64. Back to Footballing Matters

 DISCLAIMER:

If you are one of my friends or family reading this latest instalment of the Ultimate World FM Game, please note that the story surrounding it is a pure work of fiction and are not based on real life events. I have never been remotely near Cambodia, only through a laptop screen on Football Manager 2021 and Google Earth for research purposes. I am still living in Leeds, UK, with my wife and son. If your name happens to also be Charlotte Lay, then once again, she is a pure work of fiction invented for the purposes of this ficticious story. Lastly, this made up story is not reflective of the real Electricite Du Cambodge FC, or any of the personel associated with the club. Enjoy reading!

It's fair to say it had been quite a few weeks! A hot date, a falling out with my backroom team over said date, a trip to Malaysia for a job interview and a falling out with chairman, Hem Vutha over said interview. In amongst that, saving the same woman from the grip of muggers in a Phnom Penh backstreets and spending the night with her. Then, after meeting up with her again and thinking she was going to dump me, due to how she was dressed, we declare undying love for eachother and start a relationship. This belonged in a Hugh Grant film, not in the life of a football manager.

I had woken up in unfamiliar territory, as we had gone back to hers after our night at Siswoth Quay and so was in the house she lived with her friend, Su Pheng. 

As I laid in her bed contemplating these events in my head I looked to my left as the beautiful Charlotte lay beside me fast asleep, her cute, black little eyelids closed tight. She was wearing a lovely light pink silk kimono, with her glossy dark hair falling so naturally and perfectly down the side of her face, neck and shoulders. I stopped just to take this in for a moment.

It was also a Sunday morning, the day after a game, so no footballing commitments today, not until tomorrow when I would be going in and de-briefing the Angkor Tiger match with my data analyst, Director of Football and coaching team. We would also be making plans for the next match on Saturday against The National Defence, ready for the lads at Tuesday's training session.

After consuming a few beers last night I felt quite de-hydrated and so got out of bed quietly, so as not to disturb Sleeping Beauty and made my way to the kitchen to get some water, if I could remember where it was.

I arrived in the kitchen to find another woman there making a coffee. She looked me up and down for a moment, before re-focusing on pouring a bit of milk into the top of her mug.

She was the polar opposite to Charlotte in appearance. She was short, slightly chubby and with short dark hair, which barely reached her neck.

"You must be Su." I enquired.

She nodded.

"And you must be Charlotte's latest.." She replied in a rather dismissive voice.

"Well, nice to meet you." I answered politely. I'm...J.."

"Coffee?" She asked cutting in to my polite, rather English introduction.

"Sure"

She poured me a mug and rather shoved in my hand rather sharply, so much so that I nearly scalded myself. 

This was not the friendliest of receptions and there was an awkward atmosphere in the room, almost like I was not welcome here, despite her offer of a drink.

We sat at a dining table which was situated nearby.

"So, started Su, your the manager of EDC then?"

"Yes, I am,"

"You know your not the first person from EDC to march triumphantly out of that door like they have just scored a goal", pointing towards Charlotte's bedroom.

"Well I know of her past relations with some of my ex-players and indeed my chairman, but I'm fine with that, they've moved on."

"So you don't mind that she keeps breaking up your team then, or that she was once in the pay of your boss to sleep with him then. That's totally OK with you is it? She knew Maol Daravon was married, but still continued seeing him anyway. It was me who persuaded her to ditch him and let him crawl back to his wife."

I'm tired of this. All I wanted was a drink of water, not an interrogation, or a debrief on my new love's past liaisons. 

"I really don't care about who what where and whys with Charlotte and her previous relationships. The past is the past and me and Charlotte, well this could be the start of something special.."

She looked me up and down, a bit like if she was my mother in law.

"Well your hardly Brad Pitt are you.. There's been many a man sat on that chair in this room the morning after full of hopes and dreams of running off with Charlotte into the sunset and living happily ever after, but for one reason or another it never seems to happen.. I give it a month tops.."

Charming!

With that the door opened and Charlotte brightened up the room with her presence.

"Hey darling" I was worried you'd gone when I woke up."

"Well just getting acquainted with the natives I said sharply, glaring over in Su's direction. I went for a glass of water.

She smiled and went to the sink and poured me a glass of water.

