Anlong Veaeng Welcomed to 1st Round National B League Comp.

[CNVLD]

The Anlong Veaeng Austcare/Actionaid Lions, the newest team in the CNVLD National Volleyball League were warmly welcomed by everyone to the 1st Round B-League Competition, Saturday at Kien Khleang where five teams began their journey with only one able to gain promotion to the 2008 A-League.

The successful annual expansion of the National League has allowed for a 10 team A-League and a 5 team B-League division for the first time ever in 2007. With relegation and promotion a real threat and reward, the standard of play in the 2007 National League has reached new heights.

Playing on the newly renovated CNVLD Kien Khleang Sports Court, the five B-League teams played through a ten-game schedule in glorious sunshine.

The Anlong Veaeng Austcare / Actionaid Lions were clearly nervous at this their first ever competition and for the athletes, their first ever visit to Phnom Penh. Despite losing their opening three games, the Lions were warmly welcomed by all athletes who gave them loud support during their games. The presence of General John Sanderson, UNTAC Military Commander 1991-1993 and Ambassador to Cambodia of Austcare, also provided them with a welcome boost to morale. With a number of athletes shining, all are confident that that Anlong Veaeng will be the team to watch in the future.

The Veal Thom Medico International Oxen put on the strongest showing of the day thanks to Man Veasna, Tioun Theoun and Yim Vanna, three former national team players who joined Veal Thom in the pre-season transfer window. Their four straight wins against the Kratie Dolphins, Kampot Siemens Crocodiles and Kompong Chhnang Heidelberg Rhinos and Anlong Veaeng Austcare/Actionaid Lions see them top the table after the first round.

The Kampot Siemens Crocodiles hold second position after they won three of their four games without dropping a single set with the Kratie Dolphins close on their heels in third. The Kompong Chhnang Heidelberg Rhinos had a tough day by only scraping a victory against newcomers the Anlong Veaeng Austcare Actionaid Lions and took fourth place.

The CNVLD wishes to thank all of the B-League Sponsors, General John Sanderson and Austcare, ICRC Kompong Speu for the ongoing provision of a qualified CPO to provide medical care and also Dr Aaron Root for his ongoing voluntary work in classifying all B-League athletes in cooperation with the Australian Paralympic Committee.

All of the 1st Round National B-League Competition Results and Standings are available for viewing on the Results at CNVLDwith all further competitions and venues listed on the Schedules 2007 at CNVLD

The next scheduled B-League Competition, on Saturday 1st September 2007 at Kien Khleang, will decide which team successfully wins promotion to the prestigious 2008 A-League Competition where all games are played in the Olympic Stadium Phnom Penh.

Games start at 06.30 with Free Entry for all spectators.