U-17 Youth League fixtures

The fixtures for Phnom Penh Crown's U-17s in the new Cambodia U-17 Youth League are below. There will be just 5 teams in the competition and they will meet each other twice before the Top 4 enter the play-offs in late December. All U-17 matches will be played at PPCFC's RSN Stadium in Tuol Kork.
PPCFC U-17 Fixtures:
13 Oct v SSCA - 2pm
20 Oct v Western U - 2pm
27 Oct v Army Youth Hope - 4pm
3 Nov v Svay Rieng - 4pm
1 Dec v SSCA - 2pm
4 Dec (Wed) v Western U - 2pm
8 Dec v Army Youth Hope - 4pm
15 Dec v Svay Rieng - 4pm
Play-offs on 22 and 28 Dec at RSN. Final on 29 Dec at Cheng Meng.

U-15 fixtures

The fixtures for Phnom Penh Crown's U-15s in the new Cambodia U-15 Youth League are below. All matches will be played at the Cheng Meng football center on the outskirts of the capital. There are 8 teams in the league and they only meet each other once before the Top 4 enter the play-offs on 22 and 29 Dec. PPCFC U-15 Fixtures:
29 Sep v Komar Ang Snuol - Won 27-0.
20 Oct v Boeung Ket - 8am
27 Oct v Navy - 8am
24 Nov v Komar Ampor Wan - 8am
1 Dec v SSCA - 2pm
8 Dec v Svay Rieng - 4pm
15 Dec v National Police - 4pm

27 without reply

Back Row LtoR: Sovannaroth, Rozak, Baraing, Ronaldo, K Chhaya, S Samnang. FrontRow: Saphy, Piseth, Kakada, Piphop, Noeut.

The Phnom Penh Crown U-15s started their matches in the new Cambodia U-15 Youth League with a thoroughly resounding 27-0 victory over Komar Ang Snuol at the Cheng Meng football center this afternoon. The match was played in pouring rain and the two teams did well on a surface that was waterlogged before the game began. Obviously with that scoreline, the game was totally one-sided and Ang Snuol didn't manage a shot for the entire 90 minutes. Crown on the other hand, scored 27 but could've easily scored another twenty or so. Suon Noeut, normally a full-back, was pushed up front for this game and responded with 10 goals. When he gets his eye in, he'll do even better.

Now for a run through of the goals from the match. On 6 minutes Sath Rozak took a pass from Mao Piseth and fired into the corner of the net. A minute later, Piseth's high cross was fumbled by the keeper and Sin Kakada tucked in the loose ball. On 14 mins another Piseth pass found Suon Noeut and he opened his account with a simple finish. Two minutes later and Kakada stroked home another Piseth low cross. A minute on and Noeut ran through unopposed to finish calmly. After 19 minutes, Noeut picked the top corner with a sweet finish from Men Piphop's pass for his hat-trick. Four minutes later Kakada set up Piphop and he let rip from twenty yards out. 26 minutes in and Crown struck number eight through Noeut, who capitalised on a bad clearance from the keeper. Two minutes later, a Kim Chhaya shot fell kindly to Noeut who finished with a one-two off the post. within a minute another poor kick-out was punished again by Noeut for his double hat-trick. The 1st half scoring was wrapped up by Chhaya, on 34 minutes, who took Piseth's pass and smacked home his shot from the edge of the box.

The 2nd half continued in the same one-sided vein though the Ang Snuol keeper pulled off a series of excellent saves throughout the game. Five minutes in and a poor kick out by the keeper and Kakada made no mistake for his third. Twelves minutes played and Seut Baraing got the goal he was looking for, with a rasping drive from Piseth's pull back. Mao Piseth was having the assists match of all time to this point. Two minutes later and Kakada set up Piphop and his curling shot found the net. Within a minute Rozak easily finished off another poor clearance. Goals were raining in and Noeut set up Piphop for another, a minute later, before Crown made a double substitution. On 68 mins a Baraing shot was blocked and Noeut fired in the loose ball. A minute later and Piseth's cross was put past his own keeper by a hapless defender. Two minutes more and Piphop cashed in on a defensive error. 72 minutes and Noeut ran past the backline to score with ease. Two minutes later and Chhaya scored with a glorious lob from 25 yards out. On 76 minutes sub Phlong Sokraksa weaved his way around four players and the keeper to score a fine individual goal. A minute later, Piphop won a tackle and netted with ease. Piseth finally got the goal his set-up play deserved, when he beat two players and walloped the ball home, with ten minutes to go. On 83 mins Noeut rolled in after another poor clearance with Crown's 25th goal. With 2 mins remaining, Piphop ran past three players to fire home, and Noeut ended the agony for Ang Snuol in the final seconds, when he tapped home after San David's mazy run and shot had hit the foot of the post. All in all, 27 goals without reply. When the official score came back as 26, it was clear the FFC official couldn't keep count. Obviously not enough lead in his pencil. Believe me, it was 27.
U-15s line-up: S Samnang, Ronaldo (N David 46), Sovannaroth (Pisoth 62), Baraing, Saphy, Chhaya, Rozak (S David 62), Piphop, Piseth (Chanmony 81), Kakada (Sokraksa 70), Noeut. Subs not used: Rafat. Booking: Rozak.

