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Thanks for reading, Boycott and glad you are enjoying it. Yes just 13 draws in 4.5 seasons is quite an interesting stat (14 now with the draw against Vishaka)

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Part 45 - Dead Rubbers

 

There is a whole month before I take on the mighty Nagaworld in the Hun Sen Cup Final, so I am afraid I am going to have to leave you in suspense a little longer, however, the next part will be completely dedicated to the cup final. 

Meanwhile there was still plenty to keep us occupied in the run up to the biggest game in EDC's short history as we round off our league campaign.

 

Match 28 Prek Pra v EDC 22/09/23

This is now a one match season. The league is not very important any more, so I’m putting out a more experimental XI against mid-table Prek Pra. Some of our stars are a bit knackered after the cup semi final, but I also wanted to see whether some of our younger and fringe players can cut the mustard at this level, players like Hem Sokha at right back, Rum Sokha a promising young defender who has done well on the odd occasion he has been summoned from the Reserves. Mat Dara has shown in flashes he can also play and gets a start in central midfield. Soun Bath starts as an Inside forward, snaking in from the left to support fellow teenager, Samnang Nhem who starts on his own up front. I have the big guns on the bench, just in case things don’t go to plan..

Team: Som, Hem Sokha, Makara, Run Sokha, In Sambath, Vannak, Chea Samnang, Dara, Oudom, Nhem, Soun Bath

Match Action

They have an early chance when the ball is flicked on and their left winger gets a shot at goal. This does not bode well. They are not letting us out of their half. Hai sweeps a ball to the left where all the danger is coming from and Suhana flick heads the ball past Som. It was coming and I’m beginning to regret resting some players. I revert to a 4-4-2 with out two teenagers up front, Dara on the left. This enables us to get forward in more numbers. A powerful header from a corner Soun Bath forces a fine fingertip save from their keeper. That’s more like it! A fine move involving  the same player and Dara, who is having a good game on the left flank. led to Tuy Oudom’s far post header parried over the bar. 1-0 to them at half time.

We control the second half, as Prek Pra seem to have booked in for bed and breakfast in their own half. I throw on Noron for Nhem and Pidor on for Oudom. We have a lot of possession but create little. Taboula comes on. They look dangerous on the break, but Som is not troubled. Then a rare bit of quality. Samang works the ball to the left where Mat Dara pings in a low cross which is diverted home by Pelap Taboula in the last minute! One each. Both teams push for a winner, but a draw was the final result. Some positives though: Makara and Sokha had excellent games at the heart of the defence and Dara looked good on the left wing. The rest were a bit rubbish to be honest..

Final Score: Prek Pra 1-1 EDC

                   Suhana 9               Taboula 90

 

 

Vishaka Relegated

It’s been coming for a while but the once mighty Vishaka have been relegated. When I first came to Cambodia they were one of the top teams, ladened with foreign talent from South Africa, Japan  and those famous five North Koreans. Since they left things have gone downhill drastically at Vishaka, culminating in a 1-0 defeat to Boeung Ket which saw them do the unthinkable and fall through the trapdoor into the Second Division.

 

Board Confidence Update

Despite me doing quite well with EDC this year the board have given me a fair to middling review., with my highest mark being a B- for support from the squad and my lowest a C for transfer market performance.  For some reason they are reserving judgement until a few more matches have been played, despite the fact we are very near the end of the season and I have been at the club for 4 years..??

 

Rudd Reaches 100 Games In Management

Our next game against Solitio Angkor sees me take charge of EDC for the 100^th time. It seems a long time since we dismally lost to the kids of Bati Youth in my first game. Let’s hope I can add some silver ware to my tenure at the Electric Company. Below are a few stats:

Games: 99

Win %: 54%

Games won: 54

Draws: 13

Defeats: 32

Goals for 227

Goals Against 169

Goal Difference: 58

Some of the tweets made by fans are mixed about my reign so far.

“I think maybe it’s time for a new face at EDC. Rudd just isn’t taking us anywhere”

-Ung Chanadara

“Be careful what you wish for ; Rudd is doing a good job it could be so much worse without him.”

 

-        Chhim Vichhika

 

Match 29: Solitio Angkor v EDC 07/10/23

I continue to play out the league season with a trip to Solitio Angkor. I’m going to put a full team out with a few tweaks, but may rest some if I feel the need before the cup final. Angkor are in deep relegation trouble, lying down in 13^th place.

Team: Som, In Sambath, Daravon, Gbayoro, Teat Chandara, Kakada, Rattanak, Oudom, Taboula, Noron, Pidor

Match Action

Twenty five minutes have passed of this dead rubber and while we have dominated proceedings, we have little to show for it, Rattanak is probing, Oudom having his crosses blocked and Pidor lively but unable to create much. Our opponents are camped in their own half, with the only real outlet being their star player, Marques. Other than that not much.

On 34 minutes, Pidor flighted a ball in for Noron, who headed into the keeper’s hands. On the break, Solitio have a shot well saved by Som. Then, on the stroke of half time, Pidor picks up the ball and cuts inside from the left. He sprays the ball out to Tuy Oudom on the right wing. The youngster flights a lovely ball into the area, which is guided home first time by Pelap Taboula for his 11^th goal of the season. Superb!

Substitute Makara has a stinging shot tipped over the bar after good work from Taboula on the break. Then in the dying minutes, Marques hits the top of the crossbar after an incisive breakaway. That was that. A dour 1-0 win, in a drab game befitting of its end of season dead rubber status. Definitely will be shown last on Cambodian Match of The Day.  On a more positive note, all our players came through unscathed.

Final Score: Solitio Angkor 0-1 EDC

                                                                          Taboula 45

Nhem Shines for Cambodia U19s

My young, promising striker, Samnang Nhem bagged both goals as the Cambodian U-19s dispatched their counterparts from Singapore 2-0 in the U19s Asian Championship Qualifying. Unfortunately my other young striker, Soun Bath did not fare so well for the U19s as he came back injured, putting him out of the cup final. Meanwhile in the first team, Ouk Ratana put in a solid performance as Cambodia beat Hong Kong 2-0. Unfortunately he did not fare so well in the second match as The Angkor Warriors succumbed to a 4-0 defeat by a vastly superior Japanese team. Both matches were in the group stages of the World Cup Qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Youth Intake

In Cambodia, the youth intake day seems to vary from mid October to early November. I should have known this day was nigh when I overheard my effervescent Head of Youth Development, Chan Vannak chatting excitedly to Nen Borey about a player he had found playing in the streets of Phnom Penh. His name was Chhim Pheara and according to Chan, he was going to be the first ever Cambodian wonderkid. Well after seeing him train I don’t think Erling Braut Haaland need worry, but by Cambodian and EDC standards, this guy is certainly one of the better players to come through the ranks during my time at the club.

Other names to join the club are:

Mol Ly – (MR/L) A pacy winger who can play on either side.

Ly Vattanak (DC) -  A tough tackling young defender.

Tola Mao (DMC) – A solid defensive midfielder with good tackling.

Ly Sophorn (DMC) – A hard tackling ball winning midfielder,  but will have to join a long queue in this position

Sok Chanvirak  (ST)– A promising young striker with a finishing stat the same as his age- 16

Enrico Capriati (MC) – A good young midfielder I hope to develop.

Ouk Vibol  (DRC) – A lesser spotted right back in the youth team. Could he come through and make the spot his own one day in the first team?

Sor Chanvirak (ST) A poacher with promise, but he will have to join the back of a long queue of strikers at the club.

 

Vannak Sok (AMC) A creative midfielder with some promise.

Match 30 EDC v Vishaka

In their wisdom, the Cambodian FA have once more scheduled the Hun Sen Cup Final, just two days after a league match. Therefore as this game is a dead rubber against already relegated Vishaka I have made eleven changes in a bid to wrap my star players up in cotton wool. Not much more to be said, other than let’s just get this one over with, we have bigger fish to fry. Besides, win, lose or draw, we will finish once again in 5^th place in the C-League this season.

Team: Kong Rafat, Ivonoldo, Sokha, Makara, In Sambath, Vannak, Theara, Touch Van, Chanraksmey, Nhem, Dara

Match Action

We start brightly. Dara makes a lovely run down the left, before squaring for Chanraksmy, who tries to play in Nhem but his shot is blocked. Another attack ends up with Touch Van having a shot well saved by the keeper. Dara has got the bit between his teeth here. Another surge down the left results in him playing in young Nhem in the left channel. As he tries to beat his man he is tripped. Penalty. Up steps Sok Chanraksmey who buries it into the corner like only he can. Great to see the veteran get his name on the scoresheet for only the second time this season We are then pegged back instantly from the kick off. The centre of our defence is dozing off as Sella plays in Un Mony Udom to lash the ball past Kong Rafat. 1-1. Vishaka start to enjoy some possession in midfield and Sella’s probing balls on a couple of occasions needed some good interceptions to prevent further damage. Meanwhile we are dangerous on the break, but fail to create all that much. One each at the break.

We start the second half brightly and Chanraksmy has the ball in the net, but he is clearly offside, even Stevie Wonder could have seen that one. They have a gilt edged chance from a header but it is saved by Kong Rafat. I go to a 4-3-3 and throw on young Morgan Laurent, for only his second ever appearance and move Mat Dara into central midfield to add extra numbers there. Dara thwacks the crossbar from a lovely free kick. Nhem then hits a stunning effort from just outside the box which makes the crossbar vibrate once more.

 

At the other end Vishaka are knocking the ball around with too much confidence for my liking. The ball is worked to their right back, Krya who flights in a delicious ball which is diverted home by Phallin. 2-1 and a shock is on the cards, albeit against our ‘B’ Team. I ‘Demand More’, they respond. I disband the 4-4-3 and go to a diamond in midfield. Sub Suhana is making a difference on the right. From a throw in it is he who combines with In Sambath, who crosses the ball which is missed by the defender and lashed home by young Samnang Nhem for a deserved equaliser. We press for a winner with Suhana causing all sorts of problems down the right flank, in a way that Veasna used to. His cross is beaten away nervously by the keeper into the path of Laurent who fires in an instant shot, which trickles past the far post, How unlucky! Desmond it finished, again between these two sides. It hardly matters though because next up is the cup final! 

 

Final Score: EDC 2-2 Vishaka

 Chanraksmey 13 (pen)         Mony Udom 13

Nhem 85                                  Phallin 74

Phnom Penh Crown Win The C-League

Phnom Penh Crown become the 4^th different winners of the C-League since I have been at EDC, showing that while some teams are better equipped to win than others, the title is wide open and that anyone can win if they show consistency and a winning mentality. Great to see different teams winning than one dominating all the time as can happen in smaller countries. Perhaps next year there will be yet another new name engraved on the trophy, EDC.. For now though we must concentrate on the cup! Congratulations to Phnom Penh Crown, The King of Cambodia will be very happy!

That's the remaining league fixtures out the way, bar one. Can EDC overcome their bitter rivals and lift the Hun Sen Cup, giving Rudd his first piece of silverware... Find out next time on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game!

 

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Thanks Ben. If the FM gods are on my side, revenge will be sweet..  

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Part 44 - A One Match Season

The Road To Mondul Kiri

In the Cambodian C-League, most of the football teams, including ourselves are based in the capital, Phnom Penh. One of the exceptions is the newly promoted side, Mondul Kiri who are based 6 hours away from the capital to the east on the Vietnamese border. Cambodia is a deceptively large country and six hours equivalent would be like travelling from somewhere like Middlesbrough to London in the UK. This was a proper away day where we would have to travel together as a team on a coach and also take in the beautiful countryside of which this country has to offer. It is the largest and most sparsely populated provinces in Cambodia and was badly affected by the horrors of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s.

Nowadays it is known for its outstanding natural beauty, rainforest and waterfalls. It is also unfortunately rife with illegal deforestation and loggers who seek to make profit from the area’s natural resources. MondulKiri is also home to the indigenous Bunong tribes, which can be seen walking the roads around the province.

