Equity Weekly on football

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZqzpwyID7R8" allowfullscreen="" width="360" frameborder="0" height="300"></iframe><br /></div>This YouTube video has a 30-minute opening slot on the state of football in Cambodia, both at senior, grassroots and youth level. It's part of a programme from Equity Weekly that was first broadcast at the very end of last year. Fortunately, there's a subtitled translation into English. For more information about the great work of the SALT Academy in Battambang, click <a href="http://saltacademy.net/" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">here</a>.

Equity Weekly on football

This YouTube video has a 30-minute opening slot on the state of football in Cambodia, both at senior, grassroots and youth level. It's p...

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Home and away

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhloR9WpOnn5wpfd2xk7kvfnQO23Xf4Xs2l9Uf5IW25nVwHtWTZD-XFImkVZvE33FNQoZaRqOWiXt1eH-N8T_Tvzh8YsiobbZA0_kWSsGJMMFj_AEOKGNvpQ5-pfq8FLy4aHwkQHt_N4GPx/s1600/203729.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595840975124596482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhloR9WpOnn5wpfd2xk7kvfnQO23Xf4Xs2l9Uf5IW25nVwHtWTZD-XFImkVZvE33FNQoZaRqOWiXt1eH-N8T_Tvzh8YsiobbZA0_kWSsGJMMFj_AEOKGNvpQ5-pfq8FLy4aHwkQHt_N4GPx/s400/203729.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">The Phnom Penh Crown headquarters at Tuol Kork taking shape</span><br /></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cambodian football</span> must begin to move forwards into a professional era. There is a whole list of priorities that need to be done to achieve this from employing professional administrators, to ensuring financially-sound clubs, to lawful players contracts, to a countrywide youth and grassroots development plan and much more. Even announcing the fixtures more than a week in advance of the season kicking-off would be a start. One of the most basic priorities is for all clubs to own or lease their own ground and for the C-League to be played on a proper home and away basis. At the moment, all matches are played at the National Olympic Stadium, so all teams are on equal footing, there is no advantage whatsoever of playing at home, or playing away. Whilst it makes it straightforward for the football-watching public as all the games are at one location, it does nothing to help generate any loyal following, any pride in playing matches at your home ground, there is no real or obvious distinction between the teams. To bring Cambodian football on a par with most other countries, both in the region and worldwide, this has got to be addressed sooner than later. My understanding is that this is something that the football federation president is keen on happening.<br />To achieve this, the federation must set a timeline for this basic but major step forward to be completed. A maximum of five years from now, all of the ten teams in the premier division of the C-League must have their own home ground or stadium and be capable of playing competitive matches in both the league and cup competitions, safely and in line with a set of criteria, that would include a suitable playing surface and practice area, changing room facilities, floodlights and both seated and standing terraces. Obviously that would be a massive leap for many clubs to achieve as we stand today. Perhaps only the Army, who have the Old Stadium as their headquarters, would be in a position to make that move right now. Though teams like Phnom Penh Crown, who own their training ground in Tuol Kork and who have room to expand, could achieve it in a fairly short time frame. For others it would take a while longer and without a firm financial commitment of sponsors and benefactors, not to mention paying supporters coming through the turnstiles, then for some it would be impossible to make it happen. Some clubs will fall by the wayside, others will rise to meet the challenge, but its a step that Cambodian football must take in my view, and one which they should put in motion sooner than later.

Home and away

The Phnom Penh Crown headquarters at Tuol Kork taking shape Cambodian football must begin to move forwards into a professional era. There i...

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A pin drop

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCapeVjs9RIQM77nwfbW8GTVffinWuaVav34ie1eYMm8rBee2L7vIB4xxB6ao4AXsXCpvuaNOO7eb9dhGAMZvZMSHLm0dKJq98ptNSga5SSn_vEZGWinoiTJ6rvKfHfW2fXmY0SGjfPMdL/s1600/small05438.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595126348600046658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCapeVjs9RIQM77nwfbW8GTVffinWuaVav34ie1eYMm8rBee2L7vIB4xxB6ao4AXsXCpvuaNOO7eb9dhGAMZvZMSHLm0dKJq98ptNSga5SSn_vEZGWinoiTJ6rvKfHfW2fXmY0SGjfPMdL/s400/small05438.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 376px; height: 147px;" /></a>It's all gone deathly quiet at the Cambodian football federation this month. I can hear a pin drop as far as the just released FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings are concerned. It was only a few weeks ago that the FFC were jumping up and down and shouting from the rooftops that the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cambodian national team</span> had moved to an all-time highest ranking of 154th and the national coach, Lee Tae-Hoon even suggested that they were seeking to break into the top 100. Get real coach. The abject failure to get through the AFC Challenge Cup group matches played in the Maldives has seen Cambodia sink back down to 169th, that's a fall of 15 places in a month. The three teams that inflicted defeats on us, Maldives, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, have all shot up the rankings table, leaving Cambodia just six places ahead of their next opponents, Laos. The next big test for Cambodia, and they need to succeed or face a ruinous stint under the leadership of the South Korean coach, will be in the 1st qualifying round of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">2014 FIFA World Cup</span>, with the two legs to be played in Phnom Penh on 29 June, and in Vientiane on 3 July. The carrot of meeting China in the next round will certainly focus the intentions of both teams, who played out a goal-less draw in the Suzuki Cup in Vientiane in October last year, when they last met. The national coach has already called for a heavy training programme ahead of the two legs, following the Khmer New Year break this week, though he seems to forget that all of the Metfone C-League teams have another seven league games to fit in during the next two months, before the mid-season break kicks-in in mid June. So his training time with the squad members will be pretty limited and he'll have to seek the goodwill of the club coaches to ensure that his strict training regime doesn't interfere with the league programme. In addition, he would be well advised to get on the phone to Khim Borey in Sisaket, as well as on bended knee, to secure the services of the striker who is playing at the highest level of football of any current Cambodian player. And he can add Phnom Penh Crown utility player San Narith to his wish-list as well. To make certain of that win against Laos, they will need their strongest line-up.

A pin drop

It's all gone deathly quiet at the Cambodian football federation this month. I can hear a pin drop as far as the just released FIFA/Coca...

