Press Releases ● May 23, 2014
RHB Singapore Cup to feature top two Cambodian football clubs for first time ever
PHNOM PENH – Two of Cambodia’s best league clubs will be flying their kingdom’s flag proudly next week when they make their debut in the RHB Singapore Cup, Singapore‚Äôs second-biggest professional football competition after the S.League.
Two-time Metfone C-League champions Nagacorp FC, who are also defending champions of the Hun Sen Cup, and last year’s league champions Svay Rieng FC, have been nominated by the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) to compete in this year’s RHB Singapore Cup.
This year marks RHB Bank Singapore’s 10th year of sponsorship for the Singapore Cup, as the Bank renewed its sponsorship for three more years earlier this month. Just as RHB Bank Berhad is growing regionally and is now present in many South East Asian countries including Cambodia, the RHB Singapore Cup has also grown to be a big regional premier tournament.
Three other foreign clubs will also be taking part – Global FC and Loyola Meralco Sparks of the Philippines, and SHB Champasak from Laos.
Said RHB Bank Berhad’s Executive Director of Group International Business, Mr U Chen Hock: “The RHB Singapore Cup has a very pronounced presence in South East Asian football. There is natural synergy between the regional presence of this competition, and our Bank’s expansion of our operations in ASEAN.
“Through the sponsorship of the RHB Singapore Cup, RHB Bank is proud and heartened to be part of the ongoing process of football development in South-east Asia, and we are glad to see two top Cambodian sides competing in the Cup this year.”
He also added that in support of this initiative in Cambodia, RHB Bank Indochina Limited which is based in Phnom Penh, will be organising football coaching clinics with support of players from both NagaCorp and Svay Rieng. The football coaching clinic will be conducted for underprivileged children in Phnom Penh in June 2014. The participants will also take home 500 mini footballs donated by the S.League.
FFC Secretary-General Sophana Kul said he was happy to see NagaCorp and Svay Rieng representing the kingdom in the RHB Singapore Cup which comes with a top prize of S$100,000 (about US$80,000).
“I was very happy to receive the invitation to send two clubs to this year’s RHB Singapore Cup, and I would like to thank RHB Bank Indochina Limited for helping to make this happen,” said Mr Sophana.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for our teams to compete against two of the top clubs of Singapore’s S.League and I am sure it will be a wonderful experience.
“Cambodia teams had been participating in this well-known tournament since 2006. However, to date, only Phnom Penh FC has made it past the first round in 2009.
“We hope NagaCorp and Svay Rieng can do the same and create Cambodian football history by advancing even further. I wish them the best of luck.”
In the 2009 edition of the RHB Singapore Cup, Phnom Penh FC beat the Young Lions 2-0 to reach the quarter finals where they eventually lost 4-5 on aggregate to Bangkok Glass.
Last year, Boeung Ket Rubber Field lost in the first round. They were beaten 1-4 by Singapore’s Tanjong Pagar United.
NagaCorp and Svay Rieng will be hoping to do better this year. However, they will have to overcome tough first-round opponents first.
Svay Rieng will face Albirex Niigata at Singapore’s Jalan Besar Stadium on May 28. Albirex are the satellite club of the J-League team, and are made up of exciting young Japanese footballers. They accomplished a third place finishing in the S.League in the last two seasons.
NagaCorp will face defending RHB Singapore Cup champions Home United at Jalan Besar on May 30. Home United won the RHB Singapore Cup for a sixth time last year, and are also two-time S.League champions. Efforts are ongoing to provide a ‘live’ telecast of this match in Cambodia.
Said S.League Chief Executive Officer Lim Chin: “The RHB Singapore Cup has grown to be a big regional tournament. I am very pleased to have the top clubs from the region to participate annually in the RHB Singapore Cup and every year the level of competition is being raised.
“We are indeed pleased and privileged to have NagaCorp and Svay Rieng competing this year, and I wish them both the very best in the 2014 RHB Singapore Cup.”
