Blackburn home run grinds to a halt

BLACKBURN, England (AFP) - A typically gritty display from Stoke denied Blackburn a fifth straight home win as an uninspiring encounter ended goalless.

With Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce absent following minor heart surgery, his players failed to deliver the kind of tonic he would have desired. Stoke enjoyed the better of the chances although it was the home side who went closest to scoring with Steven Nzonzi striking the woodwork.

Australian midfielder Brett Emerton and French duo Gael Givet and Nzonzi returned to the Blackburn line-up after missing the midweek defeat at Fulham.

Stoke made two changes to the side that beat Portsmouth on their last outing, with Liam Lawrence and Mamady Sidibe replacing Rory Delap and James Beattie.

Blackburn started confidently, with on-loan Chelsea striker Franco Di Santo testing Thomas Sorensen early on with a shot the Danish goalkeeper did well to save.

But Stoke should have claimed the lead midway through the opening period after Ricardo Fuller sent Dean Whitehead clear.

The striker's shot was under-powered and Paul Robinson was able to turn it away relatively comfortably.

Blackburn suffered a blow in the 32nd minute when David Dunn, who has scored six goals for Blackburn this season, had to go off, prompting a tactical reshuffle which saw Jason Roberts come on as a second striker alongside Di Santo.

Stoke were happy to play on the counter-attack and that approach generated a great chance to take the lead six minutes before the break, when Robinson pulled off a fine save to deny Lawrence at close range as the midfielder attempted to finish off Sidibe's inviting cross from the right.

Eight minutes into the second half, Andy Wilkinson struck the side netting after getting past Givet.

That seemed to provoke a reaction from the home side and Sorensen had to be alert to keep out an overhead kick from Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen before Nzonzi beat the goalkeeper with a drive that came back off the post.

Chris Samba had the chance to snatch all three points in injury time but the Blackburn centreback headed substitute Morten Gamst Pedersen's cross wide.

Mertesacker late show sends Werder top

BERLIN (AFP) - A last-gasp equaliser from Germany international Per Mertesacker just preserved Werder Bremen's leadership of the Bundesliga in securing a 2-2 home draw Saturday against reigning champions Wolfsburg.

Bosnian sharpshooter Edin Dzeko had opened the scoring three minutes before the break to end a five-game personal barren run in front of goal for Wolsfburg, who began the game five points adrift of their rivals just outside the top five.

Portuguese star Hugo Almeida levelled on the hour but Dzeko's second five minutes from time looked to have settled it for the visitors until Mertesacker struck in injury time with a header from a corner to presevre their 20-match unbeaten sequence.

Bayer Leverkusen will still go to the summit if they avoid defeat Sunday against Stuttgart as they and Werder both have 27 points.

But so tight is the situation at the top that Schalke, with 25 points, could muscle in if they beat Borussia Moenchengladbach later Saturday.

On Sunday, struggling Bayern Munich, currently just eighth in the table after only five wins in 13 league games, travel to midtable Hanover badly needing a win which would take them towards the top five - though they will have to achievce it without injured pair Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben.

Hamburg stayed fourth but only just a point ahead of Hoffenheim after a disappointing 1-1 home draw with Mainz.

Already missing star man Ze Roberto, Hamburg then also saw Dutchman Eljiro Elia pick up an injury.

Hoffenheim were unable to take advantage of Hamburg as they fell 2-1 at home to Dortmund.

At the other end of the table Hertha Berlin look a solid bet for the drop after a 3-1 home loss to Eintracht Frankfurt brought their 11th defeat of the campaign to leave the capital club seven points from safety.

Late Valero penalty frustrates Valencia

MADRID (AFP) - Valencia failed to put pressure on Barcelona and Real Madrid at the summit of the Spanish first division falling victim to a late penalty equaliser in a 1-1 home draw with Real Mallorca on Saturday.

Spanish international striker David Villa went into double figures for the season scoring for the third successive game on 48 minutes but Borja Valero equalised five minutes from time with a penalty to prevent a fifth successive win for Valencia.

