Meet N.Korea's WC fan club

[Guile]

May 26, 2010
Meet N.Korea's WC fan club

<!-- by line --> <!-- end by line --> BEIJING - NORTH KOREANS will be prevented from travelling to South Africa next month to cheer on their World Cup team because of the reclusive and paranoid ways of their country's leader Kim Jong Il. But a growing number of international soccer fans are pledging their support to one of the competition's underdogs, who take on powerhouses Brazil and Portugal, as well as Ivory Coast. 'The North Korea national team is not known for its travelling 'Barmy Army' of soccer fans, for obvious reasons,' says Simon Cockerell, a Beijing-based Briton who is spearheading the North Korea Football Supporters Association.

'We want to get as many people as possible to cheer on the Chollimas.' So far Mr Cockerell has mustered a 300-strong eclectic band of dedicated soccer fans from across the world to back Pyongyang's finest. He has also set up a Facebook page. When the squad left North Korea to prepare on May 9, they were sent off by their families, a military band and a select gathering of flag-waving officials, including Vice-Premier Kwak Bom Gi. Nicknamed after the mythical winged Korean horse that symbolises strength and speed, the Chollimas are making their first showing in the World Cup since their legendary giant-killing performance 44 years ago.

In 1966 in Britain, they beat powerhouse Italy 1-0 to gain a historic quarter-final berth, but even Mr Cockerell admits they face a tough task this time. 'Not that you ever admit it in North Korea, but the team doesn't really stand much chance of getting past the group stage. They play defensively and rarely score,' he said. 'They're going to need all the outside support they can muster if they are going to even earn a point in Group G.' Mr Cockerell helps run the Beijing-based North Korea tour group, Koryo Tours, with partner Nick Bonner, who helped make the award-winning documentary 'Games Of Their Lives", which features the nine survivors of the 1966 squad.

Their office is now adorned with colourful propaganda posters, North Korean football scarves - on sale for 80 yuan (S$16.50) - and other North Korean soccer memorabilia. 'Nick is presently in North Korea with a tour group and trying to source a shipment of national football shirts. We have lots of requests from fans wanting to buy one,' Mr Cockerell said. -- AFP

 

[Guile]

North Korea hold Greece


May 26, 2010
North Korea hold Greece

VIENNA - FORMER European champions Greece were held by fellow World Cup qualifiers North Korea 2-2 on Tuesday in a pre-World Cup friendly. Greece took the lead in Altach, in western Vorarlberg, after two minutes with a goal by Kostas Katsouranis, who vowed to cheer his debt-stricken country up with a good performance in South Africa at the finals, which run from June 11 to July 11. But North Korea's Japan-based striker Jong Tae-Se levelled the score after 24 minutes. Jong, nicknamed 'Asia's Rooney' after England's star striker, was on-hand again after Greece regained the lead three minutes into the second half with a goal by striker Angelos Charisteas.

Four minutes later, the North Korean Kawasaki Frontale striker brought the score level once more, depriving Otto Rehhegal's Greeks victory in front of some 3,000 spectators. Jong Tae-Se, who has been training in the Swiss resort of Anzere with his teammates, has already vowed to bag a goal in every group game at the World Cup next month. North Korea, ranked just 106th in the world and making their first appearance at the finals since 1966, is up against five-time champions Brazil, 2006 semi-finalists Portugal and African giants Ivory Coast in the so-called group of death, Group G. Greece will meanwhile face two-time champions Argentina, African heavyweights Nigeria and 2002 semi-finalists South Korea in the group stage. -- AFP

 

[Ramseth]

Re: North Korea hold Greece

They play defensively and rarely score,' he said.

That's true during the qualifying phases. North Korean strategy to qualification was obvious. Defend hard and score just enough to get the points to qualify. That strategy worked superby, even miraculously in their 1966 legendary 1:0 victory over Italy.

Over-exuberant with that achievement, they turned to agressive attacks against Portugal, that was apparently taken by surprise and fell 0:3 behind early. However, as North Koreans tired out and ran out of attacking ideas, Portugal broke them down and came back to win 5:3 in another epic battle of 1966. Another team might have simply broken with no comeback for the early surprise strikes to work. Unfortunately for North Korean then, Portugal was led by Eusebio, best player in the world at that moment.

Fast forward to now, the 2:2 draw with Greece (European Champions 2004 also famous for defensive strategy) is sure sign that North Korea can score against some of the toughest defences in the world. Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast, look out!

 

[red amoeba]

hmm...maybe betting on them will yield good returns...

 

[Guile]

Jong is 'soldier of fortune'


May 30, 2010
Jong is 'soldier of fortune'

TOKYO - NORTH Korea's World Cup campaign is reinforced by a soldier of fortune, J-League striker Jong Tae-Se, who was born and bred in Japan but could have played for the North's political foes South Korea. He holds South Korean nationality like his parents, descendants of immigrants from colonial Korea. But he has managed to obtain a North Korean passport after growing up at patriotic pro-Pyongyang schools in Japan.