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Plum draw

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtWg8WkNN3TP8yirrBEJ1DOun-T4xw20ITobFZtm3Q9sJBtCkKjf15A3SFB_QmTmKXxkbLKbo1dAR2KLL-H7LY3CveCyhDd-ynnxCBApFZ408ICNDRAMN2KbHIhANTiVmuIUPfW9kVHmr/s1600/asia_wc_2014.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589813935446703106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtWg8WkNN3TP8yirrBEJ1DOun-T4xw20ITobFZtm3Q9sJBtCkKjf15A3SFB_QmTmKXxkbLKbo1dAR2KLL-H7LY3CveCyhDd-ynnxCBApFZ408ICNDRAMN2KbHIhANTiVmuIUPfW9kVHmr/s400/asia_wc_2014.png" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 100px;" /></a>The draw for the opening stages of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">2014 FIFA World Cup </span>has been made in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon. It's the first qualifying round of the Asian region of the competition and Cambodia have been drawn home and away against our neighbours from Laos. There are 16 teams in the 1st qualifying round and the matches will be played, in Phnom Penh on 29 June, and in Vientiane on 3 July. On paper, according to the FIFA rankings, then Cambodia at 154th will have too much for Laos at 170th, but believe me, that won't be the case. Laos will be an extremely difficult opponent but the promise of a two-legged match against China in Round 2 will be a prize that should see both teams busting a proverbial gut to get through. China are the 76th ranked team in the world and the 5th best in Asia, so that would be a plum tie to get, with matches on 23 and 28 July. The games against Laos will be held during the mid-season break for the Metfone C-League which kicks-off this coming Saturday. The last meeting between the two countries was a goal-less draw in the Suzuki Cup in Vientiane in October last year.

Plum draw

The draw for the opening stages of the 2014 FIFA World Cup has been made in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon. It's the first qualifying roun...

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Cheats don't prosper

<span style="font-weight: bold;">Age-cheating</span> has been taking place for many years in Asian football, especially in age group tournaments. For example random testing at past FIFA U-17 tournaments showed approximately 30% of players were deemed to be overage, so it wasn't purely an Asian problem. However, in Asia, passports are deemed unreliable (birth certificates are often unavailable), so the football authorities have gone more hi-tech and introduced MIR scans to determine age. In 2007 the Asian Football Confederation began MRI scanning after concluding that an MRI scan showing grade 6 (complete fusion of radial bone growth plate), means that the player is deemed to be older than 17 years of age with a certainty of more than 99%. Thus this test was introduced for AFC U-16 tournaments and in the first year, 10 out of 437 MRI scans showed complete fusion of the radial bone, meaning the player was overage. Sanctions were applied. In 2010 not one player was deemed overage. Congratulations to the AFC for their efforts to fight this unfair practice that had plagued Asian football for so long. I must admit to be consistently surprised at the age of some of the Cambodian players playing in the C-League over the past few seasons, but without MRI scans to counteract their age claims, we'll have to accept their ages at face value.

Cheats don't prosper

Age-cheating has been taking place for many years in Asian football, especially in age group tournaments. For example random testing at pas...

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World Cup & C-League fever

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1hJEhwADmdRzaCw_f-1dM1VdAIRlej-bq-J8Bf7Xir_W7o3xyMpLUxnuOih0yQTMYzNZ2CPdfFtajCt4vlDh7Ub0q3MFayqmBQKeLqBvj_5pSR7LjOtgqlrzYnJVSKmdM1Hb7oGhNz_l/s1600/asia_wc_2014.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589196804033364818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE1hJEhwADmdRzaCw_f-1dM1VdAIRlej-bq-J8Bf7Xir_W7o3xyMpLUxnuOih0yQTMYzNZ2CPdfFtajCt4vlDh7Ub0q3MFayqmBQKeLqBvj_5pSR7LjOtgqlrzYnJVSKmdM1Hb7oGhNz_l/s400/asia_wc_2014.png" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 100px;" /></a>Tomorrow (Wednesday) Cambodia will get to hear who they meet in the 1st qualifying round of the Asian section of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">2014 FIFA World Cup</span>. 43 Asian countries are vying for the four automatic places in the finals. Cambodia, as one of the 16 lowest ranked teams in Asia, will be in one of eight two-team groups for home and away matches on 29 June and 3 July this year. Eight winners from the 1st round will join 22 higher ranked teams in round 2, again with home and away matches on 23 and 28 July. Cambodia will be hoping to reach Round 2 at least. The 16 teams, with their Asian World Cup ranking, are as follows: 28. Malaysia, 29. Afghanistan, Cambodia, 31. Nepal, 32. Bangladesh, 33. Sri Lanka, Vietnam, 35. Mongolia, 36. Pakistan, 37. Palestine, 38. Timor Leste, 39. Macau, 40. Chinese Taipei, Myanmar, 42. Laos, Philippines.<br />Yes, you read it right, Cambodia are ranked higher than Vietnam and Philippines. The former is a quirk of the ranking system, whilst the Philippines, who reached the semis of the Suzuki Cup in December and then last week progressed to the AFC Challenge Cup finals with a 3-0 win over Bangladesh, believe they may well draw Cambodia in the World Cup qualifiers. We shall see. The 1st round of the World Cup qualifiers falls during the mid-season break in the Metfone C-League, which is handy, though leaves little time for preparation of the national squad.<br /><br />Talking of the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> C-League</span>, it all kicks-off again this coming Saturday (2 April) when Phnom Penh Crown meet Naga Corp in the season's opening fixture at the Olympic Stadium (start 3pm). I'm eagerly awaiting that one. The football federation have changed their minds again and have scrapped the so-called Super 4 Play-offs at the end of the season, preferring instead to stick to the tried and tested first past the finishing post. The C-League were one of only a few leagues in the world who used the play-off system to determine their champions, a practice that I'm vehemently opposed to. FFC spokesperson May Tola said; "We are doing away with the play-offs. The team emerging at the top of the league table [at the end of the season] will get the champions tag." Apparently they bowed to pressure from the clubs themselves. Phnom Penh Crown have seen both sides of the play-off coin, so to speak. In 2009 they topped the league after the regular season but finished 4th in the play-offs. Last season, they flopped to 4th in the league but won the championship via the play-offs. This season they are aiming to be in top spot come the end of the season in early September.

World Cup & C-League fever

Tomorrow (Wednesday) Cambodia will get to hear who they meet in the 1st qualifying round of the Asian section of the 2014 FIFA World Cup . 4...

