• Society

Cambodia Football Official Obtains the FIFA Executive Diploma

• By Ken Gadaffi
• October 8, 2022 4:28 PM

PHNOM PENH —Football Federation of Cambodia Deputy Secretary General and Liaison Officer Lay Sothea on Oct. 7 was awarded the certificate of completion of the FIFA Football Executive Program.

This program for Asian and Oceanian Member Associations, which started in October 2021, was organised by FIFA in partnership with the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES).

This innovative educational offer, which is unique in the industry, aims to provide committed and enthusiastic professionals within the administrative structures of FIFA member associations with the essential management tools to excel in their roles and effectively run key areas of their organisations. 

The 2021-2022 program comprised six modules that were delivered on-site and online. This was designed to offer the best, in-depth learning experience to the 33 participants from 33 member associations. Online modules were hosted by a dedicated learning management system through which participants were able to exchange content, prepare live sessions and engage with the teaching staff.  

Face-to-face modules took place at iconic football locations, where participants dove into football culture and practices, discovered exceptional venues, and participated in practical exercises.

Modules were taught by high-level speakers with in-depth knowledge and considerable experience of the football ecosystem.

Lay Sothea believed that the program has further enriched his knowledge of football management, which will help him in his role as an administrator of the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) and contribute to actualizing the federation’s vision of uplifting grassroots football development.

“With the knowledge from this course, we can effectively enhance the capacity building of our football administrators and FFC members and stakeholders in Cambodia,” Sothea said from Singapore a few moments after receiving the award. “We can organize seminars and workshops for club administrators and managers.”

Sothea started his football administration role in 2007 when he formed the Western University Football Club and took them from grassroots to playing in the Cambodia premier league from 2012 to 2016. He joined the Phnom Penh Crown Football Club as a club official in 2016 and served as technician consultant of the Preah Khan Reach FC in 2017 and 2018. He assumed the role of FFC liaison officer in 2019 and was elected deputy secretary general of the Football Federation of Cambodia in 2022.