58. Love Is In The Air!

It was the day before the start of the 2025 Cambodian season when we kicked off against Chhlam Samuth at The Electricity Stadium. Today was a day off for the players as they did their other jobs, either at the Electricity Company itself, or elsewhere. Meanwhile, I  had other things on my mind....!

You may remember near the end of my first season, back in 2020, mentioned in Part 7, "Squeaky Bum Time" that a woman called Charlotte Lay tweeted a very complimentary message about me:

‘Jonathan Rudd is an absolute hero can’t believe he kept us up! EDC are lucky to have him!’ 

Well, it turned out that Miss Lay was quite the EDC superfan. I used to see her regularly at games, along with her partner, Nhem Ravy. I thought little about this, apart from admiring from afar how pretty she was, but accepted that he was rather a lucky fella and she would never look twice at me. 

However at the beginning of last season she started turning up with a female friend, rather than a boyfriend and it transpired (after a little bit of digging) that she was now indeed single... 

Finally, in the middle of last season I plucked up the courage to chat to her and over time we began to chat more to eachother, mainly about the game. Then, in the middle of pre-season, when things were a bit quieter I plucked up the courage to ask her out on a date, which she well... accepted... Back of the net!

The big day arrived, just one sleep before the big kick off. We dined at a swanky Thai restaurant in downtown Phnom Penh, on a hot, humid evening in late March. I confess I was more nervous about this than before the Hun Sen Cup Final!

Charlotte looked so beautiful in a figure-hugging blue dress, which was in a similar shade to the colours of EDC, with long, glossy dark hair flowing down her slim, delicate shoulders. Her lovely face had hypnotic dark eyes and was complimented by the most amazing smile I have ever seen. 

She also had a wonderful quirky personality too and most importantly, knew her football. During the meal, the inevitable subject of EDC's fortunes came up.

"Do you think you will ever win the C-League?" she enquired, fluttering her long, luscious eyelashes.

"Yes, but we need to go professional, so we can nail down players on contracts, so other teams can't just offer them contracts."

"You'll win the C-League one day, Jonathan, I have faith in you. EDC are such a better football team now, than before you started managing them"

Wow! Back of the net from an overhead kick straight into the top bins!

Our next course arrived and we chatted happily about a range of topics. I told her a little about my Yorkshire roots in Merrie olde England, She had grown up in the Cambodian capital and worked as a nurse in the Royal Phnom Penh hospital. In a strange co-incidence, Charlotte had helped former EDC midfielder, Min Rattanak recover from his spinal injury. She had also been as upset as me when he had signed for Khemera in the recent transfer window. 

After the meal we decided to go to the popular Elephant Bar, where as Charlotte informed me, there were 130 varieties of gin, her favourite tipple. I'm more of a beer man myself, but on this occasion I was most certainly willing to humour the lady. Luckily there was beer on offer as well, although I avoided Angkor Tiger for obvious footballing reasons. 

We had just sat down with our drink when a loud, raucous laughter came from a group of lads in the corner. I looked over and saw a familiar crop of dark hair.

"Sok Oeun Pidor?"

"What the?"

Charlotte as an avid EDC fan confirmed it was indeed my Number 11, Attacking Midfielder Left/ Centre..

By now Sok had fallen off his stool and was laid on the floor. He was paralytic! The night before a game! 

I quickly scoured the rest of the lads. Who was there? Ratana, Makara, Noron, Warobay and Bairaing... Half my bloody first eleven completely trolleyed a day before our first game! 

I marched over to the table. The look on their faces!

"Alright boss?" said Makara surprised to see me.

"Right all of you get home now!"

"Oooh who's she boss?" slurred Pidor, looking up towards the watching Charlotte from the floor. "She's niiiice!"

"Never you bloody mind!" I hissed, fearing how bad this must have looked to EDC's most gorgeous superfan. Now get the f*** home now!

"Sorry boss." uttered Ratana as he left with the others.

"9 o clock matchday training tomorrow morning! You'd better not be late!"

I was so embarrassed. 

"We'll never win the C-League at this rate."

"Charlotte.. I'm so sorry, turning to the most beautiful woman in the world.. 

