[1]
It was due to the absence of peace that even the membership in the Olympics, which Cambodia has been one of its members of since 1956, was suspended between in between 1970s and 1994 […] please allow me to share with you the impressions of HE Sao Sokha, (Deputy Commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and National Military Police Commander), with his permission, that he spoke to me last week. Let us take a moment to give time for the heavy-weight footballers to warm up. As the president of the Football Federation of Cambodia, HE Sao Sokha met and shared with me (his thoughts) that I am sharing with the young people sitting here today, as well as those watching this wonderful football match at home.
HE Sao Sokha reminded me that the youth of today are lucky. He said that when he was watching a football match at the National Olympic Stadium, where thousands of people present, sometimes he pulled out his phone and (watch the news) seeing that at the same time, in other countries where there were wars, young people in those countries were scary and in some places were being killed, or suffering misery and/or breaking up families. Putting his phone down and turned around, he saw the Cambodians (are) happy (watching the match) and at peace. This is why he said this generation of youth is lucky.
At this very moment, young people in some countries like Ukraine, countries in the Middle East, and countries elsewhere that are at war, people and/or youth don’t have the opportunity to sit and applaud giving supports to the players like we are doing now. Right now, and right here, the Cambodians are having fun. Soon, we will cheer and be happy to support our footballers without fear of a war. This is the fortune of the succeeding Cambodian generations.
Another memory that HE Sao Sokha brought up was that in 1975, (when the Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh from the Lon Nol’s Khmer Republic,) he also sat at the National Olympic Stadium, but at that time he did not sit and watch the football match. He watched the gathering of the crowd before being evacuating to the provinces. In some places, people were even killed. That is why he said that the Cambodians today are lucky.
Today, we sit in the Morodok Techo Stadium, where there was nothing before. That we can sit and cheer today is in fact the fruit of peace. In a little while, let’s cheer with all our hearts to encourage our footballers without fear that after this, we would lose peace. This is what we say the Cambodians are fortunate.
However, that the Cambodians have been this fortunate is not happening by chance. The fortune that HE Sao Sokha is talking about now is born of the sacrifices of the flesh and blood, the efforts of the previous generation of youth and our leaders. It is because of those sacrifices that the next generation of youth is fortunate to sit and cheer, and support the football match today.
Let’s continue to maintain peace together so that our future generations can continue to be fortunate. The players have warmed up enough to prepare for today’s friendly match, though.
[2]
Today we have two matches. One of the matches is between the Kun Khmer football team and the Cambodian Stars football team, Group B, which has just finished and drew one-one. Congratulations. We are now going into the second match between one side is the Cambodian Stars football team, Group A, and the UYFC football team, whom I said a heavyweight football team. By heavyweight, I don’t mean the position but their footballers who are over 80 kilograms. This is the first time I’ve seen a list of honorable players, not reserve players.
Just now I had met and shaken hands with the footballers of the Cambodian Stars team (and reminded them) to fight as equal. The same is true for the referees. They must be equal. Today, we will all win (because we have lived) in the shadow of peace (that is achieved by) the win-win politics. We celebrate Peace Day by playing (football) in the spirit of friendship and love as the Cambodians.
I wish you all the best and would declare the friendly football match to celebrate Peace Day in Cambodia opening from now on. Thank you.