If they had won Valencia would have been a point behind Real, who face Barcelona in 'El Clasico' at Camp Nou on Sunday, but Bruno Grau's unnecessary foul gave away the penalty and Valencia stay fourth level on points with Sevilla.

Another blow for Valencia was an injury to key Spanish international midfielder David Silva, who hobbled off in the 27th minute with a problem in his right knee.

It was a good late point for Mallorca, who stay sixth despite not managing to win a single away match this season.

Later on Saturday, Sevilla have the chance to move level on points with Real if they can secure three points at home to bottom side Malaga.

Malaga have not won in their last ten league matches but hold the Indian sign over Sevilla, who have not beaten them at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan since 2005/2006.

Real lead champions Barca by a single point at the summit but lost both Clasicos last season including a 6-2 mauling at home as Barca marched to the title.

"Those players who are ambitious must always believe they are favorites to win," said Real's Cristiano Ronaldo. "We have great respect for our opponent but we shouldn't be afraid of them."

Ronaldo is back from injury after two months out to boost Real while Barca sweat on Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lionel Messi, who both have thigh strains and missed the 2-0 Champions League win over Inter Milan on Tuesday.

"We will see how they (Messi and Ibrahimovic) are on Sunday. I will talk with the doctors and make a decision," revealed Barca coach Pep Guardiola. "It is not a coincidence that Real Madrid are leaders but we can beat them with or without Messi."

In other matches, goalkeeper Diego Lopez was left a frustrated figure with his two penalty saves still not enough to help 10-man Villarreal end their away blues as they lost 1-0 at Sporting Gijon on Saturday.

Substitute Mate Bilic struck the winning goal on 75 minutes after Spanish international Lopez had parried Alberto Rivera's initial spot-kick and Lopez saved another penalty from Bilic on 88 minutes, but it was to no avail.

Villarreal have yet to win on their travels this season and lie in mid-table far away from their goal of Champions League football while Sporting are a respectable seventh.

"We are disappointed but we have to forget this quickly because we have a very important game against Levski Sofia (in the Europa League on Thursday) and have to go into it in the best frame of mind possible," explained Villarreal coach Ernesto Valverde.

Wigan recover pride

WIGAN, England (AFP) - Wigan bounced back from their 9-1 hammering by Tottenham with a 1-0 win over former manager Steve Bruce's Sunderland.

A 75th-minute strike by Colombian striker Hugo Rodallega was enough to secure the points against opponents who had beaten Arsenal on their last outing but were distinctly lacklustre here.

Bruce's men rarely looked like scoring and it fell to Rodallega, a player signed by Bruce during his time in Lancashire, to settle the contest after Jason Scotland had seen a first-half effort strike the woodwork.

The winner owed much to some poor defending by Paulo da Silva, who slithered to the turf as Rodallega went past him before beating Marton Fulop with a left-footed shot from an acute angle.

The Colombian should have made the points safe eight minutes later but fired straight at Fulop when he had only the Sunderland goalkeeper to beat.

Wigan held out, however, to record their first clean sheet since September 12 and there was no disputing that Roberto Martinez's side deserved the points.

Rodallega, who diverted a Charles N'Zogbia's cross into the side-netting, and Paul Scharner, who tested Fulop with a low drive, both had early chances as Wigan started in spirited fashion.

And the home side were unlucky not to go ahead when N'Zogbia dispossessed da Silva on the right of the penalty area and crossed for Scotland to hit a first-time shot which beat Fulop but rebounded back off the post.

Fulop then produced a fine finger-tip save to keep the game goalless after defender Chris Turner had deflected Rodallega's inswinging free-kick towards his own goal.

Sunderland were brighter immediately after the interval with Andy Reid going close with a shot tht dipped just over and Bent heading wide from a good position at the back post.

But Wigan reasserted themselves and Titus Bramble should have put them ahead from a cross by substitute Jordi Gomez, the centreback heading straight at Fulop.

