Cambodian basketball player criticizes home team after historic 32nd SEA Games gold medal

If the 3x3 SEA Games basketball championship in the women's content is a worthy achievement for Vietnamese girls, in the opposite direction the men's content is facing mixed opinions about Cambodia's championship.

The home team defeated the Philippines and won the championship with 3/4 naturalized players, except for Chhorath Tep who played in Hanoi last year (5x5 content), the remaining 3 names all had a pitch with the pitch. SEA Games arena. But unlike the usual definition of rookies, they are all big names running tournaments around the world.

The use of naturalized players makes many basketball fans angry in the host country, when athletes of Cambodian blood do not have the opportunity to compete. The insiders themselves also spoke about this issue:

"I was born in Cambodia, my uncles and family played basketball in Cambodia before the civil war. My heart and soul is for basketball, I asked to participate in SEA Games 32 but was refused. I I want to become a coach, assistant, athlete or carry water, but I was still not accepted.

The fact that I didn't get to see players with Cambodian blood or pride play in the SEA Games, it's disappointing. It is better to lose than reduce the chances of players with Cambodian blood, for many of them competing in the SEA Games like a lifelong dream.

Everyone loves to win, but how to win? If other countries want to use naturalized players, why should we be like them? SEA Games is a sports festival for the people of Southeast Asian countries, but is this the Cambodian national team? It's like Giannis Antetokounmpo plays for America, he's not Greek.

I don't know what Cambodian basketball people want anymore, SEA Games 32 is an opportunity for Cambodian-blooded players to contribute to the country, but now at least 6 positions have been naturalized by the players. take it away, please remember that winning is not the most important thing",  Boramey Joshua Bo Noung shared on his personal Facebook.

The 43-year-old Cambodian coach/player who is pursuing professional basketball training in the US is still struggling to develop the orange ball in his homeland, however, the Cambodian basketball uses up to 6 naturalized players. 3 men, 3 women) at the 32nd SEA Games, making players like Bo Noung frustrated.

His opinion also received great agreement from Cambodian basketball lovers in particular and Southeast Asian fans in general. It is expected that the 5x5 content will take place next, Cambodia will continue to cover naturalized players with the determination to dominate the region.