PKR Svay Rieng FC head coach Matt McConkey may be new to the role at the helm of the Cambodia Premier League champions, but the 32-year-old insists he will not compromise his principles when the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ resumes in December.
Appointed during the close season following the departure of Pep Muñoz, the Northern Irishman is eager to build on the successes of his predecessor in ASEAN’s premier club competition.
“The Shopee Cup™ is a tournament we’ve wanted to do a bit better in than we did last year,” said McConkey, who previously worked as Muñoz’s assistant when Svay Rieng reached the AFC Challenge League final and retained their domestic league crown.
“The quality in the competition has definitely improved, especially with the addition of Johor Darul Ta’zim FC and another Thai team,” he added. “That’s why we don’t want to change how we play. You can sit deep and defend to limit chances and lose 2-0, or you can stay true to your style, be aggressive, attack high up the pitch — and maybe lose 4-0 — but at least you’re showing who you are.”
Authenticity is central to McConkey’s approach. Having joined Svay Rieng in 2021, he has worked his way through the coaching ranks and now leads the first team. Football runs deep in his family — his father, Harry, has been a prominent figure in Northern Ireland’s domestic scene for over three decades, while his elder brother, Mark, played for Ballinamallard United, their hometown club.
Svay Rieng have refreshed their squad ahead of the 2025/26 Shopee Cup™ campaign, retaining only a few key players like Brazilian forward Cristian Roque, while adding new names such as Kwame Peprah and Patrick. The team started the tournament with a 3-0 win over Myanmar’s Shan United FC before a narrow 2-1 defeat to Vietnam’s Nam Định FC. Those results place them second in Group B as they prepare to face Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim on December 4 in Phnom Penh.
Despite JDT’s pedigree, McConkey remains adamant that Svay Rieng will stay true to their attacking identity.
“I just don’t see the point in sitting deep,” he said. “You don’t learn anything that way. If we want to grow, we need to be better at transitions and positioning when pressing high. Playing defensively and then saying the other team is better doesn’t work for me.
“This match will be a good barometer for where we are as a club — and for our game model. Maybe some of the staff think I’m crazy for wanting to press JDT man-to-man, but I won’t compromise our philosophy.”
