More Academy victories

The PPCFC Academy 2 team. Back LtoR: Chanpolin, Sovann, Sodavid, Soksela, Senteang, Titchhy. Front: Phearath, T Chhaya, Muslim, Nuron, Chansopheak.

The two Phnom Penh Crown Academy teams recorded victories in the Cambodia Football Development League on Sunday afternoon, as they brought down the curtain on no less than eleven youth matches at the RSN Stadium in Tuol Kork at U-12, U-14 and U-16 age levels throughout the day. Just a few weeks ago, up to 300 youngsters were not playing regular competitive football, but they are now. And they are loving it. You just have to see some of the goal celebrations to know that. The Academy 2 team maintained their winning record at the top of the U-16 table. They beat Prek Kdam 4-2 despite going behind. Chhuot Senteang equalised from Orn Chanpolin's pass, and two minutes later Yeu Muslim slotted home after Senteang's initial shot was blocked. In the second half, Ken Chansopheak was felled and Sraing Titchhy netted from the penalty spot. Senteang wrapped it up with another cool finish from Long Phearath's cross. In the preceding game, the Academy 1 team had put the PPCFC 3 community team in their place, 3-1, after they went behind to an own goal, headed in by Seut Baraing. After the interval, the Academy stepped on the gas and Baraing saved face by putting a penalty in the top corner, after Pov Ponvuthy was fouled. Ponvuthy then raced clear to finish and Mat Sakrovy wrapped it up, but only after the same player had his spot-kick saved, awarded for a trip on Nop David. In the morning CFDL games, the PPCFC 2 U-12 team came a cropper, losing 13-0 to Prek Kdam. In the U-14 games, both PPCFC teams fought gallantly before going down to defeat. PPCFC 2 lost 2-1 to Young Wolf and PPCFC 1 just couldn't pull back the deficit against SSCA 1, losing 4-3.

The PPCFC Academy 1 team. Back Row LtoR: Piphop, Sakrovy, Baraing, S Samnang, Chanchav, K Chhaya. Front: V Samnang, Noeut, Ponvuthy, David, Rozak.

The PPCFC 3 Community team in the U-16s competition

Cam sign-off with win

Cambodia in the 2nd half. Back Row, LtoR: Udom, Piseth, Raksmey, Yaty, Rithy, Phallin. Front: Veasna, Suhana, Pancharong, Borey, Vathanaka.

The Cambodian national team signed off with a successful practice match victory this afternoon at the Olympic Stadium, beating the C-League leaders Boeung Ket 2-1. I don't know why they kicked-off at 2 o'clock as the heat was unbearable, but they did and the first half suffered as a result, with neither team showing much in the way of exciting football. Prak Sovannara gave most of his squad game-time, making ten changes at the interval. By that time, the only two noteworthy elements of the first 45 minutes was Boeung Ket's opener and an open and shut penalty which the referee inexplicably didn't see. Keo Sokngorn may get a slight touch of satisfaction from scoring on 15 minutes when two defenders gave him too much room and he managed to put his shot beyond the reach of keeper Samrith Seiha. Sokngorn had been dismissed from Sovannara's squad just a week earlier. On the half-hour Chhin Chhoeun was pulled down in the Boeung Ket box for a nailed-on spot-kick which was ignored by the referee, much to everyone's surprise.

With Sovannara's first-choice eleven on view for the second-half, there was an obvious improvement in pace and passing and Boeung Ket found it hard to live with it. Their top scorer Bisan George was replaced after failing to shine and at the other end, a nippy burst by Sos Suhana was unlucky not to equalise. A minute after the hour mark and Cambodia drew level. Suon Veasna sent in a cross that Chan Vathanaka left and as the ball bounced, Peng Bunchhay took his eye off it and the ball crept inside the far post. Though chances were few and far between, the national team coach will be pleased with their match winner just two minutes from time. Vathanaka spotted the late arrival of center-half Sok Rithy into the box, picked him out with a perfect pass and the lanky defender took on the role of goalscorer with a neat sidestep and powerful finish inside Bunchhay's near post. The make-up of the national team in the second period certainly worked with Veasna and Hoy Phallin looking neat and tidy in midfield, Borey worked hard up front and won every header while Vathanaka is definitely the team's man-most-likely to do damage. Sovannara now has to cull five players from the 25-man squad, before he heads for the Philippines and the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers later next week.
Cambodia line-up: Seiha (Yaty 46), Raksmey, Khmerin (Pancharong 46), Tiny (Piseth 46), Thavrak (Rithy 46), Narith (Phallin 46), Sopanha (Veasna 46), Chanrasmey (PM Udom 46), Chhoeun (Suhana 47 (Vathanak 70)), Laboravy (Vathanaka 46), Sokumpheak (Borey 46). Subs not used: Chum, Sovannrithy. Booking: Suhana.

