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Sports
Notes EXTRA
- Cambodia's Premiere League Champs
Khemara Smash Germany -
November 2005
James Loving - National Radio Text Service Sunday November 6, 2005
Cambodian Premiere League Champions Khemara Hand Germans Second Loss on Cambodian Soil - NR Top 10 According To Google - FIFA Top 10
IT WASN'T BRAZIL OR… It wasn't Brazil… it wasn't Man U… it wasn't Real Madrid but it was a spectacle to be seen. What those in attendance saw last night at Cambodia's Olympic stadium was the largest crowd I've seen attend a football game in Cambodia since I started covering the national team at the 2000 Tiger Cup. On a cool (for Phnom Penh) after a rainy day our estimate of around 12,000 fans came to a football game under the lights. This in itself was the major spectacle and a first for me seeing a football game played under the lights in Cambodia. Olympic Stadium was closed for several years for renovation thus relegating football to be played at the Old Stadium that sat 8-10,000 depending on the width of the bottoms sitting on bench seats. When China played Cambodia for the World Cup Qualifiers in 2001 they drew a crowd to fill Old Stadium. This German team was not China thus making the large attendance more remarkable. Though Singapore was a day game the lights weren't working at the time the Tiger Cup champions came to town this past month This time the lights were working and helped provide the artificially lit sunshine that brought joy to those in attendance. The Saturday night game was on…. It was billed as Kehmara, Prince Norodom Ranariddh Sihanouk's team who are the champions of the Cambodian Premiere League verses Germany. What the people were enjoying was a game against Blau Weis Eirfurt, Germany a club team in a city league. Know one in the stands really cared or missed the three powerhouses of football Brazil, Man U of Real Madrid. They were satisfied with what they had with BWE providing enough entertainment.
By appearance this game drew more than twice the attendance than Singapore. It was evident the Khmer people have a thirst for football. Most importantly it gave them something to enjoyable to do. From the outset it was a chess match with Germany playing better than they did in their previous week's 6-0 loss to the Cambodian national team. Cambodia played with good ball distribution. Germany was more aggressive than they were the previous week against the national squad. They found themselves back on their heels mostly defending as the Khmers maintained control of the ball, pushing it forward much of the time. The teams played level ball until the 32nd minute when Khemara broke through when Pok Chanthan fired a shot from close in at the left corner of the goal for the Khmer advantage. Khemara maintained their offensive pressure and struck quickly with goals by national team member Kuoch Kompheak in the 36th and Peou Samnang in the 39th to go into the break with a 3-0 lead. Twelve minutes after resumption of play foreigner Douglas knocked in Khemara's fourth goal. Nigerian Ike Michael a standout in the Singapore game didn't play in the first half. His presence was noticed in the second when he broke away and darted down from midfield through the German defense and fired in a goal in the 76th minute. He continued to shine a few minutes later he made a beautiful cross to national team member Kompheak who blasted in his second and Cambodia's sixth and final goal in the 87th minute Smiles were in abundance from the Prince Ranariddh. He paid his respects to the German contingency, teams, coaches and fans in attendance. "I'm very happy with the results," Ranariddh said after the game. "It's a friendship. It's a pleasure. Both teams made a supreme effort," he added The Ranariddh went on to note that FIFA ranked Cambodia 186th in the world ratings a situation he would like to see improved. Though the 6-0 losing result from both of Germany's games in their coach Benno Lemke was more pleased with his teams performance against Khemara noting the team was more together and gave a greater effort. German player Mark Dieckmann said, "The Cambodian's can play good football." Unlike the game that they played against the national team Germany played with more spirit and energy against Khemara. Dieckman said, about the game "Our team was playing together." Noting the effect of the tropic heat after coming from cold weather Germany, "It's hot. After five minutes you can't rest anymore." It was Dieckman's second trip to Cambodia but he pointed out that it was the first for many on the squad. He noted how exciting it was for the club to play in front of such a large crowd. "At home we play in front of fifteen (fans)," he mused. "Cambodian people are very nice," he said. It's a time I will never forget." What was this game all about you ask? People helping people is the answer. The final result was bringing people together for a good time with peace and goodwill for all. What's that saying??? It's a BEAUTIFUL GAME!!! NR's TOP 10 According to Gaggle National Radio's Top 10 stories are: (1) Jim Curry, (2) Royal Palace (3) NBA Trivia, (4) Michael Jordan (5) Jerry West Builds Memphis (6) Fertile Boy & Girl Contest (7) OOPS FAT Did It Again (8) ASEAN Games (9) Cambodian Football (10) Angkor Wat Past Most Mentioned: (1) Walter Payton, (2) Marshall Faulk (3) Barry Bonds (4) Digital Divide Data. FIFA TOP TEN Rank/Team/Points FIFA TOP TEN Rank/Team/Points 1. Brazil - 840 2. Netherlands - 797 3. Czech Republic - 783 Argentina - 778 4. Argentina - 778 5. France - 776 6. Mexico - 769 7. USA - 768 8. Spain - 764 9. Portugal - 754 9. England - 754 The next FIFA World Ranking will be published on 23 November 2005 PREVIOUS RATINGS 1. Brazil - 837 2. Argentina - 782 3. Netherlands - 780 4. Czech Republic - 777 5. Mexico - 770 6. USA - 768 7. England - 743 8. Spain - 739 9. France - 737 9. Portugal - 737 © Copyright: National Radio. Any use of these materials, whole or in part, is prohibited unless authorized in writing by National Radio. Contact: nationalradio@yahoo.com |
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