Rodallega forced Fulop into another save and fired wide from N'Zogbia's lay-off before the Colombian finally claimed the winner the Wigan fans craved.

Rooney ruins Grant´s big day

PORTSMOUTH, England (AFP) - Wayne Rooney's first Manchester United hat-trick in three years inspired the champions to a 4-1 win over Portsmouth and reduced Chelsea's lead at the top of the Premier League to two points.

Rooney, whose last treble in a red shirt was during a 4-0 win at Bolton in October 2006, converted two penalties either side of a fine finish from a Ryan Giggs pass as United ensured Avram Grant's first match in charge of Pompey ended in defeat.

Giggs, in yet another masterful display a day shy of his 36th birthday, completed the punishment with a late free-kick for his 100th Premier League goal.

Ferguson made eight changes from the side which suffered a shock midweek Champions League defeat to Besiktas, among which, was the forced inclusion of Tomasz Kuszczak for his first Premier League start of the season as Edwin Van der Sar was unable to travel.

An early Rooney foray down the left-hand side caught Younes Kaboul off-balance but the French defender did enough to put him off his stride as he progressed toward the by-line.

United continued to stretch the home defence and a corner by Giggs was rolled into Paul Scholes on the edge of the penalty area but the midfielder's first-time drive was placed a yard over Asmir Begovic?s crossbar.

Moments later, Portsmouth nearly stole the lead as Jamie O?Hara and Boateng combined to feed Aruna Dindane but the Ivorian's scrambled effort was kept away by the outstretched frame of Kuszczak.

Portsmouth continued to flourish and a long ball floated forward on 15 minutes was controlled by O'Hara before the on-loan Tottenham midfielder forced Kuszczak into an acrobatic save.

With both sides pressing forward in an entertaining opening it was United who grabbed the lead. Rooney played a one-two with Antonio Valencia and as the United striker moved away from goal found his heel clipped by Michael Brown.

There was a degree of protest from the Portsmouth players on the legitimacy of Mike Dean's decision but Rooney converted the penalty high above Asmir Begovic's right-hand.

If there was some debate about United's penalty, the whole of Fratton Park stood in bemusement as the home side were awarded their own spot-kick eight minutes later, assistant Simon Beck having apparently caught Nemanja Vidic tugging Frederic Piquionne?s shirt as he challenged Kuszczak.

The decision looked harsh but Kevin-Prince Boateng, who missed from 12 yards last week against Stoke, drove the penalty under Kuszczak?s right arm and the contest was all square.

Portsmouth could even have found themselves in-front going in at half-time, Dindane having connected with Boateng's cross only to place his header wide.

Such wastefulness tends not to go unpunished by United and just two minutes into the second half Valencia's measured pass found Giggs in behind Marc Wilson. The Welsh winger in turn picked out Rooney, who converted from eight yards out.

The three points were secured six minutes later as Giggs and Piquionne battled on the by-line. The Frenchman looked in control but allowed Giggs to steal the ball and then compounded his initial error by tripping the United player.

Rooney made sure driving low to Begovic's left and soon the Premier League champions were threatening a rout. Valencia?s pace took him through a gaping hole in the Portsmouth defence and the Ecuadorian was inches wide with his shot.

Begovic was then forced to dive low to his near post to keep out a Giggs drive but the veteran was not to be denied and there was little Pompey's Bosnian goalkeeper could do about the 20-yard free-kick he swung into the corner with three minutes left.

OM consider appealing ban

Ligue 1 giants Olympique Marseille are considering an after being hit with a one-match stadium ban by the Ligue de Football Professionnel Disciplinary Commission.

The LFP has handed down the ban after reviewing Marseille's game with Monaco on October 4, when fans used flares and threw missiles.

The commission cited previous offences by Marseille fans when choosing to impose a ban rather than another fine.

But that brought an angry response from OM director Antoine Veyrat.

"We are disappointed and bitter," he said.

"We're now waiting for notification of the exact nature of the sanction.

"Of course, the club will use all legal means at our disposal to show what action we have taken and our good faith in this affair."

