A children's football team from Pomongkul Primary School beat their counterparts from Khyong Primary School 1-0 in the final to lift the 2015 RHB Junior Football Cup, previously held by the RHB Banging Group on Saturday on an artificial pitch at KB-All Sports Club.

The one-day charity inaugural football tournament which was organised by Malaysia’s fourth largest financial services group and was held to empower and inspire children to overcome life’s challenges by promoting confidence, hope and pride through sports.

The event also drew generous sponsorship from Cambrew, Key Real Estates, KFC and Manulife.

The tournament attracted 200 children from 16 different primary schools in the capital and provinces of Cambodia.

The RHB Junior Football Cup, which was supported by the Football Federation of Cambodia and Nagaworld FC, one of the top football clubs in the Metfone Cambodian League, gave the young participants the opportunity to interact directly with football stars and coaches from the football club, who were their mentors and referees for the tournament.

Lim Loong Seng, country head and managing director of RHB Indochina Bank Limited, said: “We are excited and thankful to have the support of so many corporate partners who share the same relief of empowering young Cambodian children through sports.

The RHB Cambodia Junior Football Cup is a rare experience for children who may not have access to proper playing fields, equipment and professional coach.”

All the children who joined the football tournament were divided into four groups and after tough matches and fun, the Pomongkul Primary School recorded 1-0 wins in all their matches, including in their final match against Khyong Primary School, while the children from Daramana Primary School finished in third place after winning a penalty shootout against Prek Ambel Primary School following a 0-0 draw in after the regulatory 10 minutes of play.

Apart from having good and sporting fun at the RHB Cambodia Junior Football Cup, the participants were also rewarded with $1,000 worth of sponsored football equipment by Key Real Estates and RHB Indochina Bank.

May Tola, deputy general secretary of the FFC and who also presided over the event, commented: “We are thankful of the support from corporations such as RHB and the other event sponsors to help develop Cambodia football, starting from the children.

We also hope to discover more young talents from events such as the RHB Junior Football Cup.”

Meanwhile, Malaysian Ambassador Dato Raszlan Bin Adbul Rashid said: “I hope all children will try their best to compete at today’s event and I fully support RHB and many sponsors who corporate to make the enjoying tournament happening because this is an important opportunity to the children to play sports and organising the event will help the Cambodian football improve in the future.”

Additional reporting by Chhorn Norn