'Football inspires education, youth development'

Sitting on the clean and spacious grandstand, Dr. David Koo Kyen Hoe praised the facilities of Ton Duc Thang University. “Unfortunately, due to limited opportunities, I had to give up my dream of pursuing a career as a football player. Then, when I came to Cambodia and established a primary school, I had the opportunity to start a football program. When I rejected some students during the selection process, I still remember very clearly how heartbroken they were, some even cried. At that moment, I really saw how much the children loved football. So I decided to let them all join the team and practice together. The joy and excitement they showed was unforgettable. Since then, we have expanded from a primary school to a secondary school, a high school and finally Life University - each with its own football team. We even established Cambodia's first academic department dedicated to sports: the Department of Sports Management and Coaching. In 2022, when Cambodia launches its professional football league, we established Life Sihanoukville, a club that plays in the Premier League. Cambodian class".

Dr. David Koo Kyen Hoe and his wife Min Hye Soon (Chairman of the Life University Council) at Ton Duc Thang University's football field

Photo: Quoc Viet

Speaking to Thanh Nien , Dr. David Koo shared: "Football is a sport loved by all ages, and I believe it is an effective tool for education and development. Through football, we can nurture the talents of young people, help them develop character, discipline and team spirit, and ultimately contribute to nurturing a new generation of Cambodian football players. My lifelong dream is to use football as a platform to inspire Cambodian youth."

Mr. David Koo talked about the goal of the Life University team at the 2025 International Youth Football Championship - THACO Cup: "I believe that all teams dream of lifting the championship trophy, but only one team will be able to do it. As far as I know, the other 5 teams participating in the tournament all have top university players, so the upcoming matches will be very difficult. However, I want to emphasize that Life University, representing Cambodia, is not a team to be underestimated. Our students study in the morning - many major in Sports Management - and spend the afternoon practicing intensive football. Some of our players even play at the professional level with Life Sihanoukville Club in the Cambodian Premier League. We are determined to give our all, not only to raise the prestige of Life University but also to bring pride to Cambodia. Of course, we hope to win the championship, but even if we don't, we are still committed. Play your best and leave the field with no regrets."