Name: Pen Phath
Nickname: "Snake", "Pous Keng Kang"
Country:
CambodiaClub: Rajpracha F.C.
Position: *WF, SS
Side: RF/RS
Age: 24-29 years (05/04/1948)
Height: 168 cm
Weight: 65 kg
Attack: 80
Defence: 35
Balance: 71
Stamina: 77
Top Speed: 83
Acceleration: 86
Response: 74
Agility: 84
Dribble Accuracy: 82
Dribble Speed: 85
Short Pass Accuracy: 79
Short Pass Speed: 72
Long Pass Accuracy: 77
Long Pass Speed: 71
Shot Accuracy: 78
Shot Power: 76
Shot Technique: 76
Free Kick Accuracy: 65
Curling: 66
Header: 60
Jump: 69
Technique: 82
Aggression: 84
Mentality: 75
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 73
Injury Tolerance: A
Condition: 5
Weak Foot Accuracy: 5
Weak Foot Frequency: 5
Consistency: 5
Growth type: Standard
CARDS:
P04 - Darting Run
P05 - Mazing Run
S02 - Passer
S15 - Shoulder Feint Skills
SPECIAL ABILITIES: Dribbling - Playmaking - Passing - Side
Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Attack Minded
INFO:
Pen Phath is a former right-winger or secondary striker. His career started in the 1960s at ASBA in his native country Cambodia. The war forced him to transfer to Thailand where he played for Rajpracha from 1972 to 1977. He became the first Cambodian to play in a European league when he eventually joined Paris FC for the 1977-78 season that saw the French team obtaining their first ever promotion from Division 2 to Division 1. Phath retired at the end of that season. He represented his national team for the first time in 1963 at the age of 15 following a performance with the country's college team against the Cambodia national team in 1962. It's unknown how many games he played for Cambodia but he scored at least 4 goals.
Considered the greatest player in Cambodian football history, Pen Phath was nicknamed "Snake" and Pous Keng Kang (after a legendary snake from the local mythology) for his elusive dribbling and serpentines that he used to get past the opposing defenders. According to local sources such as Sabay News and Koh Santepheap Daily, Phath relied on his unpredictable and slithering dribbling style made of body and shoulder feints with which he would make defenders move in the wrong direction. The Cambodian striker would then make a burst of acceleration. Even though his primary position was right-winger, he was sometimes used as secondary striker due to his vision and shooting accuracy.
He was a key player during the 1972 Asian Cup where Cambodia finished fourth placed. He was a constant threat on his flank against South Korea despite the 4-1 loss. He was the main playmaker in the 4-0 over Kuwait as he created the most chances. He built-up the action of the only Cambodia goal in the 2-1 loss against Iran. And lastly, he led his team to a 2-2 draw in the third place match against Thailand, lost only at the penalty shootout.
Phath is the only Cambodian to ever play against Brazilian legend Pelé, which he did in 1972 when the Thai League All Stars team ─ Phath was playing for Rajpracha at that point ─ faced Santos. He even got a photo with Pelé after the Brazilian striker praised his performance. Pelé told the Thai press that he was impressed by the n°7 who reminded him of his teammate Garrincha for his flair and ball control.