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Defeat in thriller

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuJGmrjvbEA8fvpkb83f4-9d5W-1FWAkRESOF3cW2c8J2_1LCuqJLpF0cP65QGo_kbeQd-jhhqabaCD_rk15YKEtKRdrM2mVap9Mt6hsOUwgFCx0xQynfzDCL8Fy7B6lrUIMeeiR8XH1Z/s1600/camkyrgyz1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589917113265883682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuJGmrjvbEA8fvpkb83f4-9d5W-1FWAkRESOF3cW2c8J2_1LCuqJLpF0cP65QGo_kbeQd-jhhqabaCD_rk15YKEtKRdrM2mVap9Mt6hsOUwgFCx0xQynfzDCL8Fy7B6lrUIMeeiR8XH1Z/s400/camkyrgyz1.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 289px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Cambodia line-up: [Back Row LtoR]: Mic, Nasa, Tiny, S Rithy, Pheng, Sopanha. [Front Row]: Rady, Sothearith, Pancharong, Sokumpheak, PM Udom</span><br /></span></div>Cambodia ended their Group C games in the <span style="font-weight: bold;">AFC Challenge Cup</span> tonight with a bang, going down 4-3 to the former Russian Republic of Kyrgyzstan. Head coach Lee Tae-Hoon tinkered with his starting line-up again and for this consolation rubber, made five changes from the previous match. The game started badly as usual, with Cambodia allowing their opponents to gain the upper hand with a goal from Aziz Sydykov after just 4 minutes. On the back foot again. A headed goal from Kouch Sokumpheak on 38 minutes looked likely to take the teams in level at the interval until a Rustem Usanov header in time added on gave the Kyrgyz the advantage at the break. Not to be outdone, Sokumpheak stepped up to the mark again, 3 minutes into the 2nd half to level it at 2-2. In what sounds like an intriguing encounter, there was some controversy over the third Kyrgyz goal on 79 minutes by substitute Cholponbek Esenkul and the same player netted again 5 minutes later to put them firmly in front. A Sok Rithy header 2 minutes from time caused some flutters but Cambodia couldn't find a way back and succumbed 4-3 at the final whistle. <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Cambodia's team: </span>Mic, Rady, Pancharong (T Udom 84), S Rithy, Tiny, Sopanha (Veasna 75), Sothearath, PM Udom, Sokumpheak, Nasa, Pheng (Laboravy 48). Subs not used: Bunchhay, Piseth, C Rithy, Chhoeurn. Attendance: 1,000.<br />After the match, coach Lee offered these pearls of wisdom to the assembled press. "Compared to the previous two games, we played very well tonight. That's sign of improvement. We had just four days to practice together before travelling to the Maldives. We failed to score in the last two games but tonight we scored, which is good." Can someone remind the coach that he had the players together for months, not days, prior to this competition. Also, you need to score goals to win any game, but if he paid more attention to his team's defending and not conceding early goals, then that would be the starting point. In each of the three games Cambodia gave themselves a mountain to climb by letting in very early goals, something which the coach fails to mention. The Kyrgyz camp had a different take on the game. Murat, their assistant coach said; "We made so many changes for this game. Though we won, we are not happy with the result and the performance. Cambodia tried hard and they scored from every chance they created." Earlier in the evening, hosts Maldives drew 0-0 with Tajikistan to claim top spot in the group on goal difference. Both teams progress through to the finals next year. Cambodia do not.

Defeat in thriller

Cambodia line-up: [Back Row LtoR]: Mic, Nasa, Tiny, S Rithy, Pheng, Sopanha. [Front Row]: Rady, Sothearith, Pancharong, Sokumpheak, PM Udom ...

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Tasting defeat

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP473PHpfg-sI0a5_Dv2IHRSJB59AUQ2BaszKzXxe39eOb7htMKNGvftYg1OamjIjGnPhazJlqXsKzApxZr1OzwE-j9LPqopdrnxXFCZra-rzCbZLYwHnOo4B6XKsBWb4ZjE3TmeQnKdqg/s1600/camtaji1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587370544090605474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP473PHpfg-sI0a5_Dv2IHRSJB59AUQ2BaszKzXxe39eOb7htMKNGvftYg1OamjIjGnPhazJlqXsKzApxZr1OzwE-j9LPqopdrnxXFCZra-rzCbZLYwHnOo4B6XKsBWb4ZjE3TmeQnKdqg/s400/camtaji1.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Cambodia v Tajikistan; Back Row LtoR: Soksana, C Rithy, Bunchhay, S Rithy, Laboravy, Tiny. Front Row: Rady, Sothearath, Veasna, Pancharong, Sokumpheak</span><br /></span></div>Can you adam and eve it? Cambodia went behind to another goal in the 1st minute against Tajikistan tonight in their <span style="font-weight: bold;">AFC Challenge Cup</span> Group C tie. Needing a win to have a real chance to stay in the hunt for a place in the finals, Cambodia had a case of deja vu after Maldives scored in the 1st minute of their match two days ago. In their recurring nightmare, Nuriddin Davronov netted from close range for the former Russian republic, who won their first match against Kyrgyzstan. Two more goals in the last ten minutes killed off Cambodia's challenge, as they went down 3-0. Davronjon Ergashev netted after 82 minutes and then Ibragim Rabimov scored a third with a couple of minutes remaining. Cambodia's coach Lee Tae-Hoon made no less than six changes from the starting line-up he chose in the 1st game, as he responded to the dismal showing. However, his new plan didn't work out either as the group favourites always had the upper hand and came on strong as the game wore on. Two defeats in two games leaves Cambodia out of contention, with just a consolation game against Kyrgyzstan to come on Friday. The only player he hasn't used so far is the Army's Thong Udom, so he will definitely get a game in that one. The Cambodia line-up was: Bunchhay, Rady, Pancharong, Tiny, S Rithy, Sothearath (Sopanha 67), Veasna, Soksana (Pheng 56), C Rithy, Laboravy, Sokumpheak (Chhoeurn 77). Subs not used: Mic, Raksmey, Piseth, T Udom, PM Udom, El Nasa. Attendance 550. Earlier in the day, hosts Maldives scored another success with a 2-1 win over the Kyrg team to book their place in the finals.

Tasting defeat

Cambodia v Tajikistan; Back Row LtoR: Soksana, C Rithy, Bunchhay, S Rithy, Laboravy, Tiny. Front Row: Rady, Sothearath, Veasna, Pancharong, ...

