Jon1982

Part 68 - It's All Gone A Bit Pete Tong The Title Race Hots Up! Despite our indifferent form we still (kind of) find ourselves still in a title race, although it is pretty tenuous to say the least! Top Of The Table After 21 Games 1st Angkor Tiger 46 pts 2nd Phnom Penh Crown 42 3rd EDC 39 4th Nagaworld 37 5th National Police 37 There are just five matches to go in the 2025 C-League Season and while it is unlikely we will win our inaugural C-League, we still have a chance if we win all our games and hope the Tiger and Nagaworld drop points. Our run in is as follows: 30th August Nagaworld (H) 13th September Boeung Ket (A) 4th October Mekong Kampeuchea Uni (H) 18th October CMAC (H) 31st October Khemera (A) All to play for, starting with the casino! International Call Ups The September International break is nearly upon us. The big news is that our young striker, Samnang Nhem has been called up to the Cambodian National team squad for the first time, along with Ouk Ratana to face Sri Lanka in a friendly and Malaysia in an Asian Cup Qualifier. Meanwhile Sihavong has been called up to the Laos National team. Match 23 – EDC v Nagaworld 30/08/25 A match against the casino is always the biggest game of the season. They lie in fourth, we are third. Whoever wins this gets to challenge Angkor Tiger and Phnom Penh Crown for the title. Inconsistency has crept back into our season, largely due to our dodgy defence. Two of our better defenders, Ratana and Yaty are out for this one, so in comes Sihavong, who has still yet to prove himself in an EDC shirt and Tola Mao, a young defender probably not ready for the first team, but impressed in the rout of Angkor Tiger, so I’ll give him a go... Otherwise we line up 4-2-3-1 as is the way against the bigger teams. Here goes nothing! Team: Som, Sihavong, Tola Mao, Gbayoro, Bairaing, Vavanak, Chea Samnang, Pheara, Nhem, Taboula, Chitra We start the game on the front foot and win a series of corners and free kicks. We then create a chance. After a Taboula free kick, an intricate passing move involving Pheara and Chitra results in the former having his fierce shot tipped over the bar. Encouraging. Then we press the suicide button. Another free kick is cleared, leaving Sun Dara a clear pathway to goal. He doesn’t disappoint the visiting fans. Completely against the run of play as well.. We hit back though. A lovely move down the left sees Bairaing on the overlap and his cross is nodded just wide by Pheara. Then Sokundara Som launches a high swirling goal kick, which Pelap Taboula latches onto and drives the ball past the keeper for a deserved equaliser. Brilliant! Route 1 football, but effective. As ever between these two sides it’s tit for tat. A Fasal free kick onto the head of Ly Vahad results in Som acrobatically tipping the ball over the crossbar. Great Save! Nagaworld start to pile on the pressure. Another Fasal free kick stings the hands of Som, while a goalmouth scramble results in the EDC goalkeeper clawing another one away around the post. One each at the break. A relatively normal game off football. Then the second half begins... Fasal plays an awkward ball up towards Sun Dara and his flick on causes mayhem in our defence as Mantornin sprints onto it seemingly from nowhere and buries it past Som into the top corner. 2-1 Nagaworld. Soon after a hopeful ball into the box from Sihavong finds Nhem who controls it and tries to wriggle free of his marker but is brought down. Up steps Pelap Taboula and sends the ball wide!!! Oh No! From the resulting goal kick, their attack is easily cut out. Suddenly we have a counter attack. Pheara releases Samnang Nhem who runs like a gazelle down the right flank, before skipping past his man, turning inside and smacking the ball into the corner of the net. Utter brilliance from the brightest prospect in Cambodian football! As ever Nagaworld have an immediate response. A near post Fasal corner is diverted home by Yamin from a tight angle. That was a really bad goal to concede. 3-2 Nagaworld. From the kick off captain Chea Samnang drives forward with the ball. He lays it back to young Tola Mao who flights a perfect ball for Nhem to run onto. The goalkeeper has rush of blood to the head and runs out of his area to cut it out, buyt Nhem is too quick. The youngster cooly squares the ball to Taboula who slots the ball into the empty net. 3-3! Then from a goal kick, Tola Mao wins an important header. Nhem flicks the ball on perfectly into the path of sub Mat Noron who guides the ball past the keeper to turn things around 4-3 to EDC! In a thrilling second half, it is Nagaworld’s turn to attack. Man Ratana has a shot blocked, but the ball falls perfectly to Prak Rithy who scores a 30-yard screamer into the top corner. 4-4. I can’t keep up! We then have several chances to take the lead again. Noron blazes over when he had more time. Then we get another kick in the teeth. A Fasal free kick is swung in and that man Prak Rithy has a free header at the far post which inevitably finds the top corner 5-4 Nagaworld. We attack once again. A long passing move results in the ball finding Sihavong forward from right back. His pinpoint cross finds Mat Noron who volleys home yet another equaliser to make it 5-5! Both sides go for the winner. Nagaworld have the better of possession, They work the ball to their left back, Darang. He is in too much space, GO TO HIM SIHAVONG..Close him d... It’s too late. He advances into the penalty area curls in a lovely ball and San Vannak hooks the ball home to break EDC hearts deep in stoppage time. 6-5 to Nagaworld. Crazy! The final whistle goes. We are exhausted. What an amazing game. Nobody deserved to lose this one. What an advert for the C-League this was! Gutted though we lost and with it goes our faint title hopes. Final Score EDC 5-6 Nagaworld Taboula 21,54 Sun Dara 10 Nhem 50 Matnortin 46 Noron 56,77 Rithy 59,75 Vannak 95 The Aftermath Charlotte said to me afterwards that it was the best game of football she had ever seen as she consoled me after the defeat in a match nobody deserved to lose. In a rare show of friendship between the two sides we invited the Nagaworld players into our dressing room, so they could reflect on a scintillating game of football. Although we are rivals, there is a growing mutual respect between EDC and Nagaworld and a match like this brought the two clubs even closer together. Long Savdy Tweet EDC fan, Long Savdy summed up this match in his post match tweet. “Can’t wait to watch that match again on one of those football nostalgia shows in twenty years time” Suon Veasna praises Nhem My former star, Suon Veasna took time out of his busy schedule to praise young EDC startlet Samnang Nhem and said he reminded him of another club legend, Phanny Y Rotha. The way Nhem gallops down the right flank is in my view similar to Veasna in his pomp. Match 24 Boeung Ket v EDC The season is over for both sides. After our thrilling defeat to Nagaworld we lie in 5th and eight points off Angkor Tiger. I am a tad disappointed not to be challenging but in many ways it has been a season of transition I suppose both on and off the pitch. Ratana is back, but Gbayoro is suspended, so rookie, Ly Vatanak is given another chance at centre back alongside the also returning Yaty. I give a full debut to left winger Mol Ly who has impressed in both training and the reserves and so deserves his chance. Cheng Ravy also makes his competitive debut in goal to give Som a rest, as his form has dipped this season. Ket have the evergreen Brazilian, Marques up front and interestingly a Cape Verdean left winger, Carlos Dos Santos who comes from Mindelese, the same club as Aderito Graca. He seems to have settled into his adopted country better than his friend. Anyway I digress. Here’s the team.. Team: Ravy, Ratana, Yaty. Ly Vatanak, Bairang, Vavanak, Samnang, Pheara, Nhem, Taboula, Mol Ly Match Action The home side take the game to us and Ravy is forced into a couple of comfortable-ish early saves, but this does not bode well. Marques looks lively and Dos Santos is a threat. The inevitable happens. Vatanak clears the ball, but only as far as Mom Sotheavan, who has the freedom of the Olympic Stadium to run forward from midfield into the penalty area and slot the ball past Ravy, with no EDC player in the same post code. What a stupid goal to concede! Then further punishment. Our free kick is cleared to the dangerous Marques. He plays in Dos Santos, who slips in former EDC man, Ouch Oudom to fire confidently home for number two with just 15 minutes on the clock. This is turning out to be a miserable day already. On 24 Marques is allowed far too much time and space on the ball as he crosses low for Dos Santos to sweep home a third. I cannot believe what I am seeing. This is a dire performance..! I am so angry.. To be fair we rally. Taboula has one disallowed for offside, which further added to our frustrations, but on 36 minutes a ray of hope. Vavanak plays a great half volleyed pass into the path of Nhem, who fires it home with panache. He can’t miss at the moment, to register his 13th goal of the season. Five minutes later we miraculously score again. Taboula’s cross is nodded home by the man of the moment, Nhem. 3-2 . Into the second half and my motivated team have the bit between their teeth. I exchange debutant Mol Ly for Noron and go for the old faithful up front of Nhem, Taboula and Noron. It nearly pays off. A slick moves plays in Noron, whose shot is brilliantly saved. Hope. Taboula then dispossesses their right back and gallops forward before producing a menacing cross which Pheara heads just over, Come on! Then we are brought down to earth with a bang. A now rare Ket breakaway results in Ly Vatanak tripping Marques in the box. Penalty. The experienced Kok Boris sends Ravy the wrong way. 4-2. They break away and score again 5-2 I can’t be bothered describing it to you, other than we were clueless! 5-2 Match please end. The game petered out into a miserable 5-2 defeat. I threw the water bottle at the players after the game. I am livid with that performance. Even Charlotte could not cheer me up after this one... Final Score Boeung Ket 5-2 EDC Sotheaven 13 Nhem 37,42 Oudom 16,68 Dos Santos 25 Kok Boris 67 (pen) EDC Set Unwanted Record We have broken the record for the worst discipline ever in the C-League, after collecting 91 yellow cards and 3 reds. Well it shows they are getting stuck in, which is fine by me! International Call Ups There are now three EDC players in the Cambodian National Squad, Ouk Ratana, Samnang Nhem and Nhem Dara. They will face two away trips to Guam for a friendly and then a very tricky away trip to Pyongyang, North Korea for an Asian Cup Qualifier. Good luck with that one! Nhem & Taboula nominated for awards My main two strikers, Pelap Taboula and Samnang Nhem have been nominated for the Cambodian Player of the Year. Voting was cast today (although I could not vote for them) and the results will be announced shortly. Match 25 – EDC v Mekong Kampeuchea University Those pesky students are in town. We still have not beaten this lot in 90 minutes yet and the way we are playing at the moment, this is unlikely to change. I have an embarrassment of riches to choose from going forward, while our defence and goalkeepers are short on confidence and numbers. The students meanwhile, despite being obdurate opponents against the best in the league lie bottom of the table, but still have Suon Veasna in their ranks who will need watching. I go in for a 4-4-2 and give a return to a forgotten man, Tuy Oudom on the right flank. He is still at EDC, but has been languishing in the reserves after I decided to play a 4-3-3. Young Vibol is given another chance at right back, while Ratana switches to the left. Team: Som, Vibol, Yaty, Gbayoro, Ratana, Vavanak, Men Samnang, Oudom, Nhem Taboula, Mony Udom Match Action It’s a rather scrappy affair with both teams having efforts going way over the bar. They look slightly the better side and Som acrobatically tips one over the bar. We lack spark and are shorn of confidence. We assert a bit more dominance, but fail to create anything of note. A header from Nhem is comfortably saved and the same player uncharacteristically fails to hit the target when sent through on goal by a Yaty long ball. At the other end, they look dangerous from set plays from Veasna’s deliveries, but apart from that we are marginally better, without being good. On the stroke of half time and pretty much out of nowhere they score. The ball is played to the edge of our box where striker, Sinoun hits a fizzing shot against the post and In Matnornin follows up to tap home the rebound. I lay into the team at half time. We have been pathetic. I throw on young Nhem Dara and go 4-3-3, meaning Tuy Oudom’s comeback lasted only 45 minutes. Into the second half and Nhem shows the first bit of intent and runs at his full back before curling in a decent cross for sub Dara to head straight at the keeper. Promising. The bottom of the table side dig in though and they win a free kick. Suon Veasna stands over the ball and in true Veasna style clips a clever ball to their onrushing player who guides the ball past Som. This is as miserable as a wet weekend in Withernsea.. We dominate again and score a consolation in the last minute. A long diagonal ball by young Vibol is flicked on by sub Noron to the onrushing Mony Udom who finds the corner of the net with a delicate finish and his first goal for the club. Too little too late though. Season please just end! It’s All Got a Bit Miserable Around Here.. It’s fair to say that this campaign has not gone as well as everybody had hoped. Three defeats in a row, 6-5 against Nagaworld, the 5-2 thrashing by Boeung Ket and lastly the miserable 2-1 home defeat to those pesky students has cast a shadow over The Electricty Stadium. The last game also saw us record our lowest home attendance of my reign so far, with just 143 turning up. According to Charlotte, one of those number, the fans are frustrated by the team’s lack of progress this season and there have been some murmurings of discontent against my tactics and management. We have two matches to play out and finally we can finish this season. A big clearout in the winter transfer window is needed, along with the arrival of some new blood.. That is of course if I last that long.. International Round Up On a brighter note, my defender, Ouk Ratana got on the scoresheet in a 4-0 friendly win over Guam. Nhem Dara also made his debut for the senior side. Unfortunately they could not keep up their winning ways on that notoriously tricky trip away to North Korea, where they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat in the Asian Nations Cup Qulaifying. Match 26 – EDC v CMAC United Let’s just get this over with. My head is already on next season. While we are in freefall down the table in 5th, our newly promoted opponents are doing well in 8th place and look likely to retain their top flight status next season. It’s time to blood a few of the younger players, mixed with some experienced ones and see what we can do. I revert to a 4-3-3 which I think is our best formation. I hand debuts to right back Kouch Mol and forward, Sor Chanvirak. Makara Um re-appears at left back, while the promising Sann Dara is given a chance in central midfield. Team: Som, Mol, Gbyoro, Vatanak, Um, Tola Mao, Dara, Men Smnang, Nhem, Dara, Chanvirak It’s an even opening 15, but we don’t look confident. We have lost the swagger we used to have. They look the most likely and the inevitable happened when Touch Tola got down the left and put in a pinpoint far post cross for the veteran Japanese striker, Kawabata to nod home. 1-0. We equalise soon after though. It was all a bit route one, Right back Kouch Mol launched the ball forward which seemed to cause panic in the CMAC defence. Nhem Dara ran onto it and beat the keeper to the ball and poked it past him into the empty net. They return the favour. Kong Rafat (remember him) hoofs the ball downfield and Kawabata powers the ball past Som for his second goal. It’s déjà vu again. The Tola/Kawabata combination works again as the Japanese striker nods in a third. I can hear the boos coming from the EDC faithful. This is not good, not good at all. Just when I thought all was lost my young charge, Nhem Dara controls the ball about 30 yards out and fires a screamer into the top corner for 3-2. I smell another high scoring one.... again.... We knock the ball about in midfield, but the ball is cut out and magically finds it’s way to you know who, Mr Kawabata who rifles the ball into the top corner. Som could only stand and watch. Kawabata may as well be Erling Haaland right now... I throw the water bottle several times during the half time tem talk. I am furious. We are a pathetic, a dreadful side. I let them know exactly what I think. Into the second half and I am beyond caring what happens. I am resigning after this match if this carries on. Som sends a long goal kick over everybody’s heads. Nhem Dara is alive to the situation and coolly dinks the ball past the onrushing Kong Rafat. 4-3. Amazingly we equalise. Gbayoro’s long ball into the box causes confusion and that man, Nhem Dara sweeps home the loose ball to make it 4-4! CMAC are no pushovers though. Kawabata who has had a quiet half hour has a snapshot saved by Som. Then the same player forces an acrobatic save from the EDC keeper. They have a string of set pieces and the visitors look the most likely to nick it. However we can play when we want to. The brilliant Nhem Dara picks up the ball and runs at the CMAC defence. He slips in substitute Taboula who powers the ball past Kong Rafat. 5-4 EDC. We have fought back from 4-2 and 3-1 down. A couple of water bottles may have died in the process, but finally we got a win, This however papers over more cracks than on a dried up lake.. Amazingly we move up to fourth above Nagaworld. Final Score EDC 5-4 CMAC United Dara 25,45, 50,78 Kawabata 11,30,39,45 Taboula 90 Angkor Tiger win The C-League Angkor Tiger retained the Cambodian C-League after a comfortable 3-0 win over Prek Pra. Congratulations once again go to them from the Electricity Stadium. Phnom Penh Crown Win the Hun Sen Cup Phnom Penh Crown beat National Defence 3-2 on penalties after playing out an entertaining 2-2 draw after extra time. Match 27 – Khemera v EDC So, at last this season comes to an end with a trip to our bogey side, Khemera, who have had a surprisingly poor season for them and sit in 9th place. They are still Khemera though with their dodgy wing-back formation. I field a mixture of youth and experience, giving a debut to Sob Vattanak in goal, Mol Ly is given another chance on the left wing and Kouch Mol at right back. Team: Vottanak, Makara Um, Yaty, Ratana, Mol, Vavanak, San Dara, Pheara, Nhem, Dara, Mol Ly Match Action First 20 minutes.. nothing tick tock tick tock yawn yawn yawn. On 26 minutes they get a corner and Sokseuna heads the ball home. 1-0 Khemera. As for us we put together a few nice moves which ends up with the final shot being blocked. Half time. I give my team a flea in their ear, this may be the last game of the season but that was not good enough. I switch to 4-2-4. We assert dominance in the second half. Ratana lays it infield to Vavanak who plays it up to Nhem. He lays it off to young Sann Dara who let’s fly! And drills it into the bottom corner for a brilliant equaliser! 1-1. But this is Khemera and they have an annoying habit of scoring just when you think you have them where you want them.. Ly Ravy receives the ball on the edge of the area and fizzes one straight into the top bins past a sprawling Vattanak. 2-1 in typical Khemera style I make the sentimental substitute of taking off young Dara for the veteran, Sok Chanraksmy, who is retiring at the end of the season . He barely gets a kick.. They look the most likely to get a third which comes when Chanratana compounds our misery from a 25-yard piledriver into the bottom corner. We look utterly clueless and the inevitable end to a miserable season comes to an end. We finish 5th with 42 points and 14 points off the champions, Angkor Tiger. Much work to be done in the pre-season if we are to challenge next season.... Final Cambodian C-League Table 2025 1st Angkor Tiger 56 (c) 2nd Phnom Penh Crown 53 3rd Nagaworld 47 4th National Police 47 5th EDC 42 6th Boeung Ket 36 7th National Defence 33 8th CMAC United 32 9th Khemera 30 10th Chhlam Samuth 28 11th Build Bright United 23 12th Prek Pra 23 (R) 13th Mekong Kampeuchea Univ 23 (R) 14th Port Autonome 20 (R) A crazy campaign has seen EDC somehow finish 5th, but a long way off the top of the table. While the board are happy that another top half finish has been achieved the performances and especially our defending has left a lot to be desired. Can Rudd, Borey, Chanraksmy, Chan Vannak and the rest rebuild the squad to challenge for honours next season, or has Rudd decided he has taken this team as far as he can? Find out next time on The Ultimate World FM Game!

