56. End of Season 5.

End of Season Thoughts

Overall we have made progress this season and achieved more consistency in our results, starting the season unbeaten and challenging for the title, only to fall away after a horrendous and some might say unlucky patch of four straight defeats. This let Angkor Tiger get away and open up a lead that we could not bridge, despite recovering our form to finish strongly at the end of the season. Taboula, the golden boot winner has been excellent throughout, finding that consistency that we have craved from him for a while. The biggest surprise was the emergence of young Samnang Nhem who bagged 14 goals. Our Kings Cup victory at least got us some silverware this season. The disappointing thing was the demise of our two African imports for completely different reasons. Ahmed Abdi for sheer arrogance, while Aderito Graca suffered from that other incurable illness, homesickness. Both went home after just a handful of appearences between them. Perhaps next season I will look a bit closer to home for talent, either from Cambodia or a neighbouring country. We still need a right back and to strengthen our defence if we are to win the C-League next year.

So, we roll onto next season. I am happy with the squad and with the players coming through the ranks. We have some very promising youth and some good pros at the club. It is of course always the question of whether we can hang on to our best players in the Christmas Transfer Window and maybe add one or two new faces to strengthen the squad to make a sustained challenge for the title next season.

End of Season Round Up

EDC can reflect on a good season as they met expectations and won the Cambodian Kings Cup. EDC finished where many had expected them to at the top of the table and deviating little from a course that helped them achieve what they had set out  for the start of the campaign.

We finished 3^rd in the C-League and the general consensus is that this was around where we were expected to finish and had the season run on for five more games, could have even taken the title, given the team’s strong form at the end of the campaign. 

We also won the King’s Cup by beating Phnom Penh Crown 2-1 after extra time.

Always nice to thrash the National Police!

Player Awards

Fans Player of the Year – Samnang Nhem

Young Player of The Year – Samnang Nhem

Top Goalscorer – Pelap Taboula 20 goals

Most Assists – Sok Oeun Pidor 16 assists

Highest Average Rating – Samnang Nhem 7.20

 

Taboula wins The Cambodian Golden Boot Award

My 21-year old Nigerian striker, Pelap Taboula has won the C-League golden boot award after hitting an impressive 20 goals in 26 league appearances. Well done Pelap! He has shown a lot more consistency this year. Let’s hope I can keep him at EDC! He is also part of the Cambodian team of the year, with Anderson Gbayoro on the bench.

Club Vision

The board want me to finish in the top half each season, play attacking possession based football and a high tempo game. Think I might manage that!

Boeung Ket Offer Job Interview

My work at EDC has not gone unnoticed in Cambodia and one of the pro clubs, Boeung Ket has offered me the job. I don’t want it. I want to win the title with EDC and be the first semi-pro side to do so..

Transfer Window

Players IN

I have made a raft of exciting new signings to bolster our squad and make a serious bid for the C-League Title. I think with these players added to the squad, plus the return of Min Rattanak, will enable us to make a serious challenge for the title. I have concentrated on signing ready made players who can get the job done.

Sonevilay Sihavong (DR) Free Transfer

It is fair to say that Cambodia is not really over blessed with quality full backs, meaning I have had to step over the border into Laos to snap up this right back. The 28-year old is well-travelled and has had spells in Japanese football, The Phillipines, and in his native Laos, plus eight appearances for Phnom Penh Crown last season.

Chey Chitra (ST) Free Transfer from National Police

For those of you who have regularly read this story, this name may be familiar to you. The former National Police striker has joined us on a free. He is a player i have always rated and singled out as a threat every time he has been on the opposing team.

Choun Panha (DC) Free Transfer from Svay Rieng

Bought purely as back up to Daravon and Gbayoro, Panha has enjoyed good spells with Khemera and Svay Rieng where he has rarely dipped below 7 in his average rating.

Sam Chea (DMC) – Free Transfer from Arizona Cambodia

A ball winning midfielder with some promise, plucked from second division outfit, Arizon Cambodia.

