At 5:00 PM, as the sky began to dim and the streets filled with the usual evening rush of motorbikes, the chat around the street-side food stalls was all about the upcoming match. Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC, the Cambodian League champions who have fought their way up step by step, are gearing up to face Japan’s FC Machida Zelvia in Group G of the AFC Champions League Two.
Local media have been talking up the opponents, noting that Machida Zelvia is currently sitting at the top of the J1 League table and is a tough nut to crack, having finished as runners-up in the AFC Champions League Elite last season. But Svay Rieng goalkeeper Vireak Dara is keeping his cool. In an interview, he said the whole squad is genuinely excited to test themselves against such a powerhouse, seeing it as a great chance to level up both individually and as a team.
Dara made it clear that no matter how strong the opposition is, they plan to stick to their usual game plan and execute the coach's tactics step by step. Despite bringing in plenty of new faces since the pre-season and the Super Cup, the team has gelled well. When they step onto the pitch, their goal is to represent Cambodia with pride and show what they are made of.
