Showing posts with label Sport. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sport. Show all posts
28 June, 2011
16 November, 2009
Cambodia triumphs in final
Kuoch Sokumpheak grabs a last-gasp winner to gain instant hero status in Saturday night’s BIDC Cup final against Vietnamese club Hoang Anh Gia LaiTHIRTY thousand Cambodian football fans rose as one Saturday night at Olympic Stadium as Cambodia’s talismanic striker Kuoch Sokumpheak sent his downward header into the net and restored the Cambodian U23’s lead with just three minutes of the BIDC Cup final remaining. It was nail-biting stuff as anxious spectators saw out those last few minutes, and a few more added on, before they could rise again to celebrate their country’s success in a euphoric conclusion to the weeklong tournament.
Cambodia head coach Scott O’Donell fielded a second-string lineup against V-League new boys Vissai Ninh Binh in their final BIDC Cup group match Thursday, which the Vietnamese ...
outfit won 1-0. However, the Australian tactician selected his strongest squad to face Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) – who are expected to challenge for the V-League’s top honours next season – and the match kicked off under floodlights in front of a massive crowd eager with anticipation.
They didn’t have to wait long before Cambodia registered their intent. With 12 minutes on the clock, Kuoch Sokumpheak split the HAGL defence with a perfect through ball to his striking partner Chan Chhaya. Taking the pass in his stride, Chhaya unleashed a fierce drive inside the near post, and Cambodia were in front.
Sokumpheak himself went close a couple of times before Cambodia forged further ahead. Khim Borey, playing in a deeper midfield role than normal, sent over an inch-perfect corner kick, and Chan Chhaya rose unchallenged in the 6-yard box to head home his second goal in the 36th minute. The home crowd was enthralled, and Mexican waves began in earnest.
HAGL came back strongly, and made it clear they weren’t ready to give up when their Brazilian hitman Rodrigo Toledo evaded two tackles to blast his shot against the underside of the cross bar. Toledo claimed the ball had crossed the line, but the referee waved away his appeals and blew for halftime.
With the introduction of Doan Van Sakda after the interval, HAGL upped the tempo and pressed from the restart. It was Sakda’s corner nine minutes later that fell to Le Van Truong on the edge of the area, and his unstoppable drive gave Samrith Seiha in the Cambodian goal no chance as it arrowed into the net.
Just four minutes later, Cambodia’s lead had disappeared. Defender Pheak Rady dwelt too long on the ball close to his goal and lost possession to Tran Minh Thien, who made him pay a heavy price with a neat finish inside the near post.
The match swung from end to end, with Samrith Seiha’s handling an important factor in keeping Cambodia in the hunt, as was a last-ditch redemption tackle from Pheak Rady. Sokumpheak and substitute Prak Monyoudom had chances at the other end, and with the final whistle looming, extra time looked a certainty. That was until Sokumpheak’s late intervention.
Lay Raksmey had replaced Pheak Rady in the 80th minute, and the substitute delivered a sublime cross to the far post, where Sokumpheak was all alone to direct a header into the corner of the net to cue wild celebrations on and off the pitch. It was a memorable finish to an exciting game that earned the Cambodian team US$20,000 in prize money from sponsors Bank for Investment and Development of Cambodia (BIDC), and also a new motorbike for each team member.
For coach O’Donell it was a fitting result. “I am very happy to win the tournament,” he remarked. “It’s great. Look at the crowd. Everyone is very happy, and it’s great for the Cambodian team to get some success on home soil. The fans have been excellent in the way they’ve supported the boys tonight and throughout the competition.
“This has been a very important part of our preparations for the SEA Games. The whole tournament was aimed at that. Four games in six days is what we’ll be up against in the SEA Games.
“We made a couple of changes.... We got a good cross in and a good finish from Sokumpheak. I was very happy for Chhaya scoring his two goals. He works his backside off, and I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves.... He’s a good boy, he works hard, and he deserved it.”
Cambodia’s Samrith Seiha was voted the tournament’s best goalkeeper, Laos captain Kitsada was named the cup’s most valuable player and Evaldo Goncaves of HAGL collected the top scorer award. Each received $1,000 in prize money from the sponsors. In the third-place playoff earlier Saturday, Vissai Ninh Binh beat the Laos U23 side with a solitary goal from Dinh Hoang Max to collect the $5,000 reward. (Source Phnom Penh Post Site)
10 November, 2009
05 November, 2009
Locals go 2-1 in Om Tuk card
Cambodian kickboxing legend Nuon Soriya comes up short against Japan’s Yukiya Nakamura; Bheut Kam, Thun Sophea both score decisive victories
THE cut on Harlee Avison’s nose was still fresh when he entered the ring Friday night against Bheut Kam. The stitches had come out just days earlier.
The gash gave Bheut Kam a target, and within seconds of the opening bell he whipped Avison’s head back with a straight left hand flush to the nose.
