FFC APPOINT O’DONELL AS HEAD COACH

PHNOM PENH (8 June 2009) – The Executive Committee of the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC), led by president Sokha Sao, has appointed Australian Scott O’Donell to prepare the Under-23 national team for the SEA Games which will be held in Laos in December.

“His one-year contract will be renewed based on the progress of the team’s performance during his tenure,” said His Excellency Ravy Khek (pic), the vice-president of FFC.

Ravy assured that O’Donell would receive the full support of the FFC, adding that there are scheduled trainings and test matches in South Korea and Vietnam starting in October in preparation for the games.

However, Ravy noted that mental and physical fitness as well as tactical changes will be a must going into this intense regional competition.

One interesting development Ravy mentioned was a draft by the FFC for a club team composed of national U23 players for next season’s CPL.

The idea submitted by president Sao Sokha during the last FFC council meeting argues that a competitive team must play in a competitive environment to be cohesive and united under a professional management.

“This emulates the concept of the Young Lions team in Singapore,” stated Ravy.

O’Donell will be asked to submit a plan for the inception of the team to be approved by the FFC’s executive committee.