A Breath Before Pulling The Trigger

Cambodian football fans took to social media on Thursday night with many calling ‘Felix Dalmas Out’ after a 0-0 draw with Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup Qualifier 1st leg. However it’s important to get some perspective and really take a look at the whole picture before

It’s a two legged tie and we’re in control….

Any coach of a football club or national team across the world playing a two legged football match will tell you that avoiding defeat in the away leg gives you control of the tie. A 0-0 draw away from home is a great result and in the second leg in front of your own fans you will fancy yourself to get over the line. Cambodia will have a packed house on Tuesday, in Phnom Penh, and will be feeling confident. The draw in Sri Lanka was met with animosity on the live streams. Cambodia offered very little going forward but defensively we were also rarely troubled. It was a slow paced game and the onus was on them to win, not us!

Khmer football fans need perspective…

The FIFA rankings mean nothing! Cambodian football fans were expecting an easy afternoon because of the 23 places between the two nations. On paper it should be an easy win but football doesn’t care about what’s on paper. On any given day it’s 11v11 on that field and one slip, bad decision or mistake could change everything. Cambodia football fans need to take a step back and realize that we have no divine right to think we can beat anyone by just turning up and being higher than them on the rankings. Sri Lankan football has recently received some hefty investment. They have a new league being designed and things are looking bright. It showed in this performance. Cambodia have never been good on their travels, Cambodian teams domestically are all poor away from home. Khmers don’t like traveling! Any result away from home needs to be applauded.

Get behind Felix and the team……

Development is a process and it doesn’t happen overnight. There are many ingredients that need to be mixed together in the right way, at the right time. Felix Dalmas is a quality coach and knows Cambodian football. You can see clearly a style that he wants to play and if we as fans can get the team there is no reason we can’t taste success under this coach. Let’s start with Tuesday!!

Su Su Kampuchea.