Nearly 1,500 enthusiastic Kun Khmer fans packed Old Stadium on Friday night for TV5’s annual Bon Om Tuk fight card, which this year included three international and five local bouts...
In the international features, Thun Sophea smashed Muhammed Nsugbuga of Uganda with low kicks to score an effortless first-round TKO, Nuon Soriya lost by majority decision to Yukiya Nakamura of Japan and Bheut Kam beat Harlee Avison by unanimous decision.
“Shit fight,” said Avison afterwards, the sting of defeat unmistakable on his face.
The 18-year-old from Cairns, Australia, trains out of Promthep Camp in Phuket, Thailand.
He typically fights with his father Wayne and his uncle Danny working the corner.
But Harlee flew to Cambodia with only Thai fight promoters, and the men in his corner Friday night were practically strangers.
Without his family for support, the young Avison said he struggled.
“You’re a bit more motivated, a bit more enthusiastic with friends and family in the corner,” he said.
“Here you feel like you’re fighting alone. You just want to get it over with.”
Encouraged by Avison’s lackluster performance, Bheut Kam, 22, put on a kickboxing clinic, scoring easily with hard punches to the body and vicious elbows.
By round five, he was landing five- and six-punch combinations unanswered and egging Avison on.
The Australian occasionally showed hints of power, and he shook Bheut Kam a few times with strong kicks.
He never appeared in any trouble, even after taking some incredibly hard elbows.
But he just never worked enough to be competitive in the fight.
“I could have kicked more, could have kneed more,” he conceded.
In the second co-feature of the night, 21-year-old Yukiya Nakamura of Tokyo came on strong in rounds four and five to steal the decision from Nuon Soriya, who had dominated rounds one, two and three.
“I did not think I could lose,” said Nuon Soriya, the 29-year-old veteran, afterward.
“I won rounds one, two, three and four.”
Of the five ringside judges, only one scored the fight in favor of Nuon Soriya, who while commanding the first three rounds, began to visibly tire in the fourth and appeared absolutely exhausted in the fifth.
In the third co-feature, Thun Sopea dismissed a badly overmatched Muhammad Nsubuga with low kicks, scoring three knockdowns in less than 90 seconds of the first round.
“I could feel the pain,” said Nsubuga afterward, poking gingerly at his left hamstring. “I thought it was going to break.”
Nsubuga, predominantly an English boxer, took the fight on short notice.
He was filling in for a Russian fighter listed only as “Mitery”, who did not appear for unspecified reasons.
Thun Sophea himself was filling in for Sen Bunthen, who was out of the country.
In the five local matches, Mtes Kmang drew against Rith Kao, Khan Sovan beat Lim Bunna on points, Chim Sarath dropped a decision to Cheng Rithy, Sarim Vonthon outpointed Bheut Bunthoeun and Les Tuk earned a decision over Him Saram.
Prime Minister Hun Sen gave US$1,000 to each fighter in the international bouts and $500 to the 10 local fighters on the undercard. (Sourced by Phnom Penh Post Website)
THE cut on Harlee Avison’s nose was still fresh when he entered the ring Friday night against Bheut Kam. The stitches had come out just days earlier.
The gash gave Bheut Kam a target, and within seconds of the opening bell he whipped Avison’s head back with a straight left hand flush to the nose.
Nearly 1,500 enthusiastic Kun Khmer fans packed Old Stadium on Friday night for TV5’s annual Bon Om Tuk fight card, which this year included three international and five local bouts...
In the international features, Thun Sophea smashed Muhammed Nsugbuga of Uganda with low kicks to score an effortless first-round TKO, Nuon Soriya lost by majority decision to Yukiya Nakamura of Japan and Bheut Kam beat Harlee Avison by unanimous decision.
“Shit fight,” said Avison afterwards, the sting of defeat unmistakable on his face.
The 18-year-old from Cairns, Australia, trains out of Promthep Camp in Phuket, Thailand.
He typically fights with his father Wayne and his uncle Danny working the corner.
But Harlee flew to Cambodia with only Thai fight promoters, and the men in his corner Friday night were practically strangers.
Without his family for support, the young Avison said he struggled.
“You’re a bit more motivated, a bit more enthusiastic with friends and family in the corner,” he said.
“Here you feel like you’re fighting alone. You just want to get it over with.”
Encouraged by Avison’s lackluster performance, Bheut Kam, 22, put on a kickboxing clinic, scoring easily with hard punches to the body and vicious elbows.
By round five, he was landing five- and six-punch combinations unanswered and egging Avison on.
The Australian occasionally showed hints of power, and he shook Bheut Kam a few times with strong kicks.
He never appeared in any trouble, even after taking some incredibly hard elbows.
But he just never worked enough to be competitive in the fight.
“I could have kicked more, could have kneed more,” he conceded.
In the second co-feature of the night, 21-year-old Yukiya Nakamura of Tokyo came on strong in rounds four and five to steal the decision from Nuon Soriya, who had dominated rounds one, two and three.
