Sélection Cambodgienne de football de France

Mr. Pen Phath, a true football star during the regime of Sangkum Reastr Niyum, now lives in France. Last January, Lt. Gen. Sao Sokha, the president of Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) and his deputy Khek Ravy went for an official visit to Paris, France. After their meeting, Mr. Pen has been appointed as a representative for FFC in France and in Europe.

He has spent some of his time for an exclusive interview for our website:

FFC: Could we get more details about you?

Pen Phath: Thank you so much for your interest in me. I was born in Kompong Cham province in a poor family. At the age of 15, I started my career as footballer for the youth team of the province of Kompong Cham. One day, my team played a game against the National youth team. In that match, I scored one goal. Thereafter the national coach had invited me to join the national team in Phnom Penh. From then, for more than 10 years, I experienced many great and unforgettable victories with the Cambodian national team. I also played for National Bank’s club team. During that time many clubs from different countries such as Iran, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam were interested in me. Before the civil war, I decided to sign with a Thai team, Rapracha, managed by a general closed to the Thai royal family. I remember that a German club was interested in hiring me but the manager of Thai club didn’t allow me to leave. Finally, I went to France where I ended my career as a player in 1982. Afterward I took on several coaching positions in French clubs at district level.

FFC: What exactly is your role as a FFC representative in France?

Pen Phath: The FFC’s president wants to give the opportunity for young oversea Cambodians to be involved with Cambodia through football. My role is to attract and detect talents for the FFC. There are now about thirty young players (including one Frenchman married to a Cambodian girl), from different regions of France participating in our trainings every weekend and during the holidays periods.

FFC: Can these players help improve our national teams?

PP: Of course, they have good technical backgrounds and good will but the major problem for them seems to be the climate. In France, it is cold but in Cambodia, it is very hot and humid. The issue of adaptation to the Cambodian way of living will also affects some of them. We can solve this problem by inviting them to joint in the Cambodian clubs involved in the competitions organized by the FFC.

FFC: We saw you watching several of CPL’s matches. What do you think about the premier league?

PP: The performance of the Cambodian footballers at this moment is admirable because it has tremendously improved. Nevertheless, it still has room to improve, especially at the technical level. In the past, our selection had often beaten the neighbors. I hope that our younger generation can strive for that in the future. That would be make me proud!

FFC: What about the infrastructure for football in Cambodia?

PP: I congratulate FFC’s president, Lt. Gen. Sao Sokha, who has plenty of ideas to develop football in Cambodia, such as the establishment of grassroots development in primary and secondary schools, the expansion of the playing field etc... If we have football fields with international standards, we can invite the best teams in the world to play in Cambodia as done now by our neighbors. In Phnom Penh, we should have at least three stadiums and in each province, at least one. This would allow people in the provinces to watch football matches!

FFC: Are you satisfied with your life in football?

PP: I’m so proud to have spent my life as a footballer and a coach. It takes me great pride that as a Cambodian player, the Thai people still remember and respect me for more than 30 years. At the time I played for Rapracha I was known as snake Keng Kang and I was asked to change my name and citizenship but I kept them both. Also when I played for the Cambodian national team against Indonesia and other countries, the Thais supported me. I have good contact with my old club in Thailand. They have plans to open a sports school and they want my help but more importantly I want to devote my time to help and recruit young Cambodians for the FFC.

source: ffcambodia.com

Thx Chamroeun