Hun Sen Cup winner Visakha is confident ahead of next year’s SEA Games. PHOTO SUPPLIED
After Visakha volleyball club won the 2022 Hun Sen Cup in style, the result has encouraged the leadership of the Volleyball Federation of Cambodia (VFC) to be more confident in pursuing their master plan and grabbing a gold medal at the upcoming 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Cambodia.
National Police chief and VFC president Neth Savoeun praised the progress of the 11 clubs that participated in the Hun Sen Cup, especially members of the national volleyball team, most of whom play for Visakha, though some also play for the Ministry of Interior and Preah Sihanouk Provincial Administration.
At the 2022 Hun Sen Cup, which ran for two weeks from October 15-30, Visakha edged out the Bodyguard and interior ministry teams to win the cup and the $10,000 in cash prize.
The interior ministry brought home $5,000 as runners-up. Bodyguard beat Intervention Division 3 with a score of 3-1 to take third place and win $3,000 in cash prize, leaving Intervention Division 3 in 4th place with a $2,000 prize.
Visakha winning their first major national title came after the national volleyball team won a historic first bronze medal in the sport at the 31st SEA Games in May of this year in Vietnam.
Meanwhile, the national team also defeated Singapore's national team 2-1 on October 15 and the Cuban under-21 (U21) national squad by 3-1 on October 20 in international friendlies.
"I’m really happy with the results we have achieved now. I would like to congratulate the winning team and the national team who defeated Cuba and Singapore in their international friendlies. These results show the ability of the national team and make me strongly believe that Cambodia will do well and have a chance to win a gold medal in the 2023 SEA Games," said Savoeun after the final.
VFC secretary-general Aing Serey Piseth said the 2022 Hun Sen Cup ended “wonderfully” because all 11 member clubs are strong teams. Not only that, they have played international friendlies for the national team against Singapore and Cuba, and the quality of the players has improved significantly beyond expectations. But he said he isn't going to sit back and rest on his laurels.
"What we are thinking about is the 2023 SEA Games with less than 200 days left," he said. "The federation has tried so hard and has been very proactive," he said.
He added that Cambodia will have more friendly matches with the French team and will invite the French U21 team to compete in Cambodia or send Cambodian players to compete in France as the friendly match may happen soon.
