Footy and food

Khemara Keila goalscorer Sophal Udom

My football round-up from Saturday's Cambodian Premier League is a bit late as I enjoyed the opening of the new Lotus Blanc2 restaurant as soon as the games finished then sat in front of my tv in awe as the Barclays Premier League kicked-off in such great style. I certainly revelled in Arsenal's complete annihilation of Everton. Anyway back to the CPL games at the hot and humid Olympic Stadium. Khemara will be kicking, punching and flagellating themselves after failing to beat Post Tel. I counted at least a dozen guilt-edged chances that they failed to convert to allow the 2nd bottom team to celebrate their point wildly at the final whistle, as the teams drew 1-1. Khemara were without 2 of their African stars and replacement Sophal Udom capped a fine game with a goal on the half-hour mark, before Durosinmi Gafar levelled five minutes before the end. But Khemara should've won easily. In the second game, Naga did just that, beating National Defense 3-1. Sunday Okonkwo netted two beautifully executed goals with Yemi Oyewole heading a third, with the solitary reply coming from Pheak Rady. The games didn't affect the league standings and leaders Phnom Penh Crown play Sunday.

Naga new boy Soeung Monyroath (22) and his coach at the after-match interviews

Then I was off to the opening of Lotus Blanc2 with Sophoin to celebrate her news that she'd just received confirmation of a pass in her management degree finals, which she took just over a week ago. She was ecstatic and rightly so after 4 years of hard study, so was happy to celebrate with a couple of glasses of champagne served up by the hotel and hospitality training school that PSE have just opened up in BKK1 at Lotus Blanc. PSE do fantastic work for disadvantaged children and their new eatery will give me another lunchtime option just around the corner from my office. Then it was back home, settling myself in front of the television to watch the Barclays extravaganza.