The Cambodian national football team are to play a friendly against Timor Leste at the Olympic Stadium on May 29 before leaving for an away clash with Taiwan in the first leg of the Asian Cup qualifying playoff on June 2. The return leg will be played on June 7 at the Olympic Stadium.

“The friendly serves as a good lead-up for the team, which has been going through its preparations. We hope the national team can make the best use of the enormous experience the second round of the World Cup qualifiers has given the side,’’ Football Federation of Cambodia spokesman May Tola told the Post yesterday.

National coach Lee Tae Hoon, who is likely to guide the national team’s fortunes until the end of the Suzuki Cup qualifiers being staged in Cambodia in October, has struck an optimistic note about the chances of his side against Taiwan in the playoffs.

Hoon considers the gulf between the two sides is not that great after Cambodia’s experiences in the nearly year-long World Cup qualifying campaign and this brings hope for the playoff.

Football in Timor Leste was given a big boost late last year with the official launch of the national amateur league, the Liga Futebol Amadora (LFA).The onset of the 21-team league has been seen as a major step forward in creating a pathway for a professional league.Army face AEU in Hun Sen CupNational Defence Ministry take on Asia Europe United at the Old Stadium today as five other fixtures in the Hun Sen Cup will be played at various provincial stadiums.

Boeung Ket Angkor, level on points with the Army in the Metfone C-League table, travel to Kampong Thom, while Cambodian Tiger FC face Boeung Ket Youth at the Rubber Stadium.While Sihanoukville Port host Kandal, holders PKR Svay Rieng are to entertain Kampong Chhnang.