Mondul Kiri is home to several nature reserves, including its very own elephant sanctuary. As we would be making the long journey out there a couple of days before the match I arranged a trip here as a piece of Community Outreach. Some of my players had seldom been out of Phnom Penh, apart from footballing reasons, I felt it was important for them to explore some of the remoter parts of their country. It was great for them to learn the good work of the sanctuary in protecting elephants from illegal hunters. For me it was a huge eyeopener and yet another experience in this fascinating country.

On the way to the region’s capital, Sen Monorom the devastation caused by illegal logging of the area’s precious natural rainforest and jungle was very sad to see as it was a beautiful journey to a lovely part of Cambodia we did not normally get to see. So to the football.

Match 24: Mondul Kiri v EDC 12/08/23

Cambodia’s answer to San Marino have managed to keep their heads above water this season and lie one point above the relegation places in 10^th. We are in 6^th and out of the Championship race, but three points here will help us to finish as high up the table as we can. We are pretty safe, thirteen points above the drop zone. I’m starting to get a little experimental in my selection to give some of the promising youngsters a chance. Therefore I give young Makara Um his debut at left back, while the impressive Nhem starts up front alongside a resurgent Taboula, with Noron rested to the bench. Ratana and Kakada are suspended, so in come In Samabath at right back and Um Makara in DMC.

Team: 4-4-2 Som, Sambath, Daravon, Gbayoro, Um, Makara, Rattanak, Touch Van, Taboula, Nhem, Pidor

Match Action

We attack with menace and Pidor runs at the heart of the defence. He lays it off to Taboula whose stinging shot is parried by the keeper at full stretch. They lob the ball forward, Gbayoro comfortably heads clear to Rattanak. The Cambodian Gascoigne runs at the heart of the Mondul Kiri defence before lashing the ball into the corner of the net. Great start. 1-0. Then from nowhere they launch an attack and work the ball to Long Piseth on the right. He is in acres of spce.. where’s our flipping left back? He has all the time in the world to pick out Sok Oudom’s head and he plants the ball past Som into the corner. One each. We re-assert our dominance on the game. Daravon picks up the loose ball in the right back position His lofted ball is controlled and crossed by Nhem to Pidor, whose angled shot fizzes into the bottom corner. 2-1.

We attack some more. Young Nhem nearly gets a third with a lovely flick header, but his big toe was offside. 2-1 at the break.

Young Samnag Nhem looks a real player. An outrageous piece of skill on the left flank, leads to a peach of a cross of which sub Noron has his header well saved.

We are in control of the game, but 2-1 is a dodgy lead and we are only one Miroslav Klose bug away from an equaliser. Mat Dara swings in another corner and the ball trickles into the corner of the net off a Mondul Kiri player for an own goal and a deserved 3-1 lead.

Rattanak attempts to make it four with a 30 yard piledriver which is acrobatically saved. A comfortable win against a pretty average side, who did at least show a little more attacking intent this time around.

Final Score: Mondul Kiri 1-3 EDC

Oudom 24                           Rattanak 7

                                             Pidor 38

                                            Piseth o.g 86

 

Match 25: EDC v Chmao Khmao

The pundits are touting us as comfortable favourites for this one and I tend to agree, despite our opponents sitting just slightly below us in 7^th. A win here could propel us up to the dizzy heights of fourth, but with the way the table is, with Phnom Penh Crown and Nagaworld so far ahead, the highest we can realistically hope for is third. I go in with a strong side, including all the suspended players from the Mondul Kiri game returning, although I’m giving young Makara Um another chance at left back.

Team: 4-4-2 Som, Ratana, Daravon, Gbayoro, Makara Um, Kakada, Rattanak, Suhana, Taboula, Noron, Pidor

Match Action

We control the game from the off. Rattanak slips in Noron for an early chance, but his shot is parried for a corner by the keeper. Beware of the random free kick from nowhere, which forces a fine save from Som. We need a goal here to get us going. We get one. Suhana cuts in from the left, before laying it back for Sin Kakada. His flighted ball is flicked on by Taboula for the onrushing Matty Noron who half volleys first time into the corner. They respond well. Their striker Soksana has pace to burn and he wins the race against Daravon, before hitting the side netting with his final shot. A warning for EDC. Then on the stroke of half time a Daravon free kick from our own half is played to Kakada and then to the Cambodian Gascoigne, who plays a beautiful first time ball, almost without looking for the rejuvenated Pelap Taboula who smashes the ball home for number 2. There’s even time for a third before half time. Noron scampers down the right channel. His little ball inside finds Pidor, whose shot is blocked by the keeper, but stright into the path of Mr Taboula who smacks home the rebound for 3-0.

Early in the second half and we are sloppy. Gbayoro does a great piece of defending, almost Sol Campbell like. He clears but Noron stupidly heads the ball back to where it came from, allowing Soksana and Ly Saroth to combine for the former to slide the ball past Som on his near post. 3-1.

Then a mix up in our defence let in the dangerous Soksana. He squares it to Raymand Etim who lays it right to Saroth to slide into the corner. Wake up EDC!

Chmao Khmao have their tails up now, they smell blood. They are first to every ball and then break with pace. I revert to a 4-2-3-1. In Sambath replaces the inexperienced Makara Um at left back, while Pom Vannak replaces Suhana to build barriers in central midfield, with Taboula playing on the right wing. I also tell my team to ‘focus.’ This seems to have an effect as we are starting to retain the ball better and cutting off their rapid breaks. Pidor has a shot which is tipped over by the keeper. From the resulting corner, the unlikely source of Min Rattanak heads home at the near post to restore a two goal advantage,

Chmao don’t give up and pile on the pressure. They create some chances, we clear one off the line. This is getting ugly. I go defensive, but they keep coming, wave after wave, chance after chance. Somehow we regain control and string some passes together The ever impressive Rattanak has the ball in the centre circle. He passes to Pom Vannak who flights the ball with the outside of his foot to Pelap Taboula. The Nigerian floats it to Pidor on the edge of the area who chests the ball down and half volleys the ball crisply home for the fifth goal and to put the icing on the cake. It’s harsh on the visitors who have had us running scared in the second half, but quality has shone through in the end. Not since the Keegan season have we looked so creative and so full of goals. Taboula was the best player on the park, scoring two and creating two. He could be a key player for us now and in the future.

Final Score: EDC 5-2 Chmao Khmao

Noron 18                        Soksana 47

Taboula 45,46                 Saroth 53

Rattanak 76

Pidor 90

 

Match 26 – EDC v Khmera

Our bogey team, Khemera visit the Electricity Stadium complete with their dodgy diamond formation in midfield. A win today means we can leapfrog them and move up to 4^th place. Realistically the highest we can finish is third, but it would be great to come in the top three if we can. Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves though.. Khemera have our rather useless old right back, Sam Channroeurn in their ranks and line up in a weird 4-1-2-1-2 formation. To combat this I go for my 4-1-3-2 with Rattanak and Samnang providing dual creativity in midfield and the in-form Taboula is up front on his own.

Team: Som, Ratana, Khemarin, Gbayoro, Teat Chandara, Kakada, Samnang, Rattanak, Pidor, Taboula, Suhana

Match Action

We start brightly. Pidor cuts in from the left and feeds Suhana who flashes a shot wide. Khemera lifts the ball forward, but is cut out by Khemarin, who finds Pidor. He flicks it to Chea Samnang who flights a delightful ball into the path of the onrushing Taboula, who takes one touch on the edge of the area and drills it into the corner of the net. Great goal, great start!

Khemera are a good team though and they have a certain Mr Veasna pulling the strings. One such lung bursting run from the former EDC favourite results on him baring down on our goal and but for a fine save from Som would have equalised.

We look dangerous on the break and when the lively Pidor sent Taboula through one on one it looked like we could extend our lead, but the striker’s finish was saved. One nil at the break.

Into the second half, their striker Rany heads over a gilt edge opportunity from a Buheing cross. Should have been 1-1.

A missed header from Khemarin almost lets in Chan Dara but Som saves at his near post. The same player has his shot saved from the ‘unbeatable’ Som in goal. Ravy and Dara combine once more. The former is inside the area, but is brilliantly tackled by Sim Kakada.. no wait.. The referee point to the spot.. Eh? He clearly won the ball.. that tackle was Bobby Moore-esque… But no the ref would have nothing of it.. Penalty. Chea Dara does the rest.

We cannot keep the ball for toffee and they are winning it back to easily. The ball is worked to Suon Veasna.. Close him down! Vannak Close him down.. Too late! Veasna shows me what we have been missing as he fires it effortlessly into the top corner. This man is class. 2-1. I throw on Noron to partner Taboula, but he can do nothing. Our terrible run against Khemera continues..

Final Score: EDC 1-2 Khemera

Taboula 12               Dara 81 (pen)

                                    Veasna 86

 

Rudd signs new 2-year deal

I have put pen to paper on a new two year deal. Our uplift in form, coupled with the promising youngsters in the U21s has made me feel optimistic about the future of the club and I want to try and see the job through.

International Call Ups & Round Up

It seems that my young bucks at EDC have caught the attention of the Cambodian National set up for the latest round of International fixtures. Ouk Ratana remains our sole representative in the main squad, but the Under 23s see call-ups for Rattanak, Pidor, Um Makara, In Sambath and Kong Rafat. Meanwhile in the Under 21s, Nhem Soun Bath and young keeper Sob Vatanak gain recognition.

Min Rattanak turned out to be the star of the show in a 2-1 win for the Cambodian U23s against Macau U23s! Ratana did not fair so well as Cambodia succumbed to a 3-0 defeat to Palestine. In the U21s, Samnang Nhem got on the scoresheet in a 2-1 defeat to UAE U21s.

Strange Scheduling in The Hun Sen Cup

The chaotic nature of scheduling for the Hun Sen Cup has really come to the fore with this anomaly. We are due to play our semi final on 11^th September 2023, but we do not know who we are playing yet, because Chllam Samuth and Chmao Khmao have yet to play their quarter final. According to their schedule, they are not due to play this fixture until 15^th September., What gives??

In the other semi final, which did take place, Nagaworld beat Angkor Tiger 2-1, meaning it would be a repeat of the 2021 Keegan season final if we can win our semi against Samuth or Khmao.

Newsflash: We will play Chllam Samuth after they beat Chmao Khmao on penalties in just four days time. Cheers guys!

Match 27: Chllam Samuth v EDC – Hun Sen Cup Semi Final 

19/09/23

So this is it! The semi final. We seem to have waited ages for this, but now it’s time to put our minds on reaching our second Hun Sen Cup Final, of which we will face Nagaworld. Gaining revenge on them must be put on hold, as we face dangerous, but beatable opposition. In the league game we only just sneaked past them 3-2 and once Keo Udom went off injured they did not look like the same team. As they lie in 10^th this makes us favourites, but we are away which may level things up a bit. We know the threat that Keo Udom posseses, but if we can stop him, then in my view we win the game.

We are going to match their 4-2-3-1 in the belief that man for man we have the better players who can win their personal battles. Rattanak and Samnang form a creative duo, feeding the in-form Taboula. Anderson Gbayoro is missing through suspension, so Khemarin once more steps in.

Team: 4-1-2-3 Som, Ratana, Daravon, Khemarin, Chandara, Kakada, Samnang, Rattanak, Suhana, Taboula, Pidor

Match Action

We start brightly Samnang has a shot which blazes over the bar. Then my right back, Ratana keels over, he’s done his knee ligament, this could be a nasty one.. Luckily the versatile In Sambath is on the bench and he replaces the Cambodian International after just five minutes. Then disaster. Panha breaks down the right and curls unstoppable shot past Som. Oh dear!

We respond well. Neat interplay results in a Taboula shot well saved. Udom at the other end nearly makes it two but his header is saved. A nice move down the left results in a Taboula header well saved. Come on boys!! Half ends 1-0 to them.

I try to rally the troops at half time, but it seems to have fallen on deaf ears. I revert to 4-4-2 and throw Noron up front with Taboula, while Tuy Oudom is introduced to add some fizz down the right. They create two gilt edge chances, one when the ball was presented to the opposition by the normally reliable Som. We are lucky to be only 1-0 down here. I Demand More and this spurs them into life.