Cambodia in the 1st half: Back Row, LtoR: Thavrak, Tiny, Raksmey, Seiha, Laboravy, Narith. Front: Sopanha, Chanraksmey, Chhoeun, Sokumpheak, Khemrin.

Two of Cambodia's comeback stars, Kouch Sokumpheak (10) and Khuon Laboravy (8)

The starting XI for Boeung Ket included BBU's Chhun Sothearath (with head cap)

Slim chances

Let's be very clear about this, Cambodia's chances of qualifying for the eight-team AFC Challenge Cup final stages next year are about as slim as they can get. Buoyed by their recent win over the Malaysian U-23s, they take on Boeung Ket, the MCL leaders in a friendly tomorrow at the Olympic Stadium, before they head to Manila in the Philippines for their three much tougher Challenge Cup qualifying matches between 22-26 March. Their chances are pretty much non-existent because they face Turkmenistan in their first match on 22 March and the former Soviet Union republic are one of the strongest teams in the region. In fact they finished runners-up in the last two competitions, beaten on both occasions by North Korea. Also in group E and meeting Cambodia on 24 March, are hosts the Philippines, the third placed team in the Challenge Cup in 2012 and like Turkmenistan, some forty or so places above Cambodia in the FIFA world rankings. Cambodia may look to their 0-0 draw with the Philippines at the Olympic Stadium last September for some comfort, but the Azkals take their cup football very seriously, so we can safely ignore that result. The third opponent for Cambodia will be Brunei Darussalam, on 26 March, a place below the Khmers in the FIFA rankings, at 186th, but they are on the up and beat Cambodia in their last meeting, a 3-2 Suzuki Cup win last October. That final game will likely decide the group wooden spoonists, so there is pride at stake, if results go with form. Only the group winners from the five groups, and the two best runners-up will go onto join the hosts, Maldives in the finals. Initially, Cambodia withdrew from the competition last October, citing financial and competitive concerns - they may live to regret changing their minds.

Playing for Cambodia

The Phnom Penh Crown U-15 Academy, expected to provide the bulk of the Cambodia U-16 squad - click to enlarge

This year will see a wealth of opportunities for the best young football talent in Cambodia to get the chance to represent their country in age group competitions at U-14, U-16 and U-19 levels. First up is the U-14 national team who will travel to Myanmar between 28 May-3 June to play in the brand new AFC U-14 Championship qualifiers. 46 nations in 8 groups with eight teams qualifying for the finals in 2014. Cambodia have been drawn into group F alongside Bangladesh, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore and Thailand. In the middle of last year, Bouy Dary, the Academy coach at Phnom Penh Crown, took charge of the Cambodia U-14 team which travelled to Malaysia to take part in the AFC U-14 Festival of Football. In their nine matches, Cambodia drew three and lost six of their games, in what Dary described as a very promising series of performances against such nations as Australia, Thailand and Vietnam. This year, the new U-14 Championship will enable at least half a dozen of that squad to try for selection again because of their tender years. There has been no news from the Federation yet as to who will be in charge.

The same goes for the Cambodia U-16 team that will travel to Napyidaw in Myanmar to take part in the AFF U-16 Championship qualifiers between 20-31 August. Cambodia are in group A with Brunei, Vietnam, Myanmar and Australia. The last time Cambodia played at U-16 level, they got walloped in the AFC U-16s under the tutelage of Daisuke Yoshioka. Again, we await the name of the coach that will be installed by the FFC. The make-up of the U-16 squad will be interesting with the Phnom Penh Crown Academy youngsters having beaten all before them on the domestic stage and having gained experience playing overseas in Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. They should provide the bulk of the squad, though only three of them have reached their 15th birthday, most of the others are just 14. Nevertheless, only Preah Khan Reach can live with them out of the local teams, so expect PKR to supply a few squad players too. In the AFF U-19 Championship category, Cambodia will travel to Dili in East Timor between 21-28 September, having been drawn in group A with Laos, Philippines, Australia, Timor Leste and Singapore. Expect quite a few PKR names in that squad, whoever is appointed coach. Also on the horizon, in girls football, are the national championship in the middle of May, and an international tournament in late July. 

