Kwame Peprah continues hot start with Cambodia’s Svay Rieng

Former King Faisal and Orlando Pirates striker Kwame Peprah is enjoying a dream start with Cambodian champions PKR Svay Rieng. The Ghanaian made it three goal contributions in his first three games with the club on Thursday with a penalty kick for his club in a 3-0 victory over Burmese club Shan United to begin their ASEAN Club Championship campaign.

The former Ghana Premier League goal king had his first spot kick denied but after a long VAR review, it was determined that Shan United goalkeeper Kyaw Zin Phyo stepped off his line too early. Peprah made no mistake on his second opportunity to put the visitors out of reach at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon.

After providing an assist in Svay Rieng’s league opening 3-0 victory over NagaWorld on his debut, Peprah scored in the second game against Angkor Tiger for another 3-0 win before scoring on Thursday. The 24-year-old is in his third season in Asian football after spending two seasons with Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters where he scored 8 goals in 35 games.

The champions of the last two editions of the Cambodian Premier League will hope that Peprah can lead them to another domestic league title as well as more success in the ASEAN Club Championship. Last year’s edition of the regional competition for clubs in Southeast Asia saw Svay Rieng eliminated at the group stage.

This season, a tough Group B will see the club take on regional giants such as Thailand’s Bangkok United, Malaysia’s most successful club Johor Darul Ta’zim. Vietnamese club Nam Định, who gained headlines in African football by signing South African internationals Percy Tau and Njabulo Blom, are also in Svay Rieng’s group.

Svay Rieng return to domestic league action for three games beginning on Sunday against Boeung Ket before their next ASEAN Club Championship fixture at Nam Định on September 25.