Daravon wins an important header against his former team-mate Keo Udom. This finds Min Rattanak who for the first time in the game goes on one of his trademark driving runs. He lays it out to Tuy Oudom on the right who strides forward and fires in a low cross to NORON!!!!! The striker drills it first time into the corner of the net. It’s one each.. Come on we’ve got this!!

Samuth have not given up. They are always looking for Mr Udom running in behind, but so far Daravon and Khemarin have been wise to it. Then a random throw in from Tuy Oudom finds Noron who chests it back to the young winger. Once again a fizzing low cross causes havoc in the Samuth defence as it beats two defenders. Sok Ouen Pidor doesn’t miss out though, as he takes a chance and  slams it into the top corner. 2-1 get in! Keo Udom does get on the end of one through ball, but thankfully fired well wide. Taboula at the other end has a goal disallowed for offside which would have finished the game off. We did really need that third goal. Samuth are not giving up and are throwing more bodies forward. Daravon is knackered but I’ve used all my three subs, so Khemarin takes over marking Udom. Samuth attack and attack again, but our defence holds firm. In Sambath, Khemarin, Daravon and Teat Chandara are equal to everything. It is then our substitute full back who delivers the killer blow when he flights an almost Bobby Moore-esque ball through for the on-rushing Matty Noron who pokes it past the advancing keeper. The final whistle goes!!! 3-1 what a win! I have had to use every ounce of my 20 years of Football Manager knowhow to engineer this victory. Cries of “Jonny Rudd’s Electric Army!” rang out as the jubilant fans as they left the ground. NAGAWORLD WE ARE COMING FOR YOU!!!

Final Score: Chllam Samuth 1-3 EDC

                             Panha 11                          Noron 60,90

                                                                        Pidor 73

So EDC are through to their second Hun Sen Cup Final against old foes, Nagaworld. Can Rudd's men gain revenge on the big nasty casino, or will the favourites prevail yet again? Find out next time on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game!

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Hopefully mate we'll have to wait and see!!

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Part 43. Putting All Our Eggs In One Basket

 

The league has gone for this season, that is without doubt, but we have managed to put together a decent cup run and have made it to the Quarter Finals of the Hun Sen Cup. The only problem is we have been drawn against Boeung Ket, who are one of the better teams in the Kingdom of Cambodia. We are a developing team, which is one or two seasons short, providing we can keep the squad together, from making a real splash and challenge for the C-League title once more. For now though it is about trying to find that winning formula and finishing as high in the league as we possibly can. As for the cup, there is no doubt we can win it, if we can overcome the Quarter Final obstacle that lies in wait. Firstly though we must tackle the bread and butter of the league. Our first opponents are guess who- Boeung Ket, a dress rehearsal for the Quarter Final showdown on the horizon.

Match 19: Boeung Ket v EDC 17/07/23

It’s our opponent’s turn to seek revenge on us, but I am confident we can do well and come back with three points from our trip to Boeung Ket. They have been labelled in the match build up as being “troubled,” but they lie in 3^rd. We could claim 5^th spot if we win. Unfortunately suspensions have forced us into changes in the back four, so Daravon returns for Gbayoro, while Makara partners him in defence. Pidor is preferred to Tuy Oudom on the right flank and Vannak replaces the suspended Kakada in the DMC role.

Team: Som, Ratana, Daravon, Makara, Teat Chandara, Vannak, Samnanag, Rattanak, Pidor, Noron, Suhana

Match Action

It’s a highly competitive opening ten in which we have the larger share of possession, but apart from a couple of blocked shots from distance, create very little. Sotheaven, their left winger looks like he can play and when he gets in behind on the left wing, his cross is met by Omakefe, which forced a fine stop from Som. The same player then picks up the ball on the halfway line and skins Ratana before marching into the penalty area unchallenged and slotting past Som for the opening goal. Out of completely nowhere they get a second when Chhoeun fired in a free kick. This is not looking good..

Then from another free kick out of nowhere Meas Mony Udom does his best David Beckham impressions and fires home another free kick. There’s just no way we can win with the FM gods in such a filthy mood…

Chan Polroth added a fourth with a stooping header. Chhoeun whacked home a fifth, we’d given up by now.. Taboula poked home a late consolation from Vannak’s flighted ball into the box, but far too little and far too late. I hate this stupid game! There was a water bottle with a massive dent in it left in the middle of the visitor’s dressing room at the Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium as we trooped home to our little corner of the Capital.

Final Score Boeung Ket 5-1 EDC

Sotheaven 30                             Taboula 89

Chhchoen 35,84

Udom 52

Polroth 72

Match 20: EDC v National Police 22/07/23

The Cambodian constabulary come to town with us still licking our wounds from the Boeung Ket game. The Old Bill however find themselves in a spot of bother down the wrong end of the table in 12^th place, the top relegation spot. We are in 8^th, too good to go down, but nowhere near strong enough to challenge for the title this year.

I revert to an attacking 4-4-2 with the suspended players returning to strengthen the team. Young Nhem is given another opportunity up front with Mat Noron.

Team: Som, Ratana, Daravon, Gbayoro, Teat Chandara, Kakada, Rattanak, Oudom, Nhem, Noron, Pidor

Match Action

We sweep forward from the kick off and Noron heads over from a Pidor cross. Then disaster.. Rattanak one of our better players goes down clutching his leg. He is quickly substituted for Chea Samnang. We dominate the game, but once again our bark is worse than our bite and we create little, save for a couple of headers well over the bar and a speculative Pidor effort which was comfortably saved by the keeper. 0-0 at half time, 10-0 on shots to EDC.

In the second half their impressive striker Chitra provides their only piece of quality in the game and forces a good save from Som, while a flowing move from us resulted in Samnang shooting tamely at the keeper. Substitute Taboula flashes a header just wide from an Oudom cross, then the Nigerian forces an excellent save from the keeper. The score remains 0-0. Oudom and Samnang combine but once again the keeper makes a fine save from the midfielder. He’s not given up yet though, as he exchanges passes with Kakada before striding forward to the edge of the area and unleashing a blinding shot which blasts into the top corner. Pick that one out Searg! 1-0 to the EDC,.,

The cops charged forward with Chitra looking ever more dangerous and their right winger, Soksela finding too much space on the right. We were hanginig on by the end, but a deserved win it was. We’ve now done the double over everybody’s least favourite team, who may well be demoted in rank to the Second Division next season.

Final Score EDC 1-0 National Police

Samnang 83

 

League Table

Phnom Penh Crown 42

Nagaworld 39

Boeung Ket 33

Khemera 28

EDC 27

Angkor Tiger 25

Prek Pra 25

Chmao Khmao 24

Wat Phnom 19

Mondul Kiri 15

Solitio Angkor 14

Chllam Samuth 14

National Police 13

Vishaka 7

 

Match 21: EDC v Phnom Penh Crown

We take on the league leaders, Phnom Penh Crown with basically nothing to lose, as our team lies in 6^th with 27 points. I am going to play a cautious 4-3-2-1. They have good players, including Debeiro their experienced Nigerian who has been firing in the goals for them. Meanwhile we have a some decent ones who are in reasonable form and our job is to try and derail their title ambitions on what could be considered a tricky trip to the EDC stadium. Banana skins at the ready!

Team: 4-3-2-1: Som, Ratana, Daravon, Gbayoro, Teat Chandara, Vannak, Kakada, Rattanak, Oudom, Noron, Pidor

Match Action

We have started much the better side, but create little in the opening fifteen. Then Rattanak shows his quality by sliding a lovely through ball to the onrushing Noron, but he disappointingly shoots wide.

Then Miroslav Klose leaves his cruel mark on the game. Their goalkeeper, Aim Sovrannath hits a perfect 80 yard goal kick straight into the path of Debeiro, who makes no mistake. All our good work undone by a stupid bug..

We finish the half once again the better team, but fail to create a significant chance, while looking pretty solid defensively. 0-1 at half time.

Into the second half and we have good posession on the right hand side as Ratana finds Rattanak. He burrows his way through to the edge of the area where he is tackled, but Chea Samnang pokes the ball through to the onrushing Noron who whacks the ball against the post., How unlucky!

Chea Samnang picks the ball up in midfield but he is tackled, but the ball falls to Min Rattanak who surges forward before playing in sub Pelap Taboula with one of his trademark through balls. The Nigerian smashes the ball into the corner of the net to make it an emphatic 1-1!

The Crown attack. They aren’t giving this up easily. Their full backs are attacking, but this leaves more gaps for us to exploit on the counter attack. Tuy Oudom gallops down the right before collapsing in a heap on the floor… He’s done his hammy and is yelping in pain.. I’ve used all my substitutes, so I put Rattanak on the right wing, even though he is ‘inneffectual’ there. The Crown smell blood and the shots fly in on our goal, but our defence holds firm. They throw their bodies in the way of the ball and are like terriers in the tackle. It’s late in the game, but we have the ball. Rattanak and Taboula combine and yet another through ball sends the young Nigerian galloping into the box. He cooly takes the ball round the keeper and slots it into the empty net with the defender lying in his wake. Brilliance from the youngster! The EDC fans go into raptures at the far end. The league leaders are not finished yet though. The ball is played up to Debeiro, but Khemarin takes him out, Surely a red card for the veteran defender.. “The referee keeps his cards in his pocket on this occasion” Crown are protesting but the ref waves play on. Chea Samnang picks up the ball and it is his turn to slip in Taboula who slides the ball confidently under the keeper for a brilliant second half hat-trick. Magnificent! What a performance! We have put a spanner in the works of Phnom Penh Crown’s title bid and ourselves climb to 5^th! On our day we can beat anyone in this league!

Final Score: EDC 3-1 Phnom Penh Crown

Taboula 63, 92, 94              Debeiro 30

 

Match 22: EDC v Boeung Ket – Hun Sen Cup Quarter Final 01/08/23

There is all to play for as Cup fever threatens to disrupt Cambodia’s electricity supply once again!  Boeung Ket are in town, but it is us who are seeking revenge after being walloped by them 5-1. I stick with the same team except for Suhana coming in for the injured Oudom on the wing. Confidence is high after our demolotion of Phnom Penh Crown, Ket are a better side in my opinion despite their reported financial problems. The semi final will see us take on either Chllam Samuth or Chhma Kao, a very winnable route to the final..

Team: Som, Ratana, Daravon, Gbayoro, Teat Chandara, Vannak, Kakada, Rattanak, Pidor, Noron, Suhana

Match Action

We are absolutely dominating proceedings. Noron and Pidor link up smartly      and the young winger has his shot saved low down. Ket have not been in our half. Our dominance gets its rewards when left back, Teat Chandara picks up the ball in space and delivers a peach of cross for Mat Noron to connect and divert the ball home. The type of cross players like Noron thrive on!

Suhana danced down the right and Noron flashes a header into the keeper’s arms. A breakaway almost leads to Omakafe equalising but Som blocks the Nigerian’s shot with his feet when through on goal.

The goal number 2. Pidor and Sin Kakada combine. The midfielder flights a lovely ball into the box for the onrushing Noron to place the ball past the keeper on the half volley. Lovely goal! 2-0 half time lead. Electrifying stuff from the EDC!!

Into the second half, surely Boeung Ket can’t be as bad as in the first half. We have been magnificent so far. Mat Noron fizzes a shot wide from a Ratana cross.

Ket finally wake up. The dangerous Sotavithen gets down the left and his cross is met by the head of Omakafe saved by Som. Then from a corner the goalkeeper tips the ball over the bar.

We respond well. Noron has a dipping shot tipped over the bar after some brilliant breakaway play from sub Mat Dara and Pidor. We re-assert our dominance and see it through to the end brilliantly. Onto the semis we go and we can almost taste it!

Final Score: EDC 2-0 Boeung Ket

Noron 12,37

Match 23: Angkor Tiger v EDC

The curse of the C-League Champions has struck Angkor Tiger who lie in 6^th place, one below us in 5th. They still have a good side though, with the familiar face of Sung Rot in their team, along with former Nagaworld striker, Kawabata who can cause us problems too. I’m trying to maintain consistency in selection where possible and so go in with the same team which so comprehensively despatched Boeung Ket from the Hun Sen Cup.