Su glared back at me as she slithered out of the room, presumably back into the hole she had crawled out from.

"Hey what do you want to do today?" I asked.

"Doesn't matter, just as long as I'm with you." She replied, rubbing my shoulders, sending another 10,000 volts through my body.

I didn't want to broach the subject of my rather strange conversation with her housemate. Things were still at a delicate stage with Charlotte, like at the start of most new relationships, so I didn't want to upset the apple cart. I did wonder why she was so off with me? Was she jealous that Charlotte got more male attention than she probably would? Was she trying to warn me about her housemate? Why is it there is always a question mark over her, not just from Su but Nen Borey and members of my backroom team as well. What did they know that I didn't.. Or.  were they all secretly on love with her and jealous?

These thoughts could not leave my mind, even though I spent an amazing day around Phnom Penh with Charlotte, getting to know her better, including a romantic boat ride on the Tonle Sap. 

         Boats on the Tonle Sap in Cambodia Picture Credit: Justin Watt wikipedia creative commons

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Match 7: EDC v National Defence

We’d turned a corner against Angkor Tiger with a good performance against the Champions and now have to back this up with a win against National Defence. They lie two places below us in 9th and have a good side who are capable of beating us, as they did last season. I go in with an adventurous 4-2-4 formation with Chitra and Pheara on the other flank and Ratana stepping in for the suspended Yaty in defence.

Team: Som, Sihavong, Ratana, Gbayoro, Bairaing, Chea Sam, Men Samnang, Pheara, Nhem, Taboula, Chitra

It’s even Steven in the opening 20. Taboula has a snap shot over the bar, while Nhem Dara forces a fine save from Som after a missed header from Gbayoro. Men Samnang then runs at the National Defence but fires straight over from the edge of the area. We switch to a 4-3-3 and this almost pays off when Chitra slips in Taboula who fires narrowly wide from the angle. Then the Defence score in the most annoying way possible. Our free kick ends up being whacked downfield and Darapitch races clear and slots past Som. 1-0. We are still creating chances going forward, but conceding far too many at the other end, especially on the break. One such counter results in their second goal,  We manage to pull one back when Bairaing shows tenacity on the left and fizzes in a low cross which is turned home by Pheara. 2-1. Any chances of a comeback were smashed down by the impressive Nhem Dara who compounded our misery by firing in a third. We were dreadful. They were better. We are not as good as we were last season that’s for sure. You can't take anything for granted in this game.. Even Charlotte struggled to cheer me up after that performance.. Perhaps though I had become a little distracted of late..

Match 8– EDC v Port Autonome

Simply put the 2025 campaign has not gone to plan so far. We were knocked out of the Hun Sen Cup by lower league Bati Youth and have only won twice in the league with two draws, accruing just 8 points from a possible 24 and lying in 8th place. We have also had problems with injuries. Pidor, a key player last season has barely made it onto the pitch, due to an ongoing lack of fitness and I think a liking for the amber stuff. Our newly promoted opponents lie in 10th but have not disgraced themselves in this campaign.

Team: Som, In Sambath, Yaty., Gbayoro, Bairaing, Chea Sam, Samnang, Pidor, Taboula, Noron, Soun Bath

Match Action

It’s even Steven. Som is forced to tip over a header from a corner, while Pidor has a shot saved well by their keeper. We got better as the half went on. Soun Bath nodded wide. No inspiration. 0-0 at half time.

I revert to 4-2-4 and we look better. I bring on Pheara on the right and Pidor left, this gives us more width and our full backs can concentrate on defending than trying to make width. Chea Samnang drives forward and unleashes one of his trademark long range shots which thwacks against the cross bar and Sok Oeun Pidor follows up to tap home the rebound into an empty net. At last the deadlock is broken.

On 77 minutes Chan Yaty flights in a free kick and Pelap Taboula makes it two with a placed volley. Rakasmay pulled one back in stoppage time after a swift breakaway. Hardly convincing, but job done at home against a newly promoted team. 