“I did not think I could lose,” said Nuon Soriya, the 29-year-old veteran, afterward.
“I won rounds one, two, three and four.”
Of the five ringside judges, only one scored the fight in favor of Nuon Soriya, who while commanding the first three rounds, began to visibly tire in the fourth and appeared absolutely exhausted in the fifth.
In the third co-feature, Thun Sopea dismissed a badly overmatched Muhammad Nsubuga with low kicks, scoring three knockdowns in less than 90 seconds of the first round.
“I could feel the pain,” said Nsubuga afterward, poking gingerly at his left hamstring. “I thought it was going to break.”
Nsubuga, predominantly an English boxer, took the fight on short notice.
He was filling in for a Russian fighter listed only as “Mitery”, who did not appear for unspecified reasons.
Thun Sophea himself was filling in for Sen Bunthen, who was out of the country.
In the five local matches, Mtes Kmang drew against Rith Kao, Khan Sovan beat Lim Bunna on points, Chim Sarath dropped a decision to Cheng Rithy, Sarim Vonthon outpointed Bheut Bunthoeun and Les Tuk earned a decision over Him Saram.
Prime Minister Hun Sen gave US$1,000 to each fighter in the international bouts and $500 to the 10 local fighters on the undercard. (Sourced by Phnom Penh Post Website)
03 November, 2009
130 golfers set to compete Cambodian Open
PROFESSIONAL golfers hailing from 22 different countries will assemble at Siem Reap’s Phokeethra Country Club November 19-22 to compete for the 2009 Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open championship, officials announced at a press conference held in front of Angkor Wat temple Monday.Htwe Hla Han, senior director of the Asian Tour, stated that so far over 200 golfers had registered, but around 130 would be selected to take part in the third edition of the Kingdom’s only professional golfing tournament. The sports executive noted the benefits for Cambodia of hosting such an event.
“It is good for tourism sector because the information of the competition will be posted on Web sites, and people around the world will see it,” she said, adding that the tournament winner will receive a cash prize of US$47,500...
Minister of Tourism Thong Khon said that three or four professional golfers would be representing Cambodia at the Open, although he admitted they would struggle to compete with the strong international field.
The minister also assured that the recent epidemic of swine flu had been brought under control, and the ceasing of Bangkok Airways operation of domestic routes would also not affect tourists travelling to Cambodia, as the government’s own carrier, Cambodia Angkor Air, was available for journeys.
Samuel Fischer, Johnnie Walker Southeast Asia general manager, was delighted with the development of the event over the past three years. “I truly believe we have built terrific relationships that have made this tournament special,” he said Monday.
The Phokeethra Country Club in Siem Reap has hosted the Open since its inaugural year in 2007, which American Bryan Saltus won ahead of a 144-strong field. Thai star Thongchai Jaidee – currently leading the Asian Tour – took first place last year.
Hor Sarun, undersecretary of state for the Tourism Ministry, said that in the build-up to the Open, an ASEAN plus 3, India and Australia friendship golf tournament will be held at the country club from November 14-16, featuring ambassadors and employees from embassies in Phnom Penh and Bangkok. “I am optimistic that this sport event will help promote Siem Reap and Cambodia extensively, and there will be more tourists to come and visit,” said Hor Sarun. (Souced by Phnom Penh Post Website)
07 October, 2009
BIDC Cup launched
CAMBODIA and Laos’ U23 national football teams, and professional Vietnamese teams Hoang Ann Gia Lai and Vissai Ninh Binh, will compete for the inaugural Cambodian International Football Tournament BIDC Cup 2009 on November 8-14 at Phnom Penh’s Olympic Stadium.The event is sponsored by Bank for Investment and Development of Cambodia (BIDC) – a branch of the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam – and is organised with cooperation of the football federations from the three neighbouring nations.
The tournament celebrates the 56th anniversary of Cambodian independence and strengthens friendship between Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. For Cambodia, it will be a good technical test for their SEA Games preparation.
Sao Sokha, president of the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC), revealed the format for the tournament at a press conference Monday. The president said that each team will meet each other once, with the top two (from points and goals scored) playing a final for the trophy, while the other two play for third place. Local television network TV5 will broadcast the games live, with the opening and closing ceremonies also screened in Vietnam.
The tournament champions will receive gold medals and US$20,000, with runners-up pocketing $10,000, and third place $5,000. The player of the tournament, the top scorer and the best goalkeeper will each receive $1,000.
Cambodia U23s, who were smashed 6-0 by their Singapore counterparts September 27, are currently in Ho Chi Minh City for training, playing five friendly matches against local opposition before returning home November 4. Laos as host country for the SEA Games are well-prepared, while the two Vietnamese teams have best records in their domestic V-league.
Nguyen Van Hien, executive chief of BIDC, said that this first tournament is important to the development of the football sector in the region. He confirmed the bank’s intention to organise the event every two years and promised prize money of $5,000 to the Cambodia team if they attained first or second place at the 25th SEA Games. (Phnom Penh Post Website)