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Aftermath

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtVkZOVT_dALuds8mnWM0whpmEEtAR_AjFfaPvADph6thk0_WsUHLIE-YkKR0MRd7Cr1FmaXAijyxYk3pMI-Cr_jMteqgqc-JUcJXPQr4HFPfTdBlDpIJdgJvRhXXTl6RqIqLMMqtBtGO/s1600/small05438.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586832695627115234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtVkZOVT_dALuds8mnWM0whpmEEtAR_AjFfaPvADph6thk0_WsUHLIE-YkKR0MRd7Cr1FmaXAijyxYk3pMI-Cr_jMteqgqc-JUcJXPQr4HFPfTdBlDpIJdgJvRhXXTl6RqIqLMMqtBtGO/s400/small05438.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 376px; height: 147px;" /></a>I really didn't want to hear this from the Maldives camp after they comprehensively dismissed the Cambodian national team in last night's <span style="font-weight: bold;">AFC Challenge Cup</span> tie, winning 4-0. The Maldives skipper, star player and hat-trick hero, Ali Ashfaq told the press after the game: "The coach doesn't know much about us. The coach asked before the game, how we wanted to play. We told the coach, we wanted to press and play a pressured game for the first 20 minutes and to score a goal during that period. The plan worked. Now the coach would know our level of football, so he could make a plan for the next games."<br />The new Maldives coach, Argentinian Diego Cruciani, a former coach of <span class="bodytext-news">Bangladesh, who's monthly salary and other expenses are paid for by Kuwait, agreed. "You should not congratulate me. All the credit goes to the players. I just had three practice sessions with the players and I don't know them very well. So I asked them before the match, how they want to face the game. They said, coach we want to win the game. We want to play a pressing game in the first few minutes. I told them, yes let's do it! So all the credit goes to them."<br />Does his salary as the coach go to them to I wonder? Is this player power in action? Maybe Lee Tae-Hoon would do well to ask his players how they wanted to play in the next game against </span>Tajikistan on Wednesday in the 2nd match of Group C. And then the South Korean FA, who pay Lee's salary, can pass that onto the players. They certainly couldn't do any worse. We have to ask the question how a country of 300,000 fishermen and hotel personnel can so comprehensively beat a Cambodian team (drawn from a population of 14 million) after just three training sessions with their new coach. Lee has been in charge of the national team since August and between the unsuccessful 3-game stint in the Suzuki Cup and qualification for the current competition, he's had almost unrestricted access to his national squad for that whole period, playing a plethora of friendly games, including a 4-1 spanking by a Korean university team, and training sessions. Yet despite all that we arrive in the Maldives without key players, left behind by the coach in a fit of pique, and get another walloping, this time meted out by a team below us in the FIFA rankings. I'm not surprised as we suffered an ignominious loss to one of the region's whipping-boys in Macau as well, only scraping through 5-4 on aggregate. All in all it doesn't add up to carrying great armfuls of optimism into Wednesday's game against the strongest team in Group C from the ex-Russian republic of Tajikistan. I fear the worst. I am equally concerned that we could find ourselves out in the international wilderness with World Cup qualifying matches coming up in the middle of the year, which if we carry on in the same vein, will most likely result in the same disappointment. Cambodia are ranked in 30th place amongst the Asian qualifiers and will know their World Cup opponents on 30 March.<span style="font-family:helvetica;font-size:85%;"><br /></span>

Aftermath

I really didn't want to hear this from the Maldives camp after they comprehensively dismissed the Cambodian national team in last night...

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Sunk in the Maldives

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNvRexsiAId6zKE0e8RIQC0Nj2N5HQ8cHD6tNxogTQVHoGednXlvLKvO24Gr-Jw-tsy9aIv6iBgPwVVg7F9LH-JuGJRyCGLCtIbz27U3HT7Rn_brNG7Vd8BJ0Y6IqTmkdXB8BBpkntECI/s1600/maldi.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586589726234447058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNvRexsiAId6zKE0e8RIQC0Nj2N5HQ8cHD6tNxogTQVHoGednXlvLKvO24Gr-Jw-tsy9aIv6iBgPwVVg7F9LH-JuGJRyCGLCtIbz27U3HT7Rn_brNG7Vd8BJ0Y6IqTmkdXB8BBpkntECI/s400/maldi.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Ali Ashfaq nets for Maldives in the 41st minute; he went onto score a hat-trick</span></span><br /></div>A 1st half of woe for the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cambodia national team</span> in Male. Maldives, the home nation in this AFC Challenge Cup Group C qualifying match scored in the 1st and the 41st minute to take a 2-nil lead into the half-time interval, in front of 8,000 spectators. From the live commentary on maldivesoccer.com it looked like the Maldives had most of the ball in the 1st 45 minutes, with Khuon Laboravy finally getting Cambodia's first shot on target in the 39th minute. Maldives took the earliest of leads when Mukhuthar Naseer netted in the opening minute from an acute angle. The worst possible start for Cambodia. With the half-time break approaching, the Maldives, through their influential skipper Ali Ashfaq scored their 2nd goal, leaving Cambodia with a mountain to climb. We did a little better in the 2nd half but two more goals from the talismanic Ali Ashfaq, in the 83rd and 87th minutes left Cambodia to lick their wounds after a 4-0 defeat. The starting line-up for Cambodia: Mic, Raksmey, Pancharong, Piseth, Tiny, Sothearath, Sopanha, PM Udom (C Rithy 74), Laboravy (Chhoeurn 45), Nasa (Pheng 44), Sokumpheak. Unused subs: Bunchhay, Rady, S Rithy, Soksana, T Udom, Veasna. The Group C favourites are Tajikistan and they beat arch-rivals and neighbours Kyrgyzstan 1-0 in the earlier kick-off, with an own goal three minutes from time.<br />Cambodia's South Korean coach Lee Tae-Hoon admitted his team were well beaten. "The Maldivian side were too good for us. They played superbly today. We have got some very young players and we are gaining experience from these matches. The opponents that we face in these matches are very good and it's a good experience for the players. They would learn from the mistakes they did today and hopefully they would improve in the next game."<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXTJ7lE7wezeYeIHfqd7lRlCw1LX92XkqxmJ_Ny3dxtA1Zx9bBArEqTZm2RCtjrQNT_9KOsx3upHfuXstHZbj2QOwhezCN2qxJUvXqlugVSiAvFuchkK-TQQwPS9TGnfvoHIiJ2R77-gh/s1600/cammald1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586712252672678754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXTJ7lE7wezeYeIHfqd7lRlCw1LX92XkqxmJ_Ny3dxtA1Zx9bBArEqTZm2RCtjrQNT_9KOsx3upHfuXstHZbj2QOwhezCN2qxJUvXqlugVSiAvFuchkK-TQQwPS9TGnfvoHIiJ2R77-gh/s400/cammald1.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 252px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Cambodia's starting line-up v Maldives: Back Row LtoR: Mic, PM Udom, Sopanha, Piseth, Tiny, Laboravy. Front Row; Sothearath, Pancharong, Nasa, Sokumpheak, Raksmey.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BNriW__UOxo" width="360" frameborder="0" height="300"></iframe><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></div>

Sunk in the Maldives

Ali Ashfaq nets for Maldives in the 41st minute; he went onto score a hat-trick A 1st half of woe for the Cambodia national team in Male. M...