Final Score EDC 2-1 Port Autonome

Pidor  64                                 Rakasmey 90

Taboula 78


Maol Daravon (Judas) Sticks His Beak In

For some unknown reason my traitorous former captain, Maol Daravon (Judas) and Charlotte’s ex decided to lay into my young charge, Sam Chea about his level of performance and say he was nowhere near at the level of his former team mate, Nan Punlock (remember him) Daravon. By the way Maol I suggest you also concentrate on your detective policing work, because you stlll have not caught the gang who attacked Charlotte a few weeks ago just to remind you...

Match 11 Phnom Penh Crown v EDC 17/05/25

We have made an indifferent start to the 2025 campaign, partly due to loss of form, partly due to a series of injuries and partly due to the disruption caused by Daravon and then Warobay’s sudden departures. This will be a good measure of where we are at against one of the stronger teams in the shape of 2nd placed Phnom Penh Crown. I change my formation to a 4-2-3-1. Makara comes back from injury, Ratana back from suspension and Sihavong returns with a flea in his ear to start playing better. Crown have the evergreen Brazilian, Debeiro up front and old foe, Touch Roma on the left wing.

Team: Som, Sihavong, Yaty, Gbayoro, Ratana, Makara, Chea Samnang, Men Samnang, Pheara, Taboula, Pidor

Match Action

Crown dominate the opening period and an early fierce shot stings the palms of Som. We can hardly string two passes together. Crown have a couple of half chances and look most likely to score. Finally we get the ball and nearly score ourselves when Som’s big goal kick was flicked on by Pheara for Men Samanag to be through on goal. The keeper smothers his shot. Debeiro from a breakaway is one on one with Som, for a deserved lead,  but the keeper pulls off a fine save.. This seems to stir is into life and suddenly we look sharper in the tackle and are starting to pass the ball in the way I know we can. The best move of the game results in a goal. Som’s accurate goal kick finds Pidor in space on the left. His ball inside is cleverly flicked round the corner first time by Men Samang for his namesake, Chea whose simple through ball to Pelap Taboula results in the Nigerian sliding the ball into the net for  brilliant goal. Crown press for an equaliser but we look good on the break. Yaty slides in on Debeiro and injures himself in the process. Then from a random free kick, the ball is flighted in and Prak Udom peels away from his marker to half volley a probably deserved equaliser. A long ball from Gbayoro causes panic in the Crown defence. Taboula flicks the ball on to the onrushing Nhem who is like a greyhound as he charges into the box and slides the ball delightfully under the keeper to restore our lead. On the 78th minute it’s our turn to get a random free kick. This time Men Samnang steps up and fires in a superb third goal. We are looking back to our old selves now! 3-1 to the EDC. Brilliant from the lads today. Up to 3rd we go and playing with the big boys once again.

Final Score: Phnom Penh Crown 1-3 EDC

                           Udom 61                            Taboula 37

                                                                        Nhem 64

                                                                       Samnang 79




Ratana becomes EDC’s most capped player

Versatile defender. Ouk Ratana will break Judas’ appearance record if he crosses the white line in EDC’s next game against Nagaworld. He will make his 95th appearance for th club, having made his debut as a 15 year old back in 2020. 

Match 12: Nagaworld v EDC

We take on our biggest rivals in a lot better position  than we were a couple of games ago. I go in with three changes, Nhem replacing Pheara on the right, Makara drops back into central defence and Vavanak comes in to DMC, alongside Sam Chea. Nagaworld have the usual suspects, Sun Dara, Fasal on the wing, plus full back,  Diamini an International from Swaziland..

Team: Som, Sihavong, Makara, Gbayoro, Ratana, Vavanak, Sam Chea, Men Samnang, Nhem, Taboula, Pidor

We kick off and knock the ball around the back four. Then it flashes to Pidor who is shaping up to take a free kick, everybody is forward. A good chance to put the ball in the box.. Pidor steps up.. and squares it to Vavanak on the edge What the hell are you doing? I scream from the touchline. The youngster controls it and...shoots Oh my god he’s scored it flies into the top corner. What a strike from the youngster, making only his second appearance for the club! Amazing! Then not much happens. I just allow it to tick toward half time. Nagaworld as we know often have other ideas. After an annoying spell of possession they equalise. Ly Vahad chips the ball into the area and Mana Ratana volleys it past Som. 1-1.

