Four girls from the Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) will represent their country at a prestigious football tournament in Singapore.
They have been selected for the Under 16 team from Happy Football Campbell Australia (HFCA) to take part in the JSSL Singapore Professional Academy 7s event, Asia’s largest youth football competition.
Young football talent from 500 teams with 6,000 players and coaches across 15 nations will be showcased at the seven-a-side tournament from April 2-5.
HFCA has selected 10 girls for its squad, and they have been training hard since December 2025 to prepare. This year, girls from two villages in Siem Reap will also join the team.
Team captain is Sokha Pich, 16, a Grade 10 student with CCF.
I am very proud to be the team leader
“I am very proud to be the team leader and really excited to visit Singapore for the first time. I am the first one in my family to have the opportunity to travel outside Cambodia,” said Pich, who attends CCF’s high school, the Neeson Cripps Academy.
Joining her from CCF will be Mony and Chouly, both 15, and Nita, the team's 14-year-old goalkeeper.
The HFCA team will play seven matches against opponents from Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia, with games lasting 25 minutes.
“We are excited and very much looking forward to welcoming HFCA back to the JSSL Singapore 7s in 2026. They last appeared at the tournament in 2023 as the first team from Cambodia to compete in Singapore. HFCA brought tremendous spirit, character, and passion to the competition, proudly representing Cambodia as ambassadors for youth football," said Harvey Davis, Tournament Director, JSSL 7's, Singapore Football Tournament.
"Having the HFCA Girls team represent Cambodia on this stage is a fantastic achievement and a positive step forward for the continued growth of girls’ and youth football in the region."
“HFCA is very happy that our girls’ team will get to experience a great football tournament in beautiful Singapore. We hope they will inspire other Cambodian girls to play football,” said Paraic Grogan, HFCA Founder.
Every girl deserves the chance to run, to compete, and to believe in her own strength
"Every girl deserves the chance to run, to compete, and to believe in her own strength. Sport is not just a game; it is a gateway to confidence and opportunity,” said Sarita Reth, an actress, television host, and HFCA Advisory Board Member.
HFCA has been partnering with CCF for 17years, empowering disadvantaged young people in Cambodia through football. Access to sport supports wellbeing, mental health, and self-esteem, and provides pathways to further opportunities by developing soft skills for success in education and employment.
“Football is more than a sport. I have grown as a person and learned to work well with others. When you play, you learn about teamwork and how communicate better. Sport is very important,” says Sokha Pich.
The six girls from Siem Reap come from the villages of Oroong and Sras Srong. Going to Singapore will be their first experience in an aeroplane and leaving Cambodia.
Oroong, located three hours from Siem Reap city, sits near the Thai border, and the Oroong School principal said the HFCA players could hear explosions from the recent border conflict during football practice. Despite the fear, the girls continued training, staying focused on their dream of competing in Singapore.