Marseille could also be facing further action with the behaviour of their fans in the match against Paris Saint Germaine last weekend also now under review.

Painful memories drive Real on for Barca showdown

MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid have the formidable attacking threat of Cristiano Ronaldo back in their armory at the perfect time as they travel to Camp Nou on Sunday for the eagerly-anticipated 'El Clasico' against champions Barcelona.

Real hold a one-point lead over Barcelona at the top but need no reminder of the quality of their opponents after losing the last Clasico 6-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu back in May when Lionel Messi tore them to shreds.

Messi is a doubt for this game with a thigh strain picked up last Saturday and did not play in Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League win over Inter Milan although he was on the substitutes' bench along with Zlatan Ibrahimovic who also has a thigh problem.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola says he is optimistic over Messi but must decide whether to risk the star from the start or leave him on the bench while his opposite number Manuel Pellegrini has a similar dilemma over Ronaldo who played for the first time in two months with a 20-minute outing in the 1-0 Champions League win over FC Zurich.

Ronaldo had missed ten games with ankle trouble but declared himself fit for his first Clasico against the team who left him in tears at the end of last season by beating his then Manchester United side in the Champions League final.

"I want to play in El Clasico if I feel good, although that is the responsibility of the coach," said Ronaldo. "I didn't score (against Zurich) but I hope to do so in the next game (against Barcelona). It doesn't bother me if it's 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1, the important thing is to win."

Real lost both games against their foes last season falling 12 points behind Barcelona after the first Clasico in mid-December before the disastrous 6-2 loss which all but wrapped up the title for Barca.

"If I had lost 6-2 in the last match against a big rival I would be going out for revenge but Madrid aren't like that," said Barcelona defender Dani Alves. "I think they will come full of respect. They know it is difficult to play here even more so having lost that way last time."

Real have not thrilled their fans too much this season but have amassed 28 points out of a possible 33 to make their best start in 17 years.

"Of course they are the leaders why wouldn't they be after spending 270 million euros?" said Guardiola.

Money has bought Real the talent of Brazilian Kaka, Spain playmaker Xabi Alonso and Ronaldo who will all be ready for their first Clasico experience, while Barcelona have a host of homegrown players such as Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique who have grown up with Real as the enemy.

While the Clasico takes centre stage in Spain this weekend the teams below the top two concentrate on trying to prove they are genuine title alternatives.

Valencia are one such team, lying four points behind leaders Real, and host Real Mallorca on Saturday targeting a fifth straight league win.

"For us the best thing in the Clasico would be a draw so both teams drop two points," said Valencia forward David Villa. "It does not make sense for us to talk about being title contenders in November."

Villa has scored nine goals already this season to top the goal-scoring charts and could have been playing in the Real-Barcelona game had Valencia not stood so firm in the summer when both teams wanted his services.

Sevilla lie three points behind Real in third and should get the three points at home to bottom side Malaga on Saturday and then see which of the top two, if not both, drops points.

"If we want to be competing for the league we can't slip up at home," said defender Manuel Lolo. "At least one of the big two (Barcelona and Real) will drop points and we need to make it count."

Atletico began the season with hopes of a title charge but have had their worst since 1954 with seven points from the first 11 matches leaving them third from bottom.

New coach Quique Sanchez Flores seeks his first league win in charge at home to Espanyol on Sunday to try and ease fears the club could suffer a shock relegation like in 2000.

Ben Arfa not going anywhere

Olympique Marseille's sporting director Jose Anigo insists that playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa still has a future at the club, following his falling out with L'OM manager Didier Deschamps at the Stade Velodrome.

And that's not all as 22-year-old has been involved in a number of training ground bust-ups since his move from Lyon last year.

But Anigo revealed that despite ongoing speculation regarding a move away, the Frenchman could continue at the club beyond the end of the season.

"He got a big slap with our talk after the incident with coach Deschamps," he told radio station RMC.

"Now he is working better during training sessions. He is far from leaving yet.

"But on the other hand, he has to show development."

