The players disembark from the team bus at the PP International Airport. NOCC

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The Cambodian national football team has departed for Singapore ahead of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup.

The National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) announced that the team has departed for the city state yesterday.

Images posted on social media show the members of the team disembarking from a bus at the Phnom Penh International Airport.

The Singapore-bound team includes Keo Soksela, Hul Kimhuy, Vireak Dara, Soeuy Visal, Cheng Meng, Sath Rosib, Sareth Krya, Ken Chansopheak, Tes Sambath, Yue Safy, Sor Rotana, Soeuth Nava, Chan Sarapich, Kouch Sokumpheak, Sos Suhana, Chrerng Polroth, Orn Chanpolin, Brak Thiva, Lim Pisoth, Min Ratanak, Choun Chanchav, Ean Pisey, Sin Sovannmakara, Prak Mony Udom, Keo Sokpheng, Chan Vathanaka, Sieng Chanthea, Leng Nora, Sa Ty and Nhean Sosidan.

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The team has been training extensively ahead of the tournament.

The delayed AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 will be held from December 5 to January 1, 2022.

Cambodia is in Group B, together with Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos and Indonesia. The other group (Group A) is composed of the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

Cambodia’s first match will be against Malaysia on Dec 6, followed by two more games against Indonesia on Dec 9 and Laos six days later. The Angkor Warriors will face Vietnam on Dec 19, according to the latest schedule released by the AFF.

Phea Sopheaktra, assistant coach of the Cambodian national football team, said they will continue to train while in Singapore.

“We will use the remaining four days to train and prepare ourselves for the match. We will try to do better during the actual game,” he said.

Japanese football legend Keisuke Honda, who is also the general manager of the Angkor Warriors, will join the team in Singapore, according to Sopheaktra.

“The group is composed of strong teams. As coaches, we will study the way they play, their techniques, in order to beat some of the strongest teams in the region,” he added.

Also known as the AFF Championship, the AFF Suzuki Cup is one of the premier football tournaments in Southeast Asia. It is held every two years.

The 2020 edition of the tournament was delayed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cambodia was one of the countries which submitted a bid to host the event.