Chris McAsey
Cambodia is quietly confident of making a mark at the Asia Cup after surprising many with its performances at the Asian Championships.
Footy has gone from strength to strength in the Kingdom in recent years, with clubs welcoming and retaining new local players to build a solid core group for the national team.
Assistant Coach Matt Bloomberg says the majority of the men’s and women’s squads have ‘been chasing Sherrins for six years or more now.’
Footy has gone from strength to strength in the Kingdom in recent years.
Continuity and focus on local development has seen the women’s team (Asparas) in particular gain a reputation as giant killers. The Asparas went through the Asian Champs undefeated – accounting for Indonesia, Thailand, the Barbarians and Hong Kong – before falling short against Singapore in the Grand Final.
‘The girls raised eyebrows as usual for their ability to perform against bigger opponents,’ Matt says.
‘Only one Aussie and one Frenchwoman were added to our mosquito squad for that tournament, so to get done by less than two goals against a Singapore team with lots of Aussies and Irish, is bloody encouraging.
The women’s team raised eyebrows for their ability to perform against bigger opponents at the Asian Champs.
‘Our men probably came up a bit short, knocked out in the semi final, but that will only fuel them for this. We believe we’re better than that.’
Matt says the ‘first home-grown superstars of Asian footy’, Nan Nas (men’s) and Sreylak Koun (women’s), are natural leaders for their teams.
‘They’re just exceptional talents that players rally around and will run through walls for.
‘Men’s Vice-captain Sanh Sakada is only his second year but is one of the most vocal players at the club, pumping up the troops on and off the field, pushing everyone to improve and hitting every contest and laying every tackle like his life depends on it.’
Veterans Borres Kieng and Chhaya Hang are dusting off the boots, while Veasna Leak returns to the squad from a season playing in Australia.
Sakada has become a key player in the space of 18 months along with Chivorn, a big rangy soccer convert with the potential to have a breakout tournament.
For the women, Matt says that Phat Sreymay (May) is a defensive lynchpin who is starting to find her voice on field.
‘It’s not so natural for Cambodian women to be running round barking orders,’ he says. ‘But May is really stepping up and we’re looking forward to how she and all our leaders go without expats in the team.’
Sisters Khoun, Leap and Maly, have continued to develop, with Maly returning from having a child to offer great game sense and composure.
‘Leap, our four-foot goal pirate, is bursting with desire and we look forward to her surprising plenty of opponents with her guile, courage and nose for a goal,’ Matt says.
The squads will be coached by Hannah Slaughter (women) and Peter Kokke (men), with assistance from Matt Blomberg and Nic across both teams.