In the second half and we simply cannot get the ball off the hosts as they once again create a series of chances, but as usual they find Som an immovable object in goal. Math Fasal goes on a mazy run which sees him fire just over. I go 4-3-3 and throw Noron on for someone at least to hold the ball up and provide some kind of threat going forward. The plan works. Our first real flowing move of the game starts with strong run from Sam Chea in midfield (Are you watching Judas?). He finds Taboula in the left channel who lays it inside to Pidor, who is now in the number 10 role. He slides a perfectly weighted through ball to Noron who does what he does best, find the corner of the net. 2-1 EDC! Nagaworld lay siege to our goal. I go the full Sven and revert to a tight 4-4-2 defensive solid with frequent time wasting and it works! A throw in from Ratana puts the ball at Pelap Taboula’s feet, now playing as a left wide midfielder. He turns his defender smartly and then puts a cross in with the outside of his right boot that Lionel Messi would be proud of, which swerves past the defender and into the path of Matty Noron to poke home his second goal and seal a brilliant away win against the scum.. 3-1 EDC. Electrifying stuff! 

Final Score Nagaworld 1-3 EDC

Ratana 41                            Vavanak 4

                                             Noron 72,88



The Students capture a Tiger


No, this was not some drunken student escapade like in “The Hangover” movie, but a reference to the plucky students from bottom of the table, Mekong Kampeuchea Uni holding the beer company, Angkor Tiger 1-1 and then proceeded to drink the brewery dry after the game before heading back home to their digs. Epic day man!

Match 13 – EDC v Boeung Ket

Another one of the ‘big boys’ visit the Electricity Stadium with us in good form having seen off both The Crown and the casino, this clash between 2nd and 3rd is an important one and whoever wins could go top. Ket have the evergreen Brazilian Marques up front and some decent players alongside him.We are going in 4-2-3-1 with Ratana at right back to replace the injured Sihavong, Bairaing comes in at LB, while Makara’s untimely departure means that Vavanak keeps his place in defensive midfield.

Team: Som, Ratana, Yaty, Gbayoro, Bairaing, Vavanak, Sam Chea, Pheara, Nhem, Taboula, Pidor

Match Action

Ket have the better of the opening exchanges but no clear cut chances. We come more into it. Pidor looks a threat cutting in from the left, Taboula has a snapshot over the bar from Bairaing’s cross, meanwhile Omakafe at the other end skies a clear chance. Then some neat interplay between Bairing, who has been getting forward well and Pheara results in the youngster slipping a perfect through ball for the onrushing Taboula who slots it into the bottom corner. 1-0 EDC. Ket respond and a flying save from an Omakafe header prevents a sudden equaliser. Approaching half time PIdor floats a free kick from the centre circle and Gbayoro rises above everyone to loop  brilliant header over the keeper for  second goal! The third goal was one of pure persistence. Gbayoro lofts the ball forward to Nhem whose through ball is seized upon by Taboula, who beats Kakada with the first touch and then touches it past the keeper with the second touch and slides the ball into the empty net from an angle with his third. Quite brilliant from EDC’s premier goalscorer. On 55 minutes though Carlos Dos Santos cottons onto a loose ball and thwacks it in at the near post from the angle. 3-1.. Substitute Marques then slots home a second. Squeaky bum time. Pidor is now a defensive winger and the time wasting is set to max. We try and keep the ball, they try and score. We hold our nerve. A big three points! We go second on goal difference..

Final Score: EDC 3-2 Boeung Ket

Taboula 33,45                          Dos Santos 56

Gbayoro 43                               Marques 86


League Table after 10 games


League Table after 10 Games

1st Phnom Penh Crown 20

2nd EDC 20

3rd Angkor Tiger 19

4th National Defence 19

5th Boeung Ket 17

6th National Police 14

7th Khemera 13

8th Nagaworld 13

9th CMAC United 12

10th Chhlam Samuth 11

11th Build Bright United 9

12th Port Autonone 9

13th Prek Pra 6

14th Mekong Kampeuchea Uni 6

An upturn in form has seen EDC rise to the upper reaches of the C-League once again. Can they sustain this form to mount a serious title challenge, or will the upcoming mid season transfer window scupper their bid to win their first ever Cambodian League Title? Find out next time on the Ultimate World FM Game! 

Read the next part, Keeping Up The Pressure Here!





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