Part 67 - One Step Forward. Two Steps Back A run of high-scoring games has derailed our bid to win our first C-League Title. Since the departure of Daravon and then his replacement Warobay, who fecked off back to Indonesia as soon as he could, plus the capable Um Makara deciding his future lay elsewhere, it has left us exposed at the back. We are left with Anderson Gbayoro who is good, but not the best and a loan signing Chan Yaty from Nagaworld who is decent, but still learning his trade. When one or both of these two are suspended or injured we are reliant on the incompetent Panha, or the the novice, Ly Vattanak. Going forward we have an embarrassment of riches, Taboula, Nhem, Pheara, Noron, Dara etc, but our defence, particularly the two centre back positions have let us down this season. Our ability though to score goals did enable us to to go on a slightly fortuitous eleven match unbeaten run, but this came to a juddering halt at the hands of those old foes, The National Police. So now is probably not a great time for the Champions, Angkor Tiger to roll into town! Match 20 – EDC v Angkor Tiger 10th August 2025 The big one! Tiger have opened up an eight point lead, but a win here would of course reduce it to five with 7 games to go and hope they slip up elsewhere. It’s imperative we win. A draw or defeat is no use. The way we have played recently, we will be winning 5-4. I go to 4-2-3-1 for this one, with Ratana returning from international duty and captain, Chea Samnang suspended after his untimely sending off in the last game. Tola Mao makes his full debut in DMC and Chitra is given another chance on the left flank. It’s gonna be a good game! Team: Som, Ratana, Yaty, Gbayoro, Bairaing, Tola Mo, Chea Sam, Pheara, Nhem, Taboula, Chitra Match Action We start brightly. Nhem forces an early corner, Sam Chea has a free kick saved. Encouraging, Then Taboula and Nhem link up on the break which forces another save. We look up for this. We keep the ball well in midfield. Tola Mao to Pheara to Tab pula to Nhem back to Taboula, into the penalty area he goes, he shoots, the keeper gets a hand on it, but the ball trickles into the corner of the net. 1-0! We nearly go 2 up when from a corner, Nhem’s header is blocked on the line. We keep coming, Bairaing this time up from left back fires a shot just wide. Som kicks the ball out onto the head of Taboula, who nods it wide to Nhem who plays an instant return ball to the Nigerian.. What vision from the youngster, he runs into the penalty area. Tabooullllaaa!!! High into the top corner, the keeper had no chance. 2-0 after just 13 minutes! Former EDC loanee, Chlom Pisa now plies his trade with the defending champions and his trademark run and cross resulted in Som making a smart stop on the line. Taboula is denied a hat-trick when Chitra’s clever through ball found Pheara, who crossed low for Taboula to divert home, but his big toe was offside.. It didn’t matter though. We look imperious today. Ratana retrieves a clearance and plays it infield to the impressive Tola Mao. He finds Pheara who plays a brilliant through ball to the onrushing Nhem who slots it into he far corner. 3-0. Stunning! Tiger muster a few attacks but fail to score. The best half of football comes to an end. 3-0 at the break. Tiger cannot be that bad in the second half. They attack and rain shots and headers on our goal, but Som is equal to them or they go wide. Bista is looking an increasing threat and we cannot get the ball. I demand more and we click into gear once more. Sam Chea finally puts his foot on the ball for EDC and he spreads it wide to Samnanag Nhem who steps inside his marker and chips the ball spectacularly over the keeper’s head into the far corner, for what must beone of the goals of the season. Can’t wait to see that one again on Cambodian Match of the Day! The game ticks on. Then Tiger pull one back, Bista’s shot is charged down, but the ball falls to Prak Panha who fires in a low shot past Som. 4-1... Danger danger.. No worries.... Taboula, who is giving a masterclass in leading the line has the ball and he lays it off to Nhem, Taboula, Nhem, Brolin, Dahlin, Brolin.. Pheara! Makes it 5-1. He slips the ball easily past the keeper with a fine finish. Unbelievable football from EDC! Like in 2001 during that famous game against Germany in Munich, EDC fans look at the scoreboard and it reads 5-1 to them! Our best performance of the season by a country mile. The title race is not over yet! Final Score: EDC 5-1 Angkor Tiger Taboula 6,14 Panha 63 Nhem 37,54 Pheara 71 Match 21 – EDC v Phnom Penh Crown We need to build upon the amazing 5-1 win over Angkor Tiger with another win against The Crown. They can play, with Debeiro leading the line with other good pros behind. I keep the same team, except for Gbayoro, who is suspended, so in comes young Ly Vatanak. Team: Som, Ratana, Vatanak, Yaty, Bairaing, Tola Mao, Sam Chea, Pheara, Nhem, Taboula, Chitra Match Action Crown start well and some early Brazilian magic from Debeiro nearly breaks the deadlock, but the striker can only find the arms of Som. A fierce shot from Panha then forces the best out of our goalkeeper again. They are on top, we have shown nothing. Then the inevitable happened. Samoeun got down the right. Where was my left back? He finds Perun, whose first time pass finds Debeiro, who looked suspiciously offside. He slots the ball home, the flag never comes. 1-0 Phnom Penh Crown.. Then, disaster... Crown have a corner. The ball is swung in right under the crossbar. Som cannot reach it and can only palm the ball over the line. 2-0 We just have not turned up here at all. 2-0 at the break. I fire up my team at half time and bring on Mony Udom to balance up the left and Men Samnang as a more attacking option in midfield and tell them to go for it. Nhem’s delicious through ball set up Taboula, but his shot was turned round the post.. We are on top. Bairaing strides forward who finds Nhem. His clever flick finds Taboula free in the area. He doesn’t miss, coolly slotting the ball home to halve the deficit. We press for an equaliser. Substitute Noron has a fierce shot parried behind for a corner. A bullet header from the same player goes just over the bar. Meanwhile Debeiro and co look dangerous on the break and thwack the underside of the bar in an attempt to put the game beyond doubt. The Crown hang on. I am disappointed, it was after the Lord Mayor’s show today and once again we lose ground and slip to third, our victors taking our place behind the Tiger who have a game in hand. Once again we fail to make it count when it mattered. The World FM Game Moves South I’ve decided that instead of heading West I am now going to move South, meaning that my playable leagues have changed. Out: Nepal Pakistan India Bangladesh In: The Phillipines Papua New Guinea Australia East Timor Match 22 – Port Autonome v EDC 23/08/25 The season is slowly coming to an all too predictable end. Angkor Tiger at the top, another team in second and little old EDC in third. There are six more games to play this season, eighteen points to play for and we must win them all to even be in with a shout of winning the title. I bemoan my defensive instabilities this season, which has ultimately cost us I think for this season. Anyway on we go, on an away trip to newly promote Port Autonome, who themselves occupy the top relegation spot it 17 points. Yaty is suspended, so Panha is given another opportunity alongside Gbayoro. The old firm of Taboula, Noron and Nhem are reunited up front with Men Samnang preferred to Pheara in the number 10 role. Team: Som, Ratana, Panha, Gbayoro, Bairaing, Sam Chea, Chea Samnang, Men Samnang, Taboula, Noron, Nhem We look the most threatening in the opening exchanges, with Nhem causing problems down the right. Men Samnang has a fierce shot tipped over the bar. At the other end Autonome have also created a bit, such is the way this season, but have failed to properly test Som. Then we score. Chea Samnang intercepts the ball in midfield, before releasing Taboula down the left. He sprints past the defender, creating a 2 on 1 situation. He does the right thing by sliding the ball across to Nhem who makes no mistake. Then it’s all Autonome as they fire ball after ball into the box, like an old fashioned English 3rd Division side. It pays off. From a goal kick, Chainuth uses his strength to turn past Bairaing and then chips the perfect ball for the onrushing Srey Odom who fires the ball past Som. Their direct style s causing us problems. The goalscorer, Odom has another chance when he latches onto a flick on but Som is equal to it. 1-1 at half time. I tell the boys they are not playing well. We go out for the second half, but it’s the same old nonsense. Then they go and score. From our free kick they clear and hoof it downfield, Wimbledon style. It pays off as Srey Odom runs through with our defenders not in the same postcode. Som didn’t stand a chance as the striker fired it into the corner for 2-1. I demand more, this is pathetic. I bring on Chitra and Pheara on and go 4-2-4. The we equalise. A hopeful ball into the box from Sam Chea was flicked past the keeper by Nhem and Taboula latched onto the loose ball to fire into an empty net. 2-2. Autonome look dangerous on the break, with the lively Odom leading the charge. He is one on one again with Som after making our defence once more look like pair of oil tankers chasing a Ferrari. The sports car fires wide. A let off for EDC. A free kick from Sam Chea is overhit. Taboula retrieves before firing in a cross which is met by the head of Chey Chitra who guides the ball into the bottom corner. 3-2! As is the way with this team though. We can’t keep a lead for toffee. That man, Srey Odom had the final word when he diverts home a Sun Visal cross deep into stoppage time. Sums up our season and is why we will not win the C-League this season. Inconsistency has once again put paid to EDC's title hopes. Another season finishing off the pace beckons and the rebuilding for next season must begin. Can Rudd see it through to the end, or will disapointment get the better of him? Find out next time on The Ultimate World FM Game!

Yes it's all got very Keegan's Newcastle of late..

