ZCZC
BSP-14
FOOTBALLER-HONDA-CAMBODIA
Cambodia names Japanese footballer Honda as national team general
manager
PHNOM PENH, Aug, 12, 2018 (BSS/Xinhua) – Japanese footballer Keisuke Honda was appointed as the Cambodia national football team’s head coach and general manager on Sunday.
Sao Sokha, president of the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC), said Honda had signed a two-year contract to coach the Cambodia national team without a paycheck.
“Honda has volunteered to help coach our Cambodia national football team, and he agrees not to take a salary, but the FFC will pay for his travel and accommodation,” he said in a press briefing in Phnom Penh.
Sokha was confident that the 32-year-old former AC Milan striker would help improve the ability of Cambodia national team players towards the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup and the 2023 Southeast Asian Games when Cambodia is the host.
Honda recently announced his retirement from international football and just signed with A-League club Melbourne Victory for the 2018-19 season last week.
Speaking in the press briefing, Honda said he will continue his playing career in the A-League; at the same time, he will manage his time to coach the Cambodia national team through video conference once or twice a week.
“I would like to help the Cambodia national team create a clear style of playing and promote Cambodia to the outside world,” he said via an interpreter. Despite its poor ranking in the FIFA ratings, Cambodia has had a rise in football in terms of individual talent in recent years.
BSS/XINHUA/AU/16:50 hrs