Coach Keisuke Honda officially leads Cambodia U.23 to attend the 31st SEA Games

In the past time, since the tournament U.23 Southeast Asia held in Cambodia mid-February ends, Coach Keisuke Honda has returned to Japan so far, only providing remote guidance to assistant coach Ryu Hirose who is also Japanese but holds the title of head coach.

Coach Keisuke Honda and the confirmation status line returned to Cambodia on April 26 Screen capture

In fact, coach Keisuke Honda, currently 35 years old, concurrently a player but unemployed, is the General Manager of both the Cambodia national team and the U.23 team, making all the professional decisions, directing on the field, the lineup… but rarely attended press conferences or spoke, leaving this task to coach Ryu Hirose.

After the Southeast Asian U.23 tournament, coach Keisuke Honda returned to Japan and said he would only return when the Cambodian team had schedule, in order to also intend to find a new club to join to continue his playing career. Current rumors, coach Keisuke Honda is being recruited by Persib Bandung Club in Indonesia with another famous Japanese player, Shinji Kagawa, but it is still unclear.

Therefore, while still looking for a new club to play, coach Keisuke Honda decided to return to Cambodia to lead this country’s U.23 team to the 31st SEA Games.

In the composition of Cambodia U.23 to attend the 31st SEA Games, with the decision of coach Keisuke Honda to officially summon 26 players, but no player is over 23 years old even though the tournament allows each team to register 3 players. player.

Accordingly, coach Keisuke Honda called most of the Cambodian U.23 players who had attended the U.23 Southeast Asian tournament, including prominent faces such as goalkeeper Hul Kimhuy, defender Chan Sarapich, Yue Safy, Sor Rotana, Midfielder Ean Pisey, Choun Chanchav or striker Sieng Chanthea, only missing captain Tes Sambath due to injury.

Cambodia U.23 squad also has a majority of players who are only 19-20 years old, thereby preparing for the SEA Games 32 in 2023, hosted by this country. This is also the intention of coach Keisuke Honda, when taking advantage of the upcoming SEA Games to train troops for next year.

With the return of coach Keisuke Honda this week, Cambodia U.23 will officially start training to prepare for the 31st SEA Games at one of the 3 stadiums including Moradok Techo, Smart RSN and EDC currently selected. At SEA Games 31, Cambodia U.23 is in Group B along with Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Laos, will play the opening match against Laos on May 9 at Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh.