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2014 Witnesses a Dramatic Change in the Rising Cambodian Football League with a Speedy Improvement in the Relationship with Japan « Institute for Future Asian Football
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2015/3/23 | Cambodia | Japan

2014 Witnesses a Dramatic Change in the Rising Cambodian Football League with a Speedy Improvement in the Relationship with Japan

Japanese football fans are completelyCambodiaIMG_3195 unaware of any activities related to Cambodian Football. But having said that, there is a professional football league in Cambodia and it includes 2 clubs that have a Japanese management. One of the Japanese clubs in the Cambodian League is Albirex Niigata Phnom Penh.

Albirex Niigata Phnom Penh has the name similar to the J.League club, Albirex Niigata. Many people know about Albirex Niigata Singapore that has been active in Singapore since 2004. But not many people know about a similar Albirex Niigata Phnom Penh that exists in the capital city of Phnom Penh. (Incidentally, Albirex Niigata also has a team in Barcelona in Spain!). In 2014, in a sudden decision, Albirex Niigata joined the Division 1 Cambodian League and this became the talk of the town in Cambodian football community. Since Albirex entered the league very late, just before the end of the season, they were late in getting players and preparing them for the game. Hence unfortunately Albirex was last on the ranking and had to do the play off to decide the team to be sent to Division 2. (Albirex won the play-off and remained in Division 1)

The other club in Cambodian League is TriAsia Phnom Penh Football Club. TriAsia is a major Japanese international trading company based in Phnom Penh. In 2013, due to its outstanding performance, TriAsia FC was promoted from Division 2 to Division 1 and in 2014 season it finished at 5th rank among the 12 teams.

Both these teams have Japanese management and the team manager is also Japanese. In Cambodian League, 5 foreign players can be registered per team and almost all are Japanese players. In this season, the number of Japanese players playing in the Cambodian League has risen to 15 and includes experienced J1 players like Fukazawa Masahiro who previously played for Yokohama F Marinos and Kihara Masakzu who previously palyed for Avispa Fukuoka.

Main sponsor for Albirex is AEON that has opened AEON Mall in Cambodia in June 2014. Similarly TriAsia FC is gaining popularity with the help of its sponsor company’s TV media. In turn, football is helping to promote these companies in Cambodia. Though not involved in League matches, companies like Real Estate Company Starts, Panasonic etc. are also sponsoring Football Cup Tournaments in Cambodia.

In another instance, Yamaha Bike Company organized a U14 CambodiaIMG_6377international tournament with the name ‘Yamaha Challenge Cup’ to have a match between Cambodian national U14 team and the Japanese U14 team. Iki Yusuke (formerly in Vegalta Sendai training department) is the coach for Cambodian U14 national team. This is one of the ways in which Japanese companies and football organizations are supporting Cambodia. Mr. Karakida Tetsu, former member of J.League referees, is now the referee director of Football Federation of Cambodia. (As a marketing activity, Yamaha has formed a Football School Caravan for the children in Battambang, the 2nd most important city in Cambodia.)

The U14 national team of Cambodia is preparing for the 2023 SEA Games (South East Asian Games) that will be hosted by Cambodia. In its efforts to prepare a winning team, in addition to appointing Iki as the team coach, Cambodian League is getting support from The Japan Foundation to organize football tours to Japan, Thailand etc.

“Dentsu Sports Asia”, a subsidiary of the major advertising company Dentsu has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Phnom Penh Crown FC of Division 1 (Champion of this season) and is working to support the football in Cambodia. It has also contributed to the league sponsorship of 2015 season.

CambodiaIMG_9638Owing to the renovation of Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh which is being upgraded to artificial turf, the field is not ready in time for 2015 season and hence home and away transitions will be affected. There are many other things that are unclear, but with the support from Japanese companies and Japanese football community, Cambodian football has gradually started to develop. Today with a growing trend to create a strong image of Asia amongst the foreigners, there will  be definitely an increase in demand for Japanese players.

(Institute for Future Asian Football/Yomo)