Cambodia skipper Kouch Sokumpheak has admitted that Keisuke Honda has inspired the whole team since the Japanese star was named the team’s joint manager in August.

The Angkor Warriors are in Mandalay to face Myanmar in their second AFF Suzuki Cup Group A match, after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Malaysia in Phnom Penh last week.

Sokumpheak, 31, has been playing for his country for more than 10 years and scored his only AFF Suzuki Cup goal against Myanmar a decade ago in Jakarta.

Cambodia have made just one appearance in the tournament since, yet that was Sokumpheak’s last AFF Suzuki Cup game after the midfielder missed the 2016 edition.

Less than a day away from again taking to the field against Myanmar, the situation could not be more different for the 31-year-old and his teammates.  

“Everyone was surprised that Honda was the new team manager of Cambodia because he is a world-class player – I was very happy about that,” said Sokumpheak.

“No one expected that he would come and train us, and it’s great to get the chance to play football with him during training, when he also shares his experiences from his career with us.”

Honda shares his coaching responsibilities with Argentine Feliz Dalmas, who took sole control in the 1-0 reversal to Malaysia in the Japan star’s absence.

Yet Honda will be back on the touchline when Cambodia take to the field at Mandalarthiri Stadium on Monday as Cambodia hope to cause an upset and win only their third game ever in the competition.

“I want to give everything I can in the match in order to make Keisuke Honda proud of the way he has coached and trained us,” added the midfielder.

“Hopefully we will play the best we can and show him that what he is teaching us is working and that he is helping us improve.

“We know Myanmar are a good team but we will do everything we can to get a good result.”