L'OM officials had a meeting with Ben Arfa on Monday to discuss the player's future and many still expect the left-sided player to move in January.

But Ben Arfa's agent Michel Ouazine said that no decision had been made.

"We agreed to meet again in January and take stock," he told L'Equipe.

"We talked a lot about Hatem the football player, but also about the man. He needs emotional stability to blossom.

"We are on the same wavelength with sport director Jose Anigo."

Resurgent Milan keen on Sicilian conquest

Serie A giants Associazione Calcio Milan FC travel to Sicily in search of a consecutive fourth league success when they take on a struggling Catania side at the Stadio Angelo Massimino.

The Rossoneri, who had a bad start to the season, lie third in the standings and will look to break into the top two, thereby increasing pressure on city-rivals and leaders Internazionale Milano FC.

However, Leonardo's expansive attacking style could be affected by the absence of the suspended Andrea Pirlo, but the coach is confident that others can fill in.

"We go to Catania with Pirlo disqualified, but our idea of the game will always remain the same," he said.

"Even those who do not play often are able to understand our system."

While Pirlo serves a one-game ban, Alessandro Nesta returns.

Gennaro Gattuso, subject of transfer speculation in the past week, should not be too much of a distraction as he takes his place among the injured players in the stands, joined there by Massimo Oddo, Oguchi Onyewu and Marek Jankulovski.

Ignazio Abate could come in at right back, while Mathieu Flamini is fit again.

The 1-1 draw with Marseille in midweek means that Milan have eased the pressure on themselves considerably, with their Champions League fate in their own hands as they take on FC Zurich next week.

Marco Borriello came up with the goal, adding to the run of impressive form that has seen him bag three in seven league games.

Catania are without a win in their last five games, but spirits were boosted by the creditable 1-1 draw in the derby at Palermo last time out.

"The draw against Palermo was a very good result," said defender Matias Silvestre.

"If we continue on this road, sooner or later the results will come. Now we have Milan, a great team, but we're looking for revenge."

Silvestre's defensive colleague Giuseppe Bellusci warned the game may not be pretty.

"Considering how we played in Palermo, one point isn't much," he said. "Starting from the match against Milan, for us it becomes important to earn points rather than playing well."

It is no mystery as to why the premium is put on points. Catania sit 19th in the table, three points from safety having won only once all season.

A match against Milan is just the latest installment of a tough early fixture list, which has already seen them travel to Inter and Fiorentina as well as taking on Roma, Udinese and Lazio, among others.

However, such factors do not ease the pressure on coach Gianluca Atzori, who needs to pick up some points and fast.

His cause will not be helped by the absence of Gennaro Delvecchio, Pablo Barrientos, Fabio Sciacca and Giovanni Marchese.

Ferguson: Noise is the barrier and not pitch ban

Sir Alex Ferguson has claimed the Fratton Park band will prove more of an interference than the start of his two-match touchline ban.

However, the FA has confirmed he would not be barred from communicating with his staff from the Portsmouth directors' box. The purpose of the ban is merely to prevent Ferguson from coming into contact with the match officials during the course of the game.

It's the first of two matches in which Ferguson will have to sit in the stands after he was punished for criticising referee Alan Wiley's fitness earlier this season, and he admits the famous Pompey Chimes have the potential to make the outspoken Manchester United boss unheard - a rare feat indeed this season.

Ferguson insists he has few concerns about the impact his punishment will have on his team.

"All the lines of communication are in place but the problem you have got is that Fratton Park is such a noisy place,'' Ferguson said.

“It’s one of these old stadiums – it's a bit rickety. The directors' box is towards the home end where all the noise comes from. It is a good racket for sure. It is a terrific football stadium.''

United may find themselves languishing five points behind Chelsea in the Premier League title race, but Sir Alex Ferguson can take solace in the fact that a win against Portsmouth on Saturday would make his side the first in English football history to record 2,000 league wins since 1892.

