The Football Federation of Cambodia released details for the upcoming seventh Samdech Hun Sen Cup tournament yesterday, including an earlier start and a lengthened finals phase.

According to a letter signed by FFC general secretary Kul Sopanha, the preliminary stage will be held on December 3 to 11, while the finals, involving the top eight finishers in the 2012 Metfone C-League and eight provincial qualifiers, will be played at Olympic Stadium from December 20 to February 16.

The preliminary round features competitions in six regional centres. The Phnom Penh Centre will host nine teams including 2012 MCL-demoted Western University and Chhlam Samuth.

The Eastern Centre will involve representatives from each of Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, Kampong Cham and Kandal provinces. The Central Centre features a side each from Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear.

The Western Centre takes in clubs of Kampong Chhnang, Pursat, Kampong Speu, Battambang and Pailin. The Southern Centre incorporates teams out of Takeo, Kampot, Kep, Preah Sihanouk and Koh Kong, and the Northern Centre will see battles between outfits hailing from Mondulkiri, Rattanakiri, Stung Treng and Kratie.

While the Phnom Penh Centre will send three sides through to the finals, only the winners of the other five centres will advance to the capital. Registration of teams is open till November 1, with the draw for the preliminary round slated for November 15. 

To contact the reporters on this story: Ung Chamroeun at [email protected]

Dan Riley at [email protected]