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A tough ask for Cambodia

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGdDTCPHhb4q5HCjOlv1iy-IB-44upA1SEuL5apwb7IA_U_rIPMBok6T4PUlb2WK6aOiwOnCGoD6LXmyIiGbhdExrMfohrQzu6nlQkphsZOeBg8-Y_TlIL6IT9NimgzhwRMQRlE12IKvg/s1600/cam2011.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586240904719916114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGdDTCPHhb4q5HCjOlv1iy-IB-44upA1SEuL5apwb7IA_U_rIPMBok6T4PUlb2WK6aOiwOnCGoD6LXmyIiGbhdExrMfohrQzu6nlQkphsZOeBg8-Y_TlIL6IT9NimgzhwRMQRlE12IKvg/s400/cam2011.JPG" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">The Cambodian national team prepare for departure</span><br /></span></div>It pains me to say it but the Cambodian national team will really have their work cut out to progress from their <span style="font-weight: bold;">AFC Challenge Cup</span> group matches, that are being staged in Male, in the Maldives this week. On paper the Cambodia team are ranked by FIFA as the 2nd best team in the group in 154th place, though with home advantage I expect Maldives to put in that extra effort when the teams meet later tonight. Maldives are ranked in 161st place and will be no push-overs. The best team in the group are undoubtedly Tajikistan (ranked 148th) and they grabbed third place in the 2010 Challenge Cup competition, so the match against Cambodia on Wednesday (23 Mar) will be a tough ask for our boys. Incidentally, Tajikistan won the competition in 2006 and were runners-up in 2008. The final game on Friday (25 Mar) will be against 174th placed Kyrgyzstan, but they finished in 3rd spot in 2006 and have a good club pedigree in the President's Cup. All 3 of Cambodia's matches begin at 11pm Cambodian time.<br /><br />In the 2010 qualification group matches for the AFC Challenge Cup, Cambodia went down narrowly to host country Bangladesh (0-1) and Myanmar (0-1) and beat Macau (2-1) but it wasn't enough to get through the group stage. The Maldives also didn't get through their group, held in Male, despite wins over Philippines (3-2) and Bhutan (5-0), as a 3-1 defeat against Turkmenistan was their undoing, on goal difference. The other country to play in the group qualifiers was Kyrgyzstan, who went through courtesy of more goals scored after two drawn matches against Nepal and Palestine. Once they were through to the competition proper, Kyrgyzstan started well with a 2-1 win over India before bowing out with defeats against North Korea (4-0) and Turmenistan (1-0). As for Tajikistan, they were automatic qualifiers for the finals last year, and despite a 2-1 loss to Bangladesh in the opening game, they roared back to beat Sri Lanka 3-1 and Myanmar 3-0 to reach the semi-final. They lost 2-0 to Turkmenistan but did claim 3rd place with a 1-0 win over Myanmar.

A tough ask for Cambodia

The Cambodian national team prepare for departure It pains me to say it but the Cambodian national team will really have their work cut out ...

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Shock exclusions

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxK5x0E_BAaN_hS27Eli1lRNA5moLe0W63pbeG2vxjTz2mXKo8BB1R93ajytClq5jc_Q-TkWx5sxdNtJfwmuGUirA8d2UNl1U2uX4IrFqbntmug0-FNzBe6ull1dm0iii7hbQOoIpOloI/s1600/Borey+small.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584237492329912658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxK5x0E_BAaN_hS27Eli1lRNA5moLe0W63pbeG2vxjTz2mXKo8BB1R93ajytClq5jc_Q-TkWx5sxdNtJfwmuGUirA8d2UNl1U2uX4IrFqbntmug0-FNzBe6ull1dm0iii7hbQOoIpOloI/s200/Borey+small.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 200px;" /></a>The 20-man squad that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cambodia</span> will be taking to the Maldives for the final qualifying group stage of the AFC Challenge Cup has thrown up a couple of shock selections, not least the exclusion of two players who most observers would expect to be in the starting line-up for any of the country's international matches, let alone the three massively important games to be played in less than a week. Cambodia meet Maldives (21 Mar), Tajikistan (23 Mar) and Kyrgyzstan (25 Mar) in Group C of the competition in Male, and I think South Korean coach Lee Tae-Hoon has dropped a massive clanger in not including Phnom Penh Crown's San Narith whilst Sisaket's Khim Borey (<span style="font-style: italic;">pictured</span>) is also missing, and the coach's selection also leaves out Army wideman Phuong Soksana and another Thai-based player, Srey Veasna. Narith has been a versatile midfielder-cum-defensive lynchpin for Cambodia for the last few seasons and is a major surprise to see him cast aside, whilst Borey has recently played his first game for his new Thai Premier Division club and is playing at the highest level of anyone in the Cambodian team. Of course, having just joined a new team puts pressure on Borey to stay and fight for his place in his club's starting line-up but the striker is one of those players who would do everything in his power to play for his country, so I'd like to hear Tae-Hoon's take on it. Soksana has proved to be a good impact player on occasions and Veasna too, had a great season for Phnom Penh Crown last term before his move to Thailand. Instead, Lee Tae-Hoon has picked inexperienced players at this level of competition such as Touch Panhcharong, Chhin Chhoeurn, Thong Udom, Suon Veasna, Sok Pheng and others, in what could be seen as the country's most important series of matches this year. In the local press the coach has been bemoaning his squad's lack of preparation because of the Hun Sen Cup competition which has just ended, and yet on the other hand he's dispensed with the services of San Narith, who is fresh and raring to go after Crown's quarter-final exit from the cup. The full squad is: Ouk Mic, Peng Bunchhay, Pheak Rady, Lay Raksmey, Tieng Tiny, Touch Panhcharong, Say Piseth, Thong Udom, Sok Rithy; Keo Sokngorn, Khuon Laboravy, Chhin Chhoeurn, Chan Rithy, Chhun Sothearath, Prak Mony Udom, Sun Sopanha, Suon Veasna; Kouch Sokumpheak, Sam El Nasa, Sok Pheng.