She stood there with a serious look on her face and with her hands on her shapely hips as though she was about to walk out the door with them in disgust. 

She turned, looked at me.. and just burst out laughing.. how she laughed....

Her beautiful smile lit up the room once more and I laughed along nervously and out of relief.

"I'll deal with them tomorrow." I said.

"And I'll deal with you tonight Mr Football Manager!" replied Charlotte as she linked her pretty, slim arms in mine and we left the bar hand in hand.

Never mind the C-League, I felt like I'd won the World Cup!

Match 1 – EDC v Chhlam Samuth 22/03/25

So to the football.. After an apology from the lads who had been out on the sauce the day before the big kick-off, a clean bill of health and a customary fine for each of the perpatrators, we kicked off the new season at home to Chhlam Samuth, who we have beaten on the last seven occasions. Warobay, Chitra and Sihavong make their competitive debuts. They have former EDC man, Sam Chanroeurn in their ranks, but should be a highly winnable game if we perform at our best. Here goes nothing!

Team: Som, Sihavong, Warobay, Gbayoro, Bairaing, Makara, Samnang, Pidor, Nhem, Noron, Chitra

Match Action

With the lovely Charlotte Lay watching on from the stands, we kick off and five seconds into the new season. Warobay marches forward like Beckenbauer in his pomp, before floating a dangerous ball into the box for Chitra to swivel and hit a fierce shot under the goalkeeper... but was mysteriously flagged offside what? Almost a dream start.. Noron then has a chance which is blocked by the keeper. Then, Pidor picks up the ball in the hole and runs Messi-like at the Samuth defence, before slipping the ball through to Chey Chitra who blasts it home for a goal on his debut. He has another effort which is tipped over the bar on the angle. Samuth hit back. Chanroeurn runs down the right before curling in a peach of a cross to the onrushing  Sary Chainuth who buries it in the corner. One each. The visitors are showing no fear and creating chances. Som is forced into a couple of fine saves and Bairang hacks one off the line. Mat Noron somehow scores a second near half time but to be honest I didn’t see it..

Into the second half and we seemingly have more control of the game, but Samuth are enjoying too much possession and creating too many chances for my liking. During one such spell of possession we clear their corner. Nhem gallops down the right, before his low cross is cut out. The ball though falls kindly for the youngster who skips past his man and thrashes it into the net for a much needed third goal. The fourth goal flattered us. Our clearance from a free kick was cleared by us and the defender unfathomably missed the ball, allowing sub Men Samnanag to race clear and coolly dink the ball past the keeper for another debut goal. A great way to start the new season! We go top after one match. A great result considering the circumstances.

Match 2: Bati Youth v EDC – Hun Sen Cup 1^st Qualifying Round

I begin my Hun Sen Cup campaign with a potential banana skin away at the youth academy, Bati Youth. I give full debuts to Samnang Chea and Men Samnang, with Pidor in an experimental Mezzala role. It is still a fairly strong team and one that should hopefully get the job done.

Team: Ravy, In Sambath, Yaty, Panha, Ratana, Chea, Pidor, Men Samnang, Pheara, Noron, Soun Bath

Match Action

In the second minute, Pidor swings a free kick into the box. An EDC man goes down in the box. Penalty! Ouk Ratana steps up and cooly slots the ball into the corner, sending the keeper the wrong way. Great to get an early goal. The youngsters respond well though and force a flying save from Cheng Ravy. We are class though. Pidor provides an outrageous piece of skill on the right wing before crossing the ball to the far post where Soun Bath powers an impossible header into the top corner. Get IN! The same player then slips in Mat Noron who slides the ball confidently home for number three. But wait! Kakada gets down the left and floats it to the back post where Sinoun nods home to pull one back. 3-1 at the break. Comfortable. We’ll see this one out lads don’t worry. Those pesky kids had other ideas though. In the second half and Bati look up for it. Cheng Ravy saves and we scramble it away. Then in true Klose fashion, their keeper hoofs it up to their striker, Sinoun who whacks the ball into the top corner for 3-2. Oh dear! Then a random free kick and out of nowhere Sophana powers a header past Ravy. 3-3 What the hell is going on? We suddenly look clueless. They drive forward and the youngsters look full of energy. They force two fine saves from Ravy near the end which would have won them the game. From being 3-0 up and coasting we have been pegged back to 3-3 after 90 minutes, Unforgivable! We look better in extra time. Pheara wins a tackle and drives forward with the ball before slipping in sub, Chitra who.. what the hell.. tries to square it to Noron, but the ball goes behind him. What are you doing? Sambath swings in a cross to CHITRA!! Off the post!! Bath! Blocked by the keeper unbelievable! At the other end Bati swing a cross in and Penalty! Given! What the actual!”” Oudom steps up and sends Ravy the wrong way. What the hell is going on!???????

