April 25 SC

April 25 Sports Club (Korean: 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.

April 25
4.25 Sports Club Crest (2018)
Full nameApril 25 Sports Club
FoundedMarch 1947 (1947-03) or July 1949 (1949-07),
as Central Sports Training School Sports Club
GroundRungrado 1st of May Stadium, Pyongyang
ChairmanRi Mun-sŏng
ManagerO Yun-son
LeagueDPR Korea Premier Football League
2018–19Champions
April 25 SC
Chosŏn'gŭl
Hancha
Revised RomanizationSa io cheyukdan
McCune–ReischauerSa io ch'eyuktan

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
As of 20 February 2018[15]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  PRK Ri Kwang-Il
2 DF  PRK Jang Kum-nam
3 DF  PRK Ri Hyong-mu
4 MF  PRK Sim Hyon-jin
5 DF  PRK Pak Jin-myong
6 DF  PRK Kwon Chung-hyok
7 MF  PRK O Hyok-chol
8 MF  PRK Han Song-hyok
9 MF  PRK Kim Jong-chol
10 FW  PRK An Il-bom
11 FW  PRK Om Chol-song
12 DF  PRK Kim Chol-bom
13 FW  PRK Rim Chol-min
14 DF  PRK Son Pyong-il
15 MF  PRK Won Song
16 MF  PRK Yun Il-gwang
17 FW  PRK Kim Ju-song
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 FW  PRK Kim Yu-song
19 MF  PRK So Hyon-uk
20 MF  PRK So Kyong-jin
21 FW  PRK Jang Hyok
22 MF  PRK Ri Hyong-jin
23 GK  PRK An Tae-song
24 MF  PRK Choe Jong-hyok
26 DF  PRK Pak Myong-song
27 MF  PRK Myong Cha-hyon
28 MF  PRK Kim Kuk-bom
29 DF  PRK Pak Song-rok
30 DF  PRK An Song-il
31 DF  PRK Kim Kwang-jin
32 GK  PRK Chol-Ryong Son
33 MF  PRK Jong Chung-son
36 GK  PRK Ha Jin-myong

Continental history
Season[16] Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
1985–86[17] Asian Club Championship Qualifying Tournament
East Asia 1		 Seiko 4–1 1–2 2nd
Liaoning 3–1 0–0
1986[18] Asian Club Championship First Round Group 7 Liaoning 0–0 0–1 0–1
1987[19] Asian Club Championship Qualifying Round
Group 5		 August 1 0–2 3rd
Hap Kuan 2–1
1988–89[20] Asian Club Championship Qualifying Round
Group 6		 South China 3–0 1st
Wa Seng 4–0
Guangdong Wanbao 1–0
Yamaha Motors 3–1
Semi Final League
Group B		 Mohammedan 0–1 3rd
Al-Sadd 1–2
Al-Ettifaq 1–1
Pahang FA 2–0
1990–91[21] Asian Club Championship Qualifying Round
Group 7		 Nissan Yokohama 1–0 1st
Liaoning 1–0
Group B Esteghlal Tehran 1–2 2nd
Mohammedan 0–0
Bangkok Bank 4–3
Semi Final Liaoning 0–3 —
Third Place Pelita Jaya 2–2 (6–7 pen.) Fourth Place
1991[22] Asian Club Championship Group B Al-Hilal 0–2 3rd
Esteghlal Tehran 1–1
2017[23] AFC Cup Group I Erchim 6–0 5–0 1st
Kigwancha 2–2 1–1
Inter-Zone Play-off Semi Final Bengaluru FC 0–0 0–3 0–3
2018 AFC Cup Group I Hwaebul SC 1–0 2–0 1st
Hang Yuen 5–1 5–1
Benfica de Macau 8–0 2–0
Inter-Zone Play-off Semi Final Home United 9–1 2–0 11–1
Inter-Zone Play-off Final Altyn Asyr 2–2 1–1 3–3 (a)
2019 AFC Cup Group I Hang Yuen 5–0 0–3 1st
Kitchee 2–0 1–0
Tai Po 4–0 1–3
Inter-Zone Play-off Semi Final Dhaka Abahani 2–0 3–4 5–4
Inter-Zone Play-off Final Hà Nội 0–0 2–2 2–2 (a)
Final Al-Ahed 0–1

Honours

Domestic

Continental

Invitational

Women's football
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
Champions: 2008
Third place: 2015
  • Former crest of the club

See also

References
  1. Watts, Jonathan (20 June 2010). "World Cup 2010: Why North Korea are in a league of their own". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  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" (PDF). korea-dpr.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  7. "A Few Facts on North Korea's Army Day - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea". 38north.org. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  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". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  11. "Newstream - KCNA Watch". kcnawatch.co. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  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". www.the-afc.com. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  16. "Decision by Competitions Committee & Executive Committee for AFC Club Competitions". The-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  17. "Asian Club Competitions 1985/86". rsssf.com. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  18. "Asian Club Competitions 1985/86". rsssf.com. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  19. "Asian Club Competitions 1987/88". rsssf.com. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  20. "Asian Club Competitions 1988/89". rsssf.com. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  21. "Asian Club Competitions 1990/91". rsssf.com. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  22. "Asian Club Competitions 1991/92". rsssf.com. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  23. "Asian Club Competitions 2017". rsssf.com. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  24. List of winners and runners-ups of the DCM Trophy RSSSF.com. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  25. Raunak, Majumdar (31 May 2019). "The DCM Trophy- Oldest Indian Tournament with International Exposure". chaseyoursport.com. Chase Your Sport. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  26. "North Korea - List of Women Champions". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  27. Ri Sung Ik (2 November 2017). "National Championships top annual sporting calendar off with new records". The Pyongyang Times. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  28. "North Korean "April 25" Basketball Team to assist Mongolia's national team". infoMongolia.com. 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  29. Müller, Stephan (2005). International Ice Hockey Encyclopedia 1904-2005. Germany: Books on Demand. p. 485.
  30. Hoang Quynh (31 March 2015). "North Korea's 4.25 dethrones Lien Viet at volleyball championship". Thanh Nien News. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  31. "Winners of "Spring Best" Open Volleyball Tournament". infoMongolia.com. 3 March 2013. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
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