Dani pops up to sink PPC

PPCFC v AEU. Back Row LtoR: Boris, Rady, Dary, Lika, Thierry, Srin. Front: Phearun, Morslim, Pisa, Seyha, Ary

Asia Euro University provided the opposition again this morning as Phnom Penh Crown coach Sam Schweingruber gave a run-out to his squad players who didn't play the day before in the 2-0 win over the Army. It's useful match practice for the squad and an opportunity to see how the younger players are progressing. It also gave the coach the opportunity to blood a second Academy youngster, 14-year-old Sraing Titchhy this morning, for the final fifteen minutes of the match. The other Academy defender, Seut Baraing, just 13 and who trains with the senior players every morning, had joined the game at half-time. The game, two halves of 35 minutes each, didn't quite go Crown's way with AEU scoring on 27 minutes. In the 42nd minute Ngoy Srin converted a penalty to make it level at 1-1 after Mak Phearun had been felled, but in time added on, Kouch Dani scored the winner against his former club. 
PPCFC line-up: Ary, Seyha (Baraing 35), Phearun (Titchhy 55), Srin, Lika, Boris (Hasan 55), Thierry, Rady (Morslim 55), Pisa, Morslim (Kano 35), Dary (Dara 35).

Hat-trick for U-16s

PPCFC2 starting line-up. Back Row LtoR: Sodavid, Sovann, Soksela, Senteang, Chanpolin, Titchhy. Front: Phearath, Muslim, Nuron, T Chhaya, Chansopheak - click to enlarge

The match of the day in the Cambodia Football Development League on Sunday morning at RSN Stadium was the crunch game between the Phnom Penh Academy 2 team and Preah Khan Reach in the U-16 competition. The week before PKR had beaten the Academy 1 team and were out to make it a double. They were in for a rude awakening. It took just 26 seconds for Chhuot Senteang to send a 25-yard drive into the top corner for the opening Academy goal. Four minutes later and In Sodavid tapped in a Senteang pass for number two. PKR scored from a dubious penalty award but a minute before the break, Senteang blocked a goalkeeper clearance and Mat Nuron rolled the loose ball into the net. Yeu Muslim hit the post with a chip before Senteang made the game safe nine minutes into the second half when he challenged the keeper on the edge of the box and rounded him to score with ease. A match of the day worthy of the tag with the Academy 2 boys winning 4-1. In the earlier game, the Academy 1 team beat Prek Kdam 4-0 with Mat Sakrovy on fire, scoring all four goals, with three of them coming in the second-half. The third Crown team in the U-16 comp, the community boys under Kouch Sokumpheak, made it a hat-trick of wins with their first success, 2-1 against Rising Stars. In the U-12s the PPCFC 1 team went down 5-1 to PKR1 under the watchful eye of their new coach, ex-Cambodian U-16 girls player Srey Teav.

PPCFC 1 team. Back Row LtoR: Sakrovy, Beut, Chanchav, S Samnang, Baraing, K Chhaya. Front: Piphop, Rozak, V Samnang, Ponvuthy, David

The PPCFC 3 community boys team, 2-1 winners on the day at U-16

Srey Teav with the PPCFC 1 and 2 U-12 teams - click to enlarge

Pheak on target

PPCFC line-up. Back Row LtoR: Oladiji, Hasan, Da, Pheng, Obadin, Narin. Front: Sothy, Suhana, Seiha, Borey, Sokumpheak - click to enlarge

Practice makes perfect. Well it certainly did for giant Phnom Penh Crown centre-half Odion Obadin in Sunday's Metfone C-League encounter with Army at Olympic Stadium. With just over an hour of the game gone and match-winning opportunities at a premium, Obadin trotted forward for a couple of corners, hoping to make use of his height advantage. Crown coach Sam Schweingruber admitted after the match that hours on the training ground with Obadin heading hundreds of balls into the goal paid dividends. Initially, Obadin was thwarted when his downward header from Kouch Sokumpheak's flag-kick was palmed aside by Army keeper Um Vichet as it bounced towards the top corner. Four minutes later and Obadin was celebrating his first goal of the season with a forward role and joyful embrace with his Nigerian teammate Nelson Oladiji. This time, Ouk Sothy's corner from the right cleared everyone in the box except the leaping defender, who powered his header into the unguarded net on 64 minutes. It broke the deadlock. Five minutes later and Crown registered a second strike and the match result was settled. This time the celebrations were just as joyous as it was Kouch Sokumpheak, enjoying his first start in a Crown shirt for eight months, who was on hand to tuck the ball under Vichet's body, after Hong Pheng and Oladiji undid the Army defence on their right flank and Khim Borey got the slightest of touches to steer it into Sokumpheak's path. The fans favourite made no mistake from six yards out. His job done, he left the pitch moments later to deserved applause.

