[Cambodian] Homeless footballers to play in World Cup

July 18, 2007
From correspondents in Phnom Penh
Herald Sun (Australia)

A CAMBODIAN soccer team comprised entirely of homeless teenagers has been invited to play in next year's Homeless World Cup in Australia.

The trip would mark the first international play for a growing number of organisations that field sports teams made up of homeless or orphaned children in Cambodia.

"They want homeless children to have a chance to play soccer and to see the world," Khun Sokrin, project manager and coach at the Happy Football Project, which has been invited to compete in the World Cup, said.

The annual tournament is organised in partnership with the European Football Federation, and offers teams made up entirely of homeless people the chance to compete against each other.

Some 500 players from 48 countries, including several developing nations, will attend this year's World Cup in Denmark which starts on July 29.

Khun Sokrin said the Cambodian side still had to raise the funds to travel to the 2008 tournament.

"We hope (to attend the tournament), but we cannot say what our odds of going are, because we are responsible for all the expenses,'' he said.

"We don't know the result, but we will try our best to do it," he added.

Khek Ravy, vice president of the Football Federation of Cambodia, said international play offered invaluable experience for young Cambodian footballers, and was essential for the country's feeder programmes.

"It is very important, they will face strong players and when they return, they would have new ideas and hope," he said.

Cambodia's football program has struggled for respect after a series of scandals and a dismal performance record.

Battered by its opponents abroad, the national side is ranked 169 out of 208 teams, according to world football body FIFA.

Sir Bobby to visit football crazy Cambodia

By Charles McDermid and Sam Rith
Phnom Penh Post, Issue 16 / 12, June 15 - 28, 2007

When English football legend Sir Bobby Charlton arrives in Phnom Penh for a good-will visit next month, he may be surprised by the contrast between the presently robust climate of Cambodian football and its decades-long run of disappointment.

It's still a long shot from Old Trafford circa 1966-but for Cambodia recent events are as encouraging as they've been in years. Sir Bobby comes amid local accomplishments. Ahead of a June 18 match with regional rival Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, Cambodia's national team has climbed to the rank of 169 out of 208 FIFA members-it's highest mark since a 162 in 1998.

Over the same time, brokering from a high-ranking government official has netted a $105,600 annual donation, boosting the budget of the newly re-named Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) by some 30 percent.

"The South Korea company Korean Technology Company donated more than $100,000 after the intervention of Sok An," said Khek Ravy, FCC senior vice president. "At the opening of the Hun Sen Cup, leaders from the South Korean company came with him- and they promised to help."

Ravy and FFC President Military General Sao Sokha returned June 2 from the annual FIFA Congress in Zurich. The FFC leaders returned with a personal pledge of support from FIFA President Joseph "Sepp" Blatter. "We're very happy to have his support. It's good backing, but we need more . It's a big first step but we need FIFA money and expertise to build capacity.

"Sokha sat with people and was humble about Cambodia and himself," said Ravy. " The General had a chance to see the Under-14 tourney won by South Africa over Bolivia. And saw first-hand the caliber of successful world football. He saw how associations operate efficiently."

One controversy has emerged: the future status of national head coach Scott O'Donell.

"We use all the funding to support staffs salary, administrative work, competitions and football development. This amount of money would be a lot for an individual or one family, but for the football field that has hundreds of teams it is not enough," Sokha said. "After his [Scott O'Donell's] contract end in 2007, we will recheck the contract between him and us. Due to our budget package, we may not have enough money to pay him as we have contracted. Previously we get US$100,000 per year from SCA to pay him, but next year SCA plans to cut 50 percent of the budget that they usually sponsored us." This ca-me as a surprise to O'Donell.

"I met with the President, General Sao Sokha two weeks ago to discuss my role after my current contract expires in December," O'Donell said. "He told me he was happy with the work I was doing and would like me to continue."