Ferguson has also reportedly given his backing to Pompey’s new manager Avram Grant, believing him to be the man to save the club from relegation. Talking about Grant's new role in trying to re-establish Portsmouth as some kind of Premier League force, Ferguson said:

"Portsmouth have some very good players. I have looked at their videos and they may be in a false position. But being bottom of the league does create a reaction from owners and management of a club.”

"If you are third or fourth bottom you think everything will be okay. But when you see your team going bottom it creates a dread about where they are going to be next season.''

Film With Rare Khmer Rouge Interviews Opens

A documentary film that uses rare interviews with Khmer Rouge leaders and foot soldiers to demonstrate the regime’s chain of command is screening in Amsterdam this week.

The 94-minute “Enemies of the People” includes testimony from the regime’s ideologue, Nuon Chea, who was silent on his role within the Khmer Rouge for 30 years and is now in detention awaiting an atrocity crimes trial at the UN-backed tribunal.

“For the first time, you can see the chain of command that went up and down the Communist Party of Kampuchea, the Khmer Rouge party,” one of the film’s producers, Rob Limkin, told VOA Khmer by phone.

Thai PM cancels trip to Thaksin stronghold on security fears

Thailand's prime minister announced Thursday that he had cancelled a visit to a northern stronghold of his rival, ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, owing to security concerns.

Abhisit Vejjajiva was set to travel to the northern city of Chiang Mai for a commerce meeting on Sunday, but decided against the trip after receiving death threats, despite initially downplaying the security risk.

The cancellation highlights the political instability faced by Thailand, which has been wracked by rival street protests for months.

Cambodia asks America to cancel debts

The Cambodian Finance Minister, Mr. Keat Chhon, has again asked the U.S government, through its ambassador to Cambodia, to cancel $300 million debts from the 1970s, reports Reaksmei Kampuchea.

The request was made during a meeting between Minister Keat Chhon and Ambassador Carol Rodley (pictured) on Monday 23rd November to discuss about co-operation between the two countries. In the discussion, Ambassador Rodley had requested for an expansion of the American-funded International School of Phnom Penh which is overcrowded. According to sources, the U.S government had provided three tax experts to help the Cambodian government with tax reforms. The first batch of experts had completed their term and, according to the same sources, the second batch of experts will be sent to replaced them soon.

During the discussion, Ambassador Rodley said she would pass on the request of a debt cancellation to the U.S government for considerations and promised to work with the U.S government for a debt relief for Cambodia.

Man who helped Davik turning to heart charity full-time

Peter Chhun, right, and Sin Chhon and her daughter Davik Teng, 9, check out the menu at McDonalds in Long Beach in February 2008. Davik was aided to get life-saving heart surgery by the nonprofit founded by Chhun, Hearts Without Borders (Jeff Gritchen/Press-Telegram)

LONG BEACH - On Dec. 4, Peter Chhun will end a career and begin a life's purpose. He leaves a profession to pursue a passion.

An Emmy Award-winning producer and editor for NBC Network News, Chhun is also the founder of nonprofit Hearts Without Boundaries, which brings destitute children with heart problems from Cambodia to the U.S. for life-saving surgery.

Beginning Friday, the 60-year-old Cambodian refugee, who worked as an NBC cameraman during the country's civil war and escaped before the Khmer Rouge's final conquest, will be able to devote himself full time to his nonprofit's mission of "saving one heart at a time."

Neighbours uneasy with cheaper dong

Vietnam's decision to devalue its currency by 5% this week is likely to have a major impact on neighbouring countries, an expert on the country said.

"It is very attractive destination for investments and now it has just made itself more attractive," noted Wittaya Supatanakul, a retired general manager of Bangkok Bank's Vietnam office and now adviser to the Board of Investment's CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam) projects.

Vietnam, one of the main competitors of Thailand, on Wednesday announced that it was devaluing its currency and raising interest rates.

Wanna's Palm Tree Essay

If you haven't read it yet, go read Wanna's short essay on palm trees in Khmer culture which touches on history, symbols, politics, cuisine, conservation, and Wanna's delightful personal memories of palm trees in his home country.

