Privat Mbarga is a professional football striker currently playing for Bali United of Indonesia. The Cameroon-born athlete has been invited to join the Cambodian national football team.
He becomes the second newly naturalised citizen player this year to come on board to represent the nation.
On Friday last week, the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) also welcomed Japanese midfielder Yudai Ogawa, who plays for Phnom Penh Crown FC to the national squad.
Yesterday morning, the FFC made the announcement that Privat will join the Cambodian national side for the team’s first encounter with Pakistan on October 12 at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh.
Privat, 31, was born in Douala, a seaside city in Cameroon. In 2013 he made his professional football debut in Cambodia, playing for Boeung Ket, a top flight team in the Cambodian Premier League (CPL). Later, he moved on to various other local clubs, including Western Phnom Penh, Angkor Tiger, NagaWorld and Samut Prakan in the Thai League 3. He also played for Asia Euro United and Svay Rieng before joining Bali United of Indonesia.
Privat wrote on his official Instagram account, “Thank you, God, for your grace, and thanks to Cambodia for making it happen. I hope we can do something good together. I feel at home already.”
Privat was spotted practicing with the Cambodian national squad this week wearing the Cambodian national team colours.
It was, in his words, “like a dream come true.”
“Welcome to Yudai Ogawa and Privat Mbarga. Our national team just got even stronger,” said Nick Taylor, a midfielder with CPL club Svay Rieng, and also a member of the national team.
“The selection of naturalised citizen players for the national team does not diminish the chances of Cambodian footballers,” said head coach Felix Dalmas, in response to a question from a reporter during a pre-match press conference yesterday. On the contrary, he claimed it may boost the team’s calibre and competitive edge.
“The players Yudai Ogawa and Privat Mbarga love the country and want to represent the nation,” Felix said.
He pointed out that both players had lived for more than five to ten years in Cambodia.
He added, “So, they’re just like everyone else, culturally conscious and fervently patriotic.”
He stressed that the high quality of the naturalised players will also stimulate growth for the rest of the team’s players.
The October 12 match with Pakistan is the first of two games in the opening round of FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
Sports Ringers- Cambodian nationality for foreign athletes
- Bong Burgundy
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Bringing the news. You stay classy, nas, Cambodia.
- Prahok
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I remember Neko Hiroshi keeping Hem Bunting out of the Olympics in the marathon; not a good moment.
Team sports are somewhat different, though, and both have been naturalised and spent the required time in-country. Still, both are going to add quality to the squad, particularly Privat.
Team sports are somewhat different, though, and both have been naturalised and spent the required time in-country. Still, both are going to add quality to the squad, particularly Privat.
One needs to only look at Japanese Rugby to see the value of beefing up the national squad with naturalised players.
Another is Hong Kong Rugby, which was only one game away from going to RWC23. 20 years ago, the national side was full of Kiwi/Aussie/SA expats and not a single local. Today, the squad has 1/3 who were born and raised in HK.
Another is Hong Kong Rugby, which was only one game away from going to RWC23. 20 years ago, the national side was full of Kiwi/Aussie/SA expats and not a single local. Today, the squad has 1/3 who were born and raised in HK.
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- KnobJocky
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As Japan does not recognise dual citizenship, has Yudai Ogawa renounced his Japanese passport in favor of a Cambodian one?
Is that how it works or can one be a 'naturalized' citizen without doing any of the formalities?
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14846327
Is that how it works or can one be a 'naturalized' citizen without doing any of the formalities?
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14846327
- Bong Burgundy
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Seems FIFA aren't as easy to get around than the Cambodia SEA Games committee:
The Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) announced in a live video message that Privat Mbarga did not travel with the other teammates to Pakistan because FIFA has not yet approved him to play for the Cambodian national team, citing a lack of legal documentation, as the team left the Phnom Penh International Airport on Saturday morning for Pakistan.
Privat Mbarga, a Cameroonian native, was selected as the second naturalised player to compete for the Cambodian national team. Privat was also left off of the final list of players for the team’s match against Pakistan on Thursday at the National Olympic Stadium.
Cambodia is set to play Pakistan again in the initial round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying. In the first leg of the match in Phnom Penh, both teams could only manage a scoreless tie. The match’s second leg will take place on October 17 at Islamabad’s Jinnah Stadium.
Cambodia will advance to the second round of qualifiers if they defeat Pakistan in the upcoming second match. Doing so, they would join group G, which includes Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Tajikistan.
The Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) announced in a live video message that Privat Mbarga did not travel with the other teammates to Pakistan because FIFA has not yet approved him to play for the Cambodian national team, citing a lack of legal documentation, as the team left the Phnom Penh International Airport on Saturday morning for Pakistan.
Privat Mbarga, a Cameroonian native, was selected as the second naturalised player to compete for the Cambodian national team. Privat was also left off of the final list of players for the team’s match against Pakistan on Thursday at the National Olympic Stadium.
Cambodia is set to play Pakistan again in the initial round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying. In the first leg of the match in Phnom Penh, both teams could only manage a scoreless tie. The match’s second leg will take place on October 17 at Islamabad’s Jinnah Stadium.
Cambodia will advance to the second round of qualifiers if they defeat Pakistan in the upcoming second match. Doing so, they would join group G, which includes Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Tajikistan.
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The Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) has hired a Swiss lawyer specializing in football law to sue FIFA for delaying the release of Privat Mbarga to the Cambodian national team. Lawyers are currently in talks with FIFA.
Cameroon striker Privat Mbarga has been granted Cambodian citizenship and a member of the Cambodian national team after eight years in the country from 2013 to 2021 before moving to Bali United in Indonesia. .