Thanks Ben. I never really went away, but there are times when you need to actually play the game to progress the story and those opportunities have been limited of late. Thanks as ever for reading

Part 66 - Sieve-Like Defending When we last left off things seemed to be back on track in EDC-land. Results had picked up and we found ourselves just one point off the top of the table, right in the hunt for a shot at C-League glory. Even the board seemed happy and most importantly the other boss, Charlotte was also pleased with how the team was progressing. If you have been reading this story long enough though you will know that some complete nonsense is just around the corner.. Match 15 – Chhlam Samuth v EDC 05/07/25 We must continue to keep winning to maintain the pressure on Angkor Tiger. The team have an excellent record against our opponents, but we must not take our eye off the ball. Samuth lay in 10th, four points off the relegation zone, while we are in second. I make a couple of forced changes. Vavanak and Yaty are both suspended so in comes Chea Sam at DMC and Sok Panha to partner Gbayoro in Central Defence. Nhem is preferred to new signing Nhem Dara up front. Team: Som, Ratana, Panha, Gbayaoro, Bairaing, Sam Chea, Chea Samnang, Men Samnang, Nhem, Noron, Taboula The hosts make a much brighter start and have two early efforts wide, while we have barely touched the ball. I demand more in just the third minute and my players listen as we assert dominance in the game. Men Samnang picks up the ball and runs at the heart of the defence, before laying off to Chea Samnang, whose first time pass releases Nhem in the box who powerfully strikes the ball home from the angle. Brilliant from the youngster again. Samuth respond but it is us who double our lead. Ouk Ratana in his 99th appearance for the club has turned into Roberto Carlos of late and one such free kick swirls into the top corner for 2-0. Samuth haven’t given up. Dangerman, Ke Vannak heads against the upright. Then they get a dodgy penalty after a goalmouth scramble, which is converted by Ouk Voeun. 2-1. Just after half time and Men Samnang is upended in the box after chesting down a Ratana throw in. Given! The full back steps up and smashes home his second goal. We strike not long after when a team move started deep in our own half results in Nhem crossing low for Noron to sweep home a fourth goal. They pull one back when Panha misses an aerial ball and Ke Vannak squares for Dara to convert. Nhem though can do what he likes and dribbles into the box from the excellent Men Samnang’s pass and slams it into the top corner for 5-2. Bunsan pulls one back for the hosts and they hit the post late on, but by hook or by crook we win another game. Final Score: Chhlam Samuth 3-5 EDC Voeun 45 Nhem 12, 75 Dara 61 Ratana 24, 51 (pen) Bunsan 85 Noron 54 Halfway through the season and that result has opened up a little two horse race between us and Angkor Tiger. Tola Mao Makes Professional Debut In the 5-3 victory over Chhlam Samuth I was delighted to give a debut to defensive midfielder, Tola Mao, yet another youngster to come through the ranks at EDC. I hope to promote as many as I can and establish themselves in the first team reckoning like Ratana, Nhem and Pheara before him. (Hopefully it might make him buck his ideas up in training mind you) Match 16 EDC v Prek Pra 12/07/25 We just have to keep on winning and see where it takes us, starting at bottom of the table, Prek Pra. As we know from past experience you take this opposition lightly at your peril. I make a few changes. Yaty replaces the unsteady Panha in central defence, while Vavanak returns at DMC. I am spoilt for choice with attacking options, but keep faith with Noron and the slightly out of sorts Taboula. We need to win, don’t care how, a deflected goal off Noron’s backside will do, just three points to keep the pressure on The Tiger. Team: Som, Ratana, Yaty, Gbayoro, Bairaing, Vavanak, Chea Samnang, Men Samnang, Nhem, Noron, Taboula Match Action We attack from the get go and win a free kick. Ratana, who has suddenly developed a wand of a left foot whips it in, straight onto the head of Taboula at the far post, who leaps like a salmon to powerfully head the ball into the roof of the net. Great start. 1-0. Nhem nearly rounds off an excellent move to make it two, but shoots straight at the keeper. We do double our lead, this time from a Men Samnang corner. Yaty flicks the ball on at the near post and Mat Noron ghosts in at the back post unmarked to tap home from the angle. On 22 minutes we make it three. From a counter attack, Nhem is played in on the right edge of the area, but his shot is parried away by the keeper. Taboula retrieves the ball and crosses in low for Noron to turn home his second. 3-0 it’s looking like a cricket score already... don’t get too complacent lads.. My fears are compounded when Chanraksmy is allowed too much time to pick out a cross, straight onto Ung Dara’s head for 3-1. FOCUS! I bark from the touchline. We respond. A resurgent Taboula whistles one over the bar. He then connects with a Nhem cross with a stunning g volley which whistles into the top corner for 4-1. Into the second half and we dominate once more. However Mr Klose rears his ugly head again, as their goalkeeper, Sophana somehow plays the perfect goal kick straight to Ung Dara in an onside position who fires it confidently past Som for 4-2. Suddenly Ung Dara, their 33 year old striker suddenly turns into Kylian Mbappe. From Som’s goal kick the ball is headed forward and Mbappe runs onto it like a greyhound, before lashing it past Som for 4-3.. Don’t let this slip now!! Enter Captain Fantastic, Chea Samnang... Vavanak has the ball in midfield. He finds his skipper who turns and unleashes a fierce shot which flies into the top corner like a bullet for 5-3. Boy we needed that! Mbappe hasn’t finished yet though and a stinging shot is only just tipped round the post by Som.. Then from a stupid misplaced throw in we give them the opportunity to break. The ball is worked left and then crossed in where Chanroeurn thrashes the ball home first time. The bottom team in t he C-league suddenly cannot miss! 5-4 incase you’ve lost count. They weren’t finished. I go into contain mode. Taboula is playing as a flippin' wide midfielder, it’s getting that desperate. Nhem is sacrificed for Sam Chea as I look to keep them out, It’s no use. The FM gods have decided my fate. Prek Pra are playing one touch football in the manner of Brazil 1970 and we can’t cope with them. Forget Mpappe, Ung Dara has turned into Pele, Chamroeurn, Jarzinho.. Young Vavanak who has morphed into Carlton Palmer plays a stupid ball towards Noron and they seize their opportunity. Can’t remember how, but it ended up at feet of Pele inside the box who slipped the ball under the hapless Massimo Taibi.. sorry Som to complete an incredible comeback. Once more Prek Pra have put a huge spanner in the works of EDC’s march to C-League glory.. Somehow, my laptop has survived this experience in one piece... On the bright side we are nine games unbeaten, but we are now three behind Angkor Tiger who beat Nagaworld 2-0. What a waste! Final Score: EDC 5-5 Prek Pra Taboula 4,41 Ung Dara 27, 47, 62, 94 Noron 13, 23 Chamroeurn 78 Samnang 64 Match 17 – Build Bright United v EDC Every game from now in is a must-win if we are to win the C-League. The criminal surrendering of the game against Prek Pra must not and cannot be repeated. I go in with pretty much the same team and they can hopefully make amends after their capitulation from a 4-1 lead against the bottom team. Unforgivable! That game is over and now we must concentrate on the remaining fixtures, starting with Build Bright away. They have ex-EDC man, Sung Rot in their ranks and a dangerous striker, Soksana. The newly promoted side have kept their heads above water this season and are in 9th position. We are second, three behind the beer company. Team: Som, Ratana, Yaty, Gbayoro, Bairaing, Vavanak, Chea Smanang, Men Samnang, Nhem, Noron, Taboula. Match Action Disaster! In the opening minutes. Chea Samnang passes the ball backwards to who he thinks is Yaty. It turned out it was the referee. Their striker Pom Samnang latches onto it and buries it past Som. FFS! We respond. Taboula has a fierce shot tipped wide and then Noron forces a fine save from Taboula’s cross. Hope. Ratana takes a throw on the right and the defender misses the ball. Nhem turns quickly and hooks the ball into the roof of the net for a very clever equaliser. 1-1. We start to exert dominance, passing the ball with confidence in midfield. Noron has a stinging shot well saved by the keeper. Then another disaster strikes on the stroke of half time. Our corner is headed away. Savy Soksana runs down the right, before playing the perfect ball to the onrushing Pom Samnang, who slams it past Som for 2-1. FFS! A flowing move through midfield though results in Mat Noron cutting in from the left before unleashing a fierce shot which flies in at the near post, with the keeper only able to palm the ball into the roof of the net. Two each! In the second half we dominate and look far more likely to take the lead. I exchange the out of sorts Taboula for Chitra. A big hoof downfield from their keeper, results in the ball being flicked on and Pom Flamin Samnang runs into it (who else) and slams it once again past Som....Aarrrgghhhh! i hate this stupid game!”!!!!!Nhavbfhiegfhydguf!!! Djsofbhdbfhdis Pom Samang scores another breakaway goal 4-2 when will we learn? When will we f******. Learn you stupid defenders i will sack you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We pull one back when Nhem gets in behind their defence and his shot deflects off a defender and squirts under the keeper 4-3. I go all out attacking and it’s end to end, with them looking as likely to extend their lead as us to equalise. One or the other was going to happen. From their goal kick for once it didn’t go to Pom whatshis face, but to Ouk Ratana. The right back drives forward with the ball, before slipping in sub, Nhem Dara to slide the ball home for a dramatic late equaliser 4-4. Either team could win it now. Gbayoro recovers brilliantly to recover a missed header and he feeds Vavanak who floats a lovely ball to DARA!!!! He hits the foot of the post from the angle.. how unlucky! Four each and I’ve just about got my breath back! However in the cold light of day we have slipped to third and Tiger have a game in hand, so could stretch their lead to 5 points. Once again we let it slip, just at the time when we needed to keep on winning and our defence is an utter shambles, We will never win the title with this defence and changes are needed fast. Match 18 – National Defence v EDC I just want a good solid performance and a clean sheet. We are a “fur coat no knickers” team at the moment, great going forward, but terrible at the back. This is not helped by the suspension of Ratana and Yaty, meaning 18 year old Ly Vattanak will make his debut and partner Gbayoro in central defence. I go with a more conservative 4-2-3-1 formation, in order to try and maintain some solidity against dangerous opponents. We must win. A 4-0 win over today’s opponents put Angkor Tiger 5 points clear, so we need to close the gap to two. Team: Som, Sihavong, Vattanak Gbayoro, Bairaing, Sam Chea, Chea Samnang, Men Samnang, Nhem, Taboula, Mony Udom Match Action We start well. Chea Samnang bursts forward but his shot is straight at the keeper. We look more solid and organised than in previous games. Gbayoro picks up the ball on the halfway line and plays an accurate ball for Samnang Nhem who runs into the the right channel. His snapshot is parried by the keeper, only into the path of Taboula for an easy tap in from 6 yards. The way we are playing though our lead was not to last long. A lucky rickashy from a Bairaing tackle fell to midfielder Nen Hai, whose easy through ball finds Dairpatch who is clean through on goal and slots it comfortably past Som for the equaliser.. We are just not learning at the moment. The aptly named Thorn Darapitch latches onto another through ball with our defence all at sea yet again and he makes no mistake. All that work we have done in training on organising the defence gone to pot. I am fuming! A thorn in our side he is. We come close to an equaliser when Mony Udom’s cross is glanced ontothe bar by Taboula. The same player comes to our rescue again when Bairaing flight in a cross and the Nigerian hotshot half volleys the ball home first time. 2-2 after just 27 minutes. Kamikaze football! The impressive Udom has a free kick tipped round the post by former EDC man Um Channou. We end the half the most likely to take the lead, but the score remains Desmond at half time. In the second half and it becomes a slug fest. They seem content with the draw, nothing but a win will do for us. I go attacking, throw on Pheara and Chitra and go 4-3-3. On a breakaway the brilliant Taboula gets into the right channel and crosses in where sub Pheara meets the ball with a bicycle kick, (think David Platt v Belgium in Italia ’90) straight past the keeper. 3-2. We are hanging on a bit here, but when the ball is hacked downfield, their defender inexplicably whacks the ball out for a corner. Chea Samanag swings the ball in and super sub Pheara rises at the far post to nod home a clincher. Pidor pulls one back for them with the last kick of the game. 4-3 papers over the cracks of our frailties a little but keeps us in touch at the top of the table. A win is a win, but still 5 behind the Tiger who plough on with a 2-1 win over lowly Port Autonome. Final Score National Defence 3-4 EDC Darapitch 11,17 Taboula 4,28 Pidor 96 Pheara 68,90 Chea Samnang wins Goal of The Month Club captain and all round midfield dynamo, Chea Samnang has won the July Goal of The Month Award for his sensational strike against Prek Pra. Match 19 EDC v National Police It’s a grudge match nowadays against the Police, with Sok Ouen Pidor and the cheating Judas on ‘theirs’, plus a constant headache over the years, Timothy Okereke.. Great. They really have been on a recruitment drive of late and have conscripted a decent team, which lie in 5th, two behind us currently. We just have to keep on winning, hope the Tiger slip up somewhere and then beat them at our place. We are racked with international call ups for Ratana and Nhem Dara and suspensions to Bairaing and Sam Chea add to our absentees, so in come Vavanak at DMC, while young Ly Vatanak switches to left back. Team: Som, Sihavong, Yaty, Gbayoro, Vatanak, Vavanak, Chea Samnang, Pheara, Nhem, Noron, Taboula Match Action We kick off an knock the ball around quite comfortably but there is no incisiveness. One stray pass and they are in.. Our old friend Pidor has the ball on the left and his perfect ball for the onrushing Okereke sees the Nigerian reach the bye line where he clips a perfect cross for Dina to easily nod home. That was far too easy... Then our captain lunges in on their midfielder and is shown a red card. Things are all going Pete Tong as it often does against the Police.. We rally. I throw on young central midfielder, Sann Dara for his debut in centre mid to give us more numbers there at the expense of Noron. Pheara is at the heart of everything and his through ball to Taboula results in him hitting it narrowly wide. Encouraging. 1-0 to them at the break. We huff and puff in the second half, but fail to create much. Sok Ouen Pidor takes a random corner, straight onto the head Chainuth’s head for 2-0.. Is there any way back? Well.. Taboula is upended on the edge of the box. Up steps the unlikely man of defender Chan Yaty.. What’s he doing there? Where’s Taboula? Yaty steps up and smacks it straight into the top corner, 2-1 game on! We come alive. Pheara is buzzing around again. Sihavong finds the energy to overlap on the right and Taboula suddenly looks dangerous. Pidor at the other end reminds us of his ability and has a pot shot just over the bar. From the goal kick, Som strikes a clean ball up to Nhem, who instantly brings the ball under his spell, creates a little bit of space, before belting the ball into the top corner. Quite magnificent from the youngster once again! It’s end to end as both teams seek a winner. Okereke forces the best out of Som on a couple of occasions. Then our goalkeeper launches another handgrenade down the pitch into the path of Nhem who has the composure to give the keeper the eyes, before slotting cooly past him at the near post. Unbelievable Jeff! Ten man EDC 3-2 National Police. We batten down the hatches and even have a couple of chances to win it through that man Nhem and a Gbayoro header. But. With just four minutes to go another Pidor corner causes chaos in the box and the ball is stabbed home by that old foe Timothy Okereke for 3-3.. Then we hit the suicide button. The inexperienced Ly Vatanak takes a pointless long throw which is seized upon and crossed in for Sadet to lash home the winner. Heartbreak for EDC! Joy for the flippin’ police.. 4-3 to the coppers... Final Score EDC 3-4 National Police Yaty 55 Dina 7 Nhem 65.76 Chainuth 54 Okereke 87 Sadet 88 Gutted! Our 11 match unbeaten run comes to an end and sadly our C-League hopes fade once again for another year after Tiger and Phnom Penh Crown open up a 5 point lead at the top with a game in hand. We cannot win the title with such a leaky defence. A sudden glut of high-scoring games have derailed EDC's title bid. Next match, a six pointer against league leaders Angkor Tiger. Can EDC keep their faint title hopes alive? Find out next time on The Ultimate World FM Game!

