Phnom Penh Crown juniors celebrate winning the U14 title of the Barclays Capital ISF Youth Football league on Sunday. Photp Supplied

The junior ranks of Phnom Penh Crown launched themselves into quiet celebration last Sunday even as the seniors were hogging the limelight in the AFC President’s Cup. Crown’s U14 side swamped Kumar Takhmao 5-1 to take the division title in the Barclays Capital ISF Youth Football League.

A three-goal haul by the skillful Pov Bunvuthy was the highlight of Crown’s commanding victory. In the third place playoff, Preah Khan Reach got the better of Maruhan Japan Bank 6-3.

In Sunday’s U17 final however, Crown met their match in traditional rivals Preah Khan Reach. The PKR juniors carved out a 3-0 victory to drive home a point that their youth initiative is beginning to pay good dividends.

Meanwhile, CColt United and Seasiders fought on every inch of the ground on their way to a 4-4 regulation time deadlock in the third place playoff. United kept their nerve in the penalty shootout to edge the Seasiders off the podium.

As many as 54 teams took part in six divisions this season as a testament to the league’s growing popularity. The 2011/12 season is slated to start in October and according to Indochina Starfish Foundation, the organisers in association with Barclays Capital, the next campaign promises to be even bigger and better.