A match between Prey Veng FC and ISI Dangkor Senchey FC on July 02. ISI
In an ambitious move, the Cambodian Premier League (CPL) is poised to undergo significant changes for the 2023-24 season. The metamorphosis, geared towards advancing technical proficiency and quality, also includes an increase in cash prizes compared to previous seasons.
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The reimagined season sees an expansion of participating teams from eight to 10, including the stalwarts of the Cambodian football scene and newly promoted Prey Veng Football Club from League II. The 10 teams, duly represented by CPL CEO Satoshi Saito, drew lots on June 30, heralding the start of an exciting, revamped season.
“The competition of the Cambodian Premier League in this new season will be better than that of last year. The competition will be more attractive and better than last year,” said Saito.
The matches are scheduled to unfold from August 5 this year to May 12, 2024.
The competitive structure comprises two stages, with games taking place both home and away. The first stage spans three rounds, while the second sees a one-round contest between the top four teams from the first stage. The title will go to the team scoring the most goals across the two stages.
This new formula elevates the total matches from 96 last year to 141 in 2023-24, offering each team 27 to 30 thrilling matches.
“The matches in the new season will be tough, and cash prizes will be increased more than it was before,” highlighted Saito.
“In the name of CPL details about the augmented cash prizes will be released before the CPL kickoff,” he added.
He also hinted at additional cash prizes for exceptional stadium experiences, participations and pitches.
In another significant shift, the CPL has updated the regulations for foreign player registration. This season, clubs are allowed to register six foreign players, including one from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and another from the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) who can play in matches.
After the lots drawn on June 30, NagaWorld Club sits at the pole position, with Prey Veng FC and ISI Dangkor Senchey FC following closely. The first match day, August 5, will see Visakha FC clash with Kirivong Sok Sen Chey FC and Prey Veng up against NagaWorld.
“Let us remind ourselves why we entered the CPL. We have clear goals of wanting to become a good career club in the ASEAN region and we have missions in [football] development in Cambodia. Therefore, we will move forward together”.