Subs LtoR: S David, N David, Chanmony, Pisoth, Sokraksa, Rafat

The PPCFC U-15s celebrate their 27-0 success

Fanfare for Yaty

Sou Yaty (red) with Sam Schweingruber after the keeper signed on

Phnom Penh Crown coach Sam Schweingruber was as pleased as punch to sign Cambodia’s number one goalkeeper Sou Yaty ahead of the new Metfone C-League season. “The reason we are excited to work with Sou Yaty is because we believe he has great potential to improve to the next level. He speaks decent English and we are preparing some special opportunities for him outside the country, to reach much higher levels than where he is at right now. We are looking to develop the Buffon of Cambodia – so that he can still play for the National team when he’s well into his thirties.” Schweingruber was keen to strengthen his squad by adding the Kingdom’s highly-rated stopper, who was a regular for the Cambodian U-19 and U-23 teams before making his senior debut for his country against Timor Leste in the AFF Suzuki Cup in Myanmar in 2012. Yaty, now 21 years old, has already appeared in two SEA Games competitions for Cambodia, in 2009 and 2011 and is in line to make it a hat-trick this December. He was part of the 2009 BIDC Cup winning squad and in 2010 was recognized as the Cambodian League’s Goalkeeper of the Year.
 
Phnom Penh born, he attended Wat Koh High School and began playing between the posts with Build Bright United in 2006 for a couple of years before taking a break to concentrate on his studies. He was persuaded to restart his career with the National Defense Ministry in 2009 and quickly made a name for himself, earning international recognition that same year. With the Army team, he helped them win the Hun Sen Cup in 2010 and they were beaten finalists earlier this year in the same competition, but it’s at national team level that he has shown his real prowess as the best goalkeeper in the Kingdom. Commenting on his move to PPCFC, the recently married stopper said: “I’m very happy to try and help the club win trophies, that is my aim in making this move. I’m really pleased to join Crown.” 

Schweingruber continued to outline his reasons for adding Yaty to his squad. "During our evaluation of last season and our lack of winning a trophy, we are obviously looking to do better than our two third-place finishes for the coming season. The goalkeeper position was one of the areas we felt where we wanted to strengthen our squad. At first it seemed impossible to get Cambodia's number 1 but when Sou Yaty signaled that he really wanted to join the Crown project, we started to work to make it possible. So I'm delighted he has joined us. We will leave the door open for Samrith Seiha, who has worked hard for the team and who is still on contract, as we believe competition for key places is important at our club. We have certainly not finished strengthening our squad either. By the end of this week, if everything falls into place, we'll sign another 1 or 2 Khmer players and plan to extend the contracts of a few more players. Then we are going to have a few foreign players come to join us for try outs. October will be a busy time for us, as we begin our pre-season conditioning." In the aftermath of Yaty's arrival, last season's regular keeper, Samrith Seiha requested an early release from his contract rather than stay to battle it out for the number 1 jersey, and is believed to be heading to NagaCorp. Both Yaty and Seiha were rivals for the same spot when they were with the Army a few seasons ago and were in a similar position in the national team squad as well.

In-house but one-sided

PPCFC U-17s: Back row, LtoR: Sovann, Ponvuthy, Sakrovy, Soksela, Chanpolin, Titchhy. Front Row: Muslim, Nuron, T Chhaya, Chansopheak, Phearath

The new season is just about to start for Phnom Penh Crown's youth teams. The start of the new Federation-organised U-15 and U-17 Championships is scheduled to begin next Sunday (29 Sept). In preparation for it, the Crown Academy, which will provide the vast majority of the players for the two teams, played against each other earlier today.  The result went decisively in favour of the potential U-17 team, though coach Bouy Dary has yet to decide his final squad line-ups. The game was played at RSN Stadium and the U-17s ran out 7-0 winners with Yeu Muslim netting 4 goals, with 1 apiece for Sraing Titchhy, Mat Nuron and Mat Sakrovy.