'The South Korean people may feel regrettable,' he told Japanese media about his absence from their team. 'At the same time, they have a deep-rooted wish for national reunification.' 'They seem to compare me to Manchester United winger Park Ji-Sung in the South,' added Jong, nicknamed Asia's Wayne Rooney or 'the people's Rooney' for his combative style.

However complicated his background may be, his target in South Africa is clear - to help North Korea shock the big guns again as they did in their only previous World Cup in 1966. In one of the biggest World Cup upsets of all time, North Korea shamed Italy 1-0 before going down 5-3 to Portugal in the quarter-finals 44 years ago in England.

'After having beat the odds to win a ticket, we also want to produce results that will stun the world,' said the stocky 26-year-old ahead of the Group of Death campaign against Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast. 'Our aim is to advance from the group round and I will aim to score a goal in every match for three goals.' 'I want to play overseas in the future,' added Jong, who has played for Kawasaki Frontale since his graduation from Tokyo's Korea University in 2006. -- AFP

 

[Ramseth]

Re: Jong is 'soldier of fortune'

However complicated his background may be, his target in South Africa is clear - to help North Korea shock the big guns again as they did in their only previous World Cup in 1966. In one of the biggest World Cup upsets of all time, North Korea shamed Italy 1-0 before going down 5-3 to Portugal in the quarter-finals 44 years ago in England.

There'll be a rematch of that 5:3 epic. In 1966, they met Portugal when it had the world best player at that time, Eusebio. Now, they'll meet Portugal when it has the world best player now, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Anyway, the luck of the lots hasn't been kind to North Korea. Besides Portugal, there're also Brazil (world favorites) and Ivory Coast (African favorites) to overcome. If North Korea can pull out of this group of death matches into the next round, it'd be even greater achievement than that in 1966.

 

[Ramseth]

Re: Jong is 'soldier of fortune'

Football: FIFA says North Koreans striker must play in goal
Posted: 04 June 2010 0158 hrs
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Kim Myong-Won (R)



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ZURICH: World Cup qualifiers North Korea suffered a blow on Thursday when world body FIFA insisted Kim Myong-Won must feature as one of a mandatory three goalkeepers although he is usually a striker.

Coach Kim-Jong Hun named two keepers in his squad with Kim of the Amrokgang club as a reserve numerical option between the sticks with strike power at a premium as the Asians prepare to take on five-time champions Brazil, Ivory Coast and Portugal in Group G.

FIFA ruled there must be three goalkeepers - none of whom may double as an outfield player.

"The squad lists that the teams provided to FIFA by 1 June, 2010 are final and can no longer be changed. On the final lists must be no more than 23 players, three of whom shall be goalkeepers," FIFA said in a statement.

"The only exception is in the case of a serious injury of a player in the list of 23, who could be replaced up until 24 hours before the first match of the team in the competition.

"The three players listed as goalkeepers can only play as goalkeepers during the FIFA World Cup and cannot play outfield. This will be communicated to the teams in the team arrival meetings and will be enforced on match days.

"Kim Myong-Won will not be allowed to play as an outfield player if he has been put on the list as a goalkeeper."

The North Koreans are making only their second appearance at the tournament.

In 1966, the last time they competed, they drew with Chile 1-1 and stunned Italy 1-0 in England to reach the quarter-finals where they led Portugal 3-0 before Mozambique-born Eusebio rescued his adopted country with four goals in a 5-3 triumph. - AFP/de

FIFA is very unreasonable in this case. As long as a country names 23 players in its squad, which position any individual play in is none of FIFA business, including goalkeeper. For example, if a goalkeeper is sent off in the middle of a match, and there're no substitute goalkeeper available on the bench, any player can pull on the goalkeeper jersey and continue playing as goalkeeper. If North Korea is comfortable and confident with designating only 2 goalkeepers, that's their problem, none of FIFA problem or business. The gist is of course, North Korea wants 21 outfield players instead of 20. I don't see any problem there too. Other countries who want to should be allowed to do it too. The tradition, spirit and rule of the game is every team is allowed one goalkeeper (with privilege to use hands) in the penalty box at all times, simple as that.

 

[Ramseth]

Re: Jong is 'soldier of fortune'

Nigeria beat North Korea in a World Cup warm-up game overshadowed by a stampede which caused at least 14 people to be treated for injuries.

The incident happened before kick-off when fans tried to get entry to the Makhulong Stadium in Tembisa, east of Johannesburg.

The match got under way on time with Nigeria running out convincing winners in their final fixture before the main event starts on Friday.

Everton striker Aiyegbeni Yakubu opened the scoring after 17 minutes, finishing off a swift move with a crisp finish.

Victor Obinna made it 2-0 from the penalty spot 15 minutes into the second half only for Jong Tea-Se, who has vowed to score a goal a game at the World Cup finals, to pull one back after a mistake from Elderson Echiejile.

Obafemi Martins sealed the win - a first under new coach Lars Lagerback - with Nigeria's third following good work from Kalu Uche.

A disappointing afternoon for North Korea was compounded when Cha Jong-hyok was sent off after picking up two yellow cards.