75. Untenable!

 

  Life at EDC was not the same. My autocratic chairman, Sann Veasna had imposed himself on the club and his meddling nature was beginning to have a huge effect on all concerned. It wasn't just the two 'surprise' signings of Bisai and Doloh, who had turned out to be decent footballers, as well as decent human beings, but he was everywhere. I couldn't go five minutes without seeing those bloody sunglasses and that annoying grin. He was there at training, in the dressing room before and after matches, telling me and my staff what they should or shouldn't be doing. He even attended scouting meetings. His predecessor, Hem Vutha always kept out of the football side of things and trusted me and my team to get on with our jobs. While he was present at matches and only appeared in the dressing room when invited, such as during both the Hun Sen Cup finals we had been involved with, he showed no interest in team affairs. Sann Veasna was the exact opposite. The tension was rising and it would take just one thing to light the spark... And guess what... The transfer window had just swung open. What could possibly go wrong?

The Morning of The EDC v Phnom Penh Game

It was Saturday 30th May 2026 and it was the day of the big, televised C-League game against Phnom Penh Crown. As was ritual for home fixtures the players would meet at 12, have a pre-match meal and then prepare for the game. We congregated in the dressing room and after the usual chat and banter flew around amongst the lads, we began our brief meeting about team selection, who was in the team, who was on the bench and remind them of the formation and tactics

"So lads, Phnom Penh Crown. We have a good record against them and I feel confident of victory."
"I'm going in with a 4-2-3-1... Som in goal, Sophorn you keep your place at right back, Mol, Adekunjo, Ratana, Makara your in the holding role, Bisai, Nhem and Pidor you are left and right wing and Men Samnang you are in the number 10 role behind Taboula."

I looked round.

"Men Samnang.." Where's Men Samnang?"

"Anyone know?"

There was silence.

"Does anyone know where Men Samang is?"

More silence..

"He hasn't accidently been put in the reserve squad?"

"No replied Nen Borey, they don't have a game till Tuesday?"

With that in swaggered Sann Veasna.

"Sann, where is my number 10, Men Samnang?" Do you know where he is?"

"Oh he signed for Khemera this morning." He replied casually.

"WHAT?"

"Men Samnang has gone to Khemera..."

"Yeah he's gone.."

 "And you didn't think to tell me that my f****** best player this season, number 10, capped five times for his country aged just 18 and free-kick specialist has left the club and you did not tell me!

"Well it's OK you've got Bisai who I signed. He can play."

"That's not the point! You sold a player behind my back!

The players looked on astonished as me and my chairman argued in front of them.

"Maybe there's been some misunderstanding." reasoned Nen Borey.

"Misunderstanding! He's sold our best player to one of our f***** rivals.."~

"I think we need to discuss this later. We have an important match today" and with that he vanished.

I was fuming!

Match 11 EDC v Phnom Penh Crown

The EDC bandwagon rolls on to a home fixture against the Crown, which was live on BTV Cambodia, something which I really could have done without given the mood I was in.  After Men Samnang’s shock departure, Sung Rot takes his place in the AMC role. Mat Mol is back in defence and Um Makara moves into DMC. Our opponents lie in a lowly 8^th.

Team: Som, Sophorn, Mol, Adekunjo, Ratana, Makara, Bisai, Sung Rot, Nhem, Taboula, Pidor

Match Action

We start on the front foot and Sophorn’s cross sees Taboula have an effort tipped over the bar from the angle. But. A random free kick results in Prak Udom volleying home Chay Daravon’s free kick.. They look dangerous n the break. Soksana fires just wide, while Bisai whistles a free kick just past the post. 1-0 at the break. Into the second half I go 4-2-4. We somehow can’t get up for this game and we lack the spark that Men Samnang would have given us.. I change Dara for Taboula and Um Mony Udom for the ineffectual Pidor. Un Mony Udom forces a flying save from the keeper after a direct free kick. However we just cannot seem to get the ball off them. Our misery is compounded when Soksana barges his way past Mol and fires a low shot past Som for 2-0.. We’ve just never looked like winning this game no matter what we did. A disappointing defeat and our 5 match winning run comes to an end. Not that I care. This will be my last game in charge. I have made up my mind. 

Final Score EDC 0-2 Phnom Penh Crown

                                      Udom 17 Soksana 76

After the post match ritual had been completed in which I (think) I successfully managed to hide my thoughts about quitting EDC to the Cambodian Match of The Day cameras, I had a very important discussion to have with my better half.

As normal after a home fixture I met up with Charlotte, who as usual had been at the game and we headed to one of our favourite Thai restaurants in downtown Phnom Penh. While we were both disappointed about the result, it was not really at the forefront of my mind.

She had been aware of my growing frustrations in the job and the new chairman's interfering ways, but at this point had no idea about the Men Samnang situation and the fact that I felt my role as manager was becoming untenable. Funnily enough it was she who brought up the subject of my former attacking midfielder.

"Where was Men Samnang? Was he injured in the warm up?"

"Funny you should mention him.. He's left EDC and gone to Khemera."
I explained about the pre-match argument between me and my chairman, of which she listened to open-mouthed.

"And he didn't tell you? What are you going to do?"

"Resign."

She paused for a moment, sweeping her beautiful hair down her back and shoulders.

"What are you going to do, are you going to find another job in Cambodia?"

This was not something I had thought about, but there had been an itch with me for some time to try my hand in another country, one a bit more advanced than Cambodia, possibly Thailand.

"Well let's see how things go, but I need to ask you something."

"If I was to get a manager's job in another country would you join me?"

She paused.

That beautiful smile spread across her face.

She nodded and a tear rolled down her cheek. "Yes... I just want to be with you. Wherever we go they will always need nurses and well lets get out of Phnom Penh and Cambodia. I have nothing but bad memories here." Yes Yes Yes let's start a new life somewhere else."

We hugged across the table and held hands. 

My mind was made up. I would hand in my resignation from EDC in the morning.

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I felt nervous as I drove to The Electricity Stadium perhaps for the final time. As I travelled memories of the last six years came flooding back.. The Kevin Keegan-esque rant in the press conference, winning the Hun Sen Cup and Kings Cup, my trip to Angkor Wat with Nen Borey, signing the Cambodian Pele, Charlotte and I tapping up players at the club's end of season bash. Amazing memories from an amazing club which would forever be in my heart.

I climbed the stairs and knocked on the boardroom door. His secretary let me in and asked me to sit down. Sann Veasna emerged from behind his desk. He laid on the charm as usual.

"Jonathan! great to see you!" What can I do for you?"

"Sann.. I wish to resign from EDC with immediate effect.."

Even the normally cool Sann Veasna paused.

"You know yeah your right I mean it's not like were really going anywhere under your management. We were a pile a s**** against Phnom Penh Crown and I don't really want you as my manager any more. I think there's better out there.."

I was insulted.

"Sann I've given six f****** years of my life to this club, in a country and league which is completely unfamiliar to me. I've taken this team to two cup finals, one of which we won and have consolidated EDC as a respected and established club in the Cambodian C-League. This club is in a far better place than when I took over six years ago when we were constantly fighting relegation. I am proud of my achievements here, but you know what, I think it's time to move on as I cannot work under a complete p**** like you who sells my best player to a rival without even telling me. I quit,"

I stormed out the room, ran down the stairs trying to fight the tears, got into my car and drove out of the Electricity Stadium for the very last time. 

My tenure of managing the first club on The Ultimate World FM Game - EDC of Cambodia was over,  but where will I end up next? Find out next time on the Ultimate World FM Game! 

to be continued.......