Cambodian Premier League Explained

Cambodian Premier League
Country:Cambodia
Confed:AFC
Teams:11
Relegation:Cambodian League 2 (currently doesn't host)
Levels:1
Domest Cup:
League Cup:Cambodian League Cup
Confed Cup:
Champions:Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng (3rd title)
Season:2023-24
Most Successful Club:Phnom Penh Crown (8 titles)
Top Goalscorer:Chan Vathanaka
(106 goals)
Tv:BTV Cambodia
Current:2024–25 Cambodian Premier League

The Cambodian Premier League (Central Khmer: លីគកំពូលកម្ពុជា,) is a top association football division in Cambodia and administered by the Cambodian Football League Company (CFLC).[1] Contested by 10 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with Cambodian League 2 although the 24-25 season Cambodian League 2 doesn't host due to low teams to compete.

History

Origins

The first domestic football national championship in Cambodia was first established in 1982 during the People's Republic of Kampuchea years. The competing clubs were primarily based on the Soviet model of official amateur teams formed by ministries, the police, army and other state owned enterprises.[2]

In the 2000s, the Cambodian League or C-League was brought about and was rebranded as the Metfone Cambodian League or Metfone C-League at the start of the 2005 season, courtesy of corporate sponsorship of the league's name. Over the course of the following years, the standard of professionalism would change with clubs being formed and clubs being sponsored by corporate entities. In 2018, it was announced that all clubs participating in the league would be required to have access to their own stadium before the start of the 2019 season. This was an attempt by the Football Federation of Cambodia to help further modernize football in Cambodia. In past seasons, many of the league's clubs have shared the Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium or the Old Stadium.[3] Since its inception as an official professional league in 2005, a total of 36 clubs have competed. 6 clubs have been crowned champions, with Phnom Penh Crown winning the title a record 8 times.[4]

Cambodian Premier League

In October 2021, Satoshi Saito, the former international marketer for FC Barcelona of La Liga, was announced as the CEO of the Cambodian Football League Company (CFLC) which would take over the Metfone C-League's administrative and financial duties and establish the league as Cambodian Premier League starting with the 2022 season.[5]

The Cambodia Classic Match

The Cambodia Classic Match is given to the rivalry between Phnom Penh Crown and Boeung Ket. On February 6, 2012, both teams met for the first time.[6]

First invincible

Boeung Ket won the 2020 league season by head-to-head record against 2019 league season champion, Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng, despite remaining unbeaten the whole season, setting up a record in the Cambodian League.[7]

Sponsorship

PeriodSponsorBrand
1982–2004Cambodian League
2005–2021MetfoneMetfone Cambodian League or Metfone C-League[8] [9]
2022–Metfone[10] Cambodian Premier League[11]

The Cambodian Premier League does not have a title sponsor; however, it is sponsored by a group of multinational corporations.

The current tournament is sponsored by:

Clubs

2023–24 season

The 2023–24 Cambodian Premier League season has welcomed fresh teams and faces, with Prey Veng Football Club and ISI Dangkor Senchey FC joining the league. These teams met the demanding national club license requirements, joining stalwarts like Phnom Penh Crown and Visakha Football Club. Despite being the 2022 second league champions, EDC Club Premium did not join the top tier this season due to not meeting the comprehensive licensing criteria. Prey Veng FC and ISI Dangkor Senchey FC have expressed their readiness for the league, with ISI Dangkor Senchey FC notably announcing seven new signings.[12]