We press some more. In Sambath swings in another cross to Noron.. saved. Noron again saved.. Noron header saved! Noron! Over the bar..  Noron! Offside... Then with just 3 minutes to go we win a free kick. Ouk Ratana to take. He swings it into the far post and Samnang!!!! Chea Samnang the captain heads the ball into the top corner!! Unbelievable scenes! 4-4!!! Were going to Penalties!

PENALTIES

RATANA – Finds top corner sending keeper wrong way

Chay Udom – Thrashes ball into top corner.

NORON – Confidently places into top corner

SOPHANA – Sends Ravy the wrong way top corner

CHEA SAMNANG – Low into corner keeper goes wrong way

Sam Voeun – Sidefoots into corner

SOUN BATH – Easily finds bottom corner

Ros Hai- Fires ball underneath Cheng Ravy

IN SAMBATH – Hits the upright!

Un Sinoun – Fires into bottom corner

Bati Youth win 5-4 on Penalties

EDC Crash out of The Hun Sen Cup

This was a careless performance which saw us throw away a 3-0 lead. After Noron had slid in the third goal it seemed to be a case of how many we could put past the kids from the Bati Youth Club.. but they had other ideas. Fair play to them they were much better in the second half and we were far too complacent. 

Match 3 – Prek Pra v EDC 06/04/25

This is the very fixture when things started to go pear shaped last season, and we owe Prek Pra revenge. Ratana returns at left back and Pidor retains his Mezzala role in midfield. A good performance and three points are needed against these teams.

Match Action

The home side start the strongest and a breakaway leads to them hitting the post. Then Som has to tip one over the bar. This does not bode well. My fears are compounded when Ratana is caught in possession. The ball is whipped in and Ung Dara gets ahead of his defender to fire instantly past Som. 1-0 and it was coming... We rally, Chitra cuts in from the left and has a shot straight at the keeper. The equaliser came from an innocuous looking corner which resulted in an EDC man being felled in the box. Ouk Ratana smashed home the penalty. One each.

We start the second half OK and have a couple of strikes on goal, but fail to trouble the keeper. Then they go up the other end, and Ouk Rithy unleashes a shot which flies into the corner..  I go 4-2-4 with Soun Bath and Nhem forming a youthful partnership upfront, with Pidor left, sub Pheara right, and the full backs pushing on. This works when Sihavong gallops down the right, before providing a pinpoint cross for Soun Bath to tap home. Brilliant!  We are dominating now and attacking with menace. Nhem has a snapshot which whistles past the upright. Then a clever Pidor free-kick finds the feet of Anderson Gbayoro in the box, who turns and fires in a shot which fizzes in off the underside of the bar. Amazing! 3-2! They then have a great chance to score when dangerman, Ung Dara is through on goal but fluffs his lines. Chea Samnang runs into the right channel before his cross is cleared, only as far as Pidor who drills in another cross from the left and Soun Bath nips in to slot home his second. A brilliant comeback 4-2 EDC. Well done boys! 

Final Score: Prek Pra 2-4 EDC

Dara 13                       Ratana 2

Rithy 55                         Bath 74,86

                                       Gbayoro 83

With just the league to concentrate on, can EDC build upon their opening two  wins and stay at the top of the table, or will it be another season of so near and yet so far away? Will Charlotte Lay be too good to be true? Find out next time on The Ultimate World FM Game!

Read the next part here!