With three regulars missing, coach Schweingruber had to alter the make-up of his team for this revenge duel after the Army knocked Crown out of the Hun Sen Cup a month ago. Sokumpheak sent a left-foot drive wide early on and Borey went over in the box but didn't convince the referee that Vichet had caught his foot. Next, a close-range Borey header caused Vichet to tip over and a few dangerous balls into the box failed to produce the killer touch from either Sokumpheak or Sothy. The Army's best chance fell to Meak Chhordaravuth but he screwed his clear opening wide. The final chance of the first-half fell to Oladiji but his shot from Sokumpheak's pull-back was deflected over the cross-bar. The Army briefly found their voice at the start of the second half. Phoung Soksana touched a Pom Tola center onto the bar and Leng Narin cleared the danger, and Chhordaravuth spanked a powerful drive that stung the hands of Samrith Seiha. That was effectively it as Crown took control and killed off their opponents with two goals in a five minute spell. With Obadin and Sokumpheak's efforts in the bag, Sos Suhana blasted over after a neat interchange between Borey and Oladiji had set him up. Hong Pheng, pushed forward from full-back, swung his right foot at a Sothy cross and sent it skyward, while Suhana's header was deflected at the death by the outstretched leg of Net Vesana.

Crown coach Schweingruber was happy with the points but not the performance. "For the first 20 minutes were were extremely poor. I don't think we won any ball in midfield, or 50-50 balls, we were really struggling. After that we were better organised but all in all too many mistakes and a lack of quality all over. First ten minutes after the interval, we nearly conceded one, so I put in some fresh legs but we still struggled until we scored from the corner kick. If you look at the corners, we had about 12 to 3, we were more in their area but we failed to create great chances and we made too many individual mistakes. We spent 3 days this week after training, working with Tony (Obadin) and he must've had 250 headers in total. Obviously that makes me proud that he scored today. I'm very happy to see Sokumpheak on the scoresheet too. We still have to work on his fitness over 90 minutes and fitting him better into the team, but I'm happy for his confidence that he scored today." The win takes Crown up to second place in the MCL table.
PPCFC line-up: Seiha, Da (Rady 60), Pheng, Narin, Obadin, Sothy, Hasan (Seyha 60), Suhana, Oladiji, Sokumpheak (Pisa 70), Borey. Subs not used: Ary, Dara, Lika, Srin, Dary, Kano, Phearun, Morslim. Bookings: Pheng, Seyha. MOTM: Obadin.

Late leveller

National Police left it late to grab a 1-1 draw

Metfone C-League action at Olympic Stadium today saw National Police leave it very late, with just a minute to go, to level matters against Kirivong. A pretty even game looked like going Kirivong's way after Friday Nwakuna put them ahead five minute before the half-time break, finishing off a pass from Mam Sophal. David Njoku hit the post midway through the second half but it was the Police who had the last laugh. Nov Soseila looked dangerous whenever he got the ball and his short pass to Tith Dina, who curled a shot home from fifteen yards a minute from the end gave Police a share of the spoils. Over at the Army Stadium, NagaCorp also left it very late with two goals from Ishola Abiodun in the closing stages to earn them a 2-0 win over AEU. The second game at Olympic saw leaders Boeung Ket win their fifth game in five starts, beating BBU 5-0. New signing Sok Pheng whacked in a left foot drive on 13 minutes and it looked like one-way traffic from there. However, BBU had other ideas and it needed a fine Peng Bunchhay stop and a goal-line clearance to maintain their advantage. Ten minutes before the interval and Keo Sokngon headed in from close range and Chukwuma Ohuruogu did likewise two minutes before the break. Bunchhay had to make two more good saves after the restart to keep his goal intact while Oum Kumpheak headed in the Rubbermen's fourth over a stranded BBU debutant keeper Khek Chan Sambattey. Sumaila Momoh added the final nail in time added on.

