Khim Borey scored hay-trick against Timor Leste
Monday, February 4, 2019
‘Pahang was difficult but I’m back with more experience’, says Cambodia and PKNS star Chan Vathanaka
_______________________________________
Cambodia star Chan Vathanaka, who recently moved to PKNS FC in Malaysia, has opened up on his previous stint in the Malaysia Super League with Pahang FA and how he has grown as a player since.
The 25-year-old winger joined the Malaysia Super League side earlier this year on a free transfer from Boeung Ket Angkor. CV11, as he is commonly known, revealed he did not expect that an offer would come in from PKNS and thanked the side’s coaching staff for showing faith in him.
“I am very happy to be back here again. I have said before that I like playing here and I wanted to come back. I was a bit surprised when the offer came in because I was not expecting it. So I want to thank PKNS and the coaches for having faith in me and bringing me over,” he told FOX Sports Asia.
Expanding on his previous experience in Malaysia, he said, “Pahang was a very difficult stint and it was my first time playing here. But now, I am back with a bit more experience and understanding of Malaysian football. So it will definitely help me and I hope to be able to make an impact this time around.”
The winger got a chance to play against compatriot Theirry Bin, who plies his trade for Malaysia Super League side Terengganu, in the league opener. The match finished 1-1 with CV11 providing an assist from a corner.
“It was fun to play against Thierry last week. Everyone in Cambodia was looking forward to the game because the two of us were playing each other. It was a very nice experience. PKNS FC is now slowly becoming popular in Cambodia because the fans back home are passionate and they always want to find out how their players are doing abroad,” he said.
“We have Melaka up next and it will be a difficult tie. But we played well away from home last week and this time around, we will be playing at home. So I am confident that we can do better against Melaka.
“I like playing under Rajagobal because he keeps the team discplined and united. Everyone plays together as a team. And I also know Raja is very experienced and has won a lot with Malaysia before,” he added.
When quizzed who he believes is the most popular Malaysian player in Cambodia is, CV11 took Norshahrul Idlan’s name.
“MatYo is the most popular Malaysian player in Cambodia. Because he is a talented striker and scores a lot of goals. But in Cambodia, they don’t call him MatYo, they call him Talaha,” he sai
5 players who can step up for Argentina when Messi leaves
________________________________
5. Cristian Pavon
A quick winger reminiscent of Messi in his formative years, Cristian Pavon is among the numerous players who have been tipped to make the cut and break into the team for a number of years. He was a part of Argentina’s squad for the World Cup – taking the number 22 shirt, but failed to play a significant part. Despite the setback, he has starred for Boca Juniors at club level and will be one of the many youngsters waiting for an opportunity to impress in national colours.
4. Manuel Lanzini
Sidelined at the moment after rupturing his knee ligaments while training with the national team, Manuel Lanzini is another Argentine tipped to come to fore after Messi’s departure. His phenomenal dribbling ability is second to none – one of the main attributes that leads to comparisons with his national captain. Possessing a stature shorter than even that of Messi, his low center of gravity aids his deceptively quick movement while his wicked eye for goal has led to him becoming a mainstay for both club and country when fit.
3. Lautaro Martinez
Having signed for Inter in the summer, the 21-year old is learning the ropes alongside one of the best in the form of Mauro Icardi. The youngster has represented his country at youth level and was named in the preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup, only to be cruelly omitted from the final list. He has nevertheless made a good name for himself in South America, starring for Racing in the Libertadores – where he started off by scoring a hat-trick in his first game. Definitely one for the future.
2. Mauro Icardi
Widely recognized as one of the best front-men in world football, it was only recently that Icardi finally opened his account for the national team, scoring after 71 seconds in Argentina’s 2-0 home win against Mexico. Having scored 20-plus goals in 3 of the last 4 seasons, Icardi has picked up where he left off in the Italian division, scoring 9 and assisting twice this season. While rumors of Messi’s hand in his exile from the national team seem far fetched, Icardi would no doubt be able to better thrive once Messi leaves – ready to be the main man as he so often is for Inter.
1. Paulo Dybala
Despite Icardi’s apparent claim to the throne, it is in fact Paulo Dybala who seems best placed to take over the legendary Argentine’s mantle. Their stature, turn of pace, willingness to dribble – the similarities are endless. It’s also fascinating to note how Dybala occupies almost the exact same spaces as Messi at times, running the game in a manner not very dissimilar. It’s no surprise that this often leads to Dybala being dropped to the bench in Messi’s presence and having had the chance to learn from Ronaldo as well, he will surely step up leaps and bounds for the national team following Messi’s departure.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)