The opening rounds of the 2004 Cambodian National Volleyball League were launched

by Ith Sam Heng, Minister for Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation,

on July 31.

After two rounds of competition, the league ladder positions are:

1. Sunway Dragons

2. Adopt a Minefield Beatles

3. HI Siem Reap Eagles

4. AusAID NCDP Cobras

5. HI Battambang Tigers

6. First Cambodia Airlines Swans

7. German Embassy Prey Deers

9. Kratie Dolphins

10.UNICEF Doves

11.Siemens Demons

12.Medico International Veal Thom White OX

The top position is still wide open, with the HI Eagles losing by only one point

to the Sunway Dragons in round 2; the Kampot Adopt-A-Minefield Beatles have come

together, are training eight days a week and getting better all the time.

Quote of Round 1: "Time out for a leg break" - Siemens Demons Captain and

Libero, Yim Vanna, as the prothesis flew off his leg while taking a spectacular dive

to retrieve the ball during the match against the AusAID Cobras.

Quote of Round 2: "Fried fish and venison for dinner tonight!" Dragons

captain Chuoy Kimhorn, commenting about the day's upcoming games against the Kratie

Dolphins and the Kampong Speu Deers.

For German Language information on the Volleyball League Program with a focus on

league team, the Veal Thom Wild OX which is sponsored by leading German social action

organization, Medico International refer to www.medico.de

Volleyball Coaching Advisor Kevan Naylor, sponsored by the National Olympic Committee

of Germany, has arrived in Cambodia for a five-month tenure with the CNVLD moving

around the country providing specialist training to the provincial clubs followed

by a two-month internationally accredited coaching clinic for all league coaches

starting in November in Phnom Penh.

The CNVLD would like to see the annual league competition games move to the Olympic

Stadium as a free public event of quality competitive sport. We hope that the Royal

Government considers favorably the CNVLD request to provide the stadium free of charge

for league competitions as part of assisting Cambodians with a disability to become

active and contributing members of society.

The CNVLD is a local non-profit NGO and prides itself on transparency, professionalism

and in particular the provision of cost-effective direct aid. In CNVLD programs and

budgets you will not see the luxury aid and development packages such as the latest

four-wheel-drive to cross the main road in Phnom Penh, nor inflated expatriate wage

packages. The focus of the CNVLD has been, and always will be, on direct aid to the

Cambodian athletes with a disability.

German supporters of the volleyball program got together in 2002 and donated a cow

to each of the eight members of the Kratie Dolphins. The cows have multiplied to

26: that's volleyball micro-economics!

Our New-York-based new webmaster, Mara O'Connell, comes to the CNVLD via Adopt-A-Minefield,

so with a major site update under way, keep an eye on: www.standupcambodia.org

Next round of the competition: September 11-12 at the Kien Klang National Rehabilitation

Centre, 1 km over Japanese Friendship Bridge on right, from 7 am. All games open

to the public.