Kirivong were held to a 1-1 draw with National Police

BBU came badly unstuck against Boeung Ket, losing 5-0

The Rubbermen made in 5 wins in five matches

Flashback

Cambodia singing the national anthem

Time to catch up with some more photos from Wednesday's international friendly which Cambodia won 3-1 against their regular opponents, Malaysia U-23s. In many ways it was a surprising and very welcome success. Malaysia on paper, are better than what they demonstrated on Wednesday. They will be seeking to secure a hat-trick of SEA Games wins at the end of the year. If they play like they did on Wednesday, they have no hope of achieving that. Conversely, Cambodia can take heart from their win, as they build up to the AFC Challenge Cup later this month. They didn't go gung-ho into the game, preferring to get all 11 players behind the ball for corners and free-kicks, which is a mite negative, and was the same tactic they employed against the university team from Korea. It's not my preferred tactic but it worked against Malaysia, who couldn't break them down or get past Sou Yaty in goal. Likely first choice Sun Sovannrithy and Chan Vathanaka also sat out the game, injured. It was disappointing that Kouch Sokumpheak got just a few minutes at the end of the game, but very pleased with Khim Borey's performance, after he got an early run-out following Choun Chum's injury. He scored with virtually his first touch and made the third for Khuon Laboravy.

The Cambodia team face their national flag

Lining up LtoR: Tieng Tiny, Say Piseth, Prak M Udom, Choun Chum

Lto R: Touch Pancharong, Suon Veasna, Lay Raksmey, Teab Vathanak

Lto R: Teab Vathanak, Sos Suhana, Sou Yaty, San Narith (capt)

The Cambodia bench with coaching staff and substitutes

The Malaysian U-23 starting XI

Some of the Cambodia subs including Kouch Sokumpheak and Samrith Seiha

More Cambodia subs including Khim Borey

Head coach Prak Sovannara facing the press after the final whistle

The PPCFC Academy youngsters in red attending the match

Cambodia shine

Cambodia's starting XI. Back LtoR: Udom, Yaty, Raksmey, Piseth, Tiny, Narith. Front: Chum, Veasna, Vathanak, Suhana, Pancharong

Cambodia's national team gave their fans, and themselves, a much-needed boost in the arm by defeating the Malaysian U-23s this afternoon at the Olympic Stadium. The scoreline was 3-1 and with a bit more luck it could've been a wider winning margin. The Malays are no slouches, though they certainly didn't live up to the hype in today's game. Recent draws against the national teams of Laos and Myanmar, a tour down under in Australia and an upcoming training stint in Europe, not to mention a full season, finishing 4th in the Singapore League last year under the name of Harimau Muda A, is an impressive CV. Their goal is the SEA Games in December, with the country having won the past two competitions in 2009 and 2011. On their performance at the Olympic Stadium today, they won't have a cat in hell's chance. Though their strikers kept Sou Yaty's hands warm with a couple of long-range attempts early on in today's friendly encounter, a deflected cross that flicked off the shin of Tieng Tiny was Yaty's main source of concern before Cambodia took a surprise tenth minute lead. With Choun Chum limping off to be replaced by Khim Borey on seven minutes, the Crown striker made an immediate impact. Malay keeper Izham Roslan lost his bearings as he came out of his area and Borey spotted his chance to roll the ball into an empty net from just outside the box. 1-nil and Borey couldn't quite believe his luck. Bulky Izzaq Ramlan looked as though he might cause Cambodia a few problems when he rounded Yaty after Say Piseth's weak header, but he went too wide and then planted a header over the top soon after. Prak Mony Udom chased a San Narith ball over the top and got to it before the onrushing Roslan, but couldn't direct his heavy touch goalwards. In the final minute of the opening half, Cambodia stunned the Malaysians with a second goal at just the right time. Udom, growing in maturity this season, poked a pass through for Teab Vathanak and the Naga midfielder dinked a tidy finish past Roslan. He almost repeated the feat in injury time but lobbed well over from Borey's give and go.