He also includes an excellent set of web references on the topic - which I'm going to save as this could be developed into a mini lesson integrating science and cambodia for Harry or Sara sometime soon.

For long, the Khmer has adopted the thought that "where there're palm trees, where the Khmer territory is."

Can you imagine if Robert Frost grew up in Cambodia? Maybe that famous poem about fences would have started with something like "Palm trees make good neighbors."

The photo above is from my first trip to Cambodia in 2000. We had arrived at Pochentong Airport (now a more modernized Phnom Penh Airport) and drove to the orphange (very near to the airport) to get Harry. I was snapping photos from the car window and was amazed at the palm trees.

Technorati Tags: cambodia, palmtrees,

How do Cambodians celebrate their birthdays?

When I was in Cambodia, I was told that most Cambodians don't celebrate their birthdays ... particularly those in rural areas. However, I purchased the above card from a street vendor for Sara's birthday and was told that cards were mostly for foreigners.

I stumbled across Khem Vansinin's blog entry about her birthday party. So, I want to ask again - how do, if at all, Cambodians in Cambodia celebrate their birthdays?

How do you say the word birthday in Cambodia? What customs or songs are sung? Do you have parties?

In the US, we get a cake with candles that we blow out. We might have a party and get presents.

I want to know because it's my birthday today!

Phatry's Lucky Week For Meeting Khmer Legends

Phatry Derek Pan has had an incredible week! He met, interviewed, and posted about his experience meeting two Khmer legends, Master Kung Nai and Mr. Vann Nath.

Kung Nai is a master musician of the long-necked guitar, known as the chapey dong veng. I first learned about him from Arn Chourn Pond's project, Cambodian Living Arts, and then the POV Documentary The Flute Player. You can hear a recording of Kung Nai here. Phatry heard him perform at pre-CD release party at the restaurant, Romdeng. (Romdeng is run by the NGO, Street Friends, and provides restaurant training for youth)

Mr. Vann Nath is the famous painter of S-21, the KR's torture machine, a high school turned prison. For one full year in Tuol Sleng, he painted KR propaganda and of Pol Pot. For his talent, his life was spared. For being alive, he witnessed humanity's cruelest moments of execution.

Sandglass and Sovanna Phum in Providence, RI

Last night we attended a performance of Sandglass and Sovanna Phum (Here too)- the culmination of these two artists working together from different cultures, puppetry traditions, and language. What they produced was gorgeous, brilliant, and exceptional. It was a fusion of khmer/American artistry like I haven't seen.

We took Mongkol - and after a quick dinner at Whole Foods, we had a fabulous evening. My camera really sucks at taking indoor photos (probably something stupid about the settings I'm not doing) or maybe it is me. Mongkol, the expert photographer he is, has some beautiful ones here. I used them to create the slide show above.

Mongkol did a great write up here. He points out our meeting with a blog reader who recognized us!

However, that’s not all. While we were waiting for the Q&A session with the artists, we noticed one white guy approaching us from the distance. Surprising us from behind, he said, “Hello Mongkol and Beth! How are you? Mongkol, how are things going with your study?” At first I thought he was Beth’s friend, but yet how did he know my name? Hmmm.. A big question, huh? Only later did I find out that his name was Decker and he was one of our regular blog readers. Decker is from the UK and currently resides in Providence. He loves Cambodia and viewing Cambodia-related blogs is one of his ways to get in touch with Cambodia. Well, what a coincidence! Nice to meet you, Decker! :D I hope to see you again sometimes. :p

I took a lot of video clips and I'm editing them and will post later.

About Friends of Khmer Culture

FRIENDS OF KHMER CULTURE, Inc. was established to support Khmer arts and cultural organizations. Our mission is to work with Cambodian institutions to develop projects that are self-sustaining and therefore provide a bridge to future artistic and intellectual independence. The Khmer civilization that produced the magnificent sculpture and architecture of Cambodia flourished for more than a thousand years. Expressing the spiritual ideals of Buddhism and Hinduism as well as local genius, it was inspired and cherished by a continuous line of Khmer monarchs and their people. Today, after decades of devastating civil unrest, Cambodia is at peace, but its financial and human resources are still too limited to support and safeguard the centuries-old Khmer artistic traditions and monuments without help. With your support, Friends of Khmer Culture will try to help sustain this remarkable heritage that resonates with universal as well as national significance.

