The Cambodian Premier League is the leading football tournament in Cambodia, attracting the attention of many football fans across Southeast Asia. With continuous development and exciting matches, this tournament has become one of the most notable football playgrounds in the region. In this article, 2019 SEA Games will learn about the Cambodian Premier League football tournament, from its history to the latest information about this tournament.
What is the Cambodian Premier League?
The Cambodian Premier League (CPL) is the leading professional football tournament in Cambodia, organized by the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC). This tournament was founded in 1982 and has become one of the most prestigious and attractive tournaments in Southeast Asia.
Since 2005, this tournament has been renamed Cambodian Premier League and become one of the first professional tournaments in Southeast Asia. Each season, CPL attracts the participation of 14 teams from all over Cambodia, competing to win the championship and places in international tournaments.
History of formation and development of the Cambodian Premier League football tournament
1980s-1990s: The beginning of the tournament
The Cambodian Football League was established in 1982, with the original name “Kingdom of Cambodia Football League”. In the early years, the tournament only had the participation of teams from Phnom Penh and neighboring provinces. However, with the development of Cambodian football, the tournament has attracted the attention of many other teams and expanded nationwide.
In the 1990s, the tournament witnessed the appearance of many new teams, especially teams from coastal provinces. This has created fierce competition and helped the tournament grow.
2000s: The transformation of the tournament
In 2005, the tournament was officially renamed Cambodian Premier League and became the first professional tournament in Cambodia. Since then, the tournament has made great strides, attracting the attention of many investors and large sponsoring companies.
In the 2000s, the tournament witnessed the appearance of many famous players and strong teams from neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia. This has helped improve the quality and appeal of the tournament.
Decade 2010-2020: Sustainable development and proud achievements
In recent years, the tournament has made steady progress and achieved many significant achievements. In the 2019 season, the tournament witnessed the participation of 14 teams and attracted the attention of thousands of spectators across Cambodia.
In addition, Cambodian football teams have also had notable achievements at international tournaments. For example, the Nagaworld football team won the AFC Cup championship in 2017, defeating strong opponents from Thailand and Malaysia.
Form for participation in the Cambodian Premier League football tournament
To participate in the Cambodian Premier League, teams must meet financial, facilities and management requirements. In addition, teams must also have quality coaches and players to be able to compete in this tournament.
Each season, CPL will be divided into two stages: group stage and play-off round. In the group stage, 14 teams will compete against each other in a cumulative points system. The teams with the highest points will advance to the play-off round, where knockout matches will take place to find the champion.
Latest rankings of the Cambodian Premier League football tournament
Currently, the Cambodian Premier League has reached the 7th group stage and teams are competing fiercely to win a spot in the play-off round. Below are the latest rankings of this tournament:
> See more: What is the Primus League Burundi?
List of teams participating in the Cambodian Premier League football tournament
Currently, there are a total of 14 teams participating in the Cambodian Premier League football tournament. Below is a list of these teams:
- Nagaworld
- Boeung Ket
- Phnom Penh Crown
- Visakha
- Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng
- National Defense Ministry
- Angkor Tiger
- Soltilo Angkor
- Electricite du Cambodge
- Asia Euro United
- Kirivong Sok Sen Chey
- Police Commissary
- Bati Youth
- Kampong Cham
Outstanding players of the Cambodian Premier League football tournament
The Cambodian Premier League has witnessed the appearance of many talented and famous players over the years. Below are some prominent names of this tournament:
- Chan Vathanaka (Nagaworld)
- Thiago Santos (Boeung Ket)
- Keo Sokpheng (Phnom Penh Crown)
- Kouch Sokumpheak (Visakha)
- Thierry Chantha Bin (Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng)
- Prak Mony Udom (National Defense Ministry)
- Sos Suhana (Angkor Tiger)
- Paulo Victor (Soltilo Angkor)
- Privat Mbarga (Electricite du Cambodge)
- Julius Oiboh (Asia Euro United)
Champions of the Cambodian Premier League football tournament
Up to now, a total of 10 different clubs have won the Cambodian Premier League football championship. Below is the list of champions of this tournament:
- Nagaworld (2017, 2018, 2019)
- Boeung Ket (2016)
- Phnom Penh Crown (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
- Naga Corp (2011)
- Khemara Keila (2000)
- Post Tel (1999)
- Royal Navy (1998)
- National Defense Ministry (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997)
- Phnom Penh Empire (1998)
- Mekong Kampuchea University (2003)
Records of the Cambodian Premier League football tournament
During its development, the Cambodian Premier League football tournament has witnessed remarkable records. Here are some records of this tournament:
- Player with the most goals in a season: Chan Vathanaka (Nagaworld) with 24 goals in the 2017 season.
- The team that has won the most championships: Phnom Penh Crown with 13 championships.
- Players have been voted the Best Player of the Season many times: Kouch Sokumpheak (Visakha) and Keo Sokpheng (Phnom Penh Crown) have both won these 3 awards.
- The team scoring the most goals in a season: Nagaworld with 65 goals in the 2019 season.
Changes in the structure of the Cambodian Premier League
In recent years, the Cambodian Premier League football tournament has had significant changes in structure and regulations. One of the most notable changes is the increase in the number of teams participating in the tournament from 12 to 14 teams, to create opportunities for new clubs to participate and develop.
In addition, this tournament has also applied many new regulations on the use of foreign players in the squad, to increase the competitiveness and attractiveness of the tournament. Discipline and referee regulations have also been adjusted to ensure fairness and professionalism of the tournament.
Conclude
To summarize, the Cambodian Premier League is a professional football tournament and has developed significantly in recent years. With fierce competition and the appearance of many talented players, this tournament has attracted the attention of a large audience and become an indispensable part of Cambodian football. Hopefully, the Cambodian Premier League will continue to develop and bring more joy and emotions to football fans.