Cambodia’s national football team are bracing for an international friendly against South American side Aruba tomorrow night, at Phnom Penh’s National Olympic Stadium.

While some fans believe the Kouprey could have an easy path to victory after the whistle goes at 7pm, national captain Kan Mo has warned that it won’t be a simple match.  

The fans expectations were certainly raised after Aruba’s 3-1 defeat against Cambodian club Visakha FC last Saturday. Based on this result, some assume that the visiting team will not pose a significant threat. 

However, the Kouprey are also coming off a loss, after a narrow 2-1 defeat against old foes Vietnam in a March 19 international friendly at Go Dau Stadium.

Mo, who also skippers Visakha, is not taking Aruba lightly. He expects them to field their key players and put up a strong fight. 

“Tomorrow’s match will not be easy because Aruba will go all out and field their best players against us,” the naturalised South African-born defender told a March 24 press conference.

“They didn’t travel all this way just for the experience — they want to win. As players, we must give our best and follow the game plan. I hope we can deliver a good result for our fans,” he added.

Cambodian captain and defender Kan Mo (centre-left) shakes hands with Aruban defender Nickenson Paul as they stand with their coaches at a March 24 press conference. CPL

Cambodian head coach Koji Gyotoku emphasised that he would not use Aruba’s match against Visakha as a benchmark for their quality.

“We don’t yet know how they play because we haven’t faced them before,” he said.

He noted that Aruba’s players are physically bigger, which could give them an advantage over Cambodia. Koji admitted that his squad’s preparation hasn’t been ideal but assured fans that the team will put on a strong performance.

“Our preparation is not perfect, but in every match, we aim for victory. We want to show good football to our fans, so we will do our best,” he said.

Facing Aruba, a team from outside the region, is also a rare opportunity for Cambodia. Koji highlighted that the match will offer a fresh experience for the national squad.

“In the past, we’ve mostly played against teams from our region. This time, we’re facing a team from a different continent, with a different playing style. It’s a new experience for us and a valuable one for our national team,” he explained.

Aruba’s head coach Marvic Bermudes revealed that his squad has had difficulties adjusting to Cambodia’s time zone and climate after struggling with travel fatigue. 

The team had a long journey involving four flights — from Aruba to Panama, then to the Netherlands, followed by Singapore, and finally arriving in Cambodia.  

“There’s an 11-hour time difference between Aruba and Cambodia, and with the long flights, our players were still recovering from jet lag. However, they are now adapting much better, and I expect them to be more prepared for tomorrow’s match,” he said.

Cambodian captain and defender Kan Mo (centre-left) shakes hands with Aruban defender Nickenson Paul as they stand with their coaches at a March 24 press conference. CPL

The Aruba national team (in yellow) lost 3-1 to Cambodian Premier League side Visakha FC in a March 22 friendly. Visakha FC