Part 65 - Keeping Up The Pressure After a dodgy start to the season, have finally found some form and a run of wins has propelled us up to 2nd in the table on goal difference after ten games. It is though a marathon not a sprint and the mid-season transfer window may have a part to play as envious eyes are cast once again on my talented squad... Match 12 – Mekong Kampeuchea University v EDC It’s time to re-visit those obdurate students from the Mekong University. The students have strengthened since last we met in the first match of our sucessful Hun Sen Cup campaign back in 2023. They also have a mature student in their ranks who goes by the name Suon Veasna. Now 31 years old he is still dancing down the wing and will be their most obvious threat. They lie bottom of the league with just 6 points, but have been on a little three match unbeaten run. We could go top with a win here. I go in with a 4-2-4 with Pidor and forgotten man, Tuy Oudom makes his first appearance of the season on the wings and Taboula and Nhem up front. Ratana is suspended and In Sambath is probably about to leave the club, so in comes young Ouk Vibol for a debut at the poisoned chalice of right back. Here goes. Team: Som, Vibol, Yaty. Gbayoro, Bairaing, Vavanak, Men Samnang, Oudom, Nhem, Taboula, Pidor Match Action We attack and nearly score in the first minute. Vibol crosses in Taboula lays it off, Samnang Nhem hits a shot against the foot of the post. We are conceding too many set pieces and guess who is taking them.. Suon Veasna and we all know about his delivery. One wicked swerving corner reaches the back post where their defender has a free header which is hacked off the line. A warning. At the other end Taboula has an effort ruled out for offside. Oudom pulls a shot wide when he should have done better and Nhem forces a fine save from their keeper. It has all the hallmarks of another dodgy result against a bottom of the league side (Remember Prek Pra last season) Pidor gallops down the left and puts it on a plate for Nhem! Blocked on the line and cleared. This is an all too familiar story. 0-0 at the break. In the second half Pidor floats a free kick into the far post and YATY! Nods in Yess.. Noo!! Linesman had his flag up on the far side it won’t stand. I am incandescent with rage. Then the game gets bogged down. They are happy to pass the ball around without getting anywhere, time wasting and just being downright annoying. I change to a 4-3-3. Noron is on, Pheara just behind, Pidor in attacking midfield. Nhem crosses in for Noron!!! He sweeps home! Noo! Linesmans flag up on the far side, Noron’s big hairy toe is offside. No Goal F&&&! Off Its a goal you Play on.. WTF??? More frustration. A Pidor free kick is headed home by Chhim Pheara.. At last... Guess what.. The linesman has his flag up on the far side. Nen Borey has to restrain me, I want to confront him and punch his lights out. Four goals disallowed for offside. This is ridiculous! I kick the advertising hoardings in frustration. I get sent to the stands. I am beyond furious. The game ends 0-0... It’s results like this that decide seasons and careers. There were some dark forces at work today. The only consolation is we actually go top of the table, but by just one point instead of what should have been three. What an opportunity wasted.. again.. Final Score Mekong Kampeuchea University 0-0 EDC Transfer Window Transfers In Nhem Dara During several scouting meetings, the name Nhem Dara kept coming up and after looking into it saw some potential in this young lad, so I have snapped him up from the National Defence. He then tore our defence apart in a recent meeting between the two sides and scored two goals, which prompted us into action. Un Mony Udom A young player who can play either in the left, or as a number 10 in a similar mould to Pidor. Transfers Out Pom Vannak joins Life University My back up DMC, Pom Vannak has left the club to join the University of Life. He was surplus to requirements and there were other perhaps more talented plyers coming through in that position. Um Makara joins National Police I really didn’t see this one coming, but my regular DMC and DC, Um Makara has joined the National Police Force. I’d really earmarked him as a mainstay in my first XI, but he saw it differently. Run Sokha to Samnang Aphivath Run Sokha has been at EDC for some time now, but the central defender has never quite done enough to cement a place in the team on the odd occasion he has played. Second division outfit, Samnang Aphivath offered him a contract and I didn’t stand in his way. Sok Oeun Pidor free transfer to National Police Gutted! I am sick and tired of the Police sniffing round my squad and stealing my players... Take your recruitment drive elsewhere..... In Sambath free transfer to Kang Reach Say This one was more planned as I had allowed this versatile defender to look elsewhere. He’s ended up in the Second Division, which to be fair is probably about his level. Soun Bath free transfer to University Life I’m slightly disappointed that youth product, Soun Bath has decided to jump ship to University Life. At 19 he needs to be playing regular first team football and it is more likely he will do this at his new club than with us, so off he goes. Match 13 EDC V Khemera It’s all change at EDC, as we have lost two players, Pidor and Soun Bath who would have been involved in today’s game. In their place come new signings, Nhem Dara and Un Mony Udom as we take on our bogey team. Gbayoro is suspended so young Panha replaces him in defence. Khemera have that other traitorous snake, Min Rattanak in their ranks, who apparently is “excited” about our little reunion at the Electricity Stadium.. I am less so. Maybe its because he will get to see Charlotte again in the stands? They lie down in 8th, while we are in second after being overtaken by the Tiger. As ever a must-win. Team: Som, Ratana, Yaty, Panha, Bairaing, Vavanak, Samnang, Mony Udom, Nhem, Dara, Taboula Even Steven in the opening exchanges. We probe without creating anything clear cut, them pretty much the same. That is until Chea Noron picks up the ball in space and unleashes a 25 yard pile driver which whistles past Som and into the top corner. I bloody hate Khemera.. Then Samnang Nhem sprays the ball left to his mate, Taboula who skips past his man and curls a lovely shot which brings out the best of their keeper. Promising. We proceed to dominate, but that final pass or shot lets us down time and again. Ratana’s hopeful ball into the box is trapped by Taboula and fires instantly goalwards and thwacks the crossbar. That’s the closest we have come. Khemera doing what Khemera do best, frustrating us.. 1-0 to them at the break. We huff and we puff but Khemera stand firm. Then on 61 minutes the usual thing happens with this f****ing team, they break away and score. Mantnornin this time the one to rub our noses in it. I cannot wait for Khemera to be relegated one day. The bogey man has reared his ugly head once more... I demand more and sub, Men Samnang listens. He dispossesses their midfielder with a brilliant block tackle, before bursting forward, running at the heart of the Khemera defence. He lays it off to Taboula who fizzes the ball in at the near post.. 2-1, to register his 50th goal for the club. Khemera still look good for a third on the break. Ravann tests the strength of Som’s fingertips after one such break. For our equaliser though we play them at their own game, breaking up their attack before launching forward, which results in sub Phera slotting home from the angle after Ratana’s hopeful ball over the top caused panic in the Khemera defence. Then a flipping miracle happens. We win a free kick at the edge of the box. Up steps the unlikely figure of Ouk Ratana, who fires it towards goal. The keeper cannot get a strong enough hand on it and the ball flies into the roof of the net 3-2. From 2-0 down! Nen Borey and I run onto the pitch and slide on our knees in jubilation, like Alex Ferguson and Brian Kidd against Sheffield Wednesday all those years ago.. A fantastic turnaround! We are now just one point off Angkor Tiger at the top of the table. Game On! Final Score EDC 3-2 Khemera Taboula 67, Pheara 82, Noron 14 Ratana 85 Matnornin 62 Match 14 – CMAC United v EDC 28/06/25 Simply put every game is a must win now to keep the pressure on Angkor Tiger at the top and hopefully make it a two horse race for the title. Lowly CMAC have always impressed me when we have played them in friendlies and have always been a close contest so we cannot take them too lightly. Anderson Gbayoro returns to the heart of the defence, while I have gone for experience up front, recalling Noron and Taboula. Team: Som, Ratana, Yaty, Gbayoro, Bairaing, Vavanak, Chea Samnang, Men Samnang, Dara, Noron, Taboula Match Action We assert dominance and the unlikely source of Bairaing forces the first save of note from the keeper. CMAC are happy to frustrate us and Taboula is the victim of the offside flag on a few occasions. Vavanak plays a hopeful ball into the channel, which is booted out for a corner. Samnang drills the ball in near post where it is met by the flying head of Chan Yaty, which booms into the corner off the post 1-0. Half time. CMAC come out in the second half. We are giving them far too much space in midfield. Sophorn skewers a ball into the left channel where Japanese forward, Kawabata lumbers after it. He reaches it just before it crosses the byeline and manages to find a cross straight into the path of San Udom who pokes it home at the near post. I make two changes. The ineffectual Noron is replaced by forgotten man Chey Chitra, while Pheara adds an extra attacking option for Chea Samnang. Chitra has looked lively since he came on and his run down the left channel results in the ball squirting out for a corner. Men Samnang drifts the ball in. Gbayaro leaps highest and flicks the ball home off the upright 2-1 EDC! We batten down the hatches as CMAC search for an equaliser. They have a few efforts, but were mainly wide or comfortably saved by Som. At the other end, Nhem Dara and Chitra both wasted good chances to extend the lead. I was relieved when the final whistle went. We were far from our best today, but as a well known Scottish commentator once said.. “When your not playing well and you have to grrrrinnnndddd out a result, well that’s what EDC have done today Richard.” Final Score- CMAC United 1-2 EDC Udom 53 Yaty 33, Gbayoro 67 EDC U21 Assistant Manager Khim Veasna joins University Life My talented U21s Assistant Manager, Khim Veasna has accepted the offer of a job as manager of University Life in the Second Division. We wish him well. International Call Ups Samnang Nhem, Chhim Pheara and Soun Bath have been called up to the Cambodian U19s squad for friendlies against Nepal and Oman U19s, while Ouk Ratana is my sole representative in the Senior Squad as they face Tajikistan in an Asia Cup Qualifying match and a friendly against Oman. Board Confidence I have been awarded a ‘B for my overall performance as manager of EDC.. It's like being back at school. They have nothing to criticise. We are one point off the top of the table. All seems well.. or is it??? A point off the top of the table, a good write up from the board, despite everything all seems back on track at EDC, but you never know what's around the corner... Find out next time on The Ultimate World FM Game!

Daniel. I like this story, especially the use of headings which breaks up the text. Nice to also see another Asian story here as well KUTGW.

I imagine this is a different Charlotte to the one in my story! Complete co-incidence

Part 64 - Back To Footballing Matters 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 her from the grip of muggers in the backstreets of Phnom Penh 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 I was being sized up, as 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 to the hole she had crawled out of. "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. ---------‐---------------------,--------------- 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 9 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 10: 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 11 – 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!

Thanks Ben. Glad you are enjoying it. To be honest I am rather enjoying writing it in this style, although I will have to progress the game on at some point in terms of football. 😉

