Tricky test for Boeung Ket

Defending champions Boeung Ket Rubber Field will be looking to their star striker Bisan George to consolidate their top of the table status when they meet the tough but unpredictable Ministry of National Defence in a Metfone C-League tie at the Olympic Stadium tomorrow.

The versatile Nigerian hitman has eight goals to his name from three matches so far this season, including the one which set Boeung Ket on the right course in their 2-1 win over Kirivong Sok Sen Chey last week.

Bisan George, Momoh Degule and Chukwuma Uhurougo form a formidable African trio capable of troubling the best. Add the hard working Keo Sokgnon to this equation and a potent force is there to be seen.

But of crucial importance to the Kampong Cham-based side is the full fitness of Chan Vathanaka, who came on as a second-half substitute against Kirivong from a bench that had other players with fitness worries.

Consolidation is never far off coach Prak Vuthy’s mind as Boeung Ket step out to extend their three-match winning run.

While the Hun Sen Cup brought out some of MND’s hidden virtues, the Army men have just two points to show going into their fourth game. After defaulting their first game of the league season to National 

Police in a controversial walkout, MND squeezed out a 1-1 draw against Naga the following week.

Novices Senate Secretariat had the Army men on the run last Sunday, and MND had to scramble to the safety of a 1-1 draw a minute before the end of regulation time.

Coach Op Sam An’s top priority is to tick off MND’s first win, tough though the task will be against a well-furnished side that has scored 17 goals in three matches while conceding just three.

Following the first fixture of the day, which kicks off at 2pm tomorrow, Takeo visitors Kirivong square off against Build Bright United in an evenly-matched contest from 4pm.

Kirivong’s fighting second-half display against Boeung Ket boosts their confidence against a less accomplished side like BBU, who survived a scare before finding the equaliser deep into injury time against newcomers Asia Europe University.

Sunday’s fare at the Olympic Stadium involves three of the best teams in the business.

For tottering Preah Khan Reach, facing a team like Naga a week after going limp in a 5-1 loss to Police on the top of a poor Cup run may be two dimensional.

Either the game at 2pm will help them get back on their feet, dust off poor form and regain their self-belief or it will put them through another hoop of fire. The military police-backed side will have to touch 

exceptional form starting now if they are to realise their desperate wish for their maiden league title.

At 4pm, four-time champions Phnom Penh Crown have a relatively easier outing against debutants

Senate, who performed well above themselves in holding MND after a couple of high-number defeats.

The only game over the weekend at Old Stadium features National Police up against Asia Europe University at 2pm on Saturday. On paper, the Police are decidedly much stronger than their rivals, but the rookies are by no means pushovers.

Having ruffled a few feathers in the Cup, the University-backed side is beginning to develop into a fighting outfit – and that calls for caution on the part of the Police.