Sir Bobby Charlton to visit Cambodia

15 June 2007
AFP

PHNOM PENH - English football legend Sir Bobby Charlton will visit Cambodia next month to take part in a landmine victim awareness programme, football officials here said Friday.

Charlton will tour parts of Cambodia’s mine-infested northwest, said Khek Ravy, vice president of the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC).

A consummate sportsman whose formidable speed and deadly long-range shot rated him as one of England’s best-ever footballers, his visit is also intended to breathe some life into Cambodia’s ailing football side.

Battered by its opponents abroad and beset by scandal at home, Cambodia’s national team is ranked 169 out of 208 teams, according to world football body FIFA.

‘Many people see him as a hero. His fame will help our football programmes,’ Khek Ravy told AFP.

He added that no exact date has been set yet for Charlton’s visit.

Charlton retired from professional football in 1973 after a career with Manchester United and England. He was crucial to England’s 1966 World Cup victory, and appeared in 106 international matches, scoring 49 goals.

South Korean company donates to help Cambodia train footballers

General Sao Sokha (R), president of the Football Federation of Cambodia, during a ceremony in which he received the Moha Sereiwath medal from Hun Sen (L), January 2007 (Photo: Cambodia's Family Tree, Global Witness)

June 08, 2007

The Korean Technology Company ( KTC) from South Korea has decided to donate 105,600 U.S. dollars each year from 2007 to 2009 to help Cambodia train its national footballers, a sports official said on Friday.

"The finance will be used for paying salary for the players and purchasing materials," said Sao Sokha, president of the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC).

The consecutive donation will help strengthen Cambodian footballers' capacity, said Sokha, adding that the players used to have financial difficulties which led to unsatisfied match results.

In addition, he said, KTC will spend 100,000 U.S. dollars annually to hire South Korean coach to train Cambodia's national football team and qualified footballers will be sent to South Korea for further improvement.

Cambodia now has some 30 functional football clubs. It stays almost at the bottom of the International Football Federation's ( FIFA) world ranking.

Source: Xinhua