 

Men Samnang – Free Transfer from Svay Rieng

An attacking midfielder with plenty of promise. Seen as ‘the future of Cambodian football,' he has already been capped three times for his country aged just 17.

Frengky Sarawi Warobay (DC) 3K from Persewar

EDC smash their transfer record to bring Indonesian defender Warobay to the club. A brilliant signing for the club, one which will make a huge difference! Brilliant work from all involved. Welcome to Cambodia Mr Frengky Sarawi Warobay! Let’s hope you become a club legend!

Chan Yaty (DC) ON Loan from Nagaworld

I’ll give it to Nagaworld, they are quite generous when loaning players to me. This is a promising young defender who could play a role.

Seut Bairaing DL free transfer from Build Bright Utd

For those of you who have followed this story, you will remember Seut Bairaing, who played for us in the 2022 season. He has re-signed for a second spell at the club. 

New Members of Staff

Tep Dara New Reserves Manager & Scout

I killed two birds with one stone signing him, as he has agreed to do a bot of scouting for us too. At least for one season until he refuses to sign a new contract..

 

New Scout – Pom Makara

Another new face in the revolving door that is my backroom team.

Cambodia do well in the South East Asian Championships

Cambodia reached the semi-finals of the South East Asian Championships, before succumbing to a 7-1 aggregate defeat to Thailand, despite holding them to a 0-0 draw in the first leg. They qualified in second from the group stage after impressive wins over Singapore, Laos and East Timor. New signing Men Samnang was EDC’s sole representative in the national team squad.

Players Out

Min Rattanak free transfer to Khemera

This one sticks in the throat a bit. We stood by him while he was out of action with a horrendous spinal injury which he has thankfully now fully recovered from, only to sign for Khemera as way of saying ‘thankyou.’

Ung Samnang free transfer to Phnom Penh Crown

It always scares me a little when a rival club signs a player I want rid of. Have I missed something here? Ung Samnang made his name by scoring four goals in a pre-season friendly during the annual first team v reserves kickabout and looked a player. Unfortunately he failed to progress and leaves the club with other strikers ahead of him in the pecking order.

....................................

There was a knock at my office door. When this happens during the transfer window I usually hide under the desk...

In walked my experienced defender, Maol Daravon, a great pro, most capped player in the C-League and Cambodian Electricity flowing through his veins (not literally). Accompanying him was his agent, Ouch Pheng. I feared the worst.

"Afternoon gentlemen."

"Boss..I've something to tell you..."

"Maol.. come on we need you..>"

"I've err"

"He's signed for National Police, they are offering double the money."

"What, you want to play for the f^$£&ing National Police. Give me a break." You want to finish 7th every season and be booed everywhere you go.."

"I need a fresh challenge.."

"Fresh challenge? You are first name on my f^**ing teamsheet. You and Gbayoro are one of the best central defensive partnerships in the league.. What are you gonna achieve with the Police?

"I want to serve my country boss."

"You had a good number here Daravon... Don't do a Keo Udom and p*** away your career fighting relegation.. "

His mind was made up. Maol Daravon had played his last game in an EDC shirt and completed his last shift as an electrician and started patrolling the streets of Phnom Penh the very next day..This was a major blow to my plans for next season. 

I’m absolutely gutted about this one.. Our best defender and one of my senior pros has decided foolishly to join the police force. Not a happy day..

He will forever be referred to as 'Judas' on the Ultimate World FM Game! 

Small Leap in Reputation

EDC are now the 7^th most reputable club in Cambodia, having leapfrogged Vishaka who failed to win promotion back to the C-League and still languish in the Second Division. Nagaworld are top, while champions Angkor Tiger are 4^th.

Board Competition Expectations

Pretty much same as usual, finish in the top half of the C-League and reach the Quarter Finals of the Hun Sen Cup. My expectations – Challenge for the C-League title, not bothered about the cup.

