48. Start of Season 5

 

End of Season Thoughts

Going into this season we had just lost five of our best players, Keo Udom, Suon Veasna and Seut Bairaing, Ouch Oudom and Raymond Etim to our rival teams. I did not hold out much hope of us doing anything other than battle relegation and maybe scrape together a decent cup run if the draw was kind to us. Now we are cup winners and while we never challenged for the title we sat comfortably in mid-table, before a good run of results at the end propelled us to 5^th, which was exactly where we finished last season, albeit much further away from the top. As the season has gone on we have grown in confidence and bounced back from heavy defeats to Boeung Ket and Nagaworld, before beating both teams on our successful Hun Sen Cup campaign. I am delighted to have lifted my first trophy on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game and full credit has to go to my players for their performances and my backroom staff for all their hard work. Next season I think we can challenge for the title, or at least finish much nearer to the winners than last season. I am pleased with the squad, although as ever we still need a decent right back!  Maol Daravon and Gbayoro have been outstanding in the heart of the defence, while Rattanak, Samnang and Pidor have offered creativity and a goalscoring threat from midfield. It was a season of two halves for our strikers. In the first half, Mat Noron came to the fore, while in the second, Pelap Taboula became our main goalscorer.

My goals for next season (excuse the pun) are to challenge the top teams for the title. We also have some exciting signings in the pipeline, plus the emergence of some younger players to really try and make this happen. Onwards and upwards!

The Transfer Window

It's that time of year again. It's getting boring now. As soon as the window opens, Nagaworld will try and sign Ratana, some crappy second division club will try and sign Rattanak and think they seriously have a chance. I will do the old trick of raising the player's contracts by £5 each time a club comes in for them and hope they re-sign their contracts. As a semi-pro club that is about all I can do. The only unpredictable bit is whether they stay or not. Of course, our Hun Sen Cup win has put EDC and its players on the Cambodian footballing map. It is now just a question of loyalty from my players and whether they want to help this club achieve further success. 

Released Players

Chin Chainuth – This unfortunate goalkeeper, who spent much of last season on the treatment table after damaging his cruciates has been released. He was surplus to requirements after the signing of Som, coupled with an able back up keeper in Kong Rafat. I wish him well.

Chea Sam- This defender has been with us a while, but has not really progressed, so I’ve released him to continue his career somewhere else.

Hem Sokha – This right back failed to impress during his short time at the club and so is released.

Sary Theara – This attacking midfielder had some promise, but failed to progress significantly,

Sary Chainuth – This 18 year old striker did quite well in the U21 and reserves, but he failed to progress and other, more determined forwards have overtaken him.

Sok Mak – A young defender who failed to improve. Off he goes.

Molly Unmoll – For a while it looked like this left winger could have made it after making four appearances for the club, but the performances of Mat Dara, Pidor and Suhana soon saw him fall down the pecking order.

Sam Sambo – An emergency back up keeper who is surplus to requirements.

Transfer Window – Players In

Aderito Graca (MR) £1K from Mindelese (CPV)

This is an exciting signing for EDC as the young Cape Verdean joins from his home country. He is also the club’s first £1,000 player. He will join us in May 2024 at the end of the Cape Verde domestic season.

Sok Panha (DC) Free Transfer

I’d almost forgotten this guy was joining us in pre season, but to look at his stats I think he is one for the future.

Chhom Pisa on loan from Nagaworld

Sometimes you have to do a deal with the devil and this has resulted in a loan deal for right back, Chhom Pisa, who can also play in midfield.

Cheng Ravy free transfer from CMAC Utd

CMAC is a bit of gold mine for talent and this guy emerged as the leading contender to replace Kong Rafat as understudy goalkeeper to Som. He only wants to be a breakthrough prospect and that’s good enough for me!

Players Out – Kong Rafat to Solitio Angkor

I’m slightly disappointed by Kong Rafat’s decision to leave EDC, as he is one of the originals. For a time he was my first choice keeper and won acclaim by winning Young Cambodian Keeper of the year and International recognition. A dodgy start to last season and the signing of Sokundara Som as first choice has meant my promising young stopper has sat mainly on the bench and feels he needs first team football to further his career. He’ll do well in the Second Division.

Teat Chandara to CMAC Utd

His heroic winning penalty in the Hun Sen Cup final proved to be his final act in an EDC shirt. To be honest he's done his job and at 34 is not getting any younger, so off he goes to CMAC and the 2nd Division. I did not stand in his way because I knew first team opportunities may be more limited this term. 

