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.