Shock exclusions

The 20-man squad that Cambodia will be taking to the Maldives for the final qualifying group stage of the AFC Challenge Cup has thrown up...

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On top of the rankings

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGET44mInDxqCjDh5JvhrCpWLmkkoJ2ckCLs3-fyHyuw3YdLoZre9hygZPYfH2IROrGaItcZvQk-a-L1kVtH5_-5ldfP1XHjyFhuKFS4Ui3OIlEvWOZH-dnlKxakiotxZ_AkDeXjGCRfG/s1600/natvmacau2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582383516402886674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGET44mInDxqCjDh5JvhrCpWLmkkoJ2ckCLs3-fyHyuw3YdLoZre9hygZPYfH2IROrGaItcZvQk-a-L1kVtH5_-5ldfP1XHjyFhuKFS4Ui3OIlEvWOZH-dnlKxakiotxZ_AkDeXjGCRfG/s400/natvmacau2.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">The Cambodian national team in Macau; [Back row, LtoR] Rithy, Sopanha, Mic, Laboravy, Piseth, Borey [front row] Tiny, Raksmey, Pancharong, Sothearath, Sokumpheak</span><br /></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-style: italic;">Stop Press</span>....The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cambodian national football team </span>rock up to 154th place in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola world rankings, their highest-ever placing. Jumping twelve places, they reached a peak since the rankings were introduced in 1993, following their AFC Challenge Cup success over Macau. Not that it really means diddly-squat because it's what happens on the field that really matters, but as they approach the AFC Challenge Cup Group C games in the Madives from 21-25 March, they are now the 2nd best-ranked team in the group and as such are on course to qualify for the finals in early 2012, as one of the two qualifiers from each of the four groups. On paper at least. Here are their games in the AFC Challenge Cup later this month, with rankings and dates of the matches in brackets; Maldives (161st, 21 Mar), Tajikistan (148th, 23 Mar) and Kyrgyzstan (174th, 25 Mar).

On top of the rankings

The Cambodian national team in Macau; [Back row, LtoR] Rithy, Sopanha, Mic, Laboravy, Piseth, Borey [front row] Tiny, Raksmey, Pancharong, S...

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18-man squad announced

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N2YROf72CiPZXwOIQ1MBukr9B05A7oiMFlVlaxefFGqMtUq2dl45SxIIczoBqVj-bDSHQDM-bGtlv7gEuKjlhdRRuVHH4MFfo9BIDtJTCX2spAxdQ50FFrr0LQ0pqNdEHUObo20ULCD0/s1600/sokngorn.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530323165633958962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3N2YROf72CiPZXwOIQ1MBukr9B05A7oiMFlVlaxefFGqMtUq2dl45SxIIczoBqVj-bDSHQDM-bGtlv7gEuKjlhdRRuVHH4MFfo9BIDtJTCX2spAxdQ50FFrr0LQ0pqNdEHUObo20ULCD0/s200/sokngorn.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 200px;" /></a>The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cambodian national squad</span> for the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifying games in Laos this month, flew out from Pochentong Airport today, after the 18-man squad was named by South Korean coach Lee Ta-Hoon. Here is the line-up:<br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Goalkeepers:</span> </span>Ouk Mic, Peng Bunchhay.<br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Defenders:</span> Rang Borin, Pheak Rady, <span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204); font-style: italic;"></span>Tieng Tiny, Sok Rithy, Lay Raksmey, San Narith.<br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Midfielders:</span> Sun Sopanha, Ieng Piseth, Phuong Soksana, Chhun Sothearath, <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 204, 204);"></span> Khuon Laboravy, Tum Saray.<br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Forwards:</span> Khim Borey, Kouch Sokumpheak, Nuth Sinoun, Keo Sokngorn (<span style="font-style: italic;">pictured right</span>).<br /><br />These are the men tasked by the head coach with gaining one of the two available qualifying slots from the competition in Vientiane over the next week. It will be tough as both the Philippines and Laos are rated higher than Cambodia, but it's an achievable goal, and one which we managed, albeit with home soil advantage, in 2008. I was a mite surprised to see Tum Saray and Phuong Soksana included after watching them for half an hour against the National Police, as well as throughout the C-League season that's just finished. They've been selected at the expense of the two Dalin's, Sin and Samuth, though I don't expect either to get a starting place. I've mentioned before that a number of the country's best players weren't selected by the new coach and his assistants, though that's water under the bridge now as we need to get behind the 18 players and the coaching team and their combined bid to gain qualification to the group stage of the AFF Suzuki Cup. Come on Cambodia.

18-man squad announced

The Cambodian national squad for the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifying games in Laos this month, flew out from Pochentong Airport today, after the ...

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A look at our opponents

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaGeCym8RdQMHRs8tjQigbws5UOvkfGCMM71cvIpeNPD81EyK64OWrodev1u4vWLjO-eSNDiNrXT8k2V8u8B8dQMgpie-0jRxypgSFsQKXPk7u9QHBbqy7QtWTenJtwomv4Uo9b7DA0mN/s1600/suzuk2010a.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529594328574447618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaGeCym8RdQMHRs8tjQigbws5UOvkfGCMM71cvIpeNPD81EyK64OWrodev1u4vWLjO-eSNDiNrXT8k2V8u8B8dQMgpie-0jRxypgSFsQKXPk7u9QHBbqy7QtWTenJtwomv4Uo9b7DA0mN/s400/suzuk2010a.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 385px; height: 221px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Cambodia line-up for the camera a few days ago </span><br /></span></div>As the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cambodian national football</span> team get themselves ready to depart for the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifiers in Vientiane, Laos tomorrow, let's take a quick look at their opponents who will be aiming to put one over Cambodia and qualify for the Suzuki Cup group stages in December. If we look first at the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings then Cambodia are the third best of the four teams taking part in the qualifying matches. Top of the pile are the Philippines, ranked 165th in the world, followed by hosts Laos at 177th. Cambodia lie one place below at 178th, tied with Dominica, whilst the whipping boys should be Timor Leste who rank 201st. However, FIFA rankings mean little when it comes down to the blood and thunder of the qualifying games. In the 2008 qualifiers held in Phnom Penh, it was Laos and Cambodia who went through, though Philippines are still smarting over missing out by goal difference. This time around they are making waves under new coach Simon McMenemy, only six weeks into the job, and who just beat Macau 5-0 in a 4-team tournament. At 32 he's the youngest international coach in the world and can count an international cap with Brunei before coaching youngsters at some of England's best clubs. Amongst his squad will be Neil Etheridge, the number 2 goalkeeper at Fulham, 2nd Division players from Germany, Holland and Iceland and the Younghusband brothers, who have bags of experience. They will be a tough nut to crack. Laos also have a new man at the helm, former Grimsby and Darlington boss David Booth, who has arrived from Indian club football. He has international experience as coach of Myanmar, so he knows the drill and what's required to qualify, especially as the pressure will be on the host country.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Striker Lamnao Singto is their man to watch. Timor Leste are the underdogs, as usual, though their 2-2 draw with Cambodia in 2008 still ranks as their best result in Suzuki Cup history. They too have a new coach in Brazilian Antonio Carlos Viera, who previously led Belize.<br /><br />Cambodia's matches in the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifying competition are as follows:<br />22 Oct: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Laos v Cambodia</span> 6.30pm<br />24 Oct: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cambodia v Timor Leste</span> 4pm<br />26 Oct: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Philippines v Cambodia</span> 4pm<br />You can find out more about the AFF Suzuki Cup <a href="http://affsuzukicup.com/" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">here</a>.

