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April 25 Sports Club

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Chosŏn'gŭl 4.25체육단
Hancha 4.25體育團
Revised Romanization Sa io cheyukdan
McCune–Reischauer Sa io ch'eyuktan

April 25 Sports Club (Korean language: 4.25체육단 , Sa i o ch'eyuktan), or 4.25 SC for short, or sometimes April 25 National Defence Sports Club (4.25'국방체육단', Sa i o ch'eyuktan "Kukpang ch'eyuktan"), is a multi-sports club based in P'yŏngyang, North Korea, primarily known outside of North Korea for its men's and women's football teams. The club belongs to the Ministry of People's Armed Forces;[1] all members of the professional teams (male and female) are considered officers of the Army.

History[]

The club was established in March 1947[2] or July 1949[3] as the Central Sports Training School Sports Club (중앙체육강습소체육단, Chung'ang ch'eyukkangsŭpso ch'eyukdan).

On 25 June 1971[4][5] or 26 June 1972,[6] the club name was changed to its current name; Kim Il-sung's anti-Japanese guerilla army - Joseon People's Revolutionary Army, considered the predecessor of the Korean People's Army, was formed on 25 April 1932.[7] (Until 1977, the original KPA's official date of establishment was 8 February 1948. However, in 1978, it was changed to 25 April 1932.This change was reverted in 2018.)[8][9]

The men's football team plays in the DPR Korea Premier Football League, and is the most successful club side in the country, having won 22 national championships.[10] April 25's home stadium is the Yanggakdo Stadium. In international club competition, home matches are usually played at the Kim Il-sung Stadium. In 2015, April 25 achieved an uncommon feat, with both the men's and women's clubs winning their respective national championships.[11]

Confusion with February 8 Sports Club[]

February 8 Sports Club and April 25 Sports Club have many similarities, but the North Korean Ministry of People's Armed Forces operates both sports clubs separately.[12][13] The 2017 editions of the Paektusan Prize and the Mangyongdae Prize were won by April 25 Sports Club, with February 8 Sports Club finishing in second place.[14]

Rivalries[]

April 25's primary rival is Amnokgang. Amnokgang belongs to the Ministry of People's Security, and the professional rivalry between the Military and the Police carries over onto the sports field. There is also a strong rivalry with Pyongyang, known as "the Pyongyang Derby".

Current squad[]

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Continental history[]

Season[16] Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
1985–86[17] Asian Club Championship Qualifying Tournament
East Asia 1 		Hong Kong Seiko 4–1 1–2 2nd
China Liaoning Whowin 3–1 0–0
1986[18] Asian Club Championship First Round Group 7 China Liaoning Whowin 0–0 0–1 0–1
1987[19] Asian Club Championship Qualifying Round
Group 5 		China August 1 0–2 3rd
Macau Hap Kuan 2–1
1988–89[20] Asian Club Championship Qualifying Round
Group 6 		Hong Kong South China 3–0 1st
Macau Wa Seng 4–0
China Guangdong Hongyuan 1–0
Japan Yamaha Motors 3–1
Semi Final League
Group B 		Bangladesh Mohammedan 0–1 3rd
Qatar Al-Sadd 1–2
Saudi Arabia Ettifaq 1–1
Malaysia Pahang 2–0
1990–91[21] Asian Club Championship Qualifying Round
Group 7 		Japan Nissan Yokohama 1–0 1st
China Liaoning Whowin 1–0
Group B Iran Esteghlal 1–2 2nd
Bangladesh Mohammedan 0–0
Thailand Bangkok Bank 4–3
Semi Final China Liaoning 0–3 —
Third Place Indonesia Madura United 2–2 (6–7 pen.) Fourth Place
1991[22] Asian Club Championship Group B Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 0–2 3rd
Iran Esteghlal 1–1
2017[23] AFC Cup Group I Mongolia Erchim 6–0 5–0 1st
North Korea Kigwancha 2–2 1–1
Inter-Zone Play-off Semi Final India Bengaluru FC 0–0 0–3 0–3
2018 AFC Cup Group I North Korea Hwaebul SC 1–0 2–0 1st
Chinese Taipei Hang Yuen 5–1 5–1
Macau Benfica de Macau 8–0 2–0
Inter-Zone Play-off Semi Final Singapore Home United 9–1 2–0 11–1
Inter-Zone Play-off Final Turkmenistan Altyn Asyr 2–2 1–1 3–3 (a)
2019 AFC Cup Group I Chinese Taipei Hang Yuen 5–0 0–3 1st
Hong Kong Kitchee 2–0 1–0
Hong Kong Tai Po 4–0 1–3
Inter-Zone Play-off Semi Final Bangladesh Dhaka Abahani 2–0 3–4 5–4
Inter-Zone Play-off Final Vietnam Hanoi 0–0 2–2 2–2 (a)
Final Lebanon Al Ahed 0–1

Honours[]

Domestic[]

  • DPR Korea Premier Football League
    • Winners (19): 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2003, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2017–18, 2018–19
    • Runners-up (2): 2014, 2016
  • Hwaebul Cup
    • Winners (4): 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
  • Man'gyŏngdae Prize
    • Winners (7): 2002, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
  • Paektusan Prize
    • Winners (1): 2017
  • Poch'ŏnbo Torch Prize
    • Winners (3): 2005, 2011, 2014
  • DPR Korea Championship
    • Winners (3): 2001, 2006, 2011

Continental[]

  • AFC Cup
    • Runners-up (1): 2019
  • Asian Club Championship
    • Fourth place (1): 1990–91

Invitational[]

Women's football[]

