MOTM

Fit again striker Khim Borey, two-goal hero against HAGL

I selected Khim Borey as my man of the match for Cambodia against HAGL on Sunday night, not because of his two goals, both calmly-taken penalties under quite a bit of pressure, but because of his remarkable comeback and contribution to the game. It was at the back end of May that Khim Borey played his last competitive match for the Ministry of National Defense team in the Cambodian Premier League. A nagging ankle injury then sidelined him and it wasn't until he went to Vietnam for surgery a few months later, that the problem was finally diagnosed. His last game was more than five months ago and last Wednesday he saw action for the first time when he managed 80 minutes of a practice match against Can Tho. On Sunday he put in a full 90 minute shift, led the line for much of the time, kept his cool under pressure to level the scores at 2-2 with two penalties and then moved into a holding role in central midfield to see out the game. The extra training and fitness regime that he's been under the last couple of months certainly paid off against HAGL.
Khim Borey has been around for quite a while considering his 20th birthday was just a couple of months ago. He was the Golden Boot winner for the most goals in the 2008 CPL season with 18 goals as the Defense Ministry finished 2nd. Last season was a different story though as the club's management accused five players of throwing a cup tie before the league season began and suspended the players including Khim Borey and his national teammate, keeper Samreth Seiha. Nothing was proven and the club reinstated them a couple of months later. Borey has been a Cambodian national team regular for the last two years since his international debut in the Nehru Cup in India in 2007 and it was his goal that took Cambodia through to the Suzuki Cup Finals a year ago.

Goals win games

Cambodian striker Khim Borey scored 2 penalties in the win over HAGL on Sunday

Cambodia's match-winner was 17 year old substitute Prak Mony Udom

Goals win games and these are the faces of the goalscorers in Sunday's opening two matches in the BIDC Cup tournament being played at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh and involving two national U23 teams, Cambodia and Laos, and two Vietnam League club sides, HAGL and Vissai Ninh Binh. Cambodia fought back from a two-goal deficit to beat HAGL 3-2 thanks to 2 penalties from Khim Borey and a match-winner from teenager Prak Mony Udom. Khim Borey missed most of the recent CPL season with a nagging ankle injury and only played his first game in a parctice match on Wednesday during the team's training camp in Vietnam. His two calmly-taken penalties levelled the scores and set up the comeback, which the team's youngest player at 17, Prak Mony Udom, on as a substitute for Nov Soseila, finished off. The HAGL goals were scored by Bui Xuan Hieu and Khuat Huu Long. In the Cup's opening game, Sayavuthi Khampeng gave Laos a deserved lead, with VNB equalizing through Dang Van Thanh.

Sayavuthi Khampeng scored the 1st goal of the BIDC Cup after 10 minutes for Laos U23s

Dang Van Thanh equalized for Vissai Ninh Binh against the Laos U23s

Borey is back with a bang

Khim Borey doesn't look like a man that has just scored twice and won the game for his team does he?

Cambodia's star striker and last season's Golden Boot winner Khim Borey was the difference between the two teams in this afternoon's opening game. Ministry of Defence stupidly sidelined him and keeper Samreth Seiha at the start of the Cambodia Premier League season and he reminded them why that wasn't such a good idea with both goals in their 2-nil win over Post Tel Club. A wickedly curling free-kick and a safe-as-houses penalty was his telling contribution, though his national teammate Seiha only made it to the bench on his return to the fold. The Defence management had accused five players of throwing a cup tie before the league season began but thought better of it and reinstated them, but without any explanation. In the second game, Kirivong maintained their great start to the season with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Naga thanks to a goal by one of their Muslim contingent, Him Salam, in first-half injury time. And if In Vicheaka had his shooting boots on, it could've been a larger winning margin. Naga, with half a dozen national team players, failed to shine.

The only goal of the Kirivong v Naga game was a scrambled affair claimed by Kirivong's Him Salam

Storm clouds gathering during the latter stages of the 2nd game; a regular occurrence each weekend

Youth has its chance

17 year old prodigy Keo Sokngorn

My discussion with the Cambodia national football coach Prak Sovannara at the Olympic Stadium yesterday revealed a remarkable statistic. I'd previously thought the average age of the Cambodian national team was somewhere in the twenties but as Sovannara went through the list of his 18-man squad that had just returned from Bangladesh, and reeled off each player's age, we quickly realized that his squad was even younger than I first thought. 22 is the average age with three teenagers in the team, the youngest being the 17 year old star of the future, Keo Sokngorn. Sovannara was effusive in his praise for the teenager, who is on the books of the current league champions Phnom Penh Crown. "Keo Sokngorn is a wonderful prospect at just 17 years old. He always gives 100% and has great talent. When I play him I give him the freedom of the park. I have to be careful not to expose him too quickly but he is a player with a very big future ahead of him." True to his word, the coach sat Sokngorn on the bench for the games against Bangladesh and Myanmar, introducing him in the second-half of each game, though he did start him against Macau and the youngster rewarded him with a goal. The two other teenagers are the 19 year old pairing of goalkeeper Samreth Seiha and talented sriker Khim Borey. Both have come through the youth ranks and have been regulars in the national squad for a while, belieing their tender years. Seiha is an exciting goalkeeper to watch, agile, brave and the best in the country, though a dispute with his team National Defense Ministry is casting a shadow over the start of his domestic league season. Borey has already proved his ability as a goalscorer, winning the golden boot award last season as the country's top marksman, but he too is in limbo after his club made serious allegations against the two players in a recent Hun Sen Cup game.

With the majority of the squad in their early twenties, the exceptions are national captain Kim Chanbunrith, who is the elder statesman of the team at 30, whilst number two goalkeeper Ouk Mic is close behind at 29. Pok Chanthan, recalled for duty after missing the international games in 2008, is 27 and Sam El Nasa is 25, though seems to have been playing for the national team forever, having made his debut as a teenager. Sovannara is upbeat about his squad. "With such a young squad that gives me confidence for the future. Players like Seiha, Borey and Sokngorn, all teenagers, have many years to improve and grow in the national team. I would like a series of friendly matches both home and away to strengthen our team as a unit, work on areas that need improving and to continue the progress I saw in Bangladesh. This team can only get better." Amen to that I say. With such a youthful national squad to work with, Prak Sovannara is carrying the nation's hopes forward and its his job to mould that youthful exuberance with the experience of seasoned players, into a force to be reckoned with in Southeast Asian football. It won't happen overnight but the signs are good that Cambodian football is set to end its spell in the doldrums.

Carrying the nation's hopes

The Cambodia football squad and officials getting ready for the off

The players and officials of the Cambodia national football team are pictured early this morning at the departures area of Phnom Penh's international airport as they prepare to leave for their three-match AFC Challenge Cup Qualifying Group competition in Bangladesh. Team coach Prak Sovannara confirmed that the squad is fit, healthy and ready to do battle, with the only injury doubt, striker Kouch Sokumpheak, reporting fit for duty. The players had to miss out on their recent Khmer New Year celebrations as they were in a training camp in Vietnam, so their preparation has been strict and focused on qualifying for the 2010 finals to be played in India. Team Manager Tola May was also upbeat about their chances as the 18-strong squad and party of seven officials left for Dhaka. They will have a light training session this afternoon once they arrive, will train again at the national stadium in Dhaka on Saturday and then begin their competition in earnest against the host nation on Sunday evening. I know Bangladesh television are carrying the games live but doubt whether they will be viewable here in Cambodia.

Coach Prak Sovannara talks to a TVK reporter about the nation's chances in Bangladesh

A light-hearted moment during an interview with striker Khim Borey