Friendly 1 – EDC 10 – 6 EDC Reserves 08/02/25

A crazy game, which was more like a 5-a side match, in which both teams forgot how to defend. New striker, Chey Chitra opened the scoring, lashing the ball home after being sent clear by Anderson Gbayoro of all people. Good to see the new man take the chance so confidently. Another breakaway sees Taboula burst down the left before laying the ball inside for Chitra to sidefoot in his second. Amazingly he completes his hat-trick when Gbayoro cleared and the new man raced clear to find the corener of the net. We’ve only played for 5 minutes! At the other end Sor Chanvirak pulls one back after exploiting a gaping hole in our defence. Chitra is at it again after Um Makara cuts out a goal kick and sends the striker clear again. He makes no mistake. 4-1. Tuy Oudom pulled one back for 4-2 and then Chitra amazingly added a 5^th before half time. I did the full Sven at half time and gave a run out to the other half of my squad. To cut a long story short, Chhim Pheara bagged an excellent hat-trick and my new right back Sihavong ran the full length of the pitch to score a brilliant individual goal. Soun Bath also took his goal well, cutting in from the left before lashing it into the bottom corner. There’s competition for places and nearly all my players took their chance.

Friendly 2 EDC 6-1 Prey Veng

This was a nice gentle afternoon against some nice, friendly local opposition. Only, Prey Veng Striker, Sokly didn’t see it that way and he proceeded to flick a ball on, run onto it and bury it past Som in the second minute. The match frustratingly ticks until Men Samnang slips in Chitra to score his 6^th goal in 2 friendlies. That’s better. Chitra gets his second when young Sam Chea floats the ball into the area and the striker cushion volleys the ball into the corner. Taboula extends our lead by firing a spectacular strike into the top corner from the edge of the box. Soun Bath added a fourth, volleying in from close range from a Noron free kick. Touch Van scored the fifth goal with a brilliant free kick Roberto Carlos would have been proud of. Choun Panha completed the rout when he nodded home from a corner.

Friendly 3 EDC 3-1 Tay Ninh (VIE)

It was an uneventful first half, with probably the team from Viet Nam being the better team. They even hit the underside of the crossbar after a swift breakaway. We rather undeservedly took the lead when a Samang corner was headed towards goal and blocked on the line, only for the unlikely source of Um Makara to fire in the loose ball from close range. Tay Ninh are no pushovers though and a breakaway ended up with their striker one on on with Cheng Ravy, but our number two stood firm and parried away his finish when he looked certain to score. Then a free kick is randomly played to the edge of the area, where Vavanak tries a long range effort which deflects in. Young Enrico Capriti got the final touch. Coung pulled one back for the visitors after a well worked move, but at the other end Samnang Nhem skipped past his marker before planting a perfect cross onto Taboula’s head who did the rest. 3-1 and a good solid win against decent opposition.

Friendly 4 Kandol 1-2 EDC

I put the kids out for this one, just to make it a bit more interesting and to have a look at a few different players. This nearly backfired when Le Guen put Kandol in the lead and the Second Division outfit were all over us. We could not get going in the first half and I was disappointed with their performance. After letting them know this, they managed to galvanise and turn it around, thanks to a brace from young Sor Chanvirak, a name to watch out for in the future. He equalised after he headed home a Chhim Pheara cross.

Then he fired home emphatically after the equally impressive Vavanak’s through ball, was missed by the defender, letting the youngster take full advantage. A good exercise for all concerned.

Friendly 5 EDC 4 - 1 Bati Youth

Our old acne ridden friends are back in town from the Bati Youth Academy. I put a semi-strong team out, without being first choice. We take the lead when Seut Bairaing’s ball into the box was elegantly diverted home first time by Pelap Taboula. Our second came after a strong run through midfield from Pidor, who feeds Taboula. His clever first time square ball is perfect for Noron to sidefoot confidently into the corner. Great team goal. In the 79^th minute Mat Noron bagged his second after heading home a Chey Chitra cross. A breakaway from their corner brought our fourth. Chitra leading the charge before squaring to Men Samnang to bury it into the top corner. Easy! Un Kakada scored arguably the best goal of the match with a smart volley from inside the area to score a consolation for the visitors.