A look at our opponents

Cambodia line-up for the camera a few days ago As the Cambodian national football team get themselves ready to depart for the AFF Suzuki Cu...

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Another damp squib

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5bVkQDxfiaTZRuHNazWmorhm4Ok05qud4EDJUoF15pkQiOrGqecFi2Gu2Wb3QX3xd8862k6KXBPPUV0AodmJwxAQJvPnsFs9F_rt8qxsQpF6lfd7CPBSjpJ4jjxLL-bVsvl_wM4Xq0sW/s1600/203318.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529349116745888514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5bVkQDxfiaTZRuHNazWmorhm4Ok05qud4EDJUoF15pkQiOrGqecFi2Gu2Wb3QX3xd8862k6KXBPPUV0AodmJwxAQJvPnsFs9F_rt8qxsQpF6lfd7CPBSjpJ4jjxLL-bVsvl_wM4Xq0sW/s400/203318.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">The 2nd string starting line-up for today's game; (Back row LtoR): Soksana, Bunhieng, Bunchhay, Sovanara, Rithy, Sinoun. (front row): Samuth Dalin, Rady, Piseth, Sin Dalin, Saray</span><br /></span></div>The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cambodian national team</span> completed their warm-up games this afternoon, with a 1-1 draw with the Police Commissariat team before they fly to Laos on Wednesday, though it ended in a damp squib, in more ways than one. South Korean coach Lee Tae-Hoon began the game with what most regard as his second string line-up and it showed. For the thirty minute first half against the recently promoted Police team, the national team looked pretty clueless and found themselves a goal down at the interval. On 26 minutes, the Police passed their way through the centre of the national defence, leaving Sophal Udom (who has just completed a 6-month ban after playing for Khemara last campaign) with the room to finish with a sweet strike. It was no more than the Police team deserved as they bossed most of the first half against their more illustrious opponents. By half-time, the coach had seen enough and for the 2nd period, he replaced the whole team. The second half began in torrential rain, the sort that makes passing football impossible, and though the national team looked considerably brighter, the waterlogged pitch did nothing to help their game. Khuon Laboravy's shot crept under the foot of a defender and over the line for the equalizing goal 9 minutes after the restart but with the unrelenting rain coming down in buckets, coach Lee Tae-Hoon instructed the referee to call it quits on 16 minutes, with honours shared. It was the right decision.<br />The coach will have surmised from the first-half that his second choice XI aren't good enough, even with 8 games behind them as a squad whilst they were at their training camp in Vietnam for the last month or so. The second-half line-up were much better but the rain curtailed any real chance of a good work-out and the coach will now select just 18 players from the 22 on show to make the trip, leaving for Laos on Wednesday. He has injury concerns over a lower back strain for Keo Sokngorn and 3 stitches in a cut above his left eye for Tieng Tiny, plus any aches and pains from today's match.<br />The players who were on show today were:<br />(1st half); Bunchhay, <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Sovanara</span>, Rady, <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Bunhieng</span>, Rithy, Piseth, <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Soksana</span>, Samuth Dalin, <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Saray</span>, Sinoun, Sin Dalin.<br />(2nd half); Mic, Raksmey, Narith, Borin, Tiny, Sothearath, Sopanha, Sokngorn, Sokumpheak, Borey, Laboravy.<br />The players I believe that will not make the final 18-man squad are in <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">italics</span>.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EtRGvvd9-R2W5ZsGFaWwKFupDcmav5yuE9bPxgOrO-pF39p3z-DAqK_CqshREpySnNgWB2nRszwrNJvkIC9Uoji2XW-zLZDI8XrLVKJ2tY4de89V-LjA2yQ3td9ZLFOQ6SP6iXOsJRIl/s1600/203320.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529348936054915954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9EtRGvvd9-R2W5ZsGFaWwKFupDcmav5yuE9bPxgOrO-pF39p3z-DAqK_CqshREpySnNgWB2nRszwrNJvkIC9Uoji2XW-zLZDI8XrLVKJ2tY4de89V-LjA2yQ3td9ZLFOQ6SP6iXOsJRIl/s400/203320.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 288px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">The two teams line-up in friendship before kick-off</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoRr98N2P6HYuLyQ1dCmsRJsoDuClDwwAp-nQYm7TapIdQkAwFgYctlM8amfFhqOwy0Cso0QjFt4kb8fWQeJvM0IZoI9PtKR5qFRGFLTFiOvNReKABvOWg-9Icqm_ur67OuNT3xw_-Au7/s1600/203314.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529348858002497458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoRr98N2P6HYuLyQ1dCmsRJsoDuClDwwAp-nQYm7TapIdQkAwFgYctlM8amfFhqOwy0Cso0QjFt4kb8fWQeJvM0IZoI9PtKR5qFRGFLTFiOvNReKABvOWg-9Icqm_ur67OuNT3xw_-Au7/s400/203314.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Coach Lee Tae-Hoon (blue cap) gives the squad some last minute instructions</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdq4tjgNwPwaVZz5Qr5kURuCnAJqylRZsrPa7l-ztHVSP_VWmLyjb0bP_dx8v8a-YX4Us9swI3zsVGK9Cn8-nifE19fwNWcAlpARd871mm7Mk2NGtqj0QDkdDKaM6TW1ejuNPBb5t2Bb1/s1600/203323.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529348682135764178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdq4tjgNwPwaVZz5Qr5kURuCnAJqylRZsrPa7l-ztHVSP_VWmLyjb0bP_dx8v8a-YX4Us9swI3zsVGK9Cn8-nifE19fwNWcAlpARd871mm7Mk2NGtqj0QDkdDKaM6TW1ejuNPBb5t2Bb1/s400/203323.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">The first choice national team line-up keeping the bench warm for today's first half</span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3lBbrkVcIqv31FbTVkHfcHh3IJJ1qse1kmZR2nKtS-pSUcvxsxmJKYpe2Tza_d0OkrM3x0fuN8ldK_qtb0fZN5P6DRYqWeLmvJ-R8CkTFErvpdFsO_TtyZyWSAW28SV5_JSBilK6FKlH/s1600/203325.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529348590496602418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3lBbrkVcIqv31FbTVkHfcHh3IJJ1qse1kmZR2nKtS-pSUcvxsxmJKYpe2Tza_d0OkrM3x0fuN8ldK_qtb0fZN5P6DRYqWeLmvJ-R8CkTFErvpdFsO_TtyZyWSAW28SV5_JSBilK6FKlH/s400/203325.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Torrential rain caused the abandonment of today's warm-up match in the 2nd half</span><br /></span></div>

