Khek Ravy attends 59th FIFA Congress

FIFA president Sep Blatter announces the host cities for the 2014 FIFA World Cup during a press conference in Nassau Sunday. AFP

The Phnom Penh Post
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/

Written by DAN RILEY
Wednesday, 03 June 2009

KHEK RAVY, vice-president of the Cambodian Football Federation (FFC), travelled to Nassau in the Bahamas Sunday to represent the FFC at the 59th FIFA Congress. According to FIFA's official website, the two-day event, which began Tuesday, aims to provide the opportunity for the 208 Member Associations to discuss a number of hot topics and to make decisions.

The "6+5" rule - a rule adopted by FIFA at last year's congress which involves a club fielding at least six players eligible for the national team at the start of each match - will be examined, as will the protection of minors, for which an amendment of the Statutes is proposed. Some of the other items on the agenda include the eligibility of players for the Olympic tournaments, with delegates to also be informed about the level of preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

FFC vice-president Khek Ravy travelled to Nassau, Bahamas, Sunday to represent the FFC at the 59th FIFA Congress. NICK SELLS

FIFA's executive committee held meetings in the Caribbean over the weekend, with the announcement of the 12 venue cities for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil being announced by FIFA President Joseph Blatter Sunday.

As expected, five major cities will host games, including the capital Brasilia (Mane Garrincha Stadium), Rio de Janeiro (Maracana), Sao Paulo (Morumbi), Belo Horizonte (Mineirao) and Porto Alegre (Beira-Rio).

Three cities where the stadia must be built were also selected: Natal (Estrela dos Reis Magos), Recife-Olinda (Arena Recife-Olinda) and Salvador (Arena da Bahia).

In another announcement Sunday, Blatter said the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had confirmed that "FIFA's disciplinary code and FIFA's anti-doping code is totally in compliance with the WADA code". The lone exception, he said had to do with when suspended players can resume training with their clubs.

FFC look to O'Donell to prepare team
Regarding Cambodian matters, Khek Ravy told the Post by email Monday, that the FFC's executive committee, led by president Sokha Sao, decided to appoint Australian Scott O'Donell to prepare the under-23 national team for December's SEA games in Vientiane, Laos. "His one-year contract will be renewed based on the progress of the team's performance during his tenure," said Khek Ravy.

The vice-president assured that O'Donell would receive the full support of the FFC, adding that there are scheduled trainings and test matches in Korea and Vietnam starting in October in preparation for the games.

However, Khek Ravy noted that mental and physical fitness as well as tactical changes will be a must going into this intense competition.

One interesting development Khek Ravy mentioned was a draft by the FFC for a club team composed of national U23 players for next season's CPL. The idea submitted by president Sao Sokha during the last FFC council meeting argues that a competitive team must play in a competitive environment to be cohesive and united under a professional management. "This emulates the concept of the Young Lions team in Singapore," stated Khek Ravy.

O'Donell will be asked to submit a plan for the inception of the team to be approved by the FFC's executive committee.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY AFP