Cambodia Hoping to Win Big in Women’s Football
Sao Sokha addressing during the FFC Assembly held at Garden City Hotel on June 9. Photo: Football Federation of Cambodia's Facebook page.
- Soeurn Vanndet
- June 11, 2020 2:22 AM
The Football Federation of Cambodia is aiming to send its most talented female footballers abroad for more advanced training.
PHNOM PENH--The Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) will send a national women's football team to train abroad in preparation for the 2023 SEA Games when Cambodia will host the biennial event, according to FFC President Sao Sokha. The federation is currently seeking to recruit more talented players through a women’s football tournament, Sokha added.
Sokha revealed the plan during the FFC Assembly held at Garden City Hotel on June 9. He said that China has urged Cambodia to send its women football team to train on their soil.
“Cambodia’s friends, especially China, has urged us again and again to send to our women’s team to train there so that they can assist in training for preparation for the SEA Games 2023. In its strategic plan, the FFC will arrange women's football events to recruit potential players to train overseas,” he said, referring to FFC’s plan for 2020 to host an all-women ten-team league.
The federation plans to spend around $260,000 to develop the women’s team by hosting the league and a tournament for under-16 girls.
Sokha noted that women’s football in Southeast Asia remains relatively low in capacity, which presents an opportunity for Cambodia to clinch a medal.
“When we say we see potential in our women’s team we’re not just saying it—there are countries in Southeast Asia preparing for the SEA Games, but their teams are also not strong. We have enough time and if we have a strong commitment and sufficient financial resources, we can achieve these hopes,” he said.
Currently, there are only two women’s teams in Cambodia: Phnom Penh Crown FC and Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC. The FFC also is building schools across the country aimed at recruiting more potential players.
Vat Chamroeun, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), said that winning a gold medal in football is akin to achieving half of the whole event, given the prestige and popularity of the sport. Chamroeun said that football is a sport that attracts the most fans at the SEA Games.
“If we win at football, we win everything,” he said.
Chamroeun went on to say that success in football will make the SEA Games more meaningful for the host nation. He then raised the example of Vietnam, who hosted the event on 2003. Vietnam, he mentioned, received support and attention from international observers because they won silver medal for men’s football and gold medal for women’s team.
In FIFA world ranking, Cambodia ranked 173th for men’s team but the country has no national women’s football team yet.
