18-man squad announced

The Cambodian national squad for the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifying games in Laos this month, flew out from Pochentong Airport today, after the 18-man squad was named by South Korean coach Lee Ta-Hoon. Here is the line-up:

Goalkeepers: Ouk Mic, Peng Bunchhay.
Defenders: Rang Borin, Pheak Rady, Tieng Tiny, Sok Rithy, Lay Raksmey, San Narith.
Midfielders: Sun Sopanha, Ieng Piseth, Phuong Soksana, Chhun Sothearath, Khuon Laboravy, Tum Saray.
Forwards: Khim Borey, Kouch Sokumpheak, Nuth Sinoun, Keo Sokngorn (pictured right).

These are the men tasked by the head coach with gaining one of the two available qualifying slots from the competition in Vientiane over the next week. It will be tough as both the Philippines and Laos are rated higher than Cambodia, but it's an achievable goal, and one which we managed, albeit with home soil advantage, in 2008. I was a mite surprised to see Tum Saray and Phuong Soksana included after watching them for half an hour against the National Police, as well as throughout the C-League season that's just finished. They've been selected at the expense of the two Dalin's, Sin and Samuth, though I don't expect either to get a starting place. I've mentioned before that a number of the country's best players weren't selected by the new coach and his assistants, though that's water under the bridge now as we need to get behind the 18 players and the coaching team and their combined bid to gain qualification to the group stage of the AFF Suzuki Cup. Come on Cambodia.