On Saturday, 4 March, ISF Cambodia (ISF) welcomed 576 youth athletes to ISF Sports Ground in Preah Theat Village, Sangkat Rolous for ISF’s annual Ian Thompson Memorial Boys’ Football Tournament.

2023 marks the ninth year the award-winning NGO will partner with the Ian Thompson Memorial. Ian Thompson was an avid sports fan who believed in ISF’s mission of reducing poverty through equitable access to education, healthcare, and sport. In recognition of his legacy, Ian’s son Alistair has continued to sponsor the nationwide tournament since his passing.

As part of their commitment, ISF’s Football Programme works with youth marginalised by poverty, gender, and disability. The programme encourages healthy habits and develops transferable skills through a bespoke social impact curriculum and equitable play. Partnering with organisations, schools, and NGOs across the country, ISF supports a community united by sport and invites youth athletes to demonstrate teamwork, sportsmanship, and collaboration at the annual tournament in Phnom Penh.

Explaining the tournament, ISF’s Football Programme Manager Samedy Yin explains: “We invite teams from our partnering schools and NGOs to the Ian Thompson Memorial Boys’ Tournament. Teams based in Phnom Penh are in our sports curriculum and receive weekly coaching from ISF’s coaches and we work with teams from the provinces whenever possible.”

This year, ISF welcomed 48 teams from 9 Provinces across 3 divisions: U16, U14 and U10 Boys. Teams played up to 105 matches, with accumulated points determining who moved on to the semi-finals.

To see live highlights from Saturday’s national event, follow @ISFCambodia on Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin.

Photos and match results can be found here: 4 March 2023  • Photos

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