Financial Performance

I don’t often comment on the financial state of the club, but you (and my chairman) will be delighted to know that we made a £10,000 profit this month and are operating in the black with a Financial Status of OK. Could this be a rung on the ladder towards professionalism?

Board Confidence

Despite the Bs and Cs, the board a very pleased with my performance as manager and delighted with the possession based attacking style of the team, although they still think we concede too many goals. They are unhappy with the signing of Sim Kakada and think Ouk Ratana should be rested due to his poor performances all season. They are delighted with the signing of Abdi, who they believe could become a key player. They are delighted with the overall support from the players.

Sok Chanraksmey Becomes a Player/Scout

Legendary veteran striker, Sok Chanraksmey has committed his future to the club by becoming a Player/Scout, While he will still be available for selection, he will also be helping out on the recruitment team and maintaining his links to the club.

New Goalkeeping Coach

As my old goalkeeping coach did not want to renew his contract for some strange reason, I’ve swooped to bring in Leng Tola, who moves to the big smoke of Phnom Penh from Mondul Kiri.

New Reserves Manager

Japanese coach, Masahiro Fukazawa joins EDC as our new manager of the Reserves. Welcome to Cambodia Mr Fukazawa!

EDC Gain in National Reputation

After winning the Hun Sen Cup, EDC have risen slightly in national reputation to 8^th place, just behind relegated Vishaka. Boeung Ket and Nagaworld still lead the way.

Board Expectations

The board expectations are pretty much the same as last year, finish in the top half of the league, and reach the Quarter Finals in the Hun Sen Cup. The only difference in the Kings Cup, which is a kind of Cambodian Community Shield played between the league champions and cup winners. The board do not regard this as very important, but don’t tell his royal highness!

Registered Players

Below are the 35 registered players to challenge for the C-League this year.

Goalkeepers

Sokundara Som

Cheng Ravy

Kouch Rithy

Sob Vattanak

Defenders

Soeung Rithy (DR)

Anderson Gbayoro (DC) (Fgn)

Khek Khemarin (DC)

Maol Daravon (DC)

Sok Panha (DC)

Ouk Ratana (DRLC)

In Sambath (DRLC)

Run Sokha (DLC)

Chhom Pisa (DR/WBR) (On loan from Nagaworld)

Makara Um (DL/WBL)

Midfielders

Pom Vannak (DC/DMC)

Um Makara (DC/DMC)

Enrico Capriati (DMC/MC)

Sin Kakada (DMC/MC)

Chea Samnang (MC)

Vavanak (DC/DMC)

Min Rattanak (MC)

Mol Ly (MR/L)

Touch Van (MR)

Tuy Oudom (MR/AMR)

Sok Oeun Pidor (MLC/AMLRC)

Morgan Laurent (AMC/ST)

Mat Dara (MRLC)

Sos Suhana (MRL)

Chhim Pheara (AMRC/ST)

Forwards

Samnang Nhem (AMR/ST)

Soun Bath (AML/ST)

Ahmed Abdi (ST) (Fgn)

Mat Noron (ST)

Pelap Taboula (ST) (Fgn)

Sok Chanraksmey (ST)

Friendly 1 EDC 4 - 3 EDC Reserves 10/02/24

The traditional kickabout between the first team and reserves was a closely fought affair, largely, because of the amount of promising youngsters vying for a place in the first team squad. The Reserves looked up for it and want to impress. Young Capriati broke forward to feed Nhem, who squared it for Soun Bath to slot home the opening goal. These two look as though they could form a promising partnership...

Then a ball over top from the youngsters leads to chaos in the experienced EDC defence and Nhem races clear to make it 2-0 within five minutes. What the hell is going on? Mat Noron is angry He bursts down the right, before cutting inside and firing the ball petulantly into the corner 2-1, as if to show those pesky kids who is top dog when it comes to scoring goals. Just before half time Tuy Oudom picked up a loose goal kick and fed Noron in the right channel. He squared for Taboula to slot home an undeserved equaliser.

In the second half substitute Abdi nods home from a Pidor corner at the far post from a narrow angle to make it 3-2. Sub Mol Ly scores the goal of the game as he unleashes a thunderbolt into the top corner after a breakaway from a corner to make it 3-3.

Finally a Pidor corner causes confusion in the Reserves defence and the unlikely source of Maol Daravon nips in to prod home from 6 yeards 4-3.

The final whistle goes to round off a 4-3 win, of which the Reserves will probably finish with more credit than the first team, giving me food for thought. Well played everybody!