ClubLocationStadiumCapacityPrevious seasonLast Cambodian Premier League title
Angkor TigerSiem Reap ProvinceHanuman Stadium5,030Cambodian Premier League (6th)-
Boeung KetPhnom PenhOlympic National Stadium35,000Cambodian Premier League (5th)2020
ISI Dangkor SencheyPhnom PenhAIA Stadium KMH PARK3,000Cambodian League 2 (2nd)-
Kirivong Sok Sen CheyTakeo ProvinceKirivong Sok Sen Chey Stadium350Cambodian Premier League (8th)-
NagaworldKampong Speu ProvinceKampong Speu Stadium3,000Cambodian Premier League (4th)2018
Phnom Penh CrownPhnom PenhSmart RSN Stadium5,010Cambodian Premier League (1st)2022
Preah Khan Reach Svay RiengSvay Rieng ProvinceSvay Rieng Stadium2,060Cambodian Premier League (2nd)2019
Prey VengPrey Veng ProvincePrey Veng Stadium1,200Cambodian League 2 (5th)-
Tiffy ArmyPhnom PenhRCAF Old Stadium14,750Cambodian Premier League (7th)-
VisakhaPhnom PenhPrince Stadium15,000Cambodian Premier League (3rd)-

Former clubs

ClubLocationLatest year
in top flight
2014
2021
2020
2015
2017
2021
Kampong Cham Province2019
Phnom Penh2010
2021
Siem Reap Province2021
2018

Championship history

Cambodian League (1982–2004)

Metfone Cambodian League (2005–2021)

SeasonClub
2005Khemera Keila
2006Khemera Keila
2007Naga Corp
2008Phnom Penh Empire
2009Naga Corp
2010Phnom Penh Crown
2011Phnom Penh Crown
2012Boeung Ket Rubber Field
2013Svay Rieng
2014Phnom Penh Crown
2015Phnom Penh Crown
2016Boeung Ket Angkor
2017Boeung Ket Angkor
2018Nagaworld
2019Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng
2020Boeung Ket
2021Phnom Penh Crown

Cambodian Premier League (2022–present)

SeasonClub
Phnom Penh Crown
Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng

Championships by club

ClubsChampionship Championship seasonsRunner-up Runner-up seasonsThird place Third place seasonsAll-time top three finish
82414
4 4412
4 318
3 3511
Khemara Keila (defunct) 2 204
1 2000 0 12
0 3 03
0 2 35
Build Bright United (defunct) 0 0 11

Awards

Prize money

Champion150,000,000 riels
Runner-up 60,000,000 riels
Third place50,000,000 riels
Fourth place40,000,000 riels

Coach of the season

SeasonCoachClub
2022 Oleg StarynskyiPhnom Penh Crown
2021 Oleg StarynskyiPhnom Penh Crown
2020 Kim PheakdeyBoeung Ket
2019 Conor NestorPreah Khan Reach Svay Rieng
2018 Meas ChannaNagaworld
2017 Hao SocheatBoeung Ket
2016 Tep LongrachanaNational Defense Ministry
2015 Prak SovannaraBoeung Ket Angkor
2014 Ung KanyanithNational Police Commissary
2013 Sam VandetSvay Rieng
2012 Prak VuthyBoeung Ket Rubber Field

Top scorer of the season

SeasonScorerClubGoals
2022 Marcus HaberPreah Khan Reach Svay Rieng25
2021 Márcio MarquesNagaworld22
2020 Privat MbargaPreah Khan Reach Svay Rieng16
2019 Privat MbargaPreah Khan Reach Svay Rieng36
2018 George BisanNagaworld28
2017 Atuheire KipsonNagaworld28
2016 Chan VathanakaBoeung Ket Angkor22
2015 Chan VathanakaBoeung Ket Angkorbgcolor=mistyrose37
2014 Dzarma BataSvay Rieng23
2013 Khoun LaboravySvay Rieng20
2012 Friday NwakunaBoeung Ket Rubber Field20
2011 Julius OibohNagaworld28
2010 Julius Chukwuma OnoniwuKirivong25
2009 Justine Uche PrinceSpark21
2008 Khim BoreyNational Defense Ministry18
2005 Hok SochivornHello United22