Tieng Tiny's rash penalty box challenge in the first minute of the 2nd half was ignored by local ref Thong Chankethya and a minute later, Yaty dived full length to keep out a downward header by Wan Zack Wan Nor as the visiting U-23s pushed forward. Sixteen minutes in and skipper San Narith was replaced, with the armband passing to Borey. Two minutes later and Malaysia reduced the deficit. A scuffed free-kick through a sea of legs was turned in my Thamil Arasu and it looked as though Cambodia would have a battle on their hands. Despite Malaysia throwing on four fresh faces, the onslaught never happened and it was the home side who came up with the better ideas. Borey cut inside and curled a shot into Roslan's hands, while Chhin Chhoeun's lob on the run went the wrong side of the upright. With five minutes left on the clock, Borey and Chhoeun exchanged long-range passes and the temporary captain's cross to the far post was nodded down and in by substitute Khuon Laboravy, much to the relief of the audience. Kouch Sokumpheak appeared for a brief cameo and it needed two more diving Yaty saves to keep the result at 3-1 in Cambodia's favour. Coach Prak Sovannara declared himself; "very proud of the team and the performance is what we wanted, and it reinforces what we are trying to achieve as we aim for the Philippines later this month." The national coach chose a mixed team with old hands such as San Narith, Tieng Tiny, Choun Chum and Teab Vathanak rubbing shoulders with the younger element of Soun Veasna, Prak Mony Udom and sub Hoy Phallin. The national team will go into training camp from Sunday and may squeeze one more friendly in before they head to Philippines for the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers between 22-26 of this month.
Cambodia line-up: Yaty, Raksmey (Sokumpheak 88), Pancharong, Piseth, Tiny, Veasna (Khemarin 64), Narith (Phallin 61), Vathanak (Laboravy 74), Suhana (Chhoeun 49), PM Udom, Chum (Borey 7). Subs not used: Seiha, Bunchhay, Thavrak, Sopanha, Sovannrithy, Rithy, Vatahanak, Chanrasmey. MOTM: PM Udom.

The 4 Phnom Penh Crown players on national team duty. LtoR: Kouch Sokumpheak, Khim Borey, Samrith Seiha, Sos Suhana

Sunday Blues

PPCFC goose-stepping in their warm-up

Another view of the proceedings before and after Phnom Penh Crown's 5-0 drubbing of the Senate Secretariat on Sunday afternoon at Olympic Stadium.

Samrith Seiha, a picture of pre-match concentration

Team captain Khim Borey leading the warm-up

Looking ahead to the match from the tunnel

Khim Borey, back in the side, is captain for the day

A toss-up by match referee Chuop Visal with the team captains

Senate line-up for snaps before the kick-off

The PPCFC community youngsters enjoying their afternoon out

The Azahar Foundation NGO introduces children from the Kien Khleang orphanage to the PPCFC senior players

Crown down AEU

PPCFC line-up. Back Row LtoR: Seyha, Njoku, Srin, Hasan, Lika, Ary. Front: Kano, Sothy, Pisa, Morslim, Phearun.

Coach Sam Schweingruber pitched his unused squad players against Asia Euro University this morning in a practice match at the RSN Stadium. The Phnom Penh Crown team contained two of the playing substitutes from the day before, namely Ouk Sothy and Chhom Pisa, but the remainder were either on the bench or not selected for the 5-0 win over Senate. Kingsley Njoku, who's been training with the team for the last week as he keeps fit whilst looking for a new club, started up front. Seut Baraing, the 13-year-old Academy full-back who trains with the senior players each morning, played for the last thirty minutes, the second time he's appeared in practice matches. Mart Hasan scored the opening goal on 11 minutes from the edge of the penalty box and Pisa, with a customary powerful shot, made the final scoreline 2-0 in Crown's favour two minutes before the end.

PPCFC line-up: Ary, Kano (Dara 45), Seyha (Phearun 60), Srin, Lika, Phearun (Rady 45), Pisa, Sothy (Njoku 75), Morslim (Baraing 60), Hasan, Njoku (Dary 45).

The Cambodia Football Development League enjoyed its second weekend of matches at the RSN Stadium on Sunday morning. The U-12 and U-14 teams played games on the grass and all-weather pitches at the stadium. In the U-12 competition, the PPCFC 1 team lost 0-5 v Prek Kdam and the PPCFC 2 team lost 0-12 v Preah Khan Reach 2. It was only the second games played for the newly-formed PPCFC U-12 teams, which are coached by Mak Phearun. For the U-14 competition, PPCFC 1 beat Rising Stars 5-4 in a close encounter but the PPCFC 2 team lost 1-9 to SSCA 1 in a more one-sided game. The U-14 boys with PPCFC are coached by Pheak Rady. There were no matches for the U-16 boys this weekend. Many of the youngsters in the PPCFC community teams then came to the Olympic Stadium to cheer the Crown senior players against Senate in the afternoon.