Friendly 6: Vishaka 0-1 EDC

 We sweep forward. Warobay finds Chitra who plays it onto Taboula who checks inside and fires past the keeper in one sweet movement. Lovely!  Then annoyingly my Indonesian defender gets sent off for two bookables. Whoops! No matter, the game descends into a stalemate. Yes they have a couple of chances and Taboula once again brings out the best of their keeper, but that was about it. A scrappy 1-0 against a decent Vishaka side - its what Champions are built on!

Injury Blow for EDC

EDC’s title hopes have been dealt a blow after main striker Pelap Taboula pulled his groin in a Reserves match and will miss the start of the season.

Chanraksmey set to retire

EDC legend Sok Chanraksmey has announced he will retire at the end of the season. The 35-year old forward will continue as a valued member of the recruitment team.

Hun Sen Cup 1^st Qualifying Draw

EDC face a tricky trip away to Bati Youth in the first round of the Hun Sen Cup.

Friendly 7 EDC v Tre Long An (VIE)

We start brightly as the Vietnamese Second Division side seem happy to camp on the edge of the box. We break the deadlock when Men Samnang’s free kick was half volleyed home by Chan Yaty. The the ball is played up to Noron who is felled in the box. Penalty. Ouk Ratana cooly slots home number two, sending the goalie the wrong way. A very comfortable 2-0 at the break. Out for the second half and Tre Long have a rare attack, which results in Do Hoy Toan sidefooting home after a good move down the left. Could we be too complacent though.. They have a chance to equalise after another quick breakaway, which was only stopped by a fine save from Cheng Ravy. Then, from a Pidor free kick, Ouk Ratana finished smartly into the corner after a rickashay. 3-1.!  Tre Long respond and keep the ball well. Pham Duc Anh rises highest from a Hoan corner to pull one back for the visitors. They search for an equaliser and create a couple of chances, but we see it through to the end. We have won all our pre-season friendlies for the first time ever!

The 35 Registered Players for the 2025 Cambodian Season

Goalkeepers

Sokundara Som

Cheng Ravy

Sob Vatanak

 

Defenders

Ouk Ratana (DRLC)

In Sambath (DRLC)

Anderson Gbayoro (DC)

Frengky Sarawi Warobay (DC)

Sonvilay Sihavong (DR/WBR)

Choun Panha (DC)

Chen Yaty (DC)(On Loan from Nagaworld)

Sok Panha (DC)

Run Sokha (DLC)

Kouch Mol (DR)

Seut Bairaing (DL)

Ajoub Joly (DL)

Makara Um (DL/WBL)

 

Midfielders

Pom Vannak (DC/DMC)

Vavanak (DC/DMC)

Um Makara (DC/DMC)

Sam Chea (DC/DMC/MC)

Enrico Capriati (DMC/MC)

Chea Samnang (MC)

Mol Ly (ML/MR)

Tuy Oudom (MR/AMR)

Men Samanag (MC/AMC)

Sok Oeun Pidor (MLC/AMRLC)

Touch Van (MR/AMR)

Chhim Pheara (AMRC/ST)

Forwards

Soun Bath (AML/ST)

Samnang Nhem (AMR/ST

Sok Chanrksmy (ST)

Pelap Taboula (ST)

Chey Chitra (ST)

Mat Noron (ST)

      A mixed pre-season has seen an EDC legend leave the club in the shape of Maol Daravon (Judas) and a promising player who we nurtured through a very serious injury, Min Rattanak. There's no loyalty in football! Can EDC hit the ground running in the 2025 campaign, or will they fall behind the big boys again? Find out next time on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game! 

Read Part 57: Boxing Day 2022 here!