Keo Sokpheng
Cambodian footballer
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Keo Sokpheng (Khmer: កែវ សុខផេង; born on 3 March 1992) is a former Cambodian footballer who last played for Visakha. He was born in Kratié in Cambodia.[1] He played for Visakha in the Cambodian Premier League and the Cambodia national football team.[2] Sokpheng played mainly as a forward or a winger. He is Keo Sokngon's younger brother who is a retired footballer.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Keo Sokpheng | |||||||||||
| Date of birth | 3 March 1992 | |||||||||||
| Place of birth | Kratié Province, State of Cambodia | |||||||||||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | |||||||||||
| Positions | ||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||
| 2012–2015 | Boeung Ket Angkor | 37 | (21) | |||||||||
| 2015–2017 | Phnom Penh Crown | 51 | (27) | |||||||||
| 2018 | PKNP | 4 | (1) | |||||||||
| 2018–2023 | Visakha | 94 | (51) | |||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||
| 2015 | Cambodia U-23 | 6 | (3) | |||||||||
| 2015–2023 | Cambodia | 62 | (15) | |||||||||
| ||||||||||||
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11 February 2018 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 29 December 2022 | ||||||||||||
Club career
In June 2015 both Sokpheng and his brother Sokngon were signed by Phnom Penh Crown to play in the 2015 Cambodian League. Ironically Phnom Penh Crown's first game of the season was against the Keo brothers' former team, Boeung Ket Angkor.[3][4][5]
Sokpheng signed for Malaysia's PKNP F.C. for one season, for the 2018 Malaysia Super League.[6] On his league debut for the club on 1 February 2018, Sokpheng became the first Cambodian to play in the Malaysian league, and the first Cambodian to score in the league, when his goal helps his team defeat Negeri Sembilan F.A. 1-0.[7] He was released by PKNP in May 2018, but despite rumors he rejoined Phnom Penh Crown,[8] Sokpheng joined another C-League team, Visakha FC in June 2018.[9]
International career
Sokpheng was a member of Cambodia's squad at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games football tournament, scoring three goals in four games. Soon after he was called up to the senior side to take part in 2018 World Cup qualification,[10] where he started in a 1–0 home defeat to Afghanistan.[11] He scored his first international goal in a friendly match against Bhutan.[12][13]
Sokpheng scored 4 goals at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games football tournament in the Philippines. He was one of the most important players contributed to the historic achievement of Cambodian football (4th place).[citation needed]
Personal life
He was born from a Chinese-Vietnamese family, lived in Vietnam until 14 years old and was a big fan of the Vietnamese footballer Lê Công Vinh.[1]
Career statistics
International goals
- As of match played 14 June 2022. Cambodia score listed first, score column indicates score after each Sokpheng goal.[14]
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 August 2015 | Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia | 2 |  Bhutan | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 3 November 2015 | 7 |  Brunei | 4–1 | 6–1 | ||
| 3 | 5–1 | ||||||
| 4 | 2 June 2016 | National Stadium, Kaohsiung, Taiwan | 11 |  Chinese Taipei | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 5 | 9 October 2016 | Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia | 16 |  Sri Lanka | 3–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 6 | 4–0 | ||||||
| 7 | 18 October 2016 | 18 | Brunei | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2016 AFF Championship qualification | |
| 8 | 14 January 2017 | Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | 24 |  Saudi Arabia | 2–3 | 2–7 | Friendly |
| 9 | 20 November 2018 | Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia | 38 |  Laos | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2018 AFF Championship |
| 10 | 5 September 2019 | 42 |  Hong Kong | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 11 | 14 November 2019 | 46 |  Mongolia | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly | |
| 12 | 12 October 2021 | Khalifa Sports City Stadium, Isa Town, Bahrain | 51 |  Guam | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 13 | 2 June 2022 | Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia | 54 |  Timor-Leste | 1–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 14 | 14 June 2022 | Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata, India | 57 |  Afghanistan | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 15 | 29 December 2022 | Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia | 38 | Brunei | 3–1 | 5–1 | 2022 AFF Championship |