Friendly 2  EDC 1 -2 Kampong Chang 16/02/24

Our customary dodgy pre-season result came at home to the usually beatable Kampong Chang.

We took an early lead, from a throw in when Pom Vannak got to the byeline. Pheara’ s header was spilled by the keeper and Nhem was on hand to tap home. Seemed like the floodgates had opened, not so. Kampomg were more than capable and dangerous on the break. Their equaliser came from an old foe, Seth Rozip, who lashed home a Kouch Panha low cross. The winner came from Ly Sok with a fierce low shot. I throw on Taboula and Noron towards the end, but to no avail. I tell them they must do better and they agree. I’m not too disheartened by this result though it’s only pre-season.

Friendly 3  Kratie 1-4 EDC 21/02/24

We took on amateur outfit Kratie with an experimental team. New young defender Sok Panha opened the scoring from close range after a Mol Ly free kick. Im Hosan equalised with a close range volley from a corner. Soun Bath restored the lead with a fine header from a Mol Ly corner. Abdi made it three with a placed volley from Panha’s flighted ball in which sneaked in at the near post. Sub Mat Noron rounded off the scoring late on with an acrobatic volley again in at the near post. A comfortable afternoon and a much better performance all round.

Friendly 4 Vishaka 3 -3 EDC

We take on recently relegated Vishaka with a full strength starting XI. Pidor was felled in the box. Penalty. Ouk Ratana sends the keeper the wrong way. 1-0. Pidor added a second just before half time, latching onto a clever cross from Kakada and firing low past the keeper from the angle. Om Vannak volleyed a goal back for Vishaka after an incisive breakaway, Min Rattanak restored a two goal advantage with an emphatic finish after Taboula retrieved a Pisa cross and passed superbly for the midfielder to finish with aplomb. On 78 minutes Vasal powered home a header to make it 3-2. Then Man Phallin scored the goal of the game as he fired a blistering shot from the edge of the area to make it 3 all. I’m disappointed in how we let a 3-1 lead slip. Work needed ahead of the Kings Cup and start of the league campaign.

Friendly 5 EDC 3-1 TDC Bin Duong (VIE)

A great performance from a full strength team as they swept aside top tier Vietnamese outfit, TDC Bin Duong. On 58 minutes, Pelap Taboula fired in a beautiful free kick that David Beckham would have been proud of.  Almost immediately though the Vietnamese side hit back when a break down the right resulted in Dao Tan Tai slotting home an equaliser. On 74, Taboula intercepted the ball deep in their half and ran with it. His shot was blocked, but the rebound falls kindly for Chea Samnang who swept the ball home with a low shot. Taboula rounded off the scoring with a far post header from a Kakada free kick to put some gloss on a polished pre-season performance.

The King’s Cup EDC v Phnom Penh Crown 12/03/24

The Kings Cup, the Cambodian equivalent of the Charity Shield, or Community Shield as it is now known as in England is the showpiece ‘curtain raiser’ for the new C-League season between the league champions and the Hun Sen Cup winners. Surprisingly it will take place at our home ground, not at a neutral venue as is normally the case in these kinds of fixtures. The game adds a bit of flavour to the pre-season and is another piece of silverware to put in the newly bought trophy cabinet which proudly houses the Hun Sen Cup. I go in with a 4-2-3-1 with Rattanak unfortunately injured, so Pidor will play in an attacking midfield role behind lone striker Taboula, with Samnang and Kakada behind. Crown are a good side and so this game is a good opportunity to see where we are at compared to one of the best teams in Cambodia.

Team: 4-2-3-1 Som, Pisa, Daravon, Gbayoro, Ratana, Kakada, Samnang , Oudom, Suhana, Pidor, Taboula

Match Action

Both sides start brightly. In Mol has a run and shot over the bar for Crown, while Taboula goes close with a flash header after good work by Tuy Oudom. Then my right winger pulls up and is replaced by young Chhim Pheara. We look up for this. Pisa overlaps on the right and puts in a great cross for Taboula, who can only head straight at the keeper, while the same player has a shot comfortably saved when he perhaps should have done better. Taboula has a volley well saved from yet another Pisa cross. Crown have a breakaway, but we get back and block In Mol’s shot. Then a lovely passing move, involving Kakada, Pidor and Taboula, results in the Nigerian turning provider by slipping in the overlapping Pheara. The youngster shows composure beyond his years to slide the ball home at the near post. A brilliant team goal and exactly what we deserve. We stream forward looking for a second, Pidor making menacing runs at the heart of the Crown’s defence, Pisa and Pheara combining down the right like they had played together for ten years and Sos Suhana making burrowing runs in from the left. We fail to add to our tally, 1-0 at the break, but we have been by far the better side.