Mission Statement Friends of Khmer Culture supports all forms of Khmer cultural expression. We work with Cambodian and international scholars, artists, and institutions to preserve past achievements and encourage new vitality in art, literature, scholarship, and the performing arts. These fields are central to our mission to help rebuild civil society and enhance awareness and appreciation of Khmer culture both within and beyond Cambodia.

History Friends of Khmer Culture (FOKCI) was incorporated in New York as a not-for-profit corporation in 2000. FOKCI is a Section 501(c)(3) public charity and donations are tax deductible. It has a Board of Directors that meets at least four times a year, and an international Advisory Council.

FIFA call crisis talks after qualifiers, betting scandal

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, seen here in May 2009, has called an extraordinary general meeting for December 2 following the Thierry Henry handball incident and an ongoing investigation into match-fixing in Europe.

PARIS (AFP) - FIFA president Sepp

PARIS (AFP) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter has called an extraordinary general meeting for December 2 following the Thierry Henry handball incident and an ongoing investigation into match-fixing in Europe.

A FIFA statement released by world football's ruling body said Monday: "Due to recent events in the world of football, namely incidents at the play-offs for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, match control (refereeing) and irregularities in the football betting market, the FIFA President has called an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee.

"The extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee will take place in Cape Town on 2 December 2009, starting at 15.00."

The Henry handball incident left football's reputation - at least as regards the standards of refereeing - in tatters after it effectively cheated the Republic of Ireland out of a possible place at the World Cup.

France beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1 on aggregate over two legs of a qualifying playoff last Wednesday however Henry's blatant double handball, which led to their equaliser on the night, proved decisive for France.

Since then the use of video technology at football matches, which FIFA is fundamentally against, is an issue which appears to be gaining support throughout the game.

FIFA last week however ruled they would not bow to the Republic's formal request for a replay of the second leg.

The cash-rich world of European football meanwhile is reportedly harbouring an organised criminal gang that has made millions of euros by betting in Asian markets on the outcomes of matches they helped to decide.

On Thursday, police raided addresses across Europe, smashing what they believe is a 200-strong band that has bribed players, referees and coaches in nine countries.

The German Football Federation (DFB) and the German Football League (DFL) announced on Monday the creation of a task force to probe the betting scandal, which has rocked European football.

European football's governing body UEFA called a crisis meeting at their base in Nyon, Switzerland, for this Wednesday and the DFB and DFL will join forces to probe 32 German games out of some 200 which are under suspicion.

Around 200 games played this season in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey, Hungary, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Austria are now under suspicion.

None of the 200 suspected matches were in top flight European leagues like England's Premier League, Italy's Serie A, Spain's La Liga or Germany's Bundesliga.

In Italy on Monday police said they had arrested nine people whom they suspect of illegal betting in Italian football.

Amongst those arrested was the president of third division team Potenza, Giuseppe Postiglione and Pro Vastese sports director Luca Evangelista.

They are accused of being involved in organised crime and of sporting fraud relating to a number of bets placed on matches in the second and third divisions from 2007 to 2009.

One match under investigation is the Serie B encounter between Ravenna and Lecce on April 26, 2008, won 3-1 by the away side, on which Postiglione allegedly placed a bet that won him 86,000 euros.

Giovanni Colangelo, the public prosecutor in Potenza, claimed match-fixing had been taking place.

The 2006 'Calciopoli' match-fixing scandal involved high-profile Serie A teams and resulted in Juventus being relegated to Serie B and stripped of their last two league titles.

AC Milan, Lazio, Fiorentina and Reggina were also punished for their roles in the match-fixing.