Another damp squib

The 2nd string starting line-up for today's game; (Back row LtoR): Soksana, Bunhieng, Bunchhay, Sovanara, Rithy, Sinoun. (front row): Sa...

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Empty-handed

I'm just back after 10 days in Vietnam and I hear that the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cambodian national team</span> were held to a pretty boring goal-less draw against C-league side Preah Khan Reach on Friday at the Olympic Stadium, in one of a couple of warm-up games scheduled by the FFC and the South Korean coach Lee Tae-Hoon - who wasn't very impressed by the performance against PKR - before the 18-man squad head for Laos and the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifying matches that begin on the 22nd of this month. Cambodia face Laos in the opening game, then meet Timor Leste on the 24th and the Philippines on the 26th, all the games being played in Vientiane, with the top two teams going forward to the Suzuki Cup proper in December. Sadly I wasn't at the game myself to be able to give my own views on how the national team is shaping up under the new coach ahead of this year's most important football competition for the country's footballers. However, there may be a last chance to see the team in action, when they face the newly-promoted Police Commmissariat side at the Olympic Stadium at 3.30pm Monday afternoon. The squad then leave for Laos on Wednesday.

Empty-handed

I'm just back after 10 days in Vietnam and I hear that the Cambodian national team were held to a pretty boring goal-less draw against ...

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Back in the fold

It's all quiet on the blog at the moment as I'm in the Mekong Delta on a working holiday. The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cambodian national team</span> were due back on home soil on the 8th after their training camp in Vietnam, and a handful of games against local teams, as a warm-up for the forthcoming AFF Suzuki Cup matches in Laos. They should resume squad training again very soon before they head up to Laos again, in a return to their old stomping ground, where the Under-23s appeared in the SEA Games at the back end of last year (and at least 7 of the U23s were involved in their recent friendlies in Saigon). I don't have the full details of the friendlies that the squad played whilst they were in Vietnam, the information coming out of the FFC is as bare as it ever was, though I have to agree that the results are immaterial, its the preparation for the Suzuki Cup that is all important, for the squad to gel together and for them to be playing the way the new coach expects. It would be good to get a friendly match on home soil under their belts before they head to Laos but I won't hold my breath.

Back in the fold

It's all quiet on the blog at the moment as I'm in the Mekong Delta on a working holiday. The Cambodian national team were due back...

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Same old, same old

It feels like the only time that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cambodian football</span> makes the news headlines these days is when a journalist does a story on the African players playing, or not, in the Kingdom. First the Cambodia Daily did a spread, then Radio Australia and now last month's SEAsia Globe magazine have jumped on the bandwagon. It annoys me that the foreign players in Cambodian football get far more press coverage than the local Khmer players ever get and whilst they are an important facet of the C-League, they aren't the be all and end all. Whilst around 40 foreign players, mostly Nigerians, were connected to C-League clubs last season, there are supposedly upwards of 200 African footballers seeking places on the team rosters. Phrases like 'trafficking in footballers' and 'agents recruiting players with false promises' roll off the media pages all too easily. There are far more uplifting stories the journalists could pursue, but they don't, choosing instead to tarnish the game in Cambodia with the usual negativity that seems to be food and drink to the media. Cambodian football is much more than the press would have you believe, take the advent of Phnom Penh Crown's residential football academy for youngsters, as a prime example. Thousands of boys across the country following their dreams of becoming a professional footballer. These are the type of stories that we need to promote and shout about football in the Kingdom.

Same old, same old

It feels like the only time that Cambodian football makes the news headlines these days is when a journalist does a story on the African pl...

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Prepping continues

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KJEEfIrYYMGMiSQ5fTLxSPYhAhlApBnpz-18X8JishQOvE6zLG4-AkOXNOP-wuNMcoXo2K4PDE994s0YSDjCqKjlvASw5qEs70LVu6kk-IiKJHnzIxnEptv149UIntvThE6Uf-t9E8ak/s1600/106907small.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523692817806766610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KJEEfIrYYMGMiSQ5fTLxSPYhAhlApBnpz-18X8JishQOvE6zLG4-AkOXNOP-wuNMcoXo2K4PDE994s0YSDjCqKjlvASw5qEs70LVu6kk-IiKJHnzIxnEptv149UIntvThE6Uf-t9E8ak/s400/106907small.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 352px; height: 154px;" /></a>The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cambodian national team</span> continue their preparations in Vietnam ahead of their AFF Suzuki Cup qualifying matches later this month. They have played practice matches against local Vietnamese teams as well as their hosts Under 23 squad on two occasions, as new coach, Lee Tae-Hoon gets his team in shape physically and mentally after the recent conclusion of the C-League season. Physical fitness has been an important focus of the South Korean coach who complained that his team simply weren't fit enough before they left for Vietnam just over a month ago. A rigorous training regime has followed. The squad will return to Cambodia on the 8th but there's no word yet whether they will have any more practice matches ahead of their first Suzuki Cup qualifier against Laos on the 22nd of the month. The qualifying round-robin matches are taking place in Vientiane, and Cambodia will also face Timor Leste on the 24th and the Philippines on the 26th. The two best teams from the series of matches will progress to the Suzuki Cup competition proper, that will be held jointly in Vietnam (Hanoi) and Indonesia (Jakarta) between 1-8 December.

Prepping continues

The Cambodian national team continue their preparations in Vietnam ahead of their AFF Suzuki Cup qualifying matches later this month. They ...

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