The Battambang-based SALT Academy launched its first adult football league with a matchup last weekend between teams comprising former youth tournament championship players from the region, organisers said. Over the next seven weeks, eight clubs will battle towards a final match, to be held on December 26. The league is sponsored by the mobile provider Hello, which has donated US$1,200 in prize money. The opening match pitted the Solar FC against Crossroads, which dominated the first 20 minutes of play, but let through the first goal of the game by Solar’s Kim Komsan. Crossroads equalised with a goal by Om Tola as the match wound down to half time. The second half saw Crossroads’ defender De Mong sent off, giving Solar the advantage. But the side squandered three chances to score, and Crossroads connected twice more, bringing the final score to 3-1.