Team: 4-2-3-1: Som, Ratana, Daravon, Gbayoro, Teat Chandara, Vannak, Kakada, Rattanak, Pidor, Noron, Suhana

Match Action

Angkor Tiger mean business here and they dominate the opening twenty, but have little to show for it. We seem a bit buried in our own half, with Noron isolated up front. We spring to life and a lovely switch of play from Pidor lets in Sos Suhana, whose stinging shot thunders against the crossbar. They have a goal disallowed when Okereke pokes the ball home, but is just offside. Nil all at the break but they have been the far better side.

We start brightly. Rattanak plays the ball through to Pidor, but his low shot is tipped round the post. They have a breakaway which results in Som tipping the ball wide after the most ridiculous throw in from Suhana which hit the head of the defender. How this is still 0-0 I’m not sure.

Then from a random free kick the ball is flicked on at the near post and Polroth nips in to divert the ball past Som for to be honest a deserved goal.

We rouse ourselves and play a more direct game. This almost pays off as the ball is played to the onrushing Taboula who finishes with aplomb for an undeserved equaliser.. which is ruled out for offside. We didn’t deserve it anyway and we are now only playing for pride in the league.

Final Score: Angkor Tiger 1-0 EDC

                          Polroth 86

While just playing for pride in the league, EDC march on to the semis of The Hun Sen Cup. Is this the beginning of something special for our friends electric, or will it result in another epic failure? Find out next time on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game!

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2 hours ago, oche balboa said:

Loving this story. Good to see the depth to this as well. Loads to learn about Cambodia league as well 

 

KUTGW!!!

Thankyou oche. Glad you are enjoying it 

[The Ultimate World Football Manager Save]

Part 42. Green Shoots

 

 This is a season of transition, but after predicting a long campaign of struggle, we have in flashes shown signs of being a really good football team. The addition of Gbayoro, the poor man's Sol Campbell has made our defence far more solid and we have played with a deep defensive line which has meant that our defence has rarely been outpaced by runners in behind, except for those Miroslav Klose bug goals of which I can do nothing about. Pidor has shown he can be a replacement for Veasna on the wing, Noron has looked a threat up front. Halfway through the season and it’s pretty clear the league title is beyond us and mid-table mediocrity awaits us this season. Our aims for the rest of the campaign now are to try and win the Hun Sen Cup, finish as high in the league as we can and build for next season.

Hun Sen Cup Quarter Final Draw

So we were 'uddled round t’wireless t’farnd oot oo we were playin’ in t’quarter farnals o’ ‘un Sen Cup and we was none t’wiser cos it gev us three teams oo stil ‘ad t’catch up wi’ us in tournament. Turns art it’ll be either University Life, Post Tel or Boeung Ket. Probly Boeung Ket cos’ theyre best team like..

Translation: We listened to the radio to find out who we were playing in the Quarter Finals of The Hun Sen Cup, but we drew three teams, as they still had to play in the previous round. It will either be University Life, Post Tel or Boeung Ket, which is most likely to be the latter because they are the best team.

I miss my Yorkshire home!

Match 16 – EDC v Solitio Angkor 24/06/23

Our opponents lie in 13^th place and the young upstarts have failed to impress this year. Amongst their ranks is ex- EDC midfeilder Ouch Udom and a last remaining lost Brazilian Marcio Marques leading the line. New signings Som and Kakada Sim start as we line up in a 4-4-2. Nhem is preferred to the out of sorts Taboula up front after impressing in training.

Team: Som, Sambath Daravon, Gbayoro, Teat Chandara, Kakada Sim, Rattanak, Oudom, Nhem, Noron, Pidor

Match Action

We hit the ground running here and surge forward, we mean business. A slick move sees Kakada Sim, with his first touch sprays the ball wide for Oudom. He plays it inside to Matty Noron who exchanges passes with Rattanak before sliding in Oudom in behind on the right edge of the area. His cross deflects to the onrushing Nhem who slots home from 6 yards for the youngster’s first senior goal!

The Brazilian, Marques looks dangerous up front and he almost equalises but scuffs his shot wide when through on goal. A let off for EDC!

Noron nearly adds a second on the stroke of half time when he acrobatically volleys a Rattanak cross just over the bar. 1-0 at the break.

In the second half we looked the most likely to get a second, but were only one random free-kick or Miroslav Klose bug away from conceding an equaliser, which would pretty much sum up our season. Noron scores but is flagged offside again, Oudom has an effort cleared off the line. At the other end a Marques header needs a sharp save from Som, who has looked solid on his debut in goal. Kakada’s clever reverse ball let in Nhem, but the youngster could only find the legs of the keeper. The ref blows for full time, a much needed win.

Final Score- EDC 1-0 Solitio Angkor

                       Nhem 3

Hun Sen Cup Quarter Final Opponents

As predicted we will take on Boeung Ket in the Quarter Finals of the Hun Sen Cup after they beat the students of University Life 2-1. I’m sure the students will have taken this defeat as a life lesson.. The tie will be played on Tuesday 1^st August 2023 and is highlighted in my calendar.

Match 17: Chllam Samuth v EDC

So it’s back round to the start of the fixtures with a trip to Chhlam Samuth. We caned them 4-1 on the opening day with a Matty Noron hat-trick, which promised so much for the season ahead. Now half a season on and we find ourselves marooned in 6^th, a full 15 points off the top of the table and in a tightly grouped pack in mid table. We just have to finish as high as we possibly can. Samuth are marooned in 12^th, the top relegation place and have a familiar face up front, Keo Udom who has scored 6 goals in 9 appearances as a lone striker (shows how much I know) We know how dangerous he can be. I go in with a 4-3-2-1. Midfielder, Chea Samnang replaces the unlucky Nhem  to make up a three in the centre of the park, with Noron as the lone striker.

Team: 4-3-2-1: Som, In Sambath, Daravon, Gbayoro, Teat Chandara, Kakada Sim, Samnang, Rattanak, Oudom, Noron, Pidor

Match Action

Unfortunately I missed the start due to call of nature…

Nen Borey tells me that Keo Udom is putting a show on here. He gets behind the defence forcing a good one on one save from Som. Then we score. The ball is worked inside from Oudom on the right and it lands at the feet of old Cobra Kai himself, Chea Samnang whose in his dojo 25 yards away from goal. He puts  a fierce drop kick on the ball and it nearly breaks the back of the net. 1-0.

I organise the defence so Daravon is tight marking my former charge and it seems to work. Samnang releases another thunderbolt which is tipped over the crossbar. Then he finds Noron who blasts it home but is ruled out for offside.

Then, from a random free kick, Ravy Sob heads home the equaliser off the underside of the bar. We respond well. Oudom crosses in low and Noron slides just wide. The same player intercepts the ball and his angled shot is tipped wide by the keeper.

Chea Samnang is having a stormer. He receives the ball from a Noron free-kick on the edge of the area and provides another contender for the C-League goal of the season as it blasts into the top bins from the corner of the penalty area. Amazing stuff! 2-1 EDC at the break.

In the second half we couldn’t get going although Noron had another goal chalked off for having his big toe offside. Keo Udom has been a constant thorn with his tireless running into channels, something I remember all too well. One such run resulted in him cutting into the area from the bye line and was felled by Daravon. Penalty! Up steps Rithy Ouk who sends Som the wrong way. It’s Desmond.

At the other end a ball into the box from In Sambath saw Noron try to get on the end of it. He was tripped as he tried to do so. Penalty EDC! Up steps man of the moment Chea Samnang who buries it into  the corner for his hat-trick and a 3-2 lead to EDC.

Then Udom goes after the ball on yet another greyhound like run and he keels over. This time he’s done his calf in and is stretchered off. I hope he is OK, but a little part of me is also delighted..

After the removal of their best player they offered little threat and we even had a couple of chances to extend our lead near the end. A good win which was harder than it should really of been.

Final Score: Chllam Samuth 2-3 EDC

                                    Sob, Ouk              Samnang (3)    

Match 18: EDC v Nagaworld

It’s the big one folks! The big, nasty casino come to our little corner of Phnom Penh and revenge is very much on our minds. We got humped 6-1 by them earlier in the season, but I am a man with a plan. I go with a 4-3-2-1, but I keep Rattanak and Samnang, two attack minded midfielders in to occupy their two holding players, with Kakada behind and a solid back 4. Unfortunately Daravon is suspended so Khemarin once more steps in. Ratana fills the right back berth with Teat Chanadara who has impressed me this season is retained at left back. Noron leads the line, with Sos Suhana and Tuy Oudom occupying the flanks…

News just in.. Our reserves have been humped 7-2 by Nagaworld’s reserves.. This doesn’t bode well..

Oh well, we have nothing to lose I will take the game to them and see what happens. Fingers crossed!

Team: Som, Ratana, Teat Chandara, Khemarin, Gbayoro, Kakada, Samnang, Rattanak, Suhana, Oudom, Noron

Match Action

Nagaworld start the stronger and an early attack forces a good save from Som. We look OK and start to knock the ball around in midfield as the creative forces combine to cause problems in the Nagaworld defence. One such mazy dribble from Rattanak ends up with Noron missing a great chance when he heads tamely into the keeper’s gloves from 6 yards out. We are up for this and controlling the game, but without creating a great deal. 0-0 at the break.

An early second half breakaway results in Rattanak having a pot shot at goal, but this is straight at the keeper. We are everywhere and first to every ball, we need to make this count!

Rattanak, who is covering every blade of grass picks up the ball and feeds Noron with his back to goal. He sprays a lovely ball out to Suhana on the left hand side. Suhana checks inside before flighting the ball into the path of the onrushing Noron who steers the ball on the volley first time into the net! Yeeesss!! This was a goal of sheer beauty and no less than what we deserved! 1-0 to the EDC!

The goal wakes up the big ugly casino and they exert a spell of pressure. A quick attack sees their left winger force a good save from Som. We look dangerous on the break though as Rattanak and Noron look a threat running towards their goal.

Nagaworld won’t go away though. Sun Dara forces a good save from Som and then from the resulting corner Ratana hacks the ball off the line. At the other end Noron forces a flying save from their keeper after a bullet-like shot heading straight into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Substitute Pidor, who has looked lively since he came on feeds Noron, who runs into the box. His attempted finish was saved but the rebound falls to Sos Suhana on the angle who trickled the ball onto the post.

Nagaworld have run out of ideas. Our ability to retain possession has frustrated the living daylights out of them and we have been magnificent today from 1 to 11. We really deserve this win. The final whistle goes and Rudd punches the air with delight. Nagaworld have been shocked at the EDC stadium, which has de-railed their title challenge. As for us, our third straight win and up the table we go to 5^th, now 12 points off the top. Could we have hit form just at the right time?

Final Score: EDC 1-0 Nagaworld

                          Noron

 

Three straight wins and revenge on the big ugly casino has restored some optimism again amongst fans at EDC. Can they continue their good form and put a spanner in the works of the title challengers? Find out next time on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game!

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Part 41. No Man's Land

 

After a mixed set of results against the 'big boys' in the C-League, we then contrived to do a pre-Klopp Liverpool by dropping points against the so-called weaker teams which has derailed our title challenge early for another year. At the top, Nagaworld and Phnom Penh Crown are battling it out, while we are stuck further down the pecking order in 6th place. While we have too much about us to be relegated, we don't have the consistency to put together a run of results which will threaten the top two, who are fourteen points ahead. A year of transition this has turned out to be, but if we can add consistency to our game, then we could be a force to reckon with in Cambodian football.

Match 12 – Vishaka v EDC

Vishaka are bottom of the table with just three points all season.. how the mighty have fallen especially since the North Koreans departed. They are though a team full of talented kids, who perhaps have not reached their potential and so could be dangerous opponents. We line up in a 4-4-2, with somewhat of a defensive crisis, with Daravon and Gboyoro both suspended and Ratana on International duty with Cambodia. Thereofore Khemarin and Um Makara are thrown together in central defence.

Team: Kong Rafat, Ivanoldo, Teat Chandara, Khemarin, Makara, Vannak, Rattanak, Oudom, Taboula, Noron, Pidor

Match Action

We are quick out the blocks and Tuy Oudom is like a greyhound down the right hand side. He makes several runs down the right wing, but only amounts to a header over the bar. Rattanak sends Taboula clear but his shot is saved.