Player of the season

SeasonPlayerClub
2022 Marcus HaberPreah Khan Reach Svay Rieng
2021 Privat MbargaPreah Khan Reach Svay Rieng
2020 Mat NoronBoeung Ket
2019 Privat MbargaPreah Khan Reach Svay Rieng
2018 Choe Myong-hoVisakha
2017 Chrerng PolrothNational Defense Ministry
2016 Chan VathanakaBoeung Ket Angkor
2015 Chan VathanakaBoeung Ket Angkor
2014 Chan VathanakaBoeung Ket Rubber Field
2013 Khoun LaboravySvay Rieng
2012 Keo SokngonBoeung Ket Rubber Field

Goalkeeper of the season

SeasonGoalkeeperClub
2022 Saveng SamnangPhnom Penh Crown
2021Phnom Penh Crown
2020 Hul KimhuyBoeung Ket
2019 Aim SovannarathPreah Khan Reach Svay Rieng
2018 Samrith SeihaNagaworld
2017 Sou YatyBoeung Ket
2016 Um SereyrothNational Defense Ministry
2015 Keo SokselaPhnom Penh Crown
2014 Sou YatyPhnom Penh Crown
2013 Aim SovannarathSvay Rieng
2012 Peng BunchayBoeung Ket Rubber Field

Records

All-time hat-tricks

Rank Country Player Hat-tricks
1Privat Mbarga6
2Marcus Haber5
Marcio Marques
Chan Vathanaka
5George Bisan4
6Shane Booysen3
Takumu Nishihara
Mat Noron
Okereke Thimothy

All-time clean sheets

Rank Country Player Clean sheets
1Sou Yaty37
2Keo Soksela23
Um Vichet
3Um Sereyroth20

Statistics

AFC Club Ranking

See also: AFC Club Competitions Ranking. The following data indicates Cambodian coefficient rankings between Asian football leagues.[13]

Country ranking:AFC League Ranking as of 2022:[14]
Club ranking:AFC Club Ranking as of 2022:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: New company formed to develop the C- League. October 18, 2021.
  2. Web site: New Cambodian Premier League set to revolutionise football in the country. January 27, 2022. February 12, 2022. February 12, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220212221723/https://www.khmernights.com/cambodian-premier-league/. live.
  3. Web site: New C-League season details revealed. March 7, 2019.
  4. Web site: Phnom Penh Crown wins 2021 Metfone Cambodian League title. November 22, 2021.
  5. Web site: New Cambodian Premier League set to revolutionise football in the country. January 22, 2022. February 12, 2022. February 12, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220212221723/https://www.khmernights.com/cambodian-premier-league/. live.
  6. Web site: Phnom Penh Crown beaten at home in the Cambodian Classic Match. March 16, 2019. February 4, 2021. July 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210727093209/https://www.ppcfc.com/phnom-penh-crown-beaten-at-home-in-the-cambodian-classic-match/. live.
  7. Web site: Last-minute goal lifts Boeung Ket to Cambodian League title - Khmer Times. October 25, 2020.
  8. Web site: Cambodian League to resume this weekend - Khmer Times. July 2021.
  9. Web site: Boeung Ket size up Naga Phnom Penh Post. 2021-07-19. 2021-07-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20210719121534/https://www.phnompenhpost.com/sport/boeung-ket-size-naga. live.
  10. Web site: Metfone Extends Sponsorship for Cambodia's top flight football league. 24 June 2022. 26 June 2022. 26 June 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220626184839/https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/metfone-extends-sponsorship-cambodias-top-flight-football-league. live.
  11. Web site: CPL CEO: 'We will turn Cambodia into a regional football powerhouse' - Khmer Times. 16 January 2022.
  12. Web site: Cambodian Premier League welcomes new teams to playing field Phnom Penh Post .
  13. Web site: AFC Club Competitions Ranking 2022. footyrankings.com. 13 February 2021 . 2022-06-30. 2022-10-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20221006054138/https://footyrankings.com/crank2022/. live.
  14. Web site: AFC Club Competitions Ranking 2022. footyrankings.com. 13 February 2021 . 2022-06-30. 2022-10-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20221006054138/https://footyrankings.com/crank2022/. live.