Udom undoes Naga

PKR with goalscorer PM Udom at far left on back row (7)

The opening Metfone C-League match on Sunday at the Olympic Stadium was decided by a quality free-kick from Preah Khan Reach's Prak Mony Udom. After a bashing by National Police the week before, PKR were determined to keep NagaCorp at bay and that's exactly what they did. The only goal of the game came on 9 minutes. The blossoming Udom curled a delightful 30-yard dead-ball strike over the defensive wall and past Phorn Ratana with aplomb. That was easily the highlight of a match played in sweltering conditions. PKR had two new foreign arrivals in their squad, James Adekunle, who started at centre-half and then moved into midfield, when PKR brought on Issac Fatomoye in defence to shore things up. They appear to have already jettisoned the Japanese and Vietnamese foreigners they played a few weeks ago.

NagaCorp had little to offer against a determined PKR side

Game plan comes unstuck

PPCFC v Senate. Back Row LtoR: Boris, Nelson, Thierry, Pheng, Narin, Obadin. Front Row: Da, Suhana, Seiha, Makara, Borey - click to enlarge

Phnom Penh Crown opened what should've been the floodgates after eight minutes of their Metfone C-League game against newcomers Senate Secretariat this afternoon, but the expected avalanche never really materialized. Despite the 5-0 scoreline in Crown's favour, head coach Sam Schweingruber was not pleased as he watched his team squander a sackful of goal-scoring opportunities. "We started aggressively, gave them no space, no time, were constantly in their faces and we should've been double that what we had at half-time. 4-0 was not a reflection of our chances. We played very well in certain situations, kept possession, got behind them, put balls into their box but we have to be better at taking our chances and at finishing. The second half was not what we trained for, not what we want to display, we didn't stick to our game plan. We had so many opportunities to do something with the ball, but we didn't do it. Winning 5-0 is okay but looking at the second half, it was very disappointing." First of all, let's be clear, Crown scored five times but could easily have doubled that tally in the opening period alone. So exactly how many chances did Crown fail to convert? In the first half, I counted at least a dozen and in the second period, another ten more, all penalty-box opportunities to score, where the guilty players either missed the target or where thwarted by Senate defenders or goalkeeper. On his return to the starting line-up, Khim Borey was the most profligate in the opening 45 minutes. And you could sense his relief when he finally made one of his half a dozen chances count. 

For Borey, his rustiness in front of goal, after what has been a formidable opening couple of months prior to his hamstring injury, was apparent from the 2nd minute. A Sos Suhana corner to the near post saw Borey edge in front of his marker, only to plant his header a foot wide. Six minutes later and Crown registered their first goal, which should've signalled the floodgates, though that never quite happened. Leng Makara was upended in mid-flight on the right touchline. Bin Thierry's inswinging free-kick was inch perfect for Makara to glance a deft backward header which nestled sweetly in the far corner to open the scoring. Three minutes later, the same player was on hand at the far post to connect with Suhana's free-kick but this time his headed effort failed to find the target. During the next 25 minutes, Crown spurned another half a dozen opportunities with the Senate defence reeling from Crown's superiority. Borey and Thierry were off target with dipping free-kicks; Borey failed to trouble the keeper with two scoring chances from eight yards set up Suhana and Nelson Oladiji; Suhana blazed over the bar from Oladiji's set-up when a controlled finish was required, and Oladiji was an inch away from adding the finishing touch to Suhana's rolled pass.

The second goal finally arrived on 38 minutes. Kok Boris' header found Borey in space and as he shaped to shoot, he eyed Makara's sprint into the box. His pass was controlled at speed by the young wingman and he took his second goal with a neat finish. Three minutes later and Borey could breathe a little easier. Thierry and Boris combined in the middle with the latter spotting Borey's movement, sending the striker through on his own, to round the Senate keeper and gleefully roll the ball into an empty net. It was his 9th goal of the season. Soon after, he sent a free header over the bar from Thourng Da's center. In the first minute of injury time, Oladiji sent Makara racing clear and when most expected a shot for his hat-trick, he unselfishly laid the ball square into the path of Suhana, who couldn't miss for Crown's fourth before the break. The second half began much as the opening half had done with Borey fluffing his finish to Da's near post cross. Fifteen minutes in and Crown added to their tally of goals. Borey and Makara combined to release Suhana and his rolled center was deflected past his own goalkeeper by Sung Menghoth for an own goal.