Then Oudom does one of his familiar surges down the right, before delivering a peach of a cross for Pidor to nod home his second in two games at the far post, Brilliant!

We have a few more chances including a Noron strike which is disallowed for offside. Then out of nowehere they cross the ball in and Taing Ravy beats Rafat to the ball to nod home an undeserved equaliser.

Pelap Taboula has been snatching at chances, but his approach play has been superb. He cleverly flicks the ball on before running onto the ball himself, before laying off to Pidor, whose cross found the head of Mat Noron. He could only head against the keeper’s outstretched arm, but pounces on the rebound to tap home for 2-1.

Unfortunately Oudom who has been the best player on the park picks up a knock, so Suhana replaces him.

Vishaka start brightly in the second half, but I feel we are in control. That was until Ben Mony sprinted through the midfield before releasing Lay Noron to equalise on the counter attack.

 

We finish stronger. Suhana crosses but Noron can only head into the keeper’s gloves, Suhana then has a gilt edged chance himself to win it but he scuffs his shot from inside the six yard box. Final Score Desmond 2-2, but we deserved to win this game. Had Oudom been able to stay on the pitch we would have won hands down.

Final Score: Vishaka 2-2 EDC  

 

 Ravy  29                                                     Pidor 10

 Noron  47                                                  Noron 39

 

Match 13: Prek Pra v EDC – Hun Sen Cup 1^st Round 13/06/23

I am taking the cup seriously this year as it is most definitely our best chance of silverware this season and so I will send a strong team to Prek Pra, with revenge on my mind also after our stupid defeat in the league a few games ago.

I start with a 4-4-2. Chainuth replaces Kong Rafat in goal, In Sambath starts at right back and youngster Samnang Nhem makes his debut up front, partnering Mat Noron

Team: 4-4-2 Chainuth, In Sambath, Daravon, Gbayoro, Teat Chandara, Vannak, Rattanak, Suhana, Nhem, Noron, Pidor

Match Action

We start brightly and Rattanak has an early shot straight at the keeper from the edge of the box. We look up for this.. Rattanak sprays the ball out to Teat Chandara on the left. His cross deflected to Pidor who hit a fierce shot from the angle which was parried by the keeper straight into the path of Poacher Noron who taps home. 1-0.

We are like a dog with a bone today. Our opponents have not set foot in our half yet. Another attack sees right back In Sambath switch the play to Sos Suhana who has popped up on the left hand side. His drilled cross is sidefooted into the defender by the youngster, Nhem. The ball rickashays off Noron and trickles into the back of the net. He didn’t know much about that one, but they all count.

The attacks keep coming. A mix up in their defence allows Noron to have a free shot on goal, but the keeper just recovered in time. Sos Suhana had a fierce shot well saved and a flowing move through midfield that Brazil would have been proud of resulted in Noron fizzing a shot which was tipped over the bar. 2-0 is always a dodgy lead and as we wasted chance after chance I knew there would be a payback. It came from that familiar source of the ‘Miroslav Klose’ bug. Ball whacked down field sending striker through on goal, with defence no chance of catching him, Suhana Ouch did the rest… 2-1 and now they think they can get back into the game. Now the random free kicks start, surely not after the fantastic performance we have put in so far.. Thankfully our defence holds firm, despite them throwing three forwards on at the end and us finishing the match with five at the back. We march into the Quarter Finals of the Hun Sen Cup… The Electricity Company is starting to get cup fever once again!

Final Score: Prek Pra 1-2 EDC

Suhana Ouch 71                                           Noron 2,14

Match 14: EDC v Wat Phnom

Newly promoted Wat Phnom are famous only for turning us over in pre-season a year or so back. They have struggled a little in the ‘big time’ this season and sit in 9^th place, just above the relegation places. We are looking to get our league form back on track and at least finish once more in the top 5 to add some respectibility to the season. While I feel we are too good to go down, we also should be closer to the top positions in the league, but we are a team in transition, something which often brings with it, inconsistency. We go in with a 4-4-2/3 and I say that because Pidor plays in a more advanced left wing role, which almost makes a three up front. Ratana returns after International duty.

Team; Chainuth, Ivonaldo, Daravon, Gbayoro, Ratana, Kakada, Rattanak, Oudom, Pidor, Taboula, Noron

Match Action

A fast start from both teams. Kakada sprays the ball out to their right winger who crosses the ball in.. Daravon trips his man as they both go for the ball in the area. Penalty. Sinoun Touch dispaches it emphatically. Not the start I had planned.

We fight back, dominating possession but create little. Momentum was slowly building though and Gbayoro volleys the ball forward and Noron flicks the ball on to the onrushing Taboula inside the penalty area. He slides it home for only his second goal of the season. The Nigerian looks sharp and is unlucky to be caught offside as he buried the ball home soon after.

Into the second half and we are in control of the game. We just need to score, but the final ball keeps letting us down. There’s no end product. We force a lot of corners but they are all cleared. Oudom does get a decent cross in but Noron heads horrendously wide. Then on 86 minutes they win a free kick out of nowhere. A header from them is parried by Chainuth, but only into the path of Um Samnang who whacks it into the empty net… Joke.. flippin’ joke..

We fly forward looking for the equaliser. I even throw on Chanraksmy to try and roll back the years, but it was to no avail. We deserved at least a point today, but leave with none. We slip to 8^th with only 15 points. Nagaworld have 33, we are just playing for pride now, marooned in no man’s land..

Final Score: Wat Phnom 2-1 EDC

Sinoun 9 (pen)                     Taboula 35

Samnang 82

Mid-Transfer Window Comings & Goings

The Cambodian season runs from March to October, yet the 'mid season' transfer window kicks in round about my birthday on 13th May, which to me seems a little early, as it is not the halfway point of the season. Secondly the last thing I really want while celebrating the day I entered the world are Nagaworld trying to tempt one of my star players into their clutches... 

Ins

Sokundara Som – Free Transfer

I have signed Som from Build Bright United and he will be my new first choice keeper. While Kong Rafat won acclaim for an excellent season last year, his form has dropped off a bit of late and so I wanted to take him out of the spotlight. Som brings experience to the squad as well and a reliable pair of hands between the sticks.

Sok Panha- Free Transfer

I’ve signed this young, promising defender who will join us at the end of the season.

Sin Kakada free transfer from Wat Phnom

 

Our defensive midfield needs a bit of energy and someone who could both tackle and pass the ball well, so I snapped up this guy from Wat Phnom. He impressed me when we played them recently and will add both steel and creativity to the centre of the field.

 

Players Out

Leap Bo Leaves EDC

Leap Bo has joined Second Division outfit, Posenchy on a free transfer. Although not a disaster I am slightly disappointed as I thought he had some potential. Anyway we are fairly well stocked in defensive midfield.

Taing Hai Free Transfer to Posenchy

Young winger/striker, Taing Hai has joined Leap Bo at Posenchy. He did well in my U21s but never threatened to break into the first team.

In summary we have made three good signings and have escaped a serious exodus of players, so I was happy when the transfer window slammed shut until Christmas time. Now to fully concentrate on the football!

A season of mediocrity may be in the offing for EDC, but as we all know, football's a funny old game and they still have time to put a run of results together in order to get up towards the top of the table. Whatsmore they play all the top teams again soon and are in the Quarter Finals of the Hun Sen Cup, Find out what happens next time on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game!

       

[BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT]

Great to see you doing a story mate. I also started playing FM in the 01/02 season and think it's a fun concept signing all these wonderkids that we know with the benefit of hindsight will become world class players! 

[The Ultimate World Football Manager Save]

Part 40 - 1st Anniversary Message

I just wanted to say a big thankyou to everybody who has read the Ultimate World Football Manager game over the past year. While the UK was still in lockdown on 16th February 2021 I took the first tentative steps of publishing my first post, explaining how the Ultimate World Football Manager works with the random country generator and letter wheel, which led me to manage Electricitie du Cambodge or EDC in the Kingdom of Cambodia. I then got told off by neilhoskins77 for posting a link to the blog version.. oops! Should have read the forum rules! 

Over the past year we have been to a cup final, blown the title Newcastle-style, been cursed by monks and had players walk out the door to join rival clubs. We have visited floating villages, big casinos and stopped by the police to rub in a 3-1 defeat. All in all it has been a fun journey in this small, friendly part of South East Asia.

On these forums and the blog version of this story, I have readers from across the globe, from Canada to Australia and even exotic places like Mozambique, Thailand and Argentina. I even have a reader who lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia who has been a great help in telling me about the country's footballing culture and information on the C-League and its clubs. There are also many readers from here in Blighty and all across Europe too. I have recently launched this story on Reddit and it has just exploded! Thanks to all for clicking on this post!

Thankyou all wherever you are from on this pale blue dot in the universe and let's see what the next year brings on The Ultimate Football Manager Game! Up the EDC!

 

[The Ultimate World Football Manager Save]

Thanks Neil,

I was thinking of Kyrgyzstan, not just because it would be a great scrabble score, but because I thought nobody must ever have done an FM game there, unless you are from that country or you! Unfortunately I only have the top league of 8 teams and then one regional league below it of about 6 teams. The quality of the editor file was not that great i'm afraid, so for now I will stay in Cambodia, at least until the end of the current season unless the FM gods have other ideas.. or I believe this young team could go on and win the C-League at some point..

[The Ultimate World Football Manager Save]

On 02/02/2022 at 02:28, phnompenhandy said:

You're far wiser than you realise - Whereas nearly all the clubs you play are in the capital, Phnom Penh, Mondulkiri is a remote province where a lot of illegal cutting trees and destroying the rainforest takes place.

Back in Phnom Penh, Nagaworld casino is at the centre of a major controversy after sacking most of their staff (probably including most of their footballers). Keep up your hate campaign against them - they are a loathsome company.

Thanks Andy My tree reference was purely a co-incidence! Nagaworld has always sounded like somewhere you would take your ex on a one way ticket. Hope the casino workers and players find alternative employment. 

[The Ultimate World Football Manager Save]

Part 39- The Killer Instinct.. of a Sheep..

 

We've done the hard yards and even gained some bonus points against Boeung Ket and Angkor Tiger and we are through to the next round of the Cup. Now to take on the so-called 'weaker' teams in the C-League, you know the ones we really should beat if we are to in any way challenge for the C-League Title, the newly promoted sides,like Modul Kiri, the fading forces like Vishaka and the general other makeweights. We have shown in flashes that we can mix it with the big teams, but now we have to win those matches in which we are the favourites and make hay while the sun shines. Can we handle the pressure?

Match 8: Chamao Khmao v EDC

Back to the bread and butter of the league and we play the team just below us in 5^th. This is a winnable game though and confidence is growing in my young team. The big guns return after being rested for the cup match. EDC defector, Raymond Etim lines up in midfield for them alongside Yun Raksa who had a loan spell a couple of seasons back.

Team: Kong Rafat, Ivonaldo, Daravon, Gbayoro, Ratana, Leap Bo, Samnang, Rottanak, Dara, Suhana, Noron

Match Action

It’s even Steven in the opening exchanges. Rattanak has a stinging shot tipped over but that’s about it. We were rubbish they had a Miroslav Klose bug manouvre well saved by Kong Rafat. They dominated the latter part of the half. 0-0 at the break.

We revert to a 4-4-2 and I put Taboula on up front for Chea Samnang. Then, from seemingly nowehere their left winger crosses in for Borey who sweeps home, but is also miles offside, even Stevie Wonder could have seen this one. I fully expect the offside flag to go up and it to be ruled out.. but no… play on… goal stands. WTF??

I demand more from my players and they respond, but still no clear cut chances are created, with shots blocked, crosses charged down and annoying throw ins to them frequent. I throw on young Soun Bath and young Touch Van, the right winger who had impressed in the cup game for Dara and the surprisingly ineffective Noron.

Rattanak picks up the ball and runs at the heart of the Khmao defence. He finds Leap Bo who passes it on to the full back Ouk Ratana. He creates half a yard before sending the perfect low cross to the back post where young Bath was there to poke home his first league goal 1-1.

