According to the schedule, the Cambodian team will have a match against the Vietnamese team at Go Dau Stadium, Binh Duong on March 19. They will then return to Phnom Penh to play a friendly match with the Aruba team on March 25.
On March 11, the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) announced the list of 23 players called up to the Cambodian national team to prepare for these two matches. Among them, the team has 5 naturalized players including striker Nieto Rondon from Colombia, defenders Takaki Ose and Yudai Ogawa from Japan, striker Coulibaly Abdel Kader from the Ivory Coast and defender Kanh Mo from South Africa. These players have all competed in the 2024 ASEAN Cup.
However, three players born abroad who have previously naturalized as Cambodian, including Hikaru Mizuno, Privat Mbarga, and Zogbe Vireak, have not been called up to the national team this time.
In addition to the 5 naturalized players, the remaining 18 players are mostly experienced in competing in the recent ASEAN Cup 2024. However, goalkeeper Hul Kimhuy and players Min Ratanak, Sa Ty, Orn Chanpolin, In Sodavid, Yeu Muslim, Seut Baraing, Leng Nora and Kim Sokyuth have not been called up this time.
They have been replaced by goalkeeper Keo Soksela, players Ouk Sovann, Phat Sokha, Chou Sinti, Sin Sovann Makara and rising young star Bong Samuel.
A day before announcing the list of players called up to the Cambodian national team, FFC appointed Mr. Koji Gyotoku as the official coach of the Cambodian national team and the U23 team, after a period of interim management.
Keo Sareth, FFC's general secretary, said the federation's executive committee was confident in Mr. Koji's ability to bring new experience and techniques to help the team develop further.
We have seen his work in coaching and managing previous matches, he said. He is working hard and we believe that he can develop the quality of the playing style of the Cambodian national team. Koji's skills and experience are very suitable to lead the team forward".
