Cambodia Coach set to return .

Coach Austin Koledoye is set to leave China after Game 2

Cambodia’s flying start to the China Asean Invitational Basketball Tournament may yet receive a blow as head coach Austin Koledoye is about to leave the team for another mission to Vietnam. Cambodia defeated Macao in the opening Group B match on Tuesday 77-65 and are due to take on China Guangxi later tonight which may be the last match Coach Austin my handle before returning to Cambodia to lead his School team to a volleyball championship in Vietnam.

“ I have to leave tonight after the game or latest tomorrow morning” Says coach Austin. “ I am waiting for the NOC Official Mr Top Panha to reconfirm my return ticket back to Cambodia he said.

The Nigerian born Coach who is also the Athletic Director of Northbridge International School (NISC) is under pressure to return to his primary assignment due to other pressing schedules.

“ I am full time Athletic Director with Northbridge, without the support of the NISC administration it will be impossible for me to do the work with the National Team”.
“ I wish I could hang on to help the team, we have started well but my attention is urgently needed back in NISC” said Austin. The Coach who has been the national team coach since 2006 has been combining the job with his main job at NISC where he joined in 1997 gave credit to the management of NISC for their support to Development of Sports in Cambodia particularly Basketball.

“I have to thank my Director Mr. Roy Crawford and Principal Steve Paterson for their support and encouragement. Without them there is no way I could be doing this job” he acknowledged.

“I am due to take the NISC High school Volleyball team to a competition in Vietnam and with the SEA games coming up later next month, I will be away for about 2 weeks” he says of his tight schedules ahead.

Faced with this dilemma, Secretary to the Cambodia Basketball Federation and Head of Delegation to the tournament, Mr. Mak Champhirun is appealing to the Coach to remain at least until end of the group games. “We want Austin to stay, we understand his situation but we hope he can stay till Friday after the group games” Says Champhirun.

Coach Austin with The NISC Female Basketball Team: The NISC team due to travel Vietnam on Thursday

“ We need Coach Austin to stay, his done a good job thus far and will be missed if he has to go midway into the tournament” Say US based Pek Mith. “ We all Pay attention to him but If he has to go due to the demands back in Cambodia, then we all got try to communicate more and step things up” Pek Mith declared

“We are beginning to foster some understanding and we need the head coach around for sure, leaving now will not help the team” echoes Swedish Import Thach Boroth. “Our Problem has been communication and the Local players lack confidence which we the foreign players have brought into the team, we are giving our best and hopefully we will come well” he added.

Should coach Austin eventually leave, the task to steer the team through the tournament will fall on his assistant Mr. Long Rith.

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