We hunted for a winner and attacked with malice. A Vannak cross was met by the powerful head of Taboula, but was tipped over by the keeper. Then we nearly press self-destruct and but for a last ditch tackle by Gboyoro could have easily lost the game. The Ivorian injured himself in the process. Moments later Leap Bo received a second yellow card, meaning by the end of the game we only had nine players on the pitch. I’ll take the draw. We move up to 4^th, 6 points off the top.

Final Score: Chmao Khmao 1-1 EDC

Borey 52                                       Sam Bath 85

Match 9: EDC v Mondul Kiri 20/05/23

We take on newly promoted Mondul Kiri in fairly confident mood. Little is known about this lot, other they sit in 9^th, so they are holding their own in the C-League, without pulling up too many trees. According to our scout they are a poor team who like to ‘park the bus.’ I am confident of victory and so we go with the more attacking 4-4-2. Gyaboro is injured, Leap Bo is suspended alongside Ratana. Khemarin, Teat Chandara and Vannak come in. Taboula starts alongside Mat Noron up front and Tuy Oudom returns on the right wing after an injury lay off.

Team: 4-4-2: Kong Rafat, Ivanoldo, Daravon, Khemarin, Teat Chandara, Vannak, Rottanak, Suhana, Oudom, Taboula, Noron

Match Action

Already the pattern has been set, as we dominate the opening exchanges. Taboula and Rattanak combine to force a save from the keeper in the opening minute. Then, from an innocuos looking corner by us, there was an infringemt the box, leading to a penalty. Noron did the rest, sliding it under the keeper’s body who rather did a Sydney harbour bridge over the ball, but tbey all count. 1-0.

We have so much pace in this team!  Oudom is like speedy Gonzalez on the right and his pinpoint cross was met by the head of Noron, but was acrobatically saved by the keeper.

We are creating so many chances it’s almost getting embarrassing. This time Taboula got down the left before crossing for Noron whose volley was well saved once again. We need a second for security as we are only one Miroslav Klose bug goal away from an equaliser..

Into the second half and the game followed a similar pattern, but once again we were wasteful in front of goal. Noron had another shot saved, Suhana shot wide when it was easier to score, Taboula had countless headers over the bar. Noron had a goal disallowed in stoppage time. The 1-0 win was somewhat of an anti-climax. This game was like if England were playing San Marino in a World Cup Qualifier and they completely dominate the game from start to finish, in the way they always do against such opposition. By the end of the game they only won 1-0, with only a Harry Kane penalty to show for it. Questions would be asked as to why they did not manage to score more against a very poor team who barely ventured out of their own half. Three points is three points though and we move up to third.

Final Score: EDC 1-0 Mondul Kiri

Noron 12 (pen)

The Transfer Window Opens Once More

Just two days after my birthday, the transfer feeding frenzy opens once more providing fun and frolics for everyone.. Already offers have come in for Noron from 2^nd Division outfit CMAC and Nagaworld have continued their relentless campaign to tempt young Ratana away from EDC. If we can survive the window with most of our squad in tact, we will have done well..

EDC Sign Pidor

Young winger, Sok Ouen Pidor joins the ranks at EDC. He can play on either flank or in the middle as a number 10, so is an interesting addition to the squad and at just 19 has plenty of room for improvement.

Nen Borey has Continental C Coaching Badge

My assistant manager and faithful friend, Nen Borey has now got his Continental C License certificate. Well done mate you are now more qualified than me!

Match 10: EDC v Prek Patra 28/05/23

Like our last opponents Prek Patra are newly promoted and lie in 7^th which means they are doing better than expected. Apparently they play a tika taka style of football, although not many of their players resemble Xavi, Iniesta and co to be honest.. They have a decent striker,  Sok Phal Udom who will need to be watched, but otherwise I am confident of victory as my confidence in my young charges grows by the game.

I go with an attacking 4-4-2. Ratana comes in a left back while Khemarin retains his place as Anderson Gbayoro is only fit enough for the bench.

Team: Kong Rafat, Ivanoldo, Daravon, Khemarin, Ratana, Vannak, Rattanak, Oudom, Noron, Taboula, Suhana

Match Action

We start brightly and Noron has an early shot saved. They show nothing until the clock ticks on and they get a random free kick on the edge of the area. Where this came from, nobody knows, was it a bad foul, was it a dive, was it handbags at 20 paces, did Daravon fart at the wrong time..who knows?.. it’s a mystery, but the result was devastating as Soy Ratana belted it into roof of the net. Bugger!

Rattanak is dominating the midfield and his fierce shot is tipped over by the keeper. The attacking midfielder’s burst of pace, almost Gascoigne-like takes him past two before delivering a fine cross but Taboula’s shot is again well saved. This kind of play is repeated often. Tuy Oudom gets away down the right but the cross is blocked, deflects clear. Taboula can’t hit a cow’s backside with a banjo this season. Rottanak despite his brilliant approach play misses a sitter from inside the penalty area, rolling the ball wide when it was easier to score. To their credit our opponents looked useful on the break and had one or two opportunities themselves, but they really did not deserve to win this game. Three points slip through our fingers against opponents we really should be putting away easily.. In the last few games our team have shown all the killer instinct of a sheep. Baaa!!

Final Score: EDC 0-1 Prek Patra

                                                Ratana 16

Match 11- Khmera Keila v EDC

We meet the biggest upstarts in the C-League, Khmera Keila, but things have not quite gone to plan this season for this ambitious team. They lie in 7^th but play a strange narrow diamond formation in midfield. This includes a familiar name, Suon Veasna who seems to be playing in some kind of deep lying playmaker role. My response will be to play with two wingers but revert back to a 4-2-3-1 which served us fairly well this season.  I’ve made a few changes, Pidor makes his first start on the left flank, while Chea Sambath slots into a central midfield three which alongside Rattanak aims to provide service to Noron up front.

Team: 4-2-3-1 Rafat, Ivonaldo, Teat Chandara, Daravon, Gbayoro, Vannak, Sambath, Rattanak, Pidor, Oudom, Noron

Match Action

We kick off and have decent posession in midfield but nothing much more. Then out of nowhere they get..yes you’ve guessed it a free-kick. This is taken quickly and catches Daravon unawares as their striker cleverly moves goal side and slots it past Kong Rafat at his near post. A really bad goal to concede after just nine minutes. Our response though is fantastic. Samnang is like a dog with a bone in midfield and he runs at the Khmera defence. His smart cross finds Noron whose shot deflects wide. Then a sumptuous through ball from the same player sends him clean through on goal but his finish is well saved ..again..

Then the equaliser. Noron’s short free-kick finds Pom Vannak who plays it back to Teat Chandara on the halfway line. His brilliant flighted ball into the box is met with a crisp volley from Pidor for his first EDC goal. Brilliant!

Soon after though Bunheing sprints down the right on the breakaway and squares it for Ravy whose shot could only be palmed over the line by Kong Rafat, who really should have done better with both the goals. 2-1 down at half time in an evenly matched contest.

In the second half I reverted to a 4-4-2 in search of an equaliser. Taboula partnered Noron up front. The impressive Pidor switched to the right. The problem with this was by leaving only two in midfield, which gave Suon Veasna too much space to pull the strings in midfield. I went to 4-3-3 and very attacking. This almost reaped rewards. A breakaway was on, Rattanak released Taboula down the left. His low cross found Pidor in acres of space, onside and only the keeper to beat…… and he miscontrolled the ball and the keeper dived on it gratefully. It’s not our day….again… We deserved better…again.. Baaaaa!!

Final Score: Khmera Keila 2-1 EDC

Dara 10                                                      Pidor 30

Rany 36

 

The C-League Table After 10 Games

We lie in 6^th place, but a yawning 14 points off the top and just five off the relegation zone. It is clearly a season of transition for us and so midtable mediocrity looks a distinct possibility..

1^st Nagaworld 28

2^nd Phnom Penh Crown 26

3^rd Boeug Ket 21

4^th Angkor Tiger 16

5^th Khmera 15

6^th EDC 14

7^th Prek Pra 13

8^th Chmma Khmao 12

9^th National Police 11

10^th Wat Phnom 11

11^th Chhlam Samuth 9

12^th Mondul Kiri 9

13th Vishaka 5

 

After a season which promised something, a lack of killer instinct in front of goal has seen EDC reduced to mid-table makeweights in the C-League this term. However, with only ten league matches played there is still time for our friends electric to turn things around and make a late run for glory.. and they are still in the cup! Find out what happens next on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game! 

 

 

 

 

 

[The Ultimate World Football Manager Save]

Part 38. Doing The Hard Yards

6 flippin 1... as I closed my eyes to try and sleep, that is all I could see in my dreams, 6 to the casino, 1 to the Electricity Company...  Brides 6 Bridesmaids 1, Men 6 Boys 1 Was it the formation? Going in 4-3-3 was a risk, the boys weren't quite used to playing in this formation yet, despite our best efforts in training. The normally reliable Daravon looked all at sea against the pacy Nagaworld strikers, Leap Bo and Vannak, young, enthusiastic, but inexperienced in trying to control a midfield, while young Suon Bath looked lost, up front in the inside left position, Noron isolated and Taboula once again flattered to deceive. Then Chea Sambath, our resident Bruce Lee, don't get me started on him! I scoured the Available jobs list and wondered, what would it be like to venture into Thailand, Malaysia or India? On the other hand I did not want to let the big, ugly casino win. I wanted to galvanise the team and go again, starting with a home game against Boeung Ket.

Difficult Run of Fixtures

 It's fair to say the  Cambodian fixture computer has not been overly kind to us. Our run of games sees us taking on the best teams in the C-League, one after the other, starting with the Boeung Ket game, then a trip to the unpredictable National Police, followed by a trip to Phnom Penh Crown, and finally hosting the champions, Angkor Tiger.  As Nen Borey pointed out though, on the plus side it gets all the hard teams out the way and then we play the 'easier' teams at the end which may be to our advantage come the end of the season.. Let's see how we get on!

Maol Daravon to Break EDC Appearance Record

My best central defender and vice captain. Maol Daravon will become EDC’s most capped player when he plays against Boeung Ket, where he will notch his 59^th appearance for the club.

Match 4: EDC V Boeung Ket 15/04/23

Our tough run of fixtures continues and after the last game, I’m parking the bus. I am also making several changes from the Nagaworld debacle. I am down in 9^th and a win here would put me in the top half potentially. Ket are in 7^thbut pose a big threat, especially with Omakafe up front. I just want us to compete today and make life difficult and then see what we can get on the break.

Team: 4-2-3-1 Kong Rafat, Ivonaldo, Daravon, Gbayoro, Teat Chandara, Leap Bo, Pom Vannak, Rattanak, Sos Suhana, Oudom, Taboula

Match Action

Despite our new rather cautious Mourinho-style cattenacio approach we surprisingly completely dominated the first half. We looked solid at the back and attacked with confidence. Leap Bo sent Sos Suhana down the left, whose cross was met by Taboula who nodded well over. The best chance of the half came when Rattanak picked up the ball and sent a delicious pass to the onrushing Taboula, whose shot was well saved. Good half lads let’s win it second half..

Into the second half. Ket have more of the possession, but our defence holds firm. After some neat interplay between the increasingly impressive Leap Bo and Sos Suhana it ends up with the latter just shooting wide from the edge of the box.

Then Teat Chandara surges forward from left back. He nearly loses the ball, but he recovers just in time to nick the ball past the defender. He lays it to Rattanak who exchanges passes with Leap Bo. Young Tuy Oudom has come in from the right wing. Rattanak lays it off to him. The youngster takes it forward before hammering the ball into to the top corner from 30 yards. Quite brilliant from the youngster who has started this season on fire.. 1-0.. Pick that one out!

We are suddenly playing with confidence and Ket are nowhere. The impressive Rattanak picks the ball up in midfield and finds sub Mat Noron who nicks It past his marker before placing a shot onto the foot of the post. How unlucky!

