Cambodia's coach expresses frustration over the schedule before the match in Vietnam

Svay Rieng's coach Matthew McConkey voiced complaints about the schedule ahead of the Shopee Cup postponed match against Bangkok United, scheduled at 6:30 PM on April 22 at Hang Day Stadium.

Prior to the Shopee Cup postponed match with Bangkok United taking place on a neutral ground in Vietnam, Svay Rieng's coach Matthew McConkey openly shared his thoughts regarding the disrupted schedule. Although the match no longer holds significant meaning in terms of results, behind-the-scenes issues became the focal point as the Australian strategist clearly expressed his dissatisfaction.

At the start of the press conference, Coach McConkey affirmed that his team maintains competitiveness despite missing a few personnel. “Most players traveled with the team; one or two could still play if needed, but we have more important matches ahead so they stayed. We still have a competitive squad with many quality players, both in the starting lineup and on the bench.”This statement indicates that Svay Rieng is not giving up but is approaching the match with a certain level of seriousness.

However, the highlight of the press conference was the complaints about the organization of the match schedule. Coach McConkey did not hide his frustration, stating that the schedule adjustments negatively impacted the team's plans: “I don’t want to delve into why the match was postponed, but the key point is they talked about postponing it since December, about 5-6 weeks before the match, then had to wait another two months after the original date. Now we must play during an extremely crucial phase of the season, with cup semifinals and an international final.”

He emphasized that the delay in arrangements forced the team into a difficult situation with a congested fixture list. “I think we are the only Southeast Asian team still with a chance to win an international title this year. We had to adjust our schedule, leading to a packed fixture list from now until the end of the season, which is very disadvantageous. Not only us, but other clubs in Cambodia also had to change their schedules. I truly don’t understand why the scheduling process took so long. This shows lack of foresight, and ultimately we and Cambodian clubs suffer.”

Nevertheless, the Australian coach maintained a positive attitude regarding the professional aspect. “Even though we cannot advance further, this is an opportunity to showcase our level against a quality opponent. Looking back at our journey in this year’s Shopee Cup, we have done that. We played closely against Nam Dinh, nearly beat BG Pathum, performed well against Lion City Sailors and in Myanmar. Hopefully we can continue doing that in tomorrow’s match.”This statement partly reflects Svay Rieng’s ambition to affirm its capability in the regional arena.

Additionally, Coach McConkey also gave positive remarks about the playing conditions in Vietnam: “I haven’t seen the pitch firsthand so cannot comment. But I played here about three years ago and now the pitch seems much improved. I like Vietnam, always have good memories here both in football and life. Everything is fine, except I wish the match had been in January or another time, not now.”

Thus, the encounter between Svay Rieng and Bangkok United is not merely a procedural match, but also an opportunity for Cambodia’s representative to conclude their Shopee Cup journey with a memorable performance, despite schedule disadvantages.

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