PPCFC U-15s: Back Row LtoR: Piphop, Sovannaroth, S Samnang, Chanchav, V Samnang, Baraing. Front Row: Noeut, Saphy, Kakada, Piseth, Rozak.

Snippets

The Cambodia U-19 national team are in Indonesia right now, taking part in the AFF U-19 Championships. Two Phnom Penh Crown players, Chhom Pisa and Ly Morslim were in the final training squad but only Pisa made it into the twenty-strong squad that actually travelled. They lost their first match the other day, 3-1 to Laos and Pisa was on the bench.

Sam Schweingruber, assisted by Bouy Dary, is currently running a ten-day D-License coaching course for wannabe coaches, to give them a basic grounding on grassroots development. Sam is a FIFA instructor and will soon be off to Australia to conduct a course. For the time being, he's putting 38 potentials through their paces and that includes 20 Phnom Penh Crown players, who are taking the course as part of their personal development plan. It's never too early to think about what to do once playing football for a living is no longer an option. Crown are keen for their players to do a lot more than simply training and playing, and this includes community work, visiting schools and much more.

Two Phnom Penh Crown staff, Academy assistant coach Kao Kiry and general secretary Ly Heang, recently completed an intensive three-week B-License coaching course at the national football center. Kiry is a former national team player who has been with the Crown Academy since it opened its doors in 2011. Heang joined Crown last season after half a dozen years in grassroots development in Battambang. Both should hear the outcome of their hard work in a few months time.

Last but not least, an update on the clubs vying to gain entry into the Metfone C-League for the 2014 season. The A1 Division championship is the avenue that clubs take and a series of matches in Takeo in the last week or so have been sorting the wheat from the chaff. TriAsia, the club that plays hyped-up cup matches instead of friendlies and who have Japanese coffee money backing them up, won the final earlier today, beating Takeo after extra time. The two teams will now meet AEU and Senate in a play-off to decide who fills spots 9 and 10 in next season's MCL. The semi-final between TriAsia and Battambang Rice Bank certainly caused a stir when the province team accused the referee of cheating and walked off the pitch with ten minutes left of extra time. Tri-Asia were leading 3-2 at the time. Battambang felt the match official was biased after disallowing a goal of theirs, allowing an offside goal for TriAsia's 93rd minute leveller, and showing a red card to two of their players. Spectators at the game were vociferous in their support of Battambang's complaints. They were so pissed off they didn't even bother turning up for the 3rd place play-off. TriAsia's Japanese coach put it down to divine intervention. "Invisible something is in the field when the important match is held... I felt a god is equally watching us." Cue the God Cup next time TriAsia play a friendly.

Incoming new faces

 Phnom Penh Crown head coach Sam Schweingruber has moved quickly to strengthen his playing squad before pre-season conditioning training begins in earnest in early October. The Swiss tactician had this to say about his two new signings this week, Touch Sokheng and Neou Sosela, both on 1-year contracts. "Both Heng and Sela are experienced and quality additions to the team, providing the depth to the squad we lacked last season. Now a few more contract extensions and some more new faces and we are ready to challenge for the coming season." 

Both new arrivals are midfielders though Sosela usually plies his trade down either flank, and both, at 23 years old, have a point to prove after stuttering phases in their respective football careers. It's certainly something Schweingruber hopes will work in his team's favour and of course the players as well. "Sela is a quality addition, giving us options on the wing with his pace. I'm well aware of the number of yellow cards he got last season... and have stressed the importance of discipline so Sela knows that he will only be the important player he can be, if he has his temperament under better control." The diminutive winger exploded onto the scene back in 2009 when his electric pace and tricky footwork bamboozled defences for his Army team and made him the darling of the country's national team fans as Cambodia's U-23s won the BIDC Cup under Scott O'Donell. Sosela was a big part of that success though injury cost him a place in the SEA Games. He returned to win the Hun Sen Cup with Army but fell out of favour and spent almost two years on the sidelines, even spending ten months with NagaCorp, but unable to turn out due to the Army's intransigence. A move to National Police at the start of 2012 rekindled his career but three suspensions last season blighted his copybook. For Sosela, his move to Crown signals a new phase. "Crown are an organised and well-structured club who have international standards. I need a challenge to improve myself and I want to work with a strong team which wants to win and with players who have the same mentality. Crown has all of that," explained the Phnom Penh-born dynamo who fans nicknamed Chaly, comapring him to the small, nippy motorbike of the same name.

