Sports Notes - CAMBODIAN COACH FICKERT CALLS ON STAR HOK SOCHETRA TO REVIVE SOCCER TEAM

Joachim Fickert - NR photo Hok 'Jet' Sochetra - AFC Marketing/shot

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

After the Maldives match the 27-year-old striker looked weary from his 45 minutes on the pitch. Sochetra said of his performance, "I [didn't] have enough power to play. I [was] training for only four or five days. [I didn't] have enough power."

Monday April 16, 2001

SOCHETRA TOO POOPED TO POP

Cambodia National team coach Joachim Fickert pulled a rabbit out of his hat when he secured the services of star player Hok Sochetra for a World Cup qualifying match against Maldives in Phnom Penh Sunday. With Sochetra's help and inspiration, Cambodia and Maldives fought to a 1-1 draw. Cambodia avenged an earlier 6-0 drubbing without Sochetra's services in Maldives April 1st.

In a hard fought match Cambodia scored a goal in the first half only to be called for offside. The Cambodian team played mostly in a defensive mode in the half that ended scoreless.

Maldives substitute, Ismial Naseem, registered his team's goal in the 67th minute. Cambodia's rising star Chea Makara who substituted for Sochetra in the second half scored and scored a goal through a swarm of Maldives players inside the right of the box at the 78th minute. The 17 year old is the heir apparent of Sochetra. He is the third youngest player on the squad, which has only five of its 18 players over the age of 23.

Prior to the first World Cup qualifying game Sochetra turned in his soccer shoes for a pen to pursue his day job with a Cambodian cell phone company. It was a case of money talks and bull$#!t walks since Sochetra makes only $100 a month as a member of the national team [see: Cambodian Football: Rising From The Ashes].

When you consider that the Samart Cell Phone Company hired Sochetra for his notoriety and promotional value you must ask the question why were they demanding Sochetra's time when the World Cup qualifying matches began. They did not want him to participate.

Considered one of the countries greatest ever football players Sochetra's job in sales and promotion didn't permit time for him to compete in the earlier match against Maldives. After that 6-0 blowout Coach Fickert called upon his services just days before the second Maldives match. Though not in top shape it seemed Sochetra's presence and leadership gave Cambodia the impetus to be a better team and tougher opponent.

Cambodian Football Federation president Ravy Khek said of Sochetra's participation, "It's good that Sochetra came back. Although he has not trained with us for at least two months it shows that he cares about his country, he cares for the national team. His presence is good for the spirit of out national team."

After the Maldives match the 27-year-old striker looked weary from his 45 minutes on the turf. Sochetra said of his performance, "I [didn't] have enough power to play. I [was] training for only four or five days. [I didn't] have enough power."

Sochetra explained that his training time was limited. "I have a lot of jobs [for the company] so I didn't have time to train," he said.

He said he had nothing to say when it was brought up that the company originally hired him to take advantage of his popularity as a player.

In this past falls Tiger Cup 1st round matches Sochetra tied for the tournaments scoring lead with three goals. Cambodia didn't make it to the second round though they did defeat Laos and play second round qualifiers Malaysia tough in a 3-2 loss. For his three goal efforts Sochetra was selected by a Star Sports television analyst covering the games as being one of the two best strikers in the tournament and South East Asia. [See: Thailand Wins Tiger Cup]

When asked if he would continue to participate in the upcoming home matches against Indonesia and China he said he wasn't sure. Indonesia and China who are both ranked seventh in Asia. Maldives is ranked 30th and Cambodia 35th.

In a post game press conference coach Fickert said Sochetra would travel with the team and play against Indonesia Sunday, April 22nd. Stay tuned….

Notes:

Since the 50,000 Olympic Stadium is still under renovation the Cambodian Football Federation invested $13,000 to spruce up field of the 10,000 seat Old Stadium for these World Cup Qualifying matches. A donor contributed $47,000 to spruce up the stadium.

Khek estimated 3,500 turned out for the contest. Due to the recent riots at a football match in South Africa in which many people were killed Khek didn't give this match much publicity. There were 250 security guards on hand for crowd control. The well-behaved spectators were totally under control and appreciative of a good match.

Khek believes the stadium will be at full capacity for the matches against Indonesia and China. "I know that from [this experience] that we can control a crowd for up to 10,000," he said. "I expect a full house for China. Also there will be a direct broadcast to China,"

You can say what you want about the Phoenix Suns Chris Dudley's poor foul shooting [see: Shaq Attack - Part 2] but you can't short him for his consideration for others.

Dudley is a graduate of Yale University one of the most highly accredited universities in America. He was honored in the television show "Hero's America" for his charitable contributions to Diabetic young people.

In 1996-97 the 6-11 (2,11) center gave $100,000 to Yale to create an endowment to help fund the schools basketball program. Dudley also won one of USA Today's Most Caring Athletes awards in 1996.

His grandfather, Guliford Dudley, served as an ambassador to Denmark under the presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford….

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Had Arizona won the tournament its coach LUTE OLSON would have been the oldest person to coach a team to an NCAA title…