Crown head to Bishkek

The Phnom Penh Post
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/

Written by Ken Gadaffi
Friday, 05 June 2009

Cambodian champions fly to Kyrgyzstan to play in AFC President’s Cup

REIGNING league and Cup champions Phnom Penh Crown will fly to Kyrgyzstan on Sunday for the 2009 AFC President's Cup, club manager Makara Be revealed Thursday, despite previously claiming they would not participate due to financial constraints. The team will, however, fly out with a squad of only 17 players, having failed to register more in time and gain sufficient funding for their trip.

Phnom Penh Crown have been drawn against Myanmar champions Kanbawza FC, Bhutan champions Yeedzin FC and hosts Kyrgyzstan champions Dordoi-Dynamo Naryn. The team is in for a tough time, with many key players currently on the treatment table. Crown play Kanbawza Wednesday, Dordoi-Dynamo Friday and Yeedzin the following Sunday.

Makara Be, still bemoaning a current slump in form in the domestic league, is confident his team will do their best to make Cambodia proud. "We are going to be flying the Cambodia flag [in Kyrgyzstan], so we want to go there to win," he said.

Makara Be blamed Crown's disappointing results in the CPL on injury and poor officiating, notably in their last match against Khemara Keila on Wednesday, when the match officials denied them a victory. "We had two clear chances, a penalty not given and goal was ruled offside," Makara retorted. "We cannot complain anymore. We are forced to accept the referees decision, but we are not happy about that."

Buoyed by the return of Cameroon-born star striker Jean-Roger Lappe Lappe who was on loan to Thailand Premier League club Samut Songkhram, Makara Be is looking forward to the team's qualifying for the Super 4 at end of the season. "We will surely be in the top four," he stated, adding that their preseason was difficult because of a heavy schedule, including a Singapore Cup tie in Singapore.

"My team will come back in good shape soon when the injured players like [Srey] Veasna and [Chhim] Ratanak shrug off their injuries," the manager assured.

With the Cup duties, Crown's CPL weekend fixture against surprise package Kirivong Sok Sen Chey has been moved to July 1, with only the Build Bright United v Phouchung Neak game playing out Saturday at Olympic Stadium.