The Crown fans were pleased to see Kouch Sokumpheak enter the fray with 25 minutes to go and he quickly made an impression, but a combination of keeper Kha Theara and Menghoth denied him a comeback goal. Odion Obadin covered acres to get to Hong Pheng's lofted free-kick but at full stretch, he only managed to clear the cross-bar with his effort. Theara again got down to block another Sokumpheak effort with his legs and Obadin rose high but headed Chhom Pisa's corner high and wide. Oladiji went close twice without getting a telling shot away, Sokumpheak was denied by a last-ditch tackle and Oladiji sent Crown's final effort two feet too high from the edge of the box. That was it as the match ended, with Crown always in charge but rueing their plethora of missed chances to add to their final total.
PPCFC line-up v Senate: Seiha, Da, Pheng, Narin, Obadin, Boris (Sothy 61), Thierry (Sokumpheak 65), Suhana (Pisa 72), Nelson, Makara, Borey. Subs not used: Ary, Dara, Lika, Seyha, Srin, Phearun, Dary, Hasan. Bookings: Thierry. MOTM: Makara. 

Army outgunned

Army, missing 5 regulars, were outgunned 3-1 by the Rubbermen

Watching Cambodian national coach Prak Sovannara must've winced when Chan Vathanaka was carried off in Boeung Ket's 3-1 canter against a depleted Army at Olympic Stadium this afternoon. He's one of the coach's bright young hopes as Cambodia build towards their AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in Philippines later this month. And Sovannara will be hoping the teenager will be fit enough for Wednesday's friendly against the Malaysia U-23 team. Vathanaka had been introduced after 35 minutes of this afternoon's Metfone C-League game, with the Rubbermen leading through Sumaila Momoh's 11th-minute half-volley. Momoh had then turned saviour when he headed clear off his own goal-line with Boeung Ket still ahead at the interval. Within three minutes of the restart, Vathanaka cashed in on some defensive hesitancy by the Army back-line. Fifteen minutes later, Bisan George netted his customary goal, when he outwitted two defenders and the keeper, and celebrated with a triple somersault. It was his sixth goal attempt and his first on target. Half an hour into the 2nd half and Vathanaka went down off the ball and was stretchered off. Keo Sokngorn replaced him but looks woefully short of confidence ahead of the midweek international friendly. Army's Pov Phearith curled in a gorgeous free-kick in injury time to close the game, 3-1 in favour of Boeung Ket.

In the second game of the day, Kirivong took a two-goal lead by the 14th minute and never looked in trouble against a toothless BBU. Friday Nwakuna netted from a spot-kick on 8 minutes after Sos Proshim had clattered Ek Vannak. Then Morm Sophal volleyed in Hou Sambo's corner for their second. Two goals in sixty seconds, thirteen minutes after the half-time break, saw Sambo extend Kirivong's lead from close range and then Pech Sina grabbed a BBU consolation. With the clock running down, Savoan Ratanakvisa lobbed a fourth for Kirivong. In the 3pm kick-off at the Army Stadium, AEU will be pleased with their 1-1 draw against third-placed National Police.

Boeung Ket made it 4 wins in 4 league matches

BBU looked toothless and ineffectual against Kirivong

Kirivong won their 2nd game in 4 league matches

Time to gel

Will Kouch Sokumpheak (10) feature in the national team? Pic: Bunsak But/NagaCorp

The Cambodian national team have been in squad training a few times each week for a while now and get to strut their stuff in a friendly match on Wednesday 6 March at the Olympic Stadium, when they take on the Malaysian U-23s, with a 4pm kick-off. The Malaysians have been offering their services for match practice with other national teams and in the past week have drawn 0-0 with Myanmar and 3-3 with Laos. With the Cambodians gearing up for the AFC Challenge Cup qualification games to be held in the Philippines between 22-26 March, matches like these are vital for coach Prak Sovannara to gel a starting line-up from his squad. Now that Kouch Sokumpheak and Khuon Laboravy have returned to league action with their respective clubs, the pressure will be on Sovannara to include them in his plans. A training squad of 30 players will have to be reduced soon enough. Cambodia take on Turkmenistan (22 Mar), host country Philippines (24 Mar) and Brunei (26 Mar).

News leaked out today that Cambodia looks certain to host the SEA Games in 2023, exactly ten years from now. This will be a massive undertaking by the country to get their sports facilities up to scratch as well as their human resources, but they have a decade to do it and will need considerable input and finance from the government and outside sources. Myanmar are hosting the SEA Games this year - they are held every two years - with Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei to follow. And now it looks like Cambodia will be doing the honours in 2023. I went to the SEA Games in Laos and I know how big a job it is to get it right.