PHNOM PENH (1 Sept 2011) – The Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) are using the Mekong Region Youth International Football Tournament for the BIDC Cup as part of their preparation for the SEA Games which will be hosted by Indonesia at the end of the year.
The tournament, which is sponsored by the Vietnam-based Bank for Investment and Development of Cambodia (BIDC), will see six teams battling it out on 8-16 October 2011.
“It’s a big boost for football development in the Mekong belt, and its timing will also help the preparations for the SEA Games in November,” said General Sao Sokha, the president of the FFC.
Following the draw which was held this week, hosts Cambodia have been placed in Group B against Laos and Myanmar.
Group A are Vietnam, Thailand and China’s Wuhan Hongxing FC.
“We started it in a small way, and now it has grown bigger,’’ said Nguyen Van Hien, the chief executive of BIDC.
“Our aim is to help development of football among young people in the Mekong region and, as a bank operating in three countries in the region; we are determined to support this effort.”
The champion of the BIDC Cup will earn USD20,000 with the runners-up to pocket USD15,000.
The two semi-finalists will be rewarded USD10,000 each with the top scorer set to win USD1,000.
PIX: BIDC chief executive Nguyen Van Hien (second left) and FFC president General Sao Sokha at the official draw for the BIDC Cup on Saturday. Photo by: Sreng Mengsrun