Part 62 - Sealing The Deal The post match routine couldn't end quickly enough. I did the team talk and gave the players a big well done for a good performance after holding the Champions to a one all draw. I then did the press, BTV for Cambodian Match of The Day various radio stations, plus the post match press conference, which always accompanies the big C-League games. Once that was all over I said my goodbyes to the backroom staff, plus those from the opposition and dashed home to get ready to meet Charlotte. I showered, ironed my best shirt and trousers, had a shave and splashed on my best aftershave. Football had consumed my thoughts during the past couple of days, with it being a big game, but now I could focus solely on off the pitch things and find out what it was Charlotte wished to tell me. I rang a taxi and away I went to Siwoth Quy, a popular tourist area with bars and restaurants, near the Tonle Sap River in Phnom Penh. We had agreed to meet at 8pm and find a quiet bar so we could talk things through. The texting had been annoyingly sporadic since Mad Thursday, and there was a distinct lack of xxs at the end of her messages which had disturbed me a little. I was too old for this flaming modern dating lark.. Meanwhile........... Charlotte had enjoyed the match and headed home to get ready for meeting the manager of the team she had just watched. She decided that during a match it would be best to keep a low profile, so she was not a distraction to him or the players, as he tried to manage the team to victory. There was two hours to go and so she began to get ready. After showering, Charlotte started to put on a beautiful red dress that she had ironed and hung up in her wardrobe. She looked herself long and hard in the mirror, rehearsing what she had to say to him. Suddenly an idea came into her head... He was going to see a different Charlotte tonight..... . _________________^^^^^____^^^^^_____^^^^ A little later on... The meeting place: Siswoth Quay Phnom Penh Picture credit: Christophe95 I got to our meeting point at Sisowath Quay and waited in a seated area, surrounded by tall trees, overlooking the river. It was ten to eight. Ten minutes to go... I had butterflies and felt more nervous and excited than I had been for today's match. The clock ticked to 8pm, a slight refreshing cool breeze blew in off the Tonle Sap river, but it was still another warm, tropical evening in Cambodia's capital. I waited. Five past eight.. OK, there could be a good reason. I checked my phone, but there was nothing. I refreshed my phone to free the non-existent message that was stuck in the imaginary space between mine and Charlotte's phones, wherever she was... _______________________^^^^ As planned Charlotte was slightly late. She stood from afar and watched as the manager of her favourite football team waited for her impatiently. Her tactics for tonight were indeed risky, a bit like playing an experimental sweeper system, but she knew in the long run it could prove to be a masterstroke... He looks so concerned I'm going to stand him up, bless him she thought to herself. Don't worry I'll put him out of his misery soon.... ____________________________________________ Where was she? It was now quarter past. Was this payback for me not being at my apartment the other night when she wanted to see me and I was on my way back from Malaysia? Was she still angry after our phone conversation? Was Nen Borey right all along and she will break my heart? Had I been too harsh with her in that phone conversation?...... I paced up and down as I waited..... Beep Beep! Finally I got a text... Sorry running late I'll be there in 5 Charlotte Still no kiss, she was late... I had a bad feeling about this. At least she was coming and hadn't stood me up or cancelled. Finally she turned up. She walked towards me but as she got nearer and smiled that sweet smile.. there was something which made my heart sink immediately.... Charlotte Lay had not dressed up for the occasion. Now I'm no expert in lady's styling, but I do know that if you are going out for the evening on a date, you wear more than just the T-Shirt and tracksuit bottoms that he gave you to help you get home the other morning when you had nothing else to wear except a slightly torn dress. Neither did she have any make up on and gone were them lovely locks of dark hair, which was torturously tied up in a tight bun. Don't get me wrong, to my eyes she still looked amazing, but she could not have looked more understated if she tried. That is how a Northern lass from Barnsley may look for a date.. but not the exotic beauty, Charlotte Lay, thousands of miles away in Cambodia... What was going on? A thousand things flashed through my head. Maybe it was because she had just been to football and didn't have enough time to get changed? The match had finished over 3 hours ago though for the fans, so plenty enough time for her to go home, get changed and meet me for 8 o clock? Maybe it was because of what happened to her the other night and she felt insecure about wearing attractive clothing? Maybe it was because in Cambodia, it was not the done thing to dress up in such a way too often in public, even though Charlotte had flouted that convention before? But what concerned me the most was the fact she had made no effort for our date. I had a sinking feeling that this meant it was the end.... Was this the "I really like you but.." moment? Had I been relegated into the 'friends division?.' (Now there's a league that is notoriously difficult to get out of) Perhaps she was still angry with me over that wretched trip to Melaka? Was this punishment for me being too harsh with her over past relations? This feeling was similar to the one where you are 3-0 down in the 85th minute and know that you are almost certain to lose the game no matter what you do.. I greeted her with a smile but this seemed ominous. I felt deflated as we made small talk, mainly about the game and young Samnang Nhem's excellent performance. We found the quietest bar we could find on the strip to talk. __________________^_______^_^___________ I can tell that he is a little underwhelmed and puzzled Charlotte thought. Does he only love me when I wear an attractive dress and put make up on? Look at his cute face trying to work it out, while still being a complete gentleman about it. How very English! He was expecting sexy Charlotte tonight, but he has got underdressed tramp Charlotte instead. Tonight it's all about honesty though and if he doesn't like it, plus the attire I am wearing then he is not worth it... This is all for a reason and the jury is out. Will I manage to get the right result? I have done this for a reason though and he is about to find out why. _________________^___^^_______________ I was now dreading what she had to say, certainly in regards to her relations with Hem Vutha, but I was steeling myself for rejection. Well it was fun while it lasted I consoled myself.. We sat down with our drinks. I had that feeling of foreboding that all this was going to come crashing down around me. I was waiting for the 'Your a really nice guy, but I only see you as a friend' line. She began: "So, there are some things that I need to tell you about me and my life. I don't want you to judge, just listen to what I have to say. Firstly I want to say that I really like you..." (here comes the but...) "And I really want things to work out between us, but" (Here it comes. I only see you as a friend) But....... "There's a few things I need to tell you about my life first before we take things any further. " (well the f word was not used so that's good) "OK fire away... Miss Lay." was the best I could come up with in response... oh god that was terrible.. "So, firstly I was not born in Cambodia, but actually in the Phillipines. My father fled Cambodia in the late 70s from the Khmer Rouge regime, to Manilla. Ten years later he met my mother and they married and had me in 1992. We moved to Cambodia when I was eight, in 2000 and I spent my teenage years growing up in Phnom Penh. On my mother's side I have American ancestry, through my great grandfather, who was a G.I from Charlotte in North Carolina. That's what I am named after! This is why I have an American/ Western forename and a Cambodian surname. Just two years after we came back to Cambodia, my father died and so my mother brought me up on her own and in poverty. As I progressed through my teens my looks blossomed. I started working at the Nagaworld complex when I was 17 as a trainee croupier. It was here that I caught the eye of some of the very rich businessmen who frequented the casino and complex. One of them was Hem Vutha, who took a shine to me the most. I was very beautiful, but very young and naive too. Hem started buying me gifts, jewellery at first, nice dresses and various other things. He looked after me and was very kind, but then came the payback. I started accompanying him on business trips and even went to London once. It was so cold! I was his escort girl. I had to laugh at his jokes, smile and look pretty in front of his associates to impress them. Eventually though he wanted sex too.. I did what he wanted.. At the start I enjoyed the attention, the money, the nice clothes and jewellery, so I did not think anything of it. Hem always treated me well and made sure my mother and I stayed out of poverty. He was paying me for my services through gifts and kindness and the sex in return was consensual, it was never forced. I was very young and naive and he made me feel obliged to give him what he wanted." I was shocked by her revelations. I hated my chairman even more. Perhaps I should resign? How can I work with him as my boss after what Charlotte had just told me! There was a burning question that I needed to ask immediately.. "Why do you support EDC then..? Why do you turn up every week and put money in his pocket?" You must see him around at games." "Because I love football and they are my team. Hem Vutha is not a bad person. We are still friends to this day and he is married now. He was kind to me, he never mistreated me, but he got what he wanted out of me subtly, without force or coercion. He didn't commit any crimes, but I only realised when I got a bit older that I was in an arrangement that I did not want to be in any more. I wanted normal. I wanted a man who would not see me as a sex object, or a business transaction. I wanted a relationship built on true love, not money. One day I told him that I wanted to break out of this situation. To be fair, he let me go on my own free will and we parted on good terms. Perhaps though it is because of this experience, why relationships never work out for me. I then trained as a nurse and led a relatively normal life, but managed to save and earn enough to stay out of poverty. I was there when EDC was formed in 2015.. We struggled at first, until you came along in 2020 and made us an established C-League team and won the Hun Sen Cup. I tried to find love unsuccessfully with some of the footballers I talked to you about before, but as you know for one reason or another they did not work out. Then there was Nhem Ravy, but he cheated on me and did not always treat me well. Then my mother died and I was lonely, in a bad place for a while and sought the company of men. It helped to ease the pain of her death, but in the end it only made me feel worse. She smiled at me. Now I have found you Mr Football Manager, maybe my search for true love has ended... This was totally not what I was expecting... I hope in the name of the Almighty that you are not put off by my previous life and relationships. I would fully understand if you were. I shook my head. "I could never let that get in the way of us two." I replied squeezing her hand underneath the table. "I bet you want to know why I am dressed this way." "This is why I am dressed like a tramp tonight. I wanted you to see past the obvious, how I look and concentrate on the hidden things like honesty, trust and my personality. Sometimes I am tired of being beautiful, being stared at, with every man I meet wanting to f**k me. I am a person, not a sex object. I wanted to know whether you are the real deal. I dressed like this for a reason, to gauge a reaction from you, to see me without make up and a nice dress. I want to make you realise that I am human, I am not just some sexy goddess, way out of your league, but someone who is normal and has many flaws too. If me and you are to build a relationship, then we have to get to know eachother, warts and all and realise that we are not perfect, no matter how we look on the outside. It is what is on the inside that counts. Think of it like your football team. When EDC score a goal, that is the sex, the ecstasy, the joy but there is so much more to winning a game of football than scoring goals, the tactical battle, the hard working midfielder who breaks up play, the full back who marks a tricky winger out of the game, the goalkeeper who saves the ball to stop the other team from scoring. These things are unseen and go on unnoticed, like honesty, integrity and trust in a relationship." I'd never really thought of it like that before. She had brains as well as beauty. Charlotte had dressed down on purpose, not to dump me, but to make a point and lay the foundations of something far more long term. "Charlotte, I could never be put off by you by what you are wearing. (I left out the comparison I'd made earlier in my head to a Northern lass from the Barnsley. She wouldn't have understood anyway) One of the best things about you is your quirky little personality, which is more important and your honesty from what you have just told me. You make me laugh, which is a great attribute. Nobody mimics a Yorkshire accent better than you. "Aye proper brew... " She grinned. "And I don't care what you wear, because you would still look beautiful dressed in a bin bag." "Why thankyou Mr Football Manager.." "When I saw what you were wearing, with no make up and your hair in a tight bun, I feared that you were going to break it off and just wanted us to be friends. I feared that because I would have been devastated if that had been the case" As for your past, well that was more than 10 years ago and I am glad you have told me about your relations with Hem Vutha. You are a more mature, intelligent woman now and I want to be the person to give you all the happiness in the world that you crave and deserve as well.. be Mr Normal I suppose, as normal as it can be being with the manager of a top flight football team." She gave me the biggest smile I have ever seen and unleashed her hair from its tight bun, so it flowed elegantly down past her shoulders. I think that was a sign all was well. She took my hand under the table and we whispered discreetly to eachother. (In Cambodia, public displays of affection are not encouraged, although maybe we had flouted this convention a little) "I love you" "I love you too Mr Football Manager." After a rollercoaster week we had finally sealed the deal.. We spent the rest of the evening touring a few bars around the Sisowath Quay area of Phnom Penh. In the sports bar we were in, they were showing Cambodian Match of The Day and at one point my face appeared on every screen in the building while they showed my post match interview, which was quite a surreal moment. Some of the other punters in the bar looked at the screen and then over at us, much to the amusement of Charlotte. She would have to get used to this......... Happy Valentines Day everybody! If it's been getting a bit too "Love Actually" for you of late, then don't worry, we will be returning to the bread and butter of the Cambodian C-League campaign from the next one. Can the manager's success off the field propel him and his team to success on the field? Find out next time on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game!

Thanks Ben. I thought I would spice things up a bit. It has put me in some kind of dilemna though. On the blogger version which is posted on other platforms such as Reddit and Facebook I have had to add a Disclaimer at the top which basically says these are not real events. That is so that any friends or family who stumble across it through my socials and have not seen me for a while don't think that I have suddenly emigrated to Cambodia and having an affair with a woman called Charlotte, who is completely made up. I am still in the UK and live with my wife and son. Everything is a work of fiction based on my laptop screen and FM21. I did not feel the need to do that on these forums, because I am safe in the knowledge you already know this is just an FM story and not real life. I have enjoyed writing the last few posts, but for these reasons I will have to get back to the some humdrum football related posts soon... for now though it's still going to be spicy..

Part 61: Back To Life Back To Reality (with a bump) If the truth be told, I really didn't want to take training this morning. I just wanted to spend every minute of the day with my new love, but we had an important game this Saturday, away at the champions, Angkor Tiger and I had to be there. Duty called for both of us, as Charlotte also had a shift at the hospital, starting at lunchtime, so it was decided we would see eachother after the match on Saturday. She of course would be there cheering us on from the stands. Secondly, after my clandestine trip across the Gulf of Thailand I had to carry on as normal at EDC. I gave a T-shirt, pair of jogging bottoms and trainers to Charlotte to wear (she still looked amazing) as an alternative to the impractical evening wear, which had been damaged during her ordeal. I dropped her at home, which was about a 15 minute detour across the city and after a long, romantic farewell headed to the Electricity Stadium for training. On the way between her house and the ground I took some time to digest the events of the past 24 hours. It had been probably the most eventful of my entire life. I would reject the Melaka job if it was offered to me and carry on as normal at EDC to try to win the coveted C-League title. Not only did their ambitions seem too unrealistic I wanted to see how things were going to develop with Charlotte. At such an early stage in our relationship, it would be unreasonable to expect her to up sticks and move away with me. As I was signalling to turn into the car park at the ground I noticed a crowd of people, some with cameras. They were journalists. Once they saw my car they sprang towards me like a herd of cattle at feeding time. I had to stop the car in case I knocked one of them down. Then the camera flashes started, blinding me as I tried to comprehend what was happening. Was it because of my 'heroics' last night? Had the press got hold of a story about the EDC manager saving a damsel in distress from a gang of muggers in the mean backstreets of Phnom Penh? Did they know that she also happened to be a superfan who'd previously had liaisons with some of the players and now indeed with the manager himself. (News would have had to travel very quickly on the last point.) That would be a great story for the tabloids. I smiled and waved at them, thinking this was the reason why they were here. I felt like a hero! One of them banged on the window and shouted. "Are you going to Malaysia Jonathan?" "Are you leaving EDC Mr Rudd?" Oh OK not that then.. "Are you going to Melaka?" Perhaps it was the happy mood I was in, but I decided to do the full Harry Redknapp and wind down my window to talk to them. "Are you going to Melaka Jonathan?" "No I will be staying right here in Cambodia, ladies and gentlemen. " "Did Hem Vutha (chairman) know about your trip to Malaysia, Jonathan?" "Oh err yes of course he did! Isn't it a lovely day everybody, the sun is out and the birds are singing and love is in the air. When the seagulls follow the trawler down the Mekong River, they are expecting a great big stingray to be thrown into the water! Now if you excuse me I have to start training." I replied glibly. I managed to park up and run inside. I was met by a grim faced Nen Borey. He was holding a copy of the Khmer Times, one of the principle Cambodian newspapers. He pulled me into a quiet room. "Did you go for a job interview in Malaysia? Somebody spotted you and now all hell's breaking loose," he hissed. "Don't try and deny it, Hem Vutha has already been in touch with Melaka FC and they have confirmed you attended an interview. What were you thinking?" He enquired angrily. "It's that woman isn't it, Charlotte.. She put you up to it.? I bet she fancied laying on those lovely beaches in Melaka." "Charlotte had nothing to do with this." God if I could explain the past 24 hours to him, I doubt he would actually believe me! The trip to Malaysia was actually the only believable bit! I regarded him though as a friend as well as an Assistant Manager and over the years, this man had been a calming influence on me. "Yes I did go to Malaysia, Nen, to have an interview for the vacant manager's job at Melaka yesterday afternoon. I felt like I'd taken EDC as far as I could and after that scouting meeting last week. I wanted to get away from Phnom Penh, because I could not get Charlotte out of my mind." "I knew it. That woman has that effect on every man she meets and she knows it." "Nen, it isn't like that, she is not the woman you think she is. Besides I want to stay now." "Oh Jonathan, my friend, it's for Charlotte isnt it, reading me like a book. He sighed. Look we can talk about her later. She's the least of your worries right now. Hem Vutha wants to see you immediately in the board room and you had better have a good excuse, because he is livid. In fact rumour has it he's already lining up your replacement." "Oh no!." "So you'd better put in a top performance up there. Good luck." I looked back at a waiting Nen Borey. What did he know about Charlotte that I didn't?" I was obsessed. I trooped up the stairs to the boardroom like a naughty schoolboy. I knocked on the boardroom door. Hem Vutha was sat alone at the desk. While on these occasions they would politely stand up and bow and exchange pleasantries, he stared motionless at me as I sat down. "Jonathan. Thankyou for coming." started Hem Vutha. "We know about your little trip to Malaysia, the beautiful city of Melaka I believe, but you understand that you are still under contract here. "Hem. I have no intention of leaving EDC." I said hastily. "Then why the bloody hell did you board a flight to Malaysia and have an interview with Melaka then, without asking us first. You are under contract!" shouted my normally mild mannered chairman. "Because I felt at that time I had taken EDC as far as I could and wanted a new challenge, but I want to stay now as manager and try to win the C-League." I did not tell him the real reason why I wanted to stay. "Well I had a nice little chat with Melaka's club president, Mohd Ishi Puvanarjah. who confirmed you were sat in his boardroom, less than 24 hours ago. I had a tip off from somebody who spotted you in Melaka. They also must have tipped off the papers as well because they are full of it. He pulled out a copy of the Khmer Times. In the sports pages was a big article with a rather unflattering picture of me. It was of course all in Khmer, but Hem Vutha read it out to me in English. "EDC's Jonathan Rudd has been linked with the vacant Melaka job after he was spotted getting out of a taxi at the Heng Jabat Stadium. The club sit rock bottom of the Malaysian Super League. Is Rudd the man to turn around their fortunes?" "Yes I confess I went there for an interview, but to be honest the job did not appeal to me anyway. They wanted me to take them from the bottom of the table to the playoffs in the same season. Hem Vutha looked unimpressed. "Well it seems like the feeling was pretty mutual. They told me that they wouldn't give you the job if you were the last football manager on earth. They thought you were way out of your depth and that they did not match their expectations in their vision for the club, so don't expect a phone call from them any time soon. They said they had a more experienced Malaysian manager in mind for the job instead." "As for me, while I am livid about your flirtations with another club while under contract and without telling us, but luckily for you I am feeling in a generous mood. You can stay on here as manager, but I will have to fine you two weeks wages for violating your contract. The money will go to a local orphanage. Secondly I want to see an improvement in the team, especially in defence as our record signing, lasted only 44 days at the club, which was a complete waste of my money. Secondly I want you to start taking the Hun Sen Cup more seriously and not losing to stupid teams like Bati Youth. Thirdly I would like us to actually sustain a consistent challenge for the league title. I want to see possession based attacking football, not hoofing the ball downfield hoping Taboula might work some of his magic. We are not an English Sunday League team. I also want a good performance on Saturday against Angkor Tiger. Now you'd better go and do what you are best at Jonathan and start training my team to make these things happen!" I headed for the door, but as I was leaving he left one nasty sting in the tail. "Oh and that woman you have been seeing... Charlotte Lay.. Has she done the towel trick yet? Marvellous isn't it!" he chuckled. I slammed the door closed and wanted to throw up... My head was spinning. I lacked sleep as well, as it had been a very long day yesterday with my early start to fly to Malaysia and then of course, Charlotte.. I'd only had four hours tops. I took training, but let my other coaches take a lead role in a tedious Defending Free Kicks session, followed by a practice match. I stood and observed from the touchline, trying as best I could to stay focused on football. "She's been with the chairman as well... how could she? The dirty old man! The very thoughts of them two turned my stomach.. I seriously needed another talk with her. Get this important match out the way and then I would deal with her after. This time I would do it at a quiet bar, which would act as a neutral venue for this conversation and where she could not do any 'towel tricks.' I wanted to know what I was dealing with here, before deciding on whether or not to carry things on with her. She was probably too good to be true anyway.... As soon as training was over I made my excuses and left for the day, drove home and slept. Today could have gone a whole lot better but at least I was still in a job.. for now.. I was awoken by my phone ringing. It was Charlotte.. I decided to act normally. "Hey darling.. missed you... you just woke me up" "Thought you might be packing your bags to go to Melaka.. Are you leaving EDC? Are you leaving me in Cambodia while you jet off to your new job in Malaysia? You told me it was a scouting mission, not a job interview.. You lied to me...." She obviously reads the Khmer Times.. "Charlotte I'm not going anywhere... I'm staying at EDC... oh god.. I didn't get the job. I didn't want the job." "But you still lied to me. You said it was because you were interested in signing a player from Melaka, not because you wanted to manage them.." "OK Yes I did go to Melaka, that much is true, and it was for a job interview. It didn't go very well and as far as I am aware they have hired someone else. Charlotte, this was at a time when we were not even together and when I thought you were a spy from another team, just after I had rescued you. I did not want to tell you because at the time you were still emotional after your ordeal. This has been a big misunderstanding for everybody and I am sorry." "I do not want a relationship built on lies. Believe me I have had too many like that. I want things to be different. We have to be honest with eachother if this is ever going to work. No lies." she replied. "Speaking of which, Charlotte, how do you know my chairman, Hem Vutha?" There was a long pause at the other end.... "Because he seems to know you Charlotte in quite intimate detail.." It all went very quiet. I could hear her at the other end..... It sounded like she was sobbing... "Uhhuhh.. "Please I have to go I'm on my break at work I don't have much time, but we will talk after the Angkor Tiger match. I promise I will tell you everything..." " I want to know now.. Charlotte. Is he another notch on your bedpost? "I have to go back on the wards. I promise I will tell you everything on Saturday after the game." "OK. I look forward to what you have to say. Enjoy the game and we will talk. OK. Have a good shift and I miss you." "Miss you too..See you Saturday." She blew a kiss down the phone. What the hell was this about? Match 6 – Angkor Tiger v EDC It's nice to get back to some football! I take my charges away to the Champions in a pensive mood. We have made an inconsistent start to the season and have dropped points against teams we should beat. While we have been good going forward, we have been suspect at the back and have allowed far too many shots against us. This is the first game against one of the ‘bigger’ clubs in Cambodia this season and while we have got away with this against the smaller sides, we will be punished against the larger ones. Therefore I go in with a 4-2-3-1, with Vavanak making his full debut in defensive midfield. Bath and Nhem will cut in off the flanks to support lone striker Taboula. Team: Som, Ratana, Gbayoro, Yaty, Bairaing, Vavanak, Chea Sam, Pheara, Nhem, Taboula, Soun Bath Match Action Angkor make the early running and Phanaseth misses a gilt edge chance when through on goal. On four minutes from a free kick, Bin Thierry sneaks round the back to fire home the opening goal from close range. We come back into it a bit but can’t really create any clear cut chances. A breakaway ends up with Soun Bath firing well wide, but that’s about it. They are winning too many free kick at the other end, but they fail to extend their lead before the break. The second half begins and Tiger go close from a corner, a far post header going just wide. From the resulting goal kick, Som finds Pheara in an advanced position. He turns, runs and threads it through to the onrushing Nhem who buries it into the corner of the net. 1-1! Suddenly we look up for it. Pheara and Nhem combine again, but the youngster’s shot is straight at the keeper. Tiger bite back, but we are now equal to everything they throw at us. We then look dangerous on the counter attack with the pace of Taboula and Nhem. It’s end to end, but nobody can strike a blow. We have an effort scrambled off the line from a corner and once again look like we can score on the break. Tiger push for a winner towards the end, but our defence for once this season holds firm and it finishes one each. A hard earned point away from home against the best team in Cambodia and a good performance, which will please my chairman. Final Score: Angkor Tiger 1-1 EDC Thierry 5 Nhem 47 The manager holds onto his job after his clandestine trip to Malaysia, but what does Charlotte want to tell him? Find out next time on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game!

