A documentary is in the works about a football team with a difference – the Kampong Chhnang Women’s Under-21s. The difference? The team were the first dedicated to girls of all sexual orientations, to win not just trophies but to change perceptions in the Kingdom.
In rural Kampong Chhnang, 61-year-old Van Sovan watches as his squad are put through the paces in the midday Cambodian heat. Touch, pass, pass, shoot – practice makes perfect.
«Against other teams, there were some reactions from opponents – they would often question why we had created this team,» explained Sovan. «We would face comments and discrimination, but I would try to explain the nature of our players and our team – let them be, let them just play».
The team practices regularly, in full training kit, with two coaches alongside. They play youth and women’s teams from across the province and Kingdom. Sovan said that such is the strength of his team, some results against less well established clubs can turn into cricket scores.
Some people and opponents have asked me, ‘why do you cut your hair like that, like a boy? … When they ask, I say to them – ‘this is the way I am’
This article was written by ALEXI DEMETRIADI
To read the full article, please click on the following link: https://southeastasiaglobe.com/kampong-chhnang-womens-lgbt-football-team/
Nice article