SEA Games countdown

The countdown to the SEA Games - big sports news if you live in Southeast Asia, but not even on the radar if you live elsewhere in the world - is definitely on. The Games, the 25th edition of this bi-annual event, officially begins on 9 December (and ends on 18) in Laos. However, the group stages of the football competition kicks off a week earlier and the Cambodian team's first match is on the 4th, with games coming thick and fast after that. The squad, who are concluding their final preparations in neighbouring Vietnam, and have their final friendly against Can Tho on Wednesday, are due to get the bus from Phnom Penh to Vientiane on Saturday. All being well, I will be with them. That's if I get my Lao visa in time and can find some accommodation in Vientiane to rest my weary bones after two days on the road. I'm covering the Games for the Phnom Penh Post and will be there before most of the media to report back on the football team's efforts. I anticipate being there for a couple of weeks but it all depends on the team's success or otherwise. In between time, I will also cover some of the other sports too, with Cambodia taking part in 19 separate competitions.