The path of true love never did run smoothly....

Haha thanks Ben. This is a rare foray into the world of romance. Mainly back to the bread and butter of managing a football team on the next one, but looks like Charlotte will be here to stay...

Part 60 - Should I Stay or Should I Go (To Malaysia) Plop plop plop fizzzzzzzzz.. the wine was poured gently into Charlotte Lay's glass. She was feeling down after a long shift at the hospital and in need of a friend. Her friend, housemate and fellow nurse, Su Pheng had brought a bottle for them to share over a girly chat. They had known eachother for years and knew that anything they discussed stayed in the room. That unbreakable trust in which best female friends share, especially over a cheap bottle of sparkling white. Charlotte smiled and began: "So, I've met a really nice guy and things were going well. "I sense a "but" here" Su cut in. "But... he's been acting weird with me.. and I'm not sure what to do.." "Well if he's being a jerk he doesn't deserve you and you should move on you know, London buses.. Look at you, your gorgeous, another one will be along next week." said Su, touching her friend's hand over the table. "Maybe away from that football team for a change." "Yeah but I really liked this one, he's sweet not like the rest.. not like Maol, or Nhem, or Keo.." "Who is he? Not another one from EDC.." Charlotte nodded. "You know you'll get a reputation I keep telling you." warned Su. Footballers talk, especially when they are in the same dressing room. "Well he doesn't play for EDC, but he manages them" "You mean it's the manager of EDC this time.., Jonathan what's his name? Rudd.. Englishman.." Charlotte nodded. "Oh Charlotte.. I told you to stay away from footballers after all the pain they have caused you." "But he's the manager, it's different. He is a bit older than me, but that is what I need. He's 42 and I'm 34 this year.. Its not that big an age gap and he's really nice and I need someone to settle down with... My body clock is ticking." "And he is the one? Just like Nhem Ravy was the one, Math Fasal was the one, Keo Udom, Daravon and Min Rattanak? "Rattanak was never 'the one' he practically stalked me after I helped him through his injury, Daravon was married and left as soon as I found out and made him confess to his wife." Ravy was a cheating snake in the grass as you know." "Jonathan is different he is kind, considerate and a gentleman. Su, I wanted to sleep with him but he said he could not do that on a first date. We kissed but that was it. He has respect. Most men cannot wait. Then we met up for a drink after the game against Prek Pra and again he was the perfect gentleman. But then, last week I was due to go round to his place for a meal. I was just putting on my dress, when he cancelled for absolutely no reason, well something to do with a meeting with the chairman? I was devastated. He's ignored me ever since. He hasn't been sacked as this would be common knowledge by now and there's been two games since, both of which he was in charge. He was there at both, but was clearly trying to avoid me for some reason." "It seems quite clear what has happened here and I warned you about this Charlotte." said Su in a stern voice. If you have too many affairs with footballers you will get yourself a reputation and those in the same football team they talk." She continued: "Charlotte is an easy lay," they will be saying. It's stupid as you really don't need to do this, because look at you, you could have any man you wanted, yet you continually sell yourself short every time and go with the wrong type, complete jerks, or too young, or too married and when you finally find a decent one he's scared off by your previous relationships, especially when most of them were within his own football team. He must know about these affairs you have had with his players and ex players which is exactly why he is staying well clear." A few tears started to well up in Charlotte's eyes. She knew she was not the person that was perhaps perceived by others, especially by men. It had not been easy since her mother had died and since she found out her long term partner, Nhem Ravy had been cheating on her. Charlotte had felt alone, insecure and vulnerable which had led to her seeking the company of the opposite sex, especially footballers who she was attracted to through her love of the game and of course because they were fit young men too. Charlotte attended the matches regularly and sat in the stands at the Electricity Stadium. She stood out with her flowing locks of dark hair, pretty smile and everything else. Attention from the players was never in short supply. She could understand how it looked as these men (apart from Nhem Ravy) were all connected to Electricitie Du Cambodge Football Club. It was not her fault if some of them moved on to other teams and besides, most of the C-League clubs are based in Phnom Penh anyway, so it's not like they were moving very far and many had stayed in the same house. Its not like they had to move to another part of Cambodia, somewhere far flung like Mondul Kiri. Furthermore, many players had left EDC without even exchanging glances with her. This was certainly not sabotage, or a honey trap, or anything untoward, other than merely a naive woman looking for love. Meanwhile.... It was around 6 in the evening when the phone rang. It was a +60 number which is the dialling code for Malaysia.. I nervously answered. "Hello, is that Jonathan?" said a slick talking voice. "Yes" Hello its Mohd Isha Puvanarjah, president of Melaka United Football Club. We've recieved your application and we would be delighted to invite you for an interview for the manager's job." "OK Yes, certainly." "Can you come on Wednesday for 1pm? "Sure!" "OK we look forward to meeting you Mr Rudd." "No worries, see you then!" He hung up. Yees I was going to Malaysia for an interview! I did not have long to prepare, just two days. I had to book a last minute flight from Phnom Penh Airport to Melacca International Airport and then a return flight on the same afternoon so I could take training on the Thursday morning. We had an important game coming up away to Angkor Tiger, so I had to be there. At this stage I did not want anybody at EDC to find out about the interview, or that I wanted away for many different reasons. The flights were booked and I packed a bag and found an exchange bureau to acquire some currency, the Malaysian Ringitt. I also did some research on Melaka's squad. The prognosis was not good. They seemed to have a lot of forwards and wingers, but not so many defenders or defensive midfielders and a lot of youth players around the first team squad. On paper this sounded exciting, but was this merely papering over the cracks, or were they actually good enough? I was intrigued to find out which. They were bottom of the league for a reason. The day came and I sneaked off in the early hours of the morning to catch my flight from Phnom Penh International airport to Melaka. Luckily the interview had fallen on a Wednesday, which was a day off for everyone at the club. Sometimes I would go into my office and catch up on some admin work, or look at scout reports, but today I took my leave of absense and off I went. It was only a short hop across the Gulf of Thailand and around a two hour flight. I landed in Melaka, as the sun began to rise over the ocean and it was such a beautiful sight. Part of me wished that Charlotte was by my side to see this as it was kind of romantic, but then the other half of me was angry that she was some kind of honey trap who lured players away from EDC, just when they had started to become a threat. Thank goodness I didn't sleep with her. Were the casino behind this? Was she in the pay of one of our rivals Angkor Tiger, Phnom Penh Crown, Boeung Ket? Who knew? The departure of Warobay was the final straw. It was two weeks since we had last seen eachother and I had ignored her messages. She'd finally given up the ghost a few days ago and I was hoping that was the last I would hear from her. I landed at Malacca International airport and what a difference! Everything just seemed cleaner and brighter than the austere surroundings of Phnom Penh and although I had grown to love the place it made me realise that there was a whole world out there, waiting to be explored. Melaka was also a popular Malaysian tourist destinantion and it was easy to see why with its expansive sea front, beaches, hotels, temples and night market. I enjoyed a lovely morning walk along the promenade and dined in one of the restaurants there. Yes I could certainly see myself living here! I flagged down a taxi to take me to the Hang Jebat Stadium, the "futuristic" 40,000 seater home of Melaka United FC. I waited in reception and was met by a small Malaysian man in a neat suit. He was the club president, Mohd Isa Puvanarjah. He led me up to the boardrom where I was to be interviewed. "Welcome to Melaka FC. I hope you have had time to see our beautiful city." "Yes I had a lovely walk along the sea front this morning and had the most delicious fish curry at one of the restaurants there." "Marvellous. a bit different to Cambodia eh!" "Yes it's very nice. I replied. "With that the Director of Football, Kuharul Ramli arrived and hastily introduced himself and it was time to talk business. The President began. "Now Jonathan, it is fair to say that we are in the s**t this season, but we still expect play offs as a minimum. Are you the man to achieve that? "Woah Woah. Play offs? It said safe mid table positon in the job advert." "Oh really? huh! I told them put playoffs, they put the wrong thing. Huh!, Can't get the staff these days!" "Anyway a club like Melaka belongs in the playoffs, can you fulfil these dreams Mr Rudd?" "Well yes, if I can bring some players in who are good enough. If I am given money to spend on transfers and wages to make this possible then yes. We can certainly go up the league table with the right personel and reach the play offs, but finances to fund this would have to be available immediately in the first available transfer window. "There's no money." interrupted the director of football. "Well we have a little bit, but we want you to bring the youngsters through from our wonderful academy. We want to make our youth academy the best in all of Asia!" This was not what I was expecting. "Woah woah, can we just rewind here a little bit?" Can I get this straight? You want me to take the team from rock bottom in the league with only four points from 11 games, up to at least 4th place to qualify for the playoffs, while making the youth academy the best in Asia.. "Yes, but you can use the senior squad too of course, we have some very talented players, especially from Africa." "Yes, that's all well and good, but if I am to do this I will need to sign some ready made pros, you know 30 year olds who know their way around the division, can go to Johor and other big teams in the Super League and not be overawed. Defenders who know how to look after themselves, midfielders who know their games and a striker with a proven goalscoring record at this level." "Yes but an 18 year old will run through brick walls for you, a 30 year old will find a gate to go through that instead." replied the director of football smugly. "Don't get me wrong, I'm all for bringing through the youth. I've done this at EDC, but only when the time was right. When I first joined EDC, they were also fighting relegation and the last thing on my mind right then was any promising youth in our academy. It was not until a season or two later when we became an established top flight side did I start to give my youth players a chance in the first team. I think the same would apply here. We get ourselves out of relegation trouble first, before we start to think about playoffs and how many Malaysian wonderkids we may have in the academy. Their time will come." "I admire your honesty in this matter, but we are not in the.. how do you put this...not in the Mickey Mouse League that is in Cambodia." replied the President curtly. This was not going well. The rest of the interview was conducted in an amiable manner, but there was something inside me was telling me that this was not the right job for me. On the other hand it would get me out of Cambodia, away from the femme fatale and at Melaka I could at least offer players proper professional contracts. I also relished the challenge of turning a failing team into a successful one and the idea of building a vibrant young squad, based on local academy talent, playing attacking football appealed to me. I was in two minds as I shook hands and bowed to the two Malaysian gentlemen, who showed me out of the stadium. Would I be back..? I headed straight for the airport and caught my flight back to Phnom Penh. Seeing the Cambodian capital again after spending the day in Melaka made me hope that despite our differences of opinion on the direction of the club, they could see that I was the right man for the job. Meanwhile back in Phnom Penh..... Charlotte Lay had decided to take matters into her own hands. She put on her little black dress and hailed a taxi to take her to the apartment of the EDC manager. It was risky, but she knew that this matter could not rest. Now she knew the possible reason, although it was only her friend's theory why Jonathan had ignored her texts and calls. She felt the need to at least explain herself, or at least make him see that she was not the harlot that he maybe imagined her to be. Maybe if this went well after then, who knows? She was nervous. She didn't even know whether he would be in. It was a Wednesday evening and there was no match on. Training was only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so there was a fair chance. The taxi pulled up, his apartment was all in darkness. Damn! She rang the bell anyway in the hopes that he was in, but to no avail. He was out. Luckily it was a warm night and it still was not quite dark. Perhaps if she waited a while, at least until nightfall which was about one hour away she may see him arrive home. On the other hand this was risky, a beautiful woman in a short black dress hanging around alone in the evening may draw unwanted attention. She decided to sit down on the doorstep of the lobby and bury herself in her phone, hoping nobody noticed her and that Jonathan would turn up soon. She felt like a stalker, but this was the only way to at least find out why he had been ignoring her and whether her friend, Su had been right. At least she would have the chance to tell her side of the story and clear her name with him and be able to move on from the situation if he did not want anything more to do with her. If things went well then who knows what could happen? She would give it until sunset and then she would call a taxi back home again. Meanwhile at Phnom Penh airport..... Damn it my phone battery was dead! Therefore, the wait for a taxi at Phnom Penh airport was lengthy as I had to queue at the taxi rank. It had been a long day and I was eager to get home and sleep. Why were there no taxis? I had to take training in the morning and while I waited to hear from Malaysia, it was important to carry on as normal at EDC. We had the little matter of a visit to the Champions, Angkor Tiger to prepare for on Saturday and my attention had to be fully on that. Finally, after about half an hour's wait I jumped into a taxi and began the journey home. It was slow progress. There had been an accident on the Hun Sen Boulevard, a major road in the city and this had caused a big traffic jam. The taxi driver told me in broken English that he may know a short cut we could take, but the turning was a kilometre away. All I could do was look out the window as the full fading sun lit up the city for one last time that day, before it began its descent over the horizon. Meanwhile outside my apartment.... Charlotte was starting to lose patience. This was a stupid idea. Was he really worth it? She began to severely doubt her actions. A creepy looking older man had already looked her up and down several times as he had walked past her to gain entry to the apartment block. This was turning out to be a really bad idea. What if Jonathan is angry to see me outside his home? Does he know about my previous affairs with some of his players? Was Su right that this was why he had been avoiding her? The sun had started to set. It was 5.50 in the evening. I'll give it till six she thought. A car seemed to slow down near the entrance to the apartment block.. but it was an old couple who got out and they walked across the road, away from the waiting Charlotte. She sighed in frustration. Maybe Su was right and I was wasting my time. Maybe I could try and get Jonathan alone at one of the matches, but this was often difficult as he had his team and media commitments to think about.. Oh Charlotte another fine mess you've gotten yourself into, she sighed to herself. In desperation she started writing a text, wondering if she may get a reply. Hi Jonathan. I'm outside your apartment. I need to talk to you. What time will you be home? Love Charlotte xxx She glanced over it... Actually no, delete the bit about being outside his apartment too stalkerish.. and get rid of "Love" I don't want to appear desperate.. maybe just one kiss as well.. Let's not get too ahead of ourselves... Hi Jonathan. I need to talk to you. Are you home? Charlotte x SEND....... She waited eagerly for a reply. None came. She sighed. It was starting to get dark. Just 5 more minutes she told herself.... Meanwhile on the Hun Sen Boulevard... Beep beep beep!!! The noise was deafening on the Hun Sen Boulevard as the traffic jam became bigger and bigger. My taxi driver was one of the frustrated number. They don't do traffic jams well in this part of the world! Not like back in the UK where everybody queued patiently, quietly cursing their bad luck in getting caught up in it all and regretting not turning off at the last junction; but still politely letting another driver suddenly switch lanes in front of you by giving them a passive aggressive wave.. "Is this short cut turning nearby?" I enquired. "Yeah man he swerved into the left lane and then did a full left lock suddenly, nearly crashing into on oncoming scooter in the side road. "Jesus! That was close!" _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________- The sun had almost set in Phnom Penh and Charlotte had given up. She decided to call a taxi. "I'm sorry Miss but it will be an hour and a half wait.. there's been a big crash on the Hun Sen Boulevard. Traffic is at a standstill in your part of the city" She thought of calling her friend, Su, but she knew that she would be at work and on call. There was no way she was staying any longer. She'd already received some funny looks from some of the women living on the street as to why a pretty girl in a tight dress was loitering outside in the near dark and some admiring ones from passing men who wondered whether she was looking for business. She decided she would have to walk home, but that was half an hour away by foot and like most cities in the world, Phnom Penh could be a dangerous place after dark. She had no choice, due to the traffic situation and Su being at work, so she set off.. Perhaps she could make it home before the darkness truly set in. