Cambodia’s Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC booked their place in the inaugural ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ by defeating Young Elephants FC of Laos 8-3 on aggregate in the two-legged Qualifying Round Play-offs held last month.
Now pitted against some of the top clubs from Southeast Asia in the group stage, the Blue Sabers, who secured a league and cup double during the 2023/24 season, will be hoping to replicate their domestic success in the inaugural Shopee Cup too.
Honours
Cambodian First Division (3): 2023/24, 2019, 2013
Hun Sen Cup (5): 2023/24, 2017, 2015, 2012, 2011
Club highlights
Svay Rieng FC have been a force to be reckoned with in Cambodian football for well over a decade, winning three Cambodian Premier League titles in 2013, 2019 and 2023/24 while also finishing runners-up on three other occasions. They have also reached the final of the Hun Sen Cup nine times, lifting the silverware five times.
The Cambodians also made their continental debut in the AFC Cup in 2020 after overcoming Master 7 FC of Laos 7-1 on aggregate in the qualifying play-offs and posted an impressive 2-1 win against Indonesia’s Bali United in the group stage before the competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Head coach: Josep Munoz
Josep ‘Pep’ Munoz joined Svay Rieng FC in May 2023 and guided the club to their first Hun Sen Cup title since 2017 before emerging as the champions of the Cambodian Premier League also in his debut campaign. The 44-year-old commenced his coaching career at UE Lleida in Spain before spending four years at FC Barcelona working with their youth teams. Munoz also spent seven years in China PR where he was part of the backroom staff at Shandong Taishan, Qingdao FC and the Chinese national team.
Key player: Pablo
With the club’s top scorer from last season Marcus Haber moving to Chonburi FC, the onus will be on Svay Rieng FC’s Brazilian trio of Gabriel Silva, Cristian Roque dos Santos and Pablo to fill the 31-goal void this time around. And it was the latter who stood out in their first two outings of the season, bagging four goals in the second leg against Young Elephants FC.
Except for loan stints at Japanese sides FC Ryukyu and Kataller Toyama at the start of his career, the 28-year-old had spent most of his time in Brazilian domestic football before joining Malta’s Naxxar Lions last season.
One to watch: Nhean Sosidan
Nhean Sosidan has already shown his mettle in the Shopee Cup when he came off the bench to score a stunning 25-yard goal which handed Svay Rieng a 3-2 win against Young Elephants FC in the first leg of the Qualifying Round Play-offs. The 21-year-old joined the Cambodian champions from Tiffy Army after a 13-goal season with his former side. A constant threat to the opponents on the wings, Sosidan can not only score goals but also has the ability to create chances for his teammates.
Did you know?
The club's first-ever major title came in 2011 when they defeated Blue Bright United FC 2-0 in the final at National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh to secure the Hun Sen Cup. They have since then emerged victorious in the competition four more times – the latest by defeating Phnom Penh Crown FC earlier this year.
Shopee Cup fixtures
Terengganu FC vs Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC (21 August, 2024)
BG Pathum United FC vs Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC (25 September, 2024)
Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC vs PSM Makassar (8 January, 2025)
Đông Á Thanh Hóa FC vs Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC (22 January, 2025)
Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC vs Shan United FC (5 February, 2025)
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