April 25 Sports Club

April 25 Sports Club (Korean: 4.25체육단, Sa io ch'eyuktan), or 4.25 SC for short, or sometimes April 25 National Defence Sports Club (4.25'국방체육단', Sa io 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-song
ManagerO Yun-son
LeagueDPR Korea Premier Football League
2021–22Champions
April 25 Sports Club
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 North Korea PRK Ri Kwang-Il
2 DF North Korea PRK Jang Kum-nam
3 DF North Korea PRK Ri Hyong-mu
4 DF North Korea PRK Sim Hyon-jin
5 DF North Korea PRK Pak Jin-myong
6 DF North Korea PRK Kwon Chung-hyok
7 MF North Korea PRK O Hyok-chol
8 MF North Korea PRK Han Song-hyok
9 MF North Korea PRK Kim Jong-chol
10 FW North Korea PRK An Il-bom
11 FW North Korea PRK Om Chol-song
12 DF North Korea PRK Kim Chol-bom
13 FW Bosnia and Herzegovina BIH Ruslan Lagić
14 DF North Korea PRK Son Pyong-il
15 MF North Korea PRK Won Song
16 MF North Korea PRK Yun Il-gwang
17 FW North Korea PRK Kim Ju-song
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 FW North Korea PRK Kim Yu-song
19 MF North Korea PRK So Hyon-uk
20 MF North Korea PRK So Kyong-jin
21 GK North Korea PRK An Tae-song
22 MF North Korea PRK Ri Hyong-jin
24 MF North Korea PRK Choe Jong-hyok
25 FW North Korea PRK Jang Hyok
26 DF North Korea PRK Pak Myong-song
27 MF North Korea PRK Myong Cha-hyon
28 MF North Korea PRK Kim Kuk-bom
29 DF North Korea PRK Pak Song-rok
30 DF North Korea PRK An Song-il
31 GK North Korea PRK Chol-Ryong Son
33 MF North Korea PRK Jong Chung-son
37 DF North Korea PRK Kim Kwang-jin
41 GK North Korea 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		 Hong Kong Seiko 4–1 1–2 2nd
China Liaoning 3–1 0–0
1986[18] Asian Club Championship First round group 7 China Liaoning 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 Wanbao 1–0
Japan Yamaha Motors 3–1
Semi Final League
Group B		 Bangladesh Mohammedan 0–1 3rd
Qatar Al-Sadd 1–2
Saudi Arabia Al-Ettifaq 1–1
Malaysia Pahang FA 2–0
1990–91[21] Asian Club Championship Qualifying Round
Group 7		 Japan Nissan Yokohama 1–0 1st
China Liaoning 1–0
Group B Iran Esteghlal Tehran 1–2 2nd
Bangladesh Mohammedan 0–0
Thailand Bangkok Bank 4–3
Semi Final China Liaoning 0–3 —
Third Place Indonesia Pelita Jaya 2–2 (6–7 pen.) Fourth Place
1991[22] Asian Club Championship Group B Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 0–2 3rd
Iran Esteghlal Tehran 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 Hà Nội 0–0 2–2 2–2 (a)
Final Lebanon 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

See also

References
  1. Watts, Jonathan (20 June 2010). "World Cup 2010: Why North Korea are in a league of their own". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 September 2017. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  2. "사이오체육단(四二五體育團)". Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  3. "체육선수단". Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  4. [Most South Korean press reported that On 25 June 1971, club name was changed to April 25 Sports Club
  5. "4.25체육단". Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  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. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. 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". Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  10. "North Korea – List of Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  11. "Newstream – KCNA Watch". kcnawatch.co. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. 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?". Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  15. "The AFC". www.the-afc.com. Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. 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. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  18. "Asian Club Competitions 1985/86". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  19. "Asian Club Competitions 1987/88". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 27 October 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  20. "Asian Club Competitions 1988/89". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 27 October 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  21. "Asian Club Competitions 1990/91". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 14 December 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  22. "Asian Club Competitions 1991/92". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  23. "Asian Club Competitions 2017". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  24. List of winners and runners-ups of the DCM Trophy Archived 23 October 2020 at the Wayback Machine www.rsssf.com. RSSSF. 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". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. 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. Archived from the original on 11 April 2015. 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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