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I vaguely recognised the streets, but tended not to venture down the back roads of Phnom Penh very often. It could be a dangerous place, especially once the sun had set. Even though I was a resident here, I still could be mistaken for a tourist and therefore be a target for muggers and pickpockets, which roamed the streets of the city in certain areas. "How far? I enquired. "About ten minutes sir." came the reply. Well OK, its not like I was in a mad rush for anything, just my bed. __________<________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ A wary Charlotte Lay tottered along the darkening backstreets in her heels and dress. This had been an unmitigated disaster and she was cursing her stupid idea to see the EDC manager. The inevitable blisters on her feet from the half an hour walk in these stupid impractical shoes were the least of her worries though. There was danger at every turn. The quieter and darker the street, the more dangerous it became. She wanted to get to the busier areas because there she would feel more secure and could blend into a crowd. Here in the quieter back streets she felt alone and exposed. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ It was a long ten minutes and we'd hit another queue, this time at a road junction. The taxi fare of course was going up all the time and this had been a longer and more expensive journey from the airport to my apartment than I had anticipated. I was growing a bit impatient but appreciated that it was not the taxi driver's fault. I would hopefully be home soon... My mind wandered to Charlotte, I'm not sure why. I pulled my phone out, forgetting that the battery had died. Oh well, I'll charge it when I get home. No big deal. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Charlotte turned a corner and her worse fears were realised. There stood a gang of about five teenagers, no more than about 18 stood smoking something, she was not quite sure what, she didn't care. She tried to cross the road to avoid them, but they had already clocked the presence of this "sexy babe" in their midst. "Oi Oi give us a kiss" shouted one of them. "Phwoor she nice what's a pretty thing like her doing round here?" thrusting his hips in a sha**ing motion to the amusement of his friends. Charlotte tried to walk as fast as her attire would let her, but it was no use. The gang of five caught up with her easily and surrounded the terrified Charlotte. This night was getting worse. One of them tried to grab her waist, while the other made for her handbag, probably to steal her phone. She tried to scream, but a hand quickly clamped over her mouth. She started to cry, fearing how this terrible evening may end up.. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Finally we were free of the traffic and just a couple of blocks away from home. The streets surrounding home were quiet in the fast fading light. We took a sharp turning right and woah!!! The taxi swerved past a group of people in front of us in the road.... "Bloody idiots!" shouted my taxi driver. What were they doing? I looked back in the fast fading light and caught a glimpse of a woman with long, dark flowing dark hair being wrestled to the ground in the middle of the group... STTTTTOOOOOPPPP!!! I screamed at the taxi driver. The taxi screeched to a halt and I immediately opened the door and sprinted towards the group, without thinking. "Oi you!! GET OFF HER!!!!!" The attackers looked at me and ran off into the night. Sat on the ground sobbing was Charlotte Lay, her dress slightly torn and her hair a complete mess. "Uhhhhhhhuhuuhh Jonathan...your here.. at last your here I've been waiting for you uhuhuhhh." I helped her up off the ground and we hugged and I led her to the taxi driver, who had followed me out of his car to help. "Don't leave me!" she cried, holding me tight. "It's OK Charlotte, it's OK, my heart was pounding. Come with me." "Did they touch you?" Charlotte shook her head. I signalled for the taxi driver to take us back to my home, which was only a few blocks away. I gave him a 50 Riel tip for his troubles and went inside my apartment. Charlotte was physically Ok but shaken. Luckily they hadn't managed to take anything either. "Charlotte. What on earth were you doing out on the streets on your own ?" I enquired, sounding more like an angry father than a potential lover. "I came to see you" she sobbed as she buried her head in my arms. But you weren't in, ...you weren't in... I sent you message but you did not reply. Again. .. "My damn phone battery." My phone was dead. Look, showing her the blank screen. It needs charging. I had to borrow her phone to ring the National Police in order to report the crime. I doubted much would be done about it as thankfully they did not manage to steal anything, or injure her, although god knows what they might have done without mine and the taxi driver's intervention . Charlotte had managed to get a decent description of one of the lads who had attacked her and it was left in the hands of the authorities. She would be safe and warm in my apartment for the time being, but it was up to her how long she wanted to stay. "Where were you?" I was just coming back from Malaysia.." I blurted out, regretting it instantly. "Malaysia? What were you doing over there?" I had to think quickly... do I tell the truth to this woman who I barely know let alone trust and who could be conspiring with Nagaworld and other rival teams by sh**ging half my team and trying to undermine me in every footballing sense...? "A scouting mission.. there's a player we are interested in signing." I lied. They play for Melaka, but don't tell anyone.." "Melaka!... they are bottom of the league.. why would you want any players from there?" "They do have a top youth academy.. one of the best in all of Asia. I lied again.. " "Cup of tea?" I suggested, changing the subject. "A Jasmine tea would be lovely.." "I can go one better than that, producing a large orange and white bag of 1000 freshly imported Yorkshire Tea bags." "Let's have a proper brew.." "A proper brew!" replied Charlotte mimicking my Yorkshire accent. She flashed that beautiful smile through her smudged make up and it was the first time I had seen it that evening. It still lit up the room. There was no doubt about it she was good, very good. I needed to address the great big Indian elephant in the room though... Her message appeared on my phone as it charged. Why was she waiting for me outside my apartment dressed up to the nines and what did she want to talk to me about? Was it to ask why I had been avoiding her? Probably. Was it to confess that she was a paid honey trap who seduced all my best players and then broke their hearts so they moved clubs? Maybe she was extracting tactical information from them? This took Bielsa's Spygate scandal to new levels! Was she in the pay of Nagaworld, or Angkor Tiger, or Phnom Penh Cown, or Boeung Ket? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I love this guy, especially for saving me from that gang of youths. Who knows what they may have done to me if he and the taxi driver had not been there? I know what he probably thinks of me though. Is he angry with me for putting myself in danger? I still need to talk to him about why I wanted to see him tonight. I hope he understands that I am not the woman he thinks I am. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ As I placed both Yorkshire teas on the table, we sat opposite eachother and gazed momentarily into eachother's eyes. "I err" we both started together... and laughed nervously. "You first." "OK, she leant forward towards me. "I know what you may think of me, but it is not true." "And what might that be?" I enquired. "That I am easy, that I have had lots or relations with some of your players and ex players and I am how do I put this? I am a distraction because some of them have left your team and now play for other clubs...and that is because of me" "Charlotte.. I want you to be honest with me... I swallowed hard. Are you paid by another team to have these relations with my players?" She nearly choked on her Yorkshire Tea. "Noooo absolutely not Jonathan!! How could you think such a thing?" Oh no I think I've trod on a serpent here... "Why would you think that of me?" as tears started to stream down her face, further smudging her make up. "How could you?" "I'm sorry... so sorry." I knew it was a bad idea to broach this subject so soon after her ordeal. She was still emotional and me and my clumsy tongue had only made things worse... Now was not the time to score a massive own goal and I just had.. I held her hand on the table. I knew I'd messed up. 2-0 down I had to find a way to make it 3-2. "It wasn't me that thought this.. It was suggested to me by members of my backroom team during a scouting meeting. I didn't believe them, but it had been noticed that some of the players who had relations with you had suddenly left the club. Min Rattanak for example." "Min Rattanak practically stalked me after I'd helped him recover from his injury. He would not leave me alone and I had to let him down gently. He was just a kid. who I felt sorry for because of his bad injury and we did grow close as friends, but he completely mis-interpreted my kindness." What about Maol Daravon, my most capped player and my best defender? "Why are we doing this? It's not like it's any of your business who I was with in the past." said Charlotted defensively, folding her arms. "Yes I think it is as it may have affected players on my team and their morale and perhaps even the difference between us winning the league or not. Daravon what happened?" "Yes we had a fling, until I found out about his wife and kids. Then I ditched him and made him confess to his wife, who demanded he switched clubs. I am not a mistress for anybody." "Keo Udom?" I really liked him at first. We had a 6 month relationship, but he was very possessive and jealous. He didn't let me even talk to another man while I was with him, or let me out of his sight. I could not put up with this, so I ended it. Veasna? Yes we dated, but I did not fancy him. Great footballer yes, one of the best EDC have ever had, but not my type, so I broke it off quickly. I did not want to lead him on. I had also met my non-footballing ex- Nhem Ravy as well and I started seeing him instead. This lasted around two years, before I found out he was cheating on me. I got rid. "Thats the guy who used to come to matches with you?" "Yes, he was a big EDC fan too, but also a cheating snake in the grass who mis-treated me. It was also around that time that my mother died, so I was not in a good place" "I'm sorry." Fasal? "Fasal chased me like a hound does with a fox, back in your country. Finally I gave in, we went once. He was an idiot. I ignored him, he didn't like it and pestered me. I was pleased when he left for Nagaworld. He actually now goes out with an acquaintance of mine. She is welcome to him. I'm tired of this.. So what I dated a few of your team. I may have slept with one or two of them, not that that is any of your business. None of them worked out for one reason or another. Does that make me such a bad person? If they left EDC it was not because of me, and it was purely their decision and their decision only. Most of the players who have left the club I have not even met and only seen from the stands playing football. I am not a prostitute. I am not a spy from Nagaworld, Boeung Ket or any other team. I am just a 33 year old woman looking for love and yes enjoys the company of footballers. Is that such a bad thing? Is that a crime? "No no it isn't.. How wrong my so called friends at EDC were. Chan Vannak, my stupid clown of a head of youth development, the wiser Nen Borey as well who I thought was my friend too and Sok Chanraksmy too. They were just jealous that a girl like Charlotte was after me and they didn't stand a chance. I'll show them at the next scouting meeting! "Charlotte look, I am so sorry, taking hold of her hand across the table. I have been a complete idiot. I'm sorry for not replying to your texts and ignoring you. You have to understand how it looked from my perspective.. I was misled by people who I thought were my friends. I was stupid. I know you are not the woman they think you are. You are an intelligent and beautiful woman and I realise that now." I'm so sorry Charlotte. I really am." Her mood changed. "Boys will be boys." She smiled. You and your team in your little dressing room, measuring the size of your c**ks and boasting about how many women you sha**ed." "You need to stop believing them Mr Football manager." as she brushed her hand across the side of my face, sending shivers around my body like a bolt of lightning. She got up from the table, her dress creasing to further accentuate her wonderful natural curves. "Now, I need to freshen up. May I have a shower? It has been a long and at times emotional day." "Of course, I'll get you a towel." Phew! Like a quickfire Taboula hat-trick I think I might have managed to pull this out of the fire.. I respected the lady's privacy as she went into the bathroom and as the sound of swishing water came from the bathroom I deliberated over my next move. It was getting late and I thought about making a bed up for me on the sofa and giving her mine for the night. It seemed the right thing to do after what she had been through. I doubted she wanted to be alone tonight. I of course presumed she lived on her own... I didn't actually know... The swishing water stopped and after a few minutes the door opened and stood in the doorway was Charlotte in just the towel I had given her and with her hair up. She smiled. "My hero" The towel dropped to the ground and she unleashed her beautiful, thick glossy dark hair which fell seductively around her naked shoulders and body. I could resist this amazing and beautiful woman no longer.. I was definitely staying right here in Cambodia and at EDC.... Don't worry, we'll get back to the football in the next one... Will EDC find out about my secret trip to Malaysia? Will Charlotte prove to be a lucky charm as we seek to get the season back on track and challenge for C-League glory? Find out next time on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game!

