Foreign players are set to be allowed to compete in the 2023-24 Hun Sen Cup pending a meeting with clubs set to be held on Monday (March 27th).
To read about the Hun Sen Cup click here.
What are the new rules?
Nothing has yet been confirmed, with the final decision set to be made at the Monday meeting between the Cambodian Premier League, the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) and clubs. From what we understand though the plan is to allow up to three foreign players during the 2023-24 Hun Sen Cup, although exact specifics are yet to be announced.
Current Cambodian Premier League rules state that clubs may have five registered foreign players, four of whom can on the pitch at any one time, with one needing to be from an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) country.
You can read about the Cambodian Premier League here.
Time for change?
Originally brought in to give young Khmer players more match time, the actual result tended to be clubs hoarding young players for the cup, instead of leaning them out. Many clubs and others within the sport have thus argued that not only does it put them at a disadvantage compared to richer clubs, but also that it results in less, not more match time for young players. A problem further confounded by the lack of any reserve or youth league within the Kingdom.
To read why Cambodia needs more not less football click here
And the potential change is already proving popular with stakeholders in the game, with Phnom Penh Crown coach Oleg Starynskyi telling BPVE “I personally want us to be able to use foreigners in the cup as it will make matches more intense and competitive, as well as help raise the overall quality of local players”.
This was sentiment echoed by Chris Grant, General-Manager of PKR Svay Rieng who stated “We have been pushing for this change for a long time and very much welcome it. We are looking forward to seeing what the exact announcement will be on Monday”.
This article is adapted from BPVE SPORT Cambodia, reported and edited from the great team – Cambodia Sports Review.
Follow BPVE SPORT
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @bpvesport
Advertisement Requests
Advertisement department:
777@kering-admin