Cambodian League to return next month?

Cambodian League to return next month?

Football, especially the Metfone Cambodian League (MCL), will likely return soon with the easing of restrictions related to sports.

With the coronavirus problem largely kept under control, the Cambodian Government allowed the conditional return of sports activities beginning of June.

Unlike many other countries, Cambodia has not experienced a rapid rise in coronavirus infections. So far, Cambodia has reported 125 cases of the virus.

While there is still no confirmation from the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) or organisers of the MCL, the rumours circulating around town is that it will resume next month.

The rumours were amplified by the fact that clubs are now allowed to practice as a team. A local sports publication went as far as saying that it will return in July.

Sources inside the MCL would not confirm it, but said they also heard the rumours.

“That’s the word on the street. Beginning of July however, it is not confirmed yet,” said a player contacted by Khmer Times yesterday.

Fans and others across the Kingdom and even outside have been angling for the return of Cambodia’s top football league since its 2020 edition was suspended in March due to the pandemic.

Likewise, players have been raring to get back to action after being limited to individual or online training in the past two months.

Football leagues in other Asean countries have re-opened or are primed for re-opening in the next few weeks or months.

In May, Vietnam became the first country in the region to resume competitive football. The Lao Premier League, meanwhile, has announced it will resume next month. In Thailand, football leagues, including the top-flight Thai League 1, is scheduled to resume in September.

Before the MCL was suspended, Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng football club was leading the pack with 13 points, followed (in order) by Phnom Penh Crown FC (11), Visakha FC (9), Angkor Tiger FC (8), Boeung Ket FC (8), NagaWorld FC (8), Asia Euro United FC (8) and Tiffy Army FC (8).

MCL and FFC officials are expected to announce their decision regarding the resumption of football in the next few days.

If football indeed resumes in Cambodia next month, it is expected that fans will not be allowed court-side and that preventive measures like limited number of people allowed in the stadium, social distancing and bans on hugging or shaking of hands will be in place.

Credited: Khmer Times