The 2009 FFC Hello Futsal League concludes its season this Saturday

This Saturday, the 2009 FFC Hello Futsal League reaches its conclusion in the final round of games. After six rounds of indoor action over the past two months, just two teams stand a chance of claiming the title and 6 million riel (US$1,443): Khmer Eysann and Rama Holding Group.

Khmer Eysann are currently leading the league on 15 points, thanks to five wins and just one defeat. For their last fixture, Khmer Eysann will take on bottom-placed Panda FC at 10:30am inside Olympic Stadium. Despite Panda having yet to win a game, Eysann skipper Ly Vireak refuses to be complacent ahead of Saturday. “In the world of football, everything can change,” he said. “We can’t allow the opportunity to pass away from us. We must still try our best to be this year’s champion.”

For Rama Holding Group, the league title may prove elusive once more. The 2008 runners-up led the league for much of the season, but suffered a tragic 11-10 defeat to Khmer Super Red last week thanks to a last-minute goal. Rama, nestled in second place behind Eysann on 13 points, can only hope for a monumental slipup by the leaders in the last game.

Rama coach Koh Sovanmony said his players had tried to score more against Super Red last week, but had forgotten to defend, allowing their opponents to score two at the death for a heartbreaking loss. “We simply must win against Olympic Youth and hope that Panda will overcome Khmer Eysann for us to be crowned champions,” he said.

Like Rama, Khmer Super Red were flying in the early stages of the competition, scoring an impressive 70 goals from the previous six rounds. A recent slump including losses to Eysann and Funan FC has left the side on 12 points, which team manager Heng Keatharith puts down to the absence of their best striker, Seng Kimsong. The manager maintains that his team can finish in second place and clinch the 4 million riel cash prize, claiming the meeting with Tuol Sangker All Star Saturday won’t be a big problem. The team will be hoping that Olympic Youth live up to their reputation as one of the stronger teams in the league and beat Rama.

The remaining match at 8:30am sees reigning champions Funan FC vie with Dei Ek Katde. Funan sit on 10 points and will hope to leapfrog Super Red into third place, and the 2.8 million riel purse. Dei Ek Katde lie a point below Funan and have an outside chance on clinching third.