We begin the second half as we ended the first with a couple of attacks which at times it almost looked too easy, but no goal t the end of it. We really need a second goal here. Suhana has a fierce shot just wide, Taboula tries a volley which goes over. Then , a warning. Sophana is sent through on goal, but Som is equal to him. Then, in the blink of an eye, Crown slice open our defence again and Sophana equalises after being put through on goal. Oh Dear. Both teams go for it. Crown have woken up. Their right wing back is running at Ratana, who blocks him. Red Card! What? My young defender is sent off. This is a problem as we head towards extra time.. Sos Suhana is now a makeshift left back. The game peters out into a 1-1 draw and so here we are again, extra time.

Crown soon get into their work and nearly score when Debeiro was denied at point blank range by the excellent Som. At the other end Noron has a shot way over the bar. Pidor is still full of running and he drives through midfield like it was only the first minute. He finds the impressive youngster, Pherea, who plays a lovely ball for the onrushing PIDOR!!! It’s 2-1 to EDC, it’s that man again, Sok Oeun Pidor to give EDC a shock lead! We try and keep possession, but give the ball away cheaply. The dangerous Sophana is off on one, but once again Som denies him with a brilliant save. Half time in extra time.

I go defensive, play a short low tempo passing game in an attempt to keep the ball as best we can and set timewasting to ‘whenever possible’ as Crown galvanise themselves once more. Sophana is running at us, but we block him. We even have another chance from a corner when Gbayoro headed straight at the keeper when he should have done better. We hold firm, Debeiro tries a through ball, but it is scooped up gratefully by Som. He kicks the ball out and there it is! EDC are the winners of the King Cup 2024! Another trophy to add to their cabinet alongside The Hun Sen Cup, Simply electrifying stuff!

EDC players celebrate their Kings Cup Victory over Phnom Penh Crown

 

Friendly 6 – EDC 1-2 Tre Tranh Pho Ho Chai Min (VIE)

The scheduling for this was far from ideal, so none of the players involved in the Kings Cup win are included, meaning a scratch team of fringe, reserve and youth players took on this Vietnamese Division 2 outfit. The visitors could certainly play and had no less than three goals chalked off for offside. We on the other hand created chances ourselves but could not convert. 0-0 at the break. I made a few changes at half time. We took the lead when sub Tuy Oudom burst down the right and found a peach of a cross onto Nhem’s forehead who finished powerfully at the near post. Tre Tranh hit back when Exal headed in from a free kick. Le Manh Dung scored the winner after firing home the rebound after being put through on goal on a breakaway. I’m not too bothered by the defeat and I am sure my young charges will learn from the experience.

I’m concentrating now on the competitive fixtures which begins with an away trip to re-promoted Svay Rieng.

International Call Ups

Four of my players have been called up for International duty. Ouk Ratana could win his 14^th cap for the main Cambodia squad as they travel to Hong Kong in a World Cup Qualifier. Samnang Nhem, Soun Bath and Chhim Pheara will take on the Phillipines in a friendly for the U19s. For Pheara, this is will be his interntional debut, after catching the eye in The Kings Cup win over Phnom Penh Crown.

Job Interviews Declined

Boeung Ket and Phnom Penh Crown have both offered me job interviews, although apparently they have reservations about my lack of experience in winning silverware.. Err hello.. Crown we’ve just beaten you in the King’s Cup and as for Boeung Ket, we deservedly dumped you out in the Quarter Finals of the Hun Sen Cup and went on to lift the trophy..Idiots.. I’ll stay at EDC thankyou very much!!

Start of Season Thoughts

It’s amazing the difference a year makes. This time last year I was wondering how well my new team would do after the mass exodus of the pre-season transfer window. Two trophies later and I know exactly what this team is capable of. I believe they can become the best team in Cambodia and win the title this year. Of course to my players I just tell them I want to finish in the top half, because they would go mad if I told them otherwise. Not only do we have a good first XI, but also a good second XI that can come in and more than do a job. They young players we have could go on to become club legends, Soun Bath, Chhim Pheara, Pom Vannak, Pidor, the list goes on. Add to that the experience of Daravon, Suhana, Gbayoro and Khemarin and we have a great mix of youth and good solid pros. I am going for the C-League title this season, no doubt. 

The formalities of the pre-season are over, but can EDC hit the ground running in the new C-league campaign, or is it going to be another year of mediocrity? Find out next time on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game!

Read Part 49 - 433 is the magic number here