Coach Koji Gyotoku has admitted that the Cambodian national side are not yet in optimal condition, but aims to get the best from them in their March 19 friendly against Vietnam. FFC
The Cambodian national football team travelled to Vietnam on Monday to prepare for an international friendly match against the Vietnamese national team. The match will take place at Go Dau Stadium at 7.30pm tomorrow, March 19, following an invitation from the Vietnam Football Federation.
Cambodia’s head coach Koji Gyotoku admitted that the team is not yet in optimal condition.
He explained that several key players from clubs like Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng, Phnom Penh Crown and NagaWorld have had recent back-to-back club games, preventing them from training together in Cambodia over the past week.
“Playing against Vietnam is a great opportunity for us because they are a strong team. However, our preparation has not been ideal as some of our players could not train together,” he told the media, as the team prepared to depart from Phnom Penh International Airport.
Despite the challenges, the Kouprey remain determined to compete strongly and achieve a positive result before returning home for another friendly match against Aruba at the National Olympic Stadium on March 25.
“What we aim to do against Vietnam is play our best and gain valuable experience, because they are a very strong team,” explained Koji.
Members of the Cambodian national team arrive at Phnom Penh International Airport on Monday. FFC
He joked that Cambodia will become ASEAN champions if they manage to defeat Vietnam in this encounter.
“I will assess the players' performance in this friendly match. If we win against Vietnam, then we are the champions of Southeast Asia!” he quipped.
However, Koji was well aware that beating the neighbouring nation will be no easy task, noting that Cambodia has never beaten Vietnam’s senior national team.
“We cannot say we have a 100 per cent chance of winning, but we will give our best efforts in this match,” he reiterated.
Meanwhile, Vietnam are treating the friendly as a crucial warm-up ahead of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. They are in Group F alongside Laos, Malaysia, and Nepal. The group stage matches will be played in two legs, from March 25, 2025, to March 31, 2026.
Vietnam’s decision to invite Cambodia for the friendly, rather than Myanmar, was influenced by head coach Kim Sang-sik.
He believed Cambodia has shown improvement in recent times and also noted tha the Kingdom has several naturalised foreign players, making the match more beneficial for Vietnam’s preparation.
Vietnamese midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai also saw the game against Cambodia as an essential step before their AFC Asian Cup 2027 opener against Laos on March 25.
“The friendly against Cambodia is a crucial preparation for our match against Laos. To win, Vietnam must stay focused and showcase our true abilities,” he said.
