chankethya. Surely the goalkeeper with the best shut-out record having conceded the least number of goals must be in with a shout (Samrith Seiha), while Chankethya getting the referee award, again, smacks of FFC cronyism at its best. No change there then. So that's it for another season. All done and dusted. Aside from the small matter of relegation and promotion with Senate and AEU destined for the drop, but it remains as clear as mud who will take their place.

Ex-PKR, now called Svay Rieng, claim the MCL trophy for the 1st time

Making a habit of 3rd

PPCFC. Back Row LtoR; Boris, Srin, Makara, Sokumpheak, Borey. Front Row: Obadin, Thierry, Pheng, Ha-Neul, Seiha, van der Hooft - click to enlarge

Phnom Penh Crown are making a habit of finishing in third place. They've now completed the double after landing third spot in the Hun Sen Cup earlier in the season, and with today's 1-0 win over Build Bright United (BBU), they also claimed the third place in the Metfone C-League play-offs. The winning goal, obviously, came from the boot of Crown's ace marksman Elroy van der Hooft, in what is likely his last outing for the club. Due to take a holiday on the south coast, the Dutch striker who has shown his class, willingness to run for lost causes, all-round team effort and his knack of scoring crucial goals since joining Crown at the mid-point of the season, netting twelve times in all, is due to return to his country of birth before deciding his future. He has certainly created a stir here in Cambodia with his goals-per-game ratio, some fabulous individual efforts and a willingness to interact with the fans on the terraces. It's clear he would be welcome back anytime though he has his sights set on playing at the highest level possible, so we'll have to see what transpires. As for the game itself, Crown had to pick themselves up after the disappointment of losing the semi-final last weekend and coach Sam Schweingruber's only change was Leng Makara for Sos Suhana. The match kicked-off as the rain arrived and referee Tuy Vichheka made his point early on, booking Elroy van der Hooft after just seven minutes for kicking the ball, moments after he blew for offside. It was a very harsh decision and looked even harsher when the same official ignored an identical situation minutes later when BBU did exactly the same. BBU's only effort on target in the whole of the first-half came when Seng Komsen launched a hopeful ball forwards that took a wicked bounce as Crown keeper Samrith Seiha came to collect. It was much as he could manage to push the ball into the air and as Pech Sina challenged, Seiha made a point-blank save to keep him out. Two other long-range efforts that fizzed well wide was all BBU could muster. At the other end, on 25 minutes, Leng Makara fed van der Hooft in the box and the striker found a yard of space but his powerful drive struck the cross-bar and bounced to safety. Three minutes later, Kouch Sokumpheak's delightful pass saw the Dutchman racing into space but his first-time left-footer flashed across the face of the goal and wide. As the first-half came to a close, a Makara shot was blocked and Ngoy Srin's menacing cross eluded everyone, before Lee Ha-Neul's one-two with Khim Borey saw the South Korean screw his shot wide of the target after creating a good opening.

Another early booking, in the second-half, for Crown's Hong Pheng was keeping referee Tuy Vichheka's pencil sharpened. This time it was for simulation after Pheng went over in the penalty box. Tow BBU players were quick to follow him into the referee's book. Twenty minutes into the second period and Makara will wonder how he missed the target. Bin Thierry's inswinging corner kick was missed by keeper Sos Proshim and Makara, standing five yards from goal, cushioned his free header wide of the mark. Five minutes later the same player burst into the penalty area only to fire his shot straight at a grateful Proshim. It was all Crown at this point, as van der Hooft had a shot blocked and Suhana, on as a sub, saw his goal-bound effort deflected for a corner. Searching for a winner, Suhana volleyed straight at Proshim and Makara's fierce drive was blocked by a defender and keeper combination. Shouts for a penalty when the ball struck Adewale Olugbami's arm went unheeded and the same player was cautioned for hauling down van der Hooft as he broke away. The final action of normal time saw Thierry's 25-yard free-kick well taken at the foot of the post by Proshim. Extra-time was next.

Under the floodlights, Thierry was first to test Proshim with a free-kick that the keeper punched clear. Referee Vichheka then decided to take matters into his own hands with two yellow cards for Kouch Sokumpheak within six minutes of each other, both for lunging tackles, leaving Crown a man short. Within two minutes that numerical disadvantage was swept away as Makara broke into the box, and as van der Hooft challenged for the cross, he was upended by Proshim and a penalty was awarded. The Dutch marksman got to his feet to crash the ball home for his 13th goal of the season. It was timed at 104 minutes on the clock and greeted with loud cheers from the majority of the crowd. A neat one-two between Suhana and van der Hooft opened up the BBU backline five minutes into the second period of extra time but on this occasion the striker sent his hurried shot over the top. A small sign of resistance from BBU skipper Prum Putsethy, as he flashed a shot wide, but it was all too brief as Crown maintained control and saw the match out to claim third place in the MCL play-offs.

PPCFC coach Sam Schweingruber had this to say at the end of the game. "We've seen in the 2nd Round that BBU are a very difficult team to break down, they only lost by a single goal in the semi-final, so we knew they had a well-organised defence. I thought we could've played better but for me our discipline was much improved from our last game, and that helped us to have a clean sheet again, and if you work hard, you get that piece of luck you need. It was a penalty but it was also a bit of a struggle to get to that point. We were dominant, we were better, we just didn't create enough clear chances." He also took a moment to look back at the whole season, his first in charge of the club. "I would've been quite happy with two 3rd places if you'd asked me before the season. At that time we didn't know what kind of team we'd have and we initially struggled with young and inexperienced Cambodian players. The decision to sign foreign players after a few games obviously gave us more depth and helped us to, with lots of hard work, create a solid team that we've seen in the last few months, take positive results against every single team. We've shown we have the qualities to compete and to be champions. I'm obviously disappointed about that, both times we were very close, in the cup and the league. All in all this season, I've learned a lot of lessons and a lot of things that can be improved upon in the future." 
PPCFC line-up: Seiha, Srin, Pheng (Seyha 70), Boris, Obadin, Thierry, Sokumpheak, Makara (Sothy 106), Borey, Ha-Neul (Suhana 70), van der Hooft. Subs not used: Ary, Soksela, Da, Dara, Lika, Morslim, Phearun, Pisa. Bookings: van der Hooft, Pheng, Makara, Seiha, Sokumpheak (+ red card). MOTM: van der Hooft.