Road Trippin' Cambodia Style - Part I

The middle of May finds all of Cambodia celebrating the King's Birthday, a three day celebration plus the weekend, and one of the few non-religious Cambodian holidays.  In good Cambodian custom, Spirit of Soccer took the team on the road, Kampuchea style, as a warm-up trip for South Africa.  The trip was to include a training at the National Football Center with the U-14 national team, a press conference, meetings with social workers to assess the team's readiness for international travel and some well-deserved beach time. 

The two Spirit of Soccer coaches, Heang and Kamsort, gave up their 5-day holiday with their families to accompany the team to Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville.  Cambodians typically spend holidays with family and it is unusual to leave your family for travel on your own or with a group.  Kamsort is the mother of two young children and it is a big sacrifice for her to leave her family for this trip and the trip to South Afrca.  Both coaches are incredible with the team - Heang offers the coaching leadership and discipline and Kamsort gives the individual attention needed, especially to the girls.

The team members assembled in Battambang from their various villages where two big white land cruisers that scream "NGO" were ready for the 4-hour caravan trip to Phnom Penh.  Rather than divide up into the two cars equally, the team decided to put all the bags in one rig and travel together in the other vehicle with the two coaches, a mere 13 people in one truck.  We watched in bemusement as all eleven players climbed into the back of the truck in the 95 plus degree heat for the journey.  And, typical to Khmer, all the kids were wearing jeans, long-sleeve shirts and hoodies while us westerners were dressed in the least amount of clothes considered culturally allowable.

Of course, two hours into the journey, a lunch stop was required.  It isn't a road trip in the Kingdom of Wonder without a long, drawn out stop for a meal, a snack or a picnic.  This stop isn't a quickie in and out at the drive-thru, but a sit-down meal with multiple courses and conversation.  Cambodians would never understand the concept of beating your past record for a trip.  It is worth mentioning that Cambodian 'road food' is nothing like western road food as there are no fast food restaurants or convenience stores en route, only a few gas station shops and locals selling fruit and other non-packaged products.  The team members snacked on bags of snails, green mangos, dried fish, fried bananas and other wholesome, yet smelly, products in the truck prior to the lunch stop.

The number one thing the team wanted to do upon arrival in Phom Penh was visit the Sorya Center, a mall with a grocery store and escalator.  This much anticipated stop was slated for the Sunday return to Phnom Penh.  All of the team members had  heard of the famed Sorya Center, but had never been to a mall, visited a grocery store or ridden an escalator.

After a late arrival in town, the team had a early night in preparation for the morning training session and press conference.  The Cambodian Football Federation has been incredibly supportive of the team and has assisted in much of the travel logistics.  The team was naturally nervous about playing at the National Football Center and were a little unsure of what to expect.  Their fears heightened when they arrived at the pitch to have TV cameras and reporters following their every move.  They, of course, acted like pros who were used to the paparazzi following them around on a regular basis.  Good thing the boys all had their best hairdo, a la a Beckham, for the big day.  (Sidenote, every two weeks when the team comes together, four of the five boys have changed their hair, whether is is new sideburns, a dye job or a radical haircut.  They are true slaves to fashion.)

The training included stretching, drills and five v. five games.  The two groups blended seamlessly and put on a good show for the press.  After the training, the press conference began.  This was the team's second press conference and they acted like old hats.  Sengvy, the team's captain, even grabbed the microphone, introduced himself and spoke on the team's behalf in front of the cameras, the reporters and the Football Federation's General Secretary.  Each team member was awarded a national team jersey and wished good luck by all in attendance, aware that they are now representing Cambodia internationally.

After the hard work, it was time to head to the beach.  The team finally agreed to split up into two cars - girls in one and boys in the other.  From here on out, the world outside was all new to them.  No one had been to the beach before.  As we moved closer and closer to the shore, the level of excitement built and the team was in a near frenzy.  At one point, Vrak spotted an airplane flying above us, just after it took off from Phnom Penh Int'l, and the whole truck went into excited hysteria as they had never seen a plane flying before.

Stay tuned for Part 2!!