Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 1, 2021: Cambodia’s national football team general manager, Japanese World Cup veteran Keisuke Honda, believes the hosts are capable of challenging any team in the 2023 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Phnom Penh.
The 34-year-old Honda, who scored 37 goals in 98 appearances for Japan before retiring from international football, has been general manager of Cambodia’s national team since 2018. He will continue in this role through to 2023, SEA Games organising committee CAMSOC has announced.
In a video message to the Cambodian Football Federation on March 31, Honda said the competition at the SEA Games would be fierce with the likes of Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia among the 11 nations from the region.
“I am really happy to continue my contract as general manager with Cambodia's national team. Our goal is to prepare well for the SEA Games in 2023,” he said.
“As you know there are many national teams that are stronger than us in this region but we will try our best to beat those teams. Thank you for always supporting us through the past and please continue to support us. See you soon in Cambodia.”
Honda, who played in three World Cups for Japan from 2010-2018, has been general manager of Cambodia's national football team since August 2018. He plays his club football for Neftci in Azerbaijan and visits Cambodia on FIFA international breaks as well as holding regular video conferences with the football leaders in Phnom Penh.