The Cambodian Men’s national volleyball team will play against one of the strongest teams in the world in an international friendly match this week.
The National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) announced that the Cambodian team will play against Cuba on Thursday at the Prince Stadium in Phnom Penh. The match will start at 7pm.
The Cuban and Singaporean national volleyball squads were invited by the Volleyball Federation of Cambodia (VFC) for a series of friendly matches against the home team.
The games are intended to measure the ability of the Cambodian team and give their players more international exposure.
“It will also strengthen the friendship between Cambodia and other countries, especially Cuba and Singapore,” the NOCC pointed out.
The Cambodian team beat the Singaporeans in a three-set thriller at the Prince Stadium three days ago.
The Cambodians won the first set, 25-21. The Singaporeans stormed back into the game, winning the next set, 25-22, to set up the deciding third set.
The Cambodians pulled ahead, 22-18, in the third set, after the Singaporeans committed numerous service errors. The Singaporeans rallied to tie the score, 25-25. But they faltered from there, allowing the Cambodian side to win the decider, 27-25.
Nearly a thousand fans, including several Singaporean nationals, watched the game courtside.
A major volleyball tournament, Hun Sen Cup 2022, was also launched during the same occasion.
The tournament involves 11 teams, including Visakha, Ministry of Interior and Phnom Penh Administration.
Many dignitaries attended the event, including National Police chief Neth Savoeun, who is also the president of VFC; VFC Secretary-General Aing Sereypiseth; VFC Vice President Sar Sokha; Cuban Ambassador to Cambodia Liurka Rodriguez Barrios; and Singaporean Ambassador Teo Lay Cheng.
Rodriguez described the upcoming friendly as an example of the excellent relationship and very high level of bilateral ties between Cuba and Cambodia.
Prime Minister Hun Sen and Cuban PM Manuel Marrero exchanged visits recently. During the Cuban leader’s visit two weeks ago, the two countries signed several agreements covering sports and culture.
“For the Cuban athletes, this is an opportunity to know more about the Cambodian people and culture.,” Rodriguez said.
According to her, the Cuban delegation has already visited several tourist spots in Phnom Penh.
“I am sure they will share the memories, especially about the hospitality of the Khmer people, with their own families and the Cuban people,” she said.
The upcoming game, according to the Cuban envoy, will help the Cambodian side, especially with their preparations for the 2023 Southeast Asian Games.
Cuba has one of the strongest Men’s volleyball teams in the world, with the Cubans winning titles in global competitions like the World Cup, World Grand Champions Cup, World League and Challenger Cup.
The Cubans won the North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) title 15 times.
“I think it will be a very interesting match. I saw the Cambodian national volleyball team in action, and they seem to be very strong,” she stressed.
The Cambodian team has improved a lot the last few years, with the support of the government and private organisations and businesses, especially Prince Group.
One of the leading business conglomerates in the Kingdom, Prince Group brought the team to international competitions in Thailand and China in the past. Ahead of the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines, the company donated $500,000 to the VFC to support its preparations and training programmes, local media reported.
The Cambodians won a bronze medal in volleyball during the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam, for their best performance since the early 1980s.
The Cambodian side also includes two Cuban coaches enlisted by the VFC to help with preparations for the 2023 SEA Games.