A boy runs with the ball during a friendly U12 game between CIA and ISPP in November.

The Cambodia International Academy (CIA), an emerging international school in Phnom Penh, is set to host the inaugural Human Rights Football Tournament tomorrow. The kids’ competition brings together nine teams from six organisations and schools across the capital to take part in six-a-side games at the artificial pitch of the Vietcam Sports Center in Dangkor district.

The objective of the day-long event is to help promote equality, justice and human rights for all in the Kingdom, an important message worth spreading according to CIA First Director Andre Struve.

“In celebration of the Human Rights Day in Cambodia, football teams of different schools and NGOs are invited by the students of CIA First International School to put into practice symbolically this message through competing with each other on the football field,” said Struve.

Teams include hosts CIA First, French School, Save our Children, NHCC, C-Ajer from American Intercon school and F-Love, a combination of students from Logos, Western International School and ISPP.

The tournament format sees competitions in two age groups – U12 and U16 – with four 15-minute group games for each team to maximise the playing time for each child. The top two teams in each group will progress to semifinals and finals thereafter.