Privat was called up for training ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup first round qualifier against Pakistan in October, but missed both games as Cambodia missed the second round. Privat was absent in both games against Pakistan due to FIFA's delay in granting permission for the newly acquired player.
According to the FFC's post on its official Facebook page on the morning of November 10, Privat's entry into the FIFA national team did not specify the personality of the players who can play for Cambodia.
In response to this case, the FFC has hired a lawyer from Switzerland, a specialist in sports law, to file a complaint with FIFA to clarify the issue of Privat's inability to play for the Cambodian national team.
Cameroon striker Privat Mbarga has been granted Cambodian citizenship and a member of the Cambodian national team after eight years in the country from 2013 to 2021 before moving to Bali United in Indonesia. .
Privat was called up for training ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup first round qualifier against Pakistan in October, but missed both games as Cambodia missed the second round. Privat was absent in both games against Pakistan due to FIFA's delay in granting permission for the newly acquired player.
According to the FFC's post on its official Facebook page on the morning of November 10, Privat's entry into the FIFA national team did not specify the personality of the players who can play for Cambodia.
In response to this case, the FFC has hired a lawyer from Switzerland, a specialist in sports law, to file a complaint with FIFA to clarify the issue of Privat's inability to play for the Cambodian national team.
Bringing the news. You stay classy, nas, Cambodia.
- Bong Burgundy
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Cameroon-born football player Privat Mbarga will not be permitted to represent the Cambodian national football team because he lacks the necessary legal documentation, according to the national team manager.
“For Privat’s case, we contacted FIFA and hired an international sport lawyer to help him to represent Cambodia. However, even so FIFA informed us that the player is ineligible to represent Cambodia since he does not match all the requirements and lacks legal documentation,” Chhouk Piseth, national football team manager, told reporters on Friday during the club’s first training session for the upcoming FIFA Series.
“I am not pleased to hear this. This was not good news for me,” Privat told local media outlet Peak Sports on Saturday.
“FIFA’s decision disappoints me. However, Cambodians have given me a warm welcome and want to see me playing for Cambodia. I’m pleased to have obtained Cambodian citizenship, and I will continue to support Cambodian football and the nation,” he added.
Privat, 32, is a striker who currently plays for Bali United of Indonesia. The Cameroon-born player was invited to join Cambodia’s national football team in October last year.
Since then however he has not joined Cambodia for any official matches because FIFA refused to grant him permission to do so.
Privat was born in the seaside city of Douala, Cameroon. In 2013, he made his professional football debut in Cambodia, playing for top-tier Boeung Ket FC in the Cambodian Premier League (CPL).
Later, he played with Western Phnom Penh, Angkor Tiger, NagaWorld, and also in Thailand with Samut Prakan in the Thai League 3.
More recently, he also played for Asia Euro United and Svay Rieng before joining Bali United in Indonesia.
The Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) is focused on nurturing home-grown football talent, but it also seeks top quality players from around the world to join the national squad.
Last year, the FFC welcomed Japanese midfielder Yudai Ogawa, who plays with Phnom Penh Crown FC, onto the national team. Unlike Privat, Yudai has represented Cambodia in a number of international friendlies and official matches on the national team.
Félix Dalmás, head coach of the Cambodian national team, has said that selection of naturalised citizen players for the national team does not limit opportunities for Cambodian footballers.
On the contrary, he believes international players can help improve the calibre of the whole team and give it a competitive edge. He stressed that experienced foreign players who gain Cambodian citizenship can help stimulate athletic progress among local players.
“For Privat’s case, we contacted FIFA and hired an international sport lawyer to help him to represent Cambodia. However, even so FIFA informed us that the player is ineligible to represent Cambodia since he does not match all the requirements and lacks legal documentation,” Chhouk Piseth, national football team manager, told reporters on Friday during the club’s first training session for the upcoming FIFA Series.
“I am not pleased to hear this. This was not good news for me,” Privat told local media outlet Peak Sports on Saturday.
“FIFA’s decision disappoints me. However, Cambodians have given me a warm welcome and want to see me playing for Cambodia. I’m pleased to have obtained Cambodian citizenship, and I will continue to support Cambodian football and the nation,” he added.
Privat, 32, is a striker who currently plays for Bali United of Indonesia. The Cameroon-born player was invited to join Cambodia’s national football team in October last year.
Since then however he has not joined Cambodia for any official matches because FIFA refused to grant him permission to do so.
Privat was born in the seaside city of Douala, Cameroon. In 2013, he made his professional football debut in Cambodia, playing for top-tier Boeung Ket FC in the Cambodian Premier League (CPL).
Later, he played with Western Phnom Penh, Angkor Tiger, NagaWorld, and also in Thailand with Samut Prakan in the Thai League 3.
More recently, he also played for Asia Euro United and Svay Rieng before joining Bali United in Indonesia.
The Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) is focused on nurturing home-grown football talent, but it also seeks top quality players from around the world to join the national squad.
Last year, the FFC welcomed Japanese midfielder Yudai Ogawa, who plays with Phnom Penh Crown FC, onto the national team. Unlike Privat, Yudai has represented Cambodia in a number of international friendlies and official matches on the national team.
Félix Dalmás, head coach of the Cambodian national team, has said that selection of naturalised citizen players for the national team does not limit opportunities for Cambodian footballers.
On the contrary, he believes international players can help improve the calibre of the whole team and give it a competitive edge. He stressed that experienced foreign players who gain Cambodian citizenship can help stimulate athletic progress among local players.
Bringing the news. You stay classy, nas, Cambodia.
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