We are tired now. I put Ratana and Khemarin on for Chandara and Daravon and switch to a slow short passing game to conserve energy. Boeung Ket are attacking, Sub Khemarin hacks the ball clear, which falls beautifully into the path of Mat Noron who raced clear and cooly slotted home to wrap up the game for EDC. To put the icing on the cake, Sos Suhana scores direct from a free kick late on to round off a brilliant performance and a brilliant comeback after the Nagaworld game. Maybe this EDC team can play a bit after all!

Final Score: EDC 3-0 Boeung Ket

 Oudom 59

Noron 84

Suhana 89

 

 

Match 5: National Police v EDC

We visit everybody’s least favourite team with revenge on our minds after they turned us over 3-1 in this fixture last year just at a time where we could have made a smash and grab raid to steal the C-League title. After our excellent performance in the last game I am hoping for a repeat performance, but of late we have struggled to put a consistent run of results together. The Police have a chief striker Chem Chitra who destroyed us in the last game and so we will have to stop him if we are to succeed.

I make two changes with Ratana replacing Teat Chandara at left back and Noron in for Taboula as the lone striker.

Team: Kong Rafat, Ivonaldo, Daravon, Gbayoro, Ratana, Pom Vannak, Leap Bo, Rattanak, Oudom, Suhana, Noron

Match Action

We started the game brightly. Rattanak picked the ball up in midfield and fed Sos Suhana who cut in from the left and had his shot tipped over the bar. Then Pom Vannak flighted the ball to Noron whose stinging shot smacked the crossbar. How unlucky., the goal was still vibrating five minutes later..

We are camped in their half and dominating the game. Noron has another bullet header tipped over the bar. Oudom sprints down the right, but Rattanak’s volley goes way over the bar. Then the breakthrough came. From a throw in Oudom and Rattanak exchange passes. The young right winger sprints to the bye-line before floating in a pinpoint cross straight onto Noron’s head to nod home. 1-0 to the EDC.

In the second half and the Police are attacking more, but from a cleared corner, Sos Suhana picked up the ball and cut inside from the left wing. He lays it off to Min Rattanak who lets fly from 25 yards straight into the top corner! Take a bow son!

Then out of nowhere a free kick to them was floated to the far post where Meas Veasna nutted in a surprise goal back. Bummer!

It was tit for tat from then on as they hunted an equaliser and we counter attacked to try and get a third. Neither happened and it finished 2-1 to us. We move up to 3^rd…It's always nice to get one over the Rozzers!

Final Score: National Police 1-2 EDC

           Veasna    68                Noron 43, Rattanak 53

 

Match  6 – Phnom Penh Crown v EDC 29/04/23

The games are coming thick and fast and the fixture computer has given us all the stronger teams in a row. Having said that we have just dispatched two of them and lie 4th in the table, which has come as a surprise to many including myself. I am not changing the formation. Crown lie in 7^th and play 4-2-3-1 with the Nigerian, Debeiro leading the line. But we have Matty Noron! We make one change as on-loan Ivanoldo cannot play against his parent club, so In Sambath makes his competitive debut at right back.

Kong Rafat, Sambath, Daravon, Gbayoro, Ratana, Vannak, Leap Bo, Rattanak, Suhana, Oudom, Noron

Match Action

Crown start the strongest and have a fierce volley well saved by Kong Rafat in the opening few minutes. They are too readliy winning random free kicks for my liking.

We eventually have the ball in their half! Leap Bo flights a lovely ball to Tuy Oudom whose angled shot is well saved by the keeper.

Than from their random throw in Sam Rouhen gets to the bye-line and his teasing cross is met by the head of Khek Tola 1-0. Tuy Oudom had to go off injured and was replaced by Mat Dara.

Yet another free kick results in and Adekunjo powerfully headed home. Oh dear!

I change the tactics and it seems to result in us having more of the ball. We knock it around. Mat Noron comes deep and picks up the ball before dribbling past his man and into the penalty area and fouled. Penalty! The striker dusts himself down and buries it emphatically into the bottom corner. Game on!

I bring on Sam Bath at half time for the ineffective Suhana and play him in an odd left inside forward position to support Noron with sub Dara reverting to the right flank as an out and out winger. I’m hoping this may confuse the opposition in some way. They start the strongest and Tola’s fierce shot stung the palms of Kong Rafat.

Then the game just became end-to end with both sides attacking with verve and intent. I bring on Taboula and go to a 4-2-4. This has opened the game up, but I back my boys to get an equaliser. This nearly happens when Dara touches just wide after a lovely flighted ball from Bo. Crown have numerous shots on goal as they play fast, attacking football. We have less attempts. Sub Ly Ravy puts us out of our misery after turning home yet another cross for 3-1. Debeiro adds a fourth from the penalty spot We didn’t really deserve that. Wasn’t our day today..

Final Score: Phnom Penh Crown 4-1 EDC

 Tola 22                                               Noron 43 (pen)

 Adekunyo 39

Ravy 88

Debeiro 90                                                     

Match 7 EDC v Angkor Tiger 06/05/23

Jumping from the frying pan into the fire, we face the Champions, but which EDC will turn up today? Will it be the one that gets thrashed 6-1 and 4-1, or the one that turns over Boeung Ket 3-0?  We lie in 6^th place while our opponents are in 8^th. We make two changes with Ivonaldo back at right back and the in-form Sam Bath starting on the left, with Sos Suhana switching to the right after Tuy Oudom’s injury. Midfielder Um Makara starts on the bench after returning from injury.

Team: Kong Rafat, Ivanoldo, Daravon, Gbayoro, Ratana, Vannak, Bo, Rattanak, Bath, Suhana, Noron

Match Action

We start the brightest and after just five minutes we take the lead! Suhana’s cross was cleared only as far as Ivanaldo who lobs the ball straight into the penalty area. Suhana has cut in from the right and he flicks the ball on into the path of Rattanak whose first time half volley blasts into the top of the net. Great start!

We look right up for this and territorially are superior. Then from a random free-kick, Tiger have two headers brilliantly saved by Kong Rafat before the follow up effort hits the post. Could this be our day?

But moments later… from Mantornin’s corner, the ball is nutted in by Srin to make it one each.

In the second half we dominate the game, but cannot fashion a chance. Noron keeps being caught offside and Suhana keeps overhitting his crosses. Then a flippin Miroslav Klose bug goal means from nowhere Phanhasith is one on one with Rafat. He makes no mistake, confidently slipping the ball past the young goalkeeper for an undeserved 2-1 lead..

I revert to an attacking 4-4-2 with young Sam Bath and Taboula leading the line, Mat Dara on the left and Suhana on the right, with Rattanak pulling the strings in midfield. Dara has a free kick beaten away by their keeper and Taboula heads just wide.

Then Dara puts in a perfect low cross for the youngster Bath to slot home from 6 yards for his first ever goal for EDC … but is ruled out because Dara’s big toe was offside when he received the ball. This is not our day after all..

Mat Dara has been brilliant since his introduction and has run at his full back on every occasion. We have a player here. One such piece of brilliance sees him combine with Taboula before placing a beautiful slide rule pass for the onrushing Rattanak to take the ball into the penalty area and slot home a richly deserved equaliser. We hunted down a winner as we attacked with verve and creatiivity, but Taboula like Noron kept being caught offside which frustrated our efforts. It was end to end stuff until the final whistle, but a Desmond 2-2 was perhaps a fair result. Rest in Peace!

Final Score: EDC 2-2 Angkor Tiger

 Rattanak 6, 68            Srin 22 Phanasith 63

Match 8: EDC v Paillin Hun Sen Cup 2^nd Qualifying Round 09/05/23

I love a good cup tie and I really want to take the Hun Sen Cup seriously as it is the best chance of silverware we have. Having said that, I also want to give some minutes to some of my fringe and younger players too to keep the squad happy and give them a taste of first team action. Paillin lie in 4^th place of the Second Division Group B, but to look at their squad they barely have eleven men to put on the field. Somebody is doing a decent job there with next to no resources. On their team is a familiar face, midfielder, Nan Punlock who was at EDC in my first season and was a decent player for us. We line up in an attacking 4-4-2 with many changes from the draw with Angkor Tiger, a side hopefully good enough to get the job done.

Team: Chainuth, Hem Sokha, Run Sokha, Ratana, Teat Chandara, Makara, Samnang, Dara, Touch Vannak, Taboula, Sam Bath

Match Action

We are camped inside their half for the opening fifteen minutes, with the visitors putting ten men behind the ball. We have a couple of half chances but nothing major, Then finally we break the deadlock. Chea Samnang retrieved the ball in midfield before spraying a lovely ball to Touch Van on the right wing. His pinpoint cross found the head of Pelap Taboula, whose powerful header beat the keeper. 1-0.

Samnang and Touch Van exchanged passes before the youngster dashed into t he penalty area and sidefooted it in off the post for 2-0.

EDC old boy Nan Punlock scored a consolation with a remarkable 30 yard shot into the top corner, but young Soun Bath scored his first goal for EDC, latching onto a delicious through ball from sub Rattanak to round off a comfortable afternoon. Into the 1^st round proper we go!

Final Score: EDC 3-1 Paillin

 Taboula   16                Punlock 90

 Touch Van 31

 Sam Bath 90

A Bright Future

Granted, Paillin were hardly the toughest of opponents, but it was great to see my fringe and young players coming to the fore. Um Makara made his long awaited debut in midfield, which had been delayed due to injury and looked very accomplished. Touch Van on the right wing looked very good, while Sam Bath was a threat going forward and got himself on the scoresheet near the end. In defence, Ouk Ratana looked the part alongside Run Sokha. The future is bright for Electricitie Du Cambodge.

A mixed set of results against the better teams in Cambodia has propelled EDC into the top 5 once more and with the so-called 'weaker teams' to come, can  Electricite' du Cambodge finally mount a serious title challenge, or will their campaign lose its spark?

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Not getting the fascination with Touch Van here (or Van Touch).. The only thing I can think of is a terrible reality show that was on in the UK about 15 years ago called "Touch The Truck" His real name is Touch Vannak ( Vannak Touch) shortened to Touch Van because I have about 5 players in the squad with Vannak in their names... Thanks as ever for reading guys 

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37. Rome Wasn't Built In a Day

 

It's March 2023 and the beginning of my third full season with Electricite' du Cambodge and not only has our reputation within Cambodia increased, but so have energy prices, which makes us well not everyone's flavour of the month right now..

 The new C-League season is about to begin.. What's in store for our friends Electric this year? 

The Class of '23

Amidst the hurly burly of the transfer window I almost forgot about the new youth recruits in my Under 21 team. They are as follows. Look out for them, I may need some of them for first team duties as the season goes on.

Sob Vatannak  (GK)

Touch Vannak (MR)

Um Makara (DL/WBL)

Soun Sambath (ST)

Va Vannak (DMC)

Va Hai (DMC)

Nhem Samnang (ST)

Soeung Rithy (DR)

Pre Season Thoughts

I enter this season with great trepidation. We are a team in transition after the mass exodus which has left us shorn of our best players and a team who could realistically mount a serious title challenge. While we are not short of talent in our ranks, we do lack experience and there are some players who are unproven at this level. Having said that, we have (for now) managed to keep hold of Ratana, Taboula, Daravon, Khemarin and Chanraksmey, while also signing the highly promising creative midfielder, Min Rattanak. We also have some good youngsters at the club, Um Makara, Hem Sokha, Mat Dara and Suon Bath to name but a few.

 

The board want us to finish in the top half, which is doable If we play to our potential, beat the weaker teams in the division and compete against the stronger ones. I don’t see us mounting a title challenge this campaign, but you just never know.. We may do something in the cup and get to see the long serving Prime Minister again..

Nicknames

I have had to set nicknames on some of the players with repeated surnames in the squad to avoid confusion. These are mainly youth players as the more senior players have kept their original names. Therefore the following players will be known as the below:

Teat Chandara Sokha > Teat Chandara

Soun Sambath > Soun Bath

Chea Sambath > Chea Sam

Touch Vannak > Touch Van

Va Vannak > Vavanak

Sok Makara > Sok Mak

New Signings

In the last throes of the transfer window I managed to snap up a couple of freebies to add depth to the squad.

