PKR Svay Rieng promises to give its best versus Master 7 today

PKR Svay Rieng FC is favored to win their match against Master 7 FC today

Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng football club of Cambodia will battle Master 7 FC of Laos today in what promises to be an exciting and hard-fought match.

The two teams are facing off in the first leg of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup 2020 playoffs. The game between PKR Svay Rieng FC and Master 7 FC will be held at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh starting at 6pm.

The match and another one that will be held in Laos on Jan 29 will determine which of the two teams will advance to the group stage of the continental championship.

There are 29 teams that have already qualified for the group stage.

These teams are Al-Jaish and Al-Wathba (Syria); Al-Faisaly and Al-Jazeera (Jordan); Al-Kuwait and Al-Qadsiya (Kuwait); Al-Riffa and Manama (Qatar); A-Ahed and Al-Ansar (Lebanon); Dhofar (Oman); Ho Chi Minh City and Then Quang Ninh (Vietnam); Ceres-Negros and Kaya-Iloilo (Philippines); Tampines Rovers and Hougang United (Singapore); Bali United (Indonesia); Shan United (Myanmar); Lao Toyota (Laos); Istiklol (Tajikistan); Altyn Asyr (Turkmenistan); Doldoi (Kyrgyzstan); Chennai City (India); TC Sports (Maldives); Bashundhara Kings (Bangladesh); Tai Po (Hong Kong); Tatung (Taiwan) and MUST CPK (Macao).

There are 14 teams that are vying for the last seven slots of the group stage.

In a media briefing at the Olympic Stadium yesterday, Conor Nestor, head coach of PKR Svay Rieng FC, said they are ready to face Master 7. Nestor was joined during the briefing by team captain Soeuy Visal, team translator Seav Chea and Chan Mithona, information officer of the Football Federation of Cambodia.

“I sit here with no excuses. I’ve got everything here, including the players that I want,” he said. “I would be responsible if we don’t go into the group stage.”

Nestor hinted that there would be shortage of effort on their side. “We will play harder than Master 7. We will attack better, defend better,” he said.

In addition to Visal, midfielder Hoy Phallin, defender Jonny Campbell and forwards Prak Mony Udom, Jean Befolo “Privat” Mbarga and Nub Tola are expected to play key roles for the host team. All six players have extensive experience playing here and abroad.

Master 7 FC, meanwhile, are expected to rely on midfielder Keoviengphet Liththideth, forward Sopha Saysana and a few foreign-born players.

Among the officials who will officiate at the game is Abdul Hakim, Brunei’s top football referee. The Borneo Bulletin reported that Hakim was appointed by AFC to be the fourth official for the game.

Cambodia still faces a tough road ahead in the event it advances to the group stage. “It will be the toughest group stage that Cambodia will have faced in a long while,” Republican Irishman Nestor pointed out.

The AFC Cup, an annual event, is one of Asia’s most prestigious football tournaments.