I've just logged in and I'm gutted I missed out on all the fun.. Well done to Mandy42, EvilDave, Cider Drinker, markwilson27, CFuller and the rest for your awards and neilhoskins77 for hosting. Thankyou to everybody who reads my story and voted for me to win three awards. I'd like to dedicate the Character of the year award to the memory of the real Pele, who sadly is no longer with us. If I'd known that the 'Cambodian Pele" (who was actually Somalian) was so popular I may have kept him in the story longer.... Anyway much planned for the future of the Ultimate World FM save so watch this space! When I started the story nearly 2 years ago I could not imagine how popular it would be. Overall across all platforms and socials it is posted on, including Facebook, Reddit and the Google blogger version plus on these forums, the story has had approx 20,000 views from across the world, including some in Cambodia itself. 🇰🇭 Up the EDC!

Sad to hear of Melaka's real life demise.. We'll see what happens with this one..

We'll wait and see what happens, more twists and turns than a Messi dribble in this one... 😉

Part 59 - Ole! Ole! Ole Ole! Charlotte, Charlotte.. It was yet another hot, sunny day in Cambodia, but this time the birds were singing and there was a big rainbow in the sky. The air seemed fresher and... well enough of that. I was happy today. Training had just finished, the players had gone home, or to start their shift at the Electricity company. I was seeing Charlotte tonight and I couldn't wait! I just had the little matter of a hum drum scouting meeting to get through, before racing back home to get ready to meet her. She was coming to my apartment and I seriously needed to give it a clean and tidy round before she arrived. I felt like just assigning my recruitment team to some far flung province near the Laotian border, just so I could get away a bit early, Anyway needs must and football must come first. I welcomed my recruitment team, assistant manager, Nen Borey and my head of Youth Development, Chan Vannak who was to update me on some young wonderkid prospects he may or may not have discovered. My scouting team, Chea Makara and Pom Makara (no relation), player-scout and club legend, Sok Chanraksmy, plus my Director of Football, Khim Ravy, Technical Director Mao Samnang and Performance Analyst Keo Sambo were all in attendance. I was not a big fan of scouting meetings at the best of times, as they all threw up practically the same questions. 1. Is he good enough, 2. Is it in a position where we need cover- or yet another striker in which we have plenty of..3 Is he OK with just appearance fee money or does he want a pro contract, if so were wasting our time... I was notoriously miserable in these meetings as I found them rather tedious. Today was different though I felt alive, happy and excited. We began. "Well chaps, thanks for coming today, now let's get down to business." I said cheerfully. "We need to strengthen central defence as we still have a big Daravon shaped hole in the middle of it and Yaty is only a loan player who could be recalled at any time by the casino." "You sound extra chirpy today boss," piped up head scout, Chea Makara." "Well you know, just excited for the season.." "Ahh your never this happy in scout meetings boss." "Well yknow well I am happy about something." "Rumour has it, some of the lads saw you out with a lady the other week boss." piped up Chan Vannak. "Well yes I was.. "What's her name boss?" "Well err let's look at some defensive options fellas.." "Ahh come on spill. We've not seen you this happy in ages." I rolled my eyes. "Her name is Charlotte, we've only seen eachother a couple of times.. and well.." "Charlotte.. Charolotte Lay?" enquired Nen Borey. "Hahah Lay by name Lay by nature.." joked Chan Vannak. I stood up and leaned towards my stupid idiot of a head of youth development. "Oi show some respect sunshine," "OK calm down." intervened Borey. "What do you mean by that, Chan?" I reacted angrily. "She's errm been around a bit." "What do you mean?" "She's an easy l.." "Oi! you" I lurched towards him, but Nen Borey, Chanraksmy and the two Makaras managed to break us up." "What do you mean she's an easy lay?" "She's been with half the team, Jonathan. Now she's on you and she'll move on to someone else." informed my head of youth development. I was angry and heartbroken. "Why do you think Daravon left, and Rattanak and Math Fasal and Keo Udom.. Veasna as well.. piped up Sok Chanraksmy. Either they fell for her and she dropped them like stone, or their partners forced them to move clubs to get away from her clutches." "Math Fasal wanted to play as an inverted winger.." ... Udom wanted regular first team football.. Veasna.. not sure why he left more money I think... Daravon wanted to serve his country in the police force. Rattanak.. was a stupid because we helped him through his spinal injury... and so did she," I immediately thought of the conversation we had had on our first date... She helped Min Rattanak through his spinal injury.. then he suddenly left for no reason.... There was no apparent reason for Daravon to suddenly leave.. Fasal had made up some nonsense about me not playing him as an inverted winger even though I had and Veasna, my talisman wanted more money elsewhere... "Jonathan we don't want you to get hurt." reasoned Nen Borey. Charlotte Lay, she has a bit of a reputation.. She is nothing but a distraction and I urge you to tread very carefully. She will break your heart and we need you to fully focus on managing the club and winning the C-League.. My heart was in bits.. I put my head in my hands. "I'm sorry if this has come as a shock." comforted Nen Borey. "Mrs Daravon urged Maol to move clubs, otherwise their marriage was over. That's what happened. said Chanraksmy. Min Rattanak was besotted with her, but she rejected him after they had a one night stand." "And you didn't think to tell me?" "I think we should call this meeting to an end." I ordered. We can talk about promising Cambodian wonderkid right backs another time." The meeting was adjourned and I drove home, wondering what on earth I was going to do... Charlotte was due in just over an hour's time... I decided to cancel and made up an excuse about something had come up at the club and had to have an urgent meeting with the chairman to sort out something or other I needed time to think.. Meanwhile to the football.. Match 4 EDC v Build Bright United We move straight to to our next game, a seemingly winnable home game against the builders from Build Bright. They lie in 11th after just two games, while we are third on goal difference. The formation and performance of Soun Bath has given me food for thought after the turnaround in the last game. Pelap Taboula is also back, but is lacking match fitness Meanwhile in the back four, Ratana will start at centre back alongside Gbayoro and Bairaing comes in at left back. Team: Som, Sihavong, Ratana, Gbayoro, Bairaing, Makara, Samnang, Pidor, Nhem, Chitra, Bath Match Action We start well and hit the post early on when Nhem latched onto Soun Bath’s flick on, but couldn’t quite squeeze it in on the angle. Then, the same player has a stinging shot well saved. It is Build Bright though who take the lead. Savy Soksana smartly lashed the ball into the corner after Gbayoro was unnecessarily attracted to the ball which allowed the striker the freedom of the penalty area. We respond well. Chitra forces a flying save with a flick header after good work from Soun Bath and then has a shot tipped round the post after being sent through by Ratana. He then contrives to miss a sitter with the goal at his mercy after a mistake from their defender allowed him in. Moment later and Chea Samnang bursts forward and lays it into the feet of Chitra, who is tripped. Penalty! Given. Ratana does the rest. 1-1. We dominate the second half but do anything but score. Chitra has one disallowed for offside, while sub Taboula has a fierce shot well saved. Gbayoro has another goal disallowed, while Taboula misses a sitter. In a breakaway, the builders restore their lead, when Ros Sambath cottons onto a mistake from Gbayoro and he slots home confidently past Som. Just my luck.. We equalise though when Chea Samnang sweeps the ball to the left where Bairaing provides a first time cross, which is diverted in first time by Mat Noron. Desmond 2-2. Two points dropped against a team we should be beating... My mind though was elsewhere throughout most of the game, although I managed to avoid Charlotte.. for now... Final Score EDC 2-2 Build Bright United Ratana 37 (pen) Soksana 18 Noron 83 Sambath 75 Match 5 National Police v EDC We visit the Old Bill in decent shape and on a long 11 match unbeaten run in the league, stretching back to the end of last season. I have plenty of options to choose from. Taboula isn’t quite fit enough to play a full 90 minutes, so Chey Chitra starts against his former club. Ratana retains his place at centre back. We could go near the top with a win. The Police have recruited Maol Daravon (Judas in more ways than one) and the dangerous Timothy Okereke. Team: Som, Sihavong, Ratana, Gbayoro, Bairaing, Makara, Sam Chea, Pidor, Nhem, Noron, Chitra Match Action Three minutes in and we haven’t touched the ball. Dina lets fly and it hits the inside of the post and straight into Som’s waiting arms. It’s end to end. We finally get the ball and Nhem has a snapshot just wide. Then Noron fires one a whisker past the post after ball fell to him in the penalty box. We start to dominate but cannot find a way through. Then Dina has the ball on the left, but is upended by Sihavong.. he’s on a yellow... the ref wats a word... He’s sent off for two innocuous tackles. Off comes Chitra to be replaced by Yaty. Ratana moves to right back. How annoying! We still dominate, but cannot break them down. Judas has been immense. Nhem fails to capitalise after a throw in goes astray and ends up with Noron crossing for him. No goals at the break. Second half and its end to end stuff. They seem to win a lot of free kicks, while we break with pace. Sub Taboula thwacks the outside of the post. Makara injures himself when making a tackle and has to go off, so we are down to nine men, as we had used all our subs. I try to contain them and hit on the break, but they find a way through. The ever dangerous Okereke gets down the right and sides in a low ball which my old foe Long Pheng latches onto a slot home into the corner... We try to get an equaliser and look dangerous on the break, but to no avail. We slide to a rather annoying 1-0 defeat to Judas and the bloody Police...not happy... Final Score: National Police 1-0 EDC Long Pheng 75 Warobay leaves EDC In a disappointing move, our big pre-season signing, Warobay has signed for PSDS in his native Indonesia. The central defender made just one competitive appearance for team Electric in the 4-1 opening day win against Chhlam Samuth, registering a rating of 6.70 and lasted about 44 days at the club, making it about as long as Liz Truss spent at 10 Downing Street. I am fuming!.. and wondering whether a certain Miss Lay may also have been involved..... Not him as well! I'm Done with EDC That's it I've had enough of this team, EDC, we just are not as good this season, after coming so close last year. Maybe I have taken this team as far as I can. Furthermore, I want a professional team where I can tie players down on proper contracts, none of this 'appearance fee" nonsense. That's no way to run a successful football club. This is the end. I want a new challenge in a different country, with a better team and prospects.... and I think I'd found just the place., just over the Gulf of Thailand in Malaysia. There's a team called Melaka and they have just sacked their manager, lie bottom of the Malaysian Super League but play in a futuristic 40,000 capacity stadium and have a decent squad. Looking at the job advert they want a safe mid-table position. This looks like the perfect opportunity to move on with my managerial career and get away from the goldfish bowl of Phnom Penh and a certain lady, who I could not stop thinking about... Maybe this is the escape I need. I applied for the job and waited for a response and began to slowly pack non-essentials into boxes... Is this the end for Rudd at EDC? Is there any way back for Charlotte Lay? Find out next time on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game!

This brings a lot of memories back. I remember Junior McDougald tearing Conference defences apart back in the day.. The first version I played. Looks a really detailed and fun story.

Part 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 Sokha. 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 her 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 con... ooh! She leaned forwards and gave me a kiss. Butterflies! I was in love! "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 meal 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 Phnom Penh 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 1st Qualifying Round I begin my Hun Sen Cup campaign with a potential banana skin away at the young 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!

Thanks Ben. It was put together in a bit of a hurry. I have finally got round to editing it and thanks for reading as always. Have a Merry Christmas..

Part 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 3rd in the C-League and the general consensus is that this was around where we were expected to fininsh 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. 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 an 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, it will enable us to make a serious challenge for the title. I have to sign 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 bit 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 a few years back. 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. These days, 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.. On the Ultimate World FM save he will forever be referred to as 'Judas'.. Small Leap in Reputation EDC are now the 7th 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 4th. 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 corner 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 5th 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 of 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 and then 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 6th 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 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 are a 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 in the process. This nearly backfired when Le Guen put Kandal 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, which is a name to watch out for in th 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 fed Taboula whose clever first time square ball was perfect for Noron to sidefoot confidently into the corner. Great team goal. In the 79th 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 a bout 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 1st 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 fot 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!