EDC Sign Pom Vannak

Another young player enters the EDC Youth club, this time DMC, Pom Vannak, who impressed on a trial and in the friendly matches he played in.

 

EDC Sign Pidor

Young winger, Sok Ouen Pidor joins the ranks at EDC. He can play on either flank or in the middle as a number 10, so is an interesting addition to the squad and at just 19 has plenty of room for improvement. He will join us in May at the start of the mid-season transfer window.

Match 1: EDC v Mekong Kampuchea University – Hun Sen Cup 1^st Qualifying Round  26/03/23

This really is a potential banana skin for EDC, but will provide an indication as to where this young transitional squad is at. We are at home, but they play a 3-5-2 formation which is something we have not come up against much. During my regime I may have chosen to put a few kids out for this one, but I want to put out my strongest side available in order to regain some confidence around the club, which are partly made up of just that – kids, especially in light of the exodus and international call-ups. I go in with a trusted 4-4-2 and fingers crossed we will come out on top.

Team: Kong Rafat, Sokha, Daravon, Khemarin, Ratana, Leap Bo, Samnang, Oudom, Dara, Taboula, Noron

Match Action

We start brightly and Taboula has a stinging shot tipped over the bar. At the other end, Leap Bo is booked for a professional foul. Then a Tuy Oudom run and cross sees the Nigerian have his header well saved. Taboula then set up Noron whose fizzing shot was saved. Taboula then played a cute reverse ball for the overlapping Dara who scuffed his shot wide.. Chainuth nearly gave the visitors a shock lead after a dangerous run and shot. Samnang did the same for us and had his shot well saved. How it is still 0-0 nobody knows. Ratana is sick of this, he goes on a mazy run from left back before unleashing a fearsome strike which is beaten away by the keeper. Half time 0-0, 12 shots of which 7 have been on target.

Start of second half.. Taboula shoots wide, Oudom has a shot well saved, Noron shoots wide… all in the first 5 minutes.. Oudom in again at the far post, shot saved falls to Noron.. deflects wide aargggh!!

We hit about 50 more shots, they are all saved, over the bar or wide.. Then at last, sub Sos Suhana flights a lovely ball to the onrushing Tuy Oudom who scores with a lovely finish into the corner.. relief at last.. ooohtuhgfunhgiodxjhgfuodhjdshfudfjdfdifjdjfidjifjdijfid DISALLOWED FOR OFFSIDE…Aaaarrrghhh!!

Oudom gets down the right squares it for Samnang in space in the six yard box……he screws it wide.. my mum could have scored that., this is getting embarassing.. The students hold on for 0-0 after ninety minutes.. 29 shots, 13 on target.. to us. No goals…

First period of extra time passes same nonsense, no goals, they have a few shots themselves, we used to have teams like this for breakfast. Second period of extra time and I am working out my 5 penalty takers in my head. Then.. Sos Suhana found Chanraksmey in the left channel. His low cross just evaded Taboula who had the composure to recover and lay it back to Tuy Oudom who struck the ball sweetly into the top corner..Yeeess get in we’ve finally scored.. amazing yeesss!

 

Hem Sokha the right back moves forward with the ball. He finds the impressive Oudom who flights a lovely cross onto the head of Chanraksmey. 2-0.. thank the flipping lord (or Buddha) 40 shots we had.. about as many as our opponents had during their freshers week… Rather like drunk and hungover students we stagger into Round 2 of the cup…

Final Score EDC 2-0 Mekong Kampuchea University (AET)

Oudom 115

Chanraksmey 116

Hun Sen Cup 2nd Qualifying Round Draw

 

The draw has been relatively kind to us (famous last words) as we potentially face more student opposition in the shape of the ‘Life University’ or I suppose as it should be known as The University of Life.. or fellow Second Division outfit, Pailin. We end up with Pailin after they sneaked past the students 2-1 after extra time.

Match 2- EDC v Chhlam Samuth 01/04/23

There’s something missing on the opening day of the season and that is we are at home, not away to Vishaka for a change.. Buoyed by our unconvincing win in the cup I make one change with Sos Suhana replacing Mat Dara on the left wing. I really want to win this because our run of fixtures are tough as we play Nagaworld,  Boeung Ket and the champions, Angkor Tiger in the next five games.

Team: Kong Rafat, Sokha, Daravon, Khemarin, Ratana, Leap Bo, Samnang, Oudom, Suhana, Taboula, Noron

Match Action

We have hit the ground running here! A slick move between Samnang and Taboula sends Sos Suhana clear in the penalty area, but he shoots wide. We keep the pressure on though. Midfielder, Chea Samnang sends a searching ball to the left flank where Suhana flights in a cross which evades Noron but is picked up by Tuy Udom. His cross is volleyed home by Mat Noron for a deserved lead.  Suhana has a free kick which stings the palms of the keeper, while a sweeping move from them forces a good save from Kong Rafat. Chea Samnang who is everywhere disposesses their midfielder, Yaty and finds Mat Noron who unleashes a screamer into the top bins for 2-0. Fantastic! Khemarin wins a header from their goal kick to the impressive Noron who plays a lovely through ball to the onrushing Taboula who finishes sweetly into the bottom corner. 3-0. Sidet pulls one back for Samuth with a near post header from a corner.

Into the second half and we carry on where we left off. A sweeping move from left to right engineered by the brilliant Samnang who sprayed a ball out to Oudom on the right. His low cross was smacked home first time by Noron to complete a brilliant opening day hat-trick. 

Final Score – EDC 4- 1 Chllam Samuth

Noron 4, 32, 53                 Sidet 40

Taboula 34

Math Fasal ‘excited’ ahead of Rudd reunion

“There is known to be mutual respect between the winger and manager Rudd after their 12 months working together after the EDC manager brought him to the club.”

Shows how little the Phnom Penh Gazette know….

Tweet from Sos Charady

Would be great if Jonathan Rudd came out and double-crossed Math Fasal like a good old wrestling turn.”

Now that’s more like it!

Match 3 Nagaworld v EDC 07/03/23

We come across our nemesis early in the season this time around, but having done the double over them last term I go into it with a bit more confidence. Having said that it is a different team and they now play with wing-backs, so I have gone to a 4-3-3. Young Soun Bath makes his full debut up front, along with young Pom Vannak in defensive midfield. We have made a decent start to the season and hopefully this form can continue and we can put a run of consistant results together.

Team: Kong Rafat, Sokha, Ratana, Daravon, Khemarin, Leap Bo, Vannak, Samnang, Taboula, Bath, Noron

Match Action

It was tit-for-tat in the opening exchanges. They have a goal disallowed for offside, young Soun Bath shot straight at the keeper after being sent clean through by Kong Rafat in a Miroslav Klose bug that we couldn’t capitalse on. Then they take the lead. Wing back Cheng Meng throws the ball in to the impressive Pisa who floats the ball into the area, where it is met by the head of Long Pheng. 1-0.

Then Chea Sambath does his best Eric Cantona impressions and kung fu kicks his opponent to the ground. A straight red card is shown and my new signing trudges off the field in disgrace. Then Leap Bo signals to the bench - he’s got a gammy knee. Things are all going a bit Pete Tong.. While I’m sorting all this out we miraculously equalise… Pom Vannak scores on his debut but unfortunately I didn’t see it..

Then.. just what we needed… A Miroslav Klose bug goall.. This time Long Pheng profits again, sliding the ball past Kong Rafat with no EDC defender in the same postcode… FFS!!

In the second half, the impressive Cheng Meng sprinted past Ratana before delivering the perfect ball for Man Ratana. His shot was parried by Kong Rafat, but only into the path of Touch Dara who whacked home the rebound. 3-1.

Dara and Long Pheng combined once more for the latter to complete his hat-trick.. We cannot get near this lot I’m afraid. I’m praying for the full time whistle now.

It’s too easy for Nagaworld now. Young Vannak dallies on the ball in midfield and Pisa leans into him to disposses the teenager before sprinting into the penalty area for 5-1.. F***adoodledoo

Not long after.. 6-1 I really hate this game……

Final Score: Nagaworld 6-1 EDC

Pheng 30, 30, 64, 84                  Vannak 39

Dara 57, Pisa 78

This was a dreadful result, not helped by the stupid sending off of Samnang, which killed a game in which we had started quite well in They were too good for us on the day and as I drove home back to my apartment I wondered whether it was time to move on and find another club possibly in Thailand, Bangladesh or Malaysia. I had a distinct feeling that I had taken this team as far as I could....

After a decent start to the season, EDC were given a shock by rivals, Nagaworld, outlining the gulf in class which has now opened up between the two sides. With the manager contemplating his future, can The Cambodian Electricity Company find their spark for the rest of the campaign, or does a season of struggle await? As the saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day..

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6 hours ago, BenArsenal said:

You're famous now, so the haters are coming for you. Hahaha. 

Yeah bet he's a Nagaworld fan...

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34 minutes ago, mark wilson27 said:

It looks like it has gone...If it happens again file a report and some of the other Mods who are on will be able to sort it possibly quicker than me mate

EDIT - Scrap what I've just put, noticed it has been sorted by another MOD after you reported it...

Thanks Mark appreciated. This is the first time this kind of thing has happened so wasnt sure what ti do, but know now. Thanks. 

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Who are you Kinimaru and why have you posted a link to another page on my story???? Is this spam? If so admins please remove. Thankyou.

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4 hours ago, BenArsenal said:

You're doing great Jon. A travel story like this is a lovely fantasy to indulge in during these pandemic times.

By the way I'm from Singapore, so not too far from Cambodia heh. Can't wait to see where this goes next.

Thanks Ben. I'll add Singapore to that list. Yes Singapore is an option for when I do decide to move on, along with Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, India, Viet Nam and Krygzstan. The latter just because I can. I'm thinking about making the journey end up back in Blighty (England)but that's a long way off yet and so many places to explore first....

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It's Boxing Day 2021 and exactly one year since I sat in my living room with just a laptop, a can of coke, some Christmas telly on in the background and Football Manager 2021. The leagues were loading and only fate would decide on where my footballing destiny lay. The letter wheel took me to the Asian Kingdom of Cambodia, somewhere I knew little about apart the obvious and certainly nothing in a footballing sense. The club I took over was even more mysterious, The Electricity company.. The 'British Gas' of Cambodia, Electricitie du Cambodge. In the past year sat on my sofa in West Yorkshire we have experienced a relegation battle, a Keegan-style meltdown, a domestic cup final and an exodus of players. The fact I have stayed at one club throughout the past year is testement to how I have enjoyed managing this little part time club and trying to beat the bigger teams and win the C-League title. 

The past year has also seen these posts win three awards on the Official Sports Interactive Football Manager forums, Story of The Year, Writer of the Year and Newcomer of the year. Thankyou to everyone who voted for me.

So I just wanted to say thankyou to all those people from right around the world for reading this Football Manager story. I have regular readers in the USA, Ireland, Portugal, The Netherlands the UK and even in Cambodia itself and am always fascinated with the different countries this blog is read in from around the world. 

So wherever you are on the planet, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.Up the EDC!

 

 

 

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3 hours ago, BenArsenal said:

Best of luck for the new season mate. 

Thanks Ben 

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6 hours ago, phnompenhandy said:

I reckon you'll do well this season - glad you stayed!

 

btw, CMAC aren't COAL miners - they defuse LANDMINES. Thousands left in the ground since the civil war days.

Thanks Andy appreciated.

I've amended CMAC. 

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8 hours ago, Mandy42 said:

Liking the optimism and eagerness to bed in the youngsters and new signings. But you didn't bring anyone in to replace the strikers who left. Do you see there being enough goals in the squad? 

Thankyou Mandy. Feel like I'm in a press conference lol. (Smiles warmly) Noron and Taboula are my main two strikers. Taboula got 13 goals last season and Noron's record for us and his previous club Boeung Ket are excellent, averaging a goal a game in the C-league. Sok Chanraksmey  is still there, but at 33 his stats are starting to go down, but could still do a job as a super sub. Beyond that we have some very exciting young strikers who I am keen to give playing time to, so no need to bring any more strikers in at this point in time.