Female Football 2007 Military World Games

Jang Il-ok playing in April 25 Sports Club attire at the 2007 Military World Games

April 25's women's football team is one of the strongest women's football teams in North Korea; they have become national champions at least six times, in 2002, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2015.[11][26]

Other sports[]

In addition to football, April 25 participates in dozens of different sports, including athletics, ice hockey, basketball, volleyball, and handball.[27]

Basketball[]

April 25 has fielded a basketball team. In May 2015, they came to Mongolia to assist in training the Mongolian national team as preparation of the latter's campaign at the 2013 East Asian Basketball Championship.[28]

Ice hockey[]

April 25's ice hockey team won the national championship in 1989.[29]

Volleyball[]

April 25 has both women's and men's volleyball teams.[30][31] April 25 participated at the 2015 VTV International Women's Volleyball Cup, an invitational tournament in Vietnam. The North Korean club won the bronze medal defeating Vietnamese side, VTV Bình Điền Long An. Their player, Jong Jin Sim was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament.[30]

Achievements[]

  • VTV Bình Điền Cup: 1
Champions: 2015
  • VTV International Women's Volleyball Cup: 2
Champions: 2008
Third place: 2015

Gallery[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ↑ Watts, Jonathan (June 20, 2010). "World Cup 2010: Why North Korea are in a league of their own". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jun/20/north-korea-world-cup-army. 
  2. ↑ 사이오체육단(四二五體育團)
  3. ↑ 체육선수단
  4. ↑ [Most South Korean press reported that On 25 June 1971, club name was changed to April 25 Sports Club
  5. ↑ 4.25체육단
  6. ↑ "On the Tasks Facing the April 25 Sports Team". http://www.korea-dpr.com/lib/Kim%20Jong%20Il%20-%202/ON%20THE%20TASKS%20FACING%20THEAPRIL%2025%20SPORTS%20TEAM.pdf. 
  7. ↑ "A Few Facts on North Korea’s Army Day - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". February 1, 2018. https://www.38north.org/2018/02/rcarlin020118/. 
  8. ↑ 金正日(김정일)권력승계 큰 變數(변수) 「軍部(군부)장악」유난히 강조
  9. ↑ 건군절 변천사와 김정은의 고뇌
  10. ↑ "North Korea - List of Champions". http://www.rsssf.com/tablesn/nkorchamp.html. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Newstream - KCNA Watch". https://kcnawatch.co/newstream/1451904168-357901124/premier-league-football-matches-end/. 
  12. ↑ 미달때 北韓(북한)에선 大學(대학)입학·軍(군)입대 보류
  13. ↑ <北韓의 實相>...(39) 체육
  14. ↑ The Chosun Jørn: Can Jørn Andersen Make Sense of North Korean Football?
  15. ↑ "The AFC". http://www.the-afc.com/teamsandplayers/team?season=2018&competition=821&team=5627. 
  16. ↑ "Decision by Competitions Committee & Executive Committee for AFC Club Competitions" (PDF). The-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. http://www.the-afc.com/en/resources/regulations-a-guidelines/competition-regulations/2012/336-decision-by-competitions-committee-a-executive-committee-for-afc-club-competitions/download. 
  17. ↑ "Asian Club Competitions 1985/86". http://rsssf.com/tablesa/ascup86.html#cc. 
  18. ↑ "Asian Club Competitions 1985/86". http://rsssf.com/tablesa/ascup86.html. 
  19. ↑ "Asian Club Competitions 1987/88". http://rsssf.com/tablesa/ascup88.html#cc. 
  20. ↑ "Asian Club Competitions 1988/89". http://rsssf.com/tablesa/ascup89.html#cc. 
  21. ↑ "Asian Club Competitions 1990/91". http://rsssf.com/tablesa/ascup91.html#cc. 
  22. ↑ "Asian Club Competitions 1991/92". http://rsssf.com/tablesa/ascup92.html#cc. 
  23. ↑ "Asian Club Competitions 2017". http://rsssf.com/tablesa/ascup2017.html#afc. 
  24. ↑ List of winners and runners-ups of the DCM Trophy www.rsssf.com. RSSSF. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  25. ↑ Raunak, Majumdar (31 May 2019). "The DCM Trophy- Oldest Indian Tournament with International Exposure" (in en). Chase Your Sport. https://www.chaseyoursport.com/Indian-Football/DCM-Trophy-in-India/819. 
  26. ↑ "North Korea - List of Women Champions". http://www.rsssf.com/tablesn/nkor-womchamp.html. 
  27. ↑ Ri Sung Ik (November 2, 2017). "National Championships top annual sporting calendar off with new records". The Pyongyang Times. http://www.pyongyangtimes.com.kp/?page=Sports&no=25372. 
  28. ↑ "North Korean "April 25" Basketball Team to assist Mongolia's national team". infoMongolia.com. May 7, 2013. http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/5959/North%20Korean%20%22April%2025%E2%80%9D%20Basketball%20Team%20to%20assist%20Mongolia%E2%80%99s%20National%20Team. 
  29. ↑ Müller, Stephan (2005). International Ice Hockey Encyclopedia 1904-2005. Germany: Books on Demand. pp. 485. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "North Korea's 4.25 dethrones Lien Viet at volleyball championship". Thanh Nien News. March 31, 2015. http://www.thanhniennews.com/sports/north-koreas-425-dethrones-lien-viet-at-volleyball-championship-40496.html. 
  31. ↑ "Winners of "Spring Best" Open Volleyball Tournament". infoMongolia.com. March 3, 2013. http://www.infomongolia.com/ct/ci/5806. 

External links[]

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