Alongside him, a former Army teammate, Touch Sokheng, will be out to prove a point after kicking his heels on the Boeung Ket substitute's bench for most of last season. As Schweingruber explains: "I see Heng as a central midfield player and believe he has been played in the wrong position at Boeung Ket... but time will tell. We were a bit lacking depth, meaning not enough options when a player was injured or out of form or lacking discipline, that left us with a totally inexperienced bench with not enough attacking options in important games last season. Heng rarely got a chance at Boeung Ket and he is hungry to show what made him an important player in the seasons before. Boeung Ket signed too many players and ended up wasting some talents on the bench. We hope Heng can pick up his form and get back to his old strengths." Sokheng is a native of Koh Kong and after moving to the capital in 2008 he hooked up with Phnom Penh Empire for a year before moving onto Post Tel. The Army was his next port of call for three years before he switched to Boeung Ket before the start of their C-League winning season in 2012. Looking forward to a new opportunity with Crown, Sokheng said: "I want to improve myself and with so many good players at Boeung Ket, my chances were limited. So I want to show my ability again with a fresh start and I'm very happy to join a club like Crown, and reunite with my former Army colleagues like Borey and Sela. I want to win things and play my part in helping Crown to more success."

In addition to the two new faces this week, Schweingruber has been boosted by the signature of playmaker Kouch Sokumpheak on a new 2-year contract. "I'm very happy to have agreed terms with Pheak and put an end to speculation over his future. He is in his best football years right now and I believe we have still to see the best of him, so we are happy he can now focus fully on preparing for a new and exciting season ahead." Other clubs had been reportedly sniffing around the popular player, who originally joined Crown in November 2010 from Khemara Keila. We can expect some more newcomers through the doors of Crown over the next few weeks, especially when pre-season training begins and the club decide on their quota of foreign players for the coming season.

Touch Sokheng

Neou Sosela, aka Mr Chaly

Federation make sweeping changes

It's been a bit quiet on the football front in recent days, so it's good to come back to the blog with some pretty earth-shattering news. For lovers of Cambodian football that is. Okay, so earth-shattering may be a little too much but for me personally, it feels like someone has at last seen the light and unscrewed their head from the dark place that it's been resting for the last couple of years. The Super 4 play-offs in the Metfone Cambodian League have been abolished, ahead of the upcoming 2014 season. In its place will be a straight, first past the post league competition, that reverts Cambodian football back to real football and away from the mickey mouse stuff that has decided the championship in recent times. It's the best news for all traditionalists and football purists like myself. Thumbs up to the football federation. I may be their biggest critic but credit where it's due. The news was announced in a club manager's meeting earlier today, alongwith some other very interesting snippets.

The next bombshell from the federation, is that the ten-club league championship will be extended to 11 clubs when it begins again in January. But wait for it...the newcomers will be from Japan, in the shape of Albirex Niigata FC. What, how, why, I hear you cry! The federation have been cuddling up to the Japanese FA in recent months and this is the brand new baby that has been delivered from that close union. No need to qualify or any such nonsense, a free pass straight into the MCL. Albirex Niigata already operate two teams, their main act is in the J-League Division 1 but they also have a team, doing very well I might add, in the Singapore League as well. This will be a further extension of the AN franchise. The federation are hoping this will add a real buzz to the C-League, improve spectator interest, with the new club playing Japanese players, bringing a new style of football playing, coaching and management to Cambodian football and effectively giving the league a veritable kick up the arse. It's a bold move that has paid off in Singapore and the federation hope it will have the same effect here. We shall see, but if you don't try, you don't know.

As if those two announcements weren't enough, there is more. The federation have confirmed they want to start home and away fixtures from January, though they appreciate this will be limited because of the timeframe to put this into place. But they are keen for clubs to work towards this goal and keen to get it off the ground. It's known that PPCFC, Boeung Ket and Svay Rieng are taking measures to follow the federation's lead, whilst the Army already have their own stadium. With the play-offs abolished, the federation want to introduce an end of season cup competition in its place. The FFC Cup will likely involve the top four finishers in the championship race playing-off for this new cup to add a bit of spice to the end of the campaign, as well as a couple of extra matches. The teams below haven't been forgotten either and they will play-off for the FFC Challenge Cup under the same format. Last but not least, the season's calendar will change after the 2014 season comes to an end in July. Next year, the C-League will begin again soon after, in October (2014) and run through til May, with the Hun Sen Cup acting as a mid-season competition in December-January time. The reason for this change has yet to be explained but avoiding the heavy rains might be the prompt they needed. So there you have it, the federation have made some sweeping changes to the Metfone C-League that is looming large on the horizon and all in all, they look like an interesting mix.

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