April_25_Sports_Club

April 25 Sports Club

April 25 Sports Club

North Korean sports club

April 25 Sports Club (Korean: 4.25체육단, Sa io ch'eyuktan), shortly 4.25 SC, also known as April 25 National Defence Sports Club (4.25'국방체육단', Sa io ch'eyuktan "Kukpang ch'eyuktan"), is a professional multi-sports club based in Pyongyang, North Korea, primarily known 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.

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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's 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, when both the men's and women's clubs won 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.

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Continental history

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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

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    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.
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    "사이오체육단(四二五體育團)". Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  3. [3]
    "체육선수단". Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  4. [4]
    [Most South Korean press reported that On 25 June 1971, club name was changed to April 25 Sports Club
  5. [5]
    "4.25체육단". Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
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    "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.
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    "A Few Facts on North Korea's Army Day". 38 North. 1 February 2018. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
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    金正日(김정일)권력승계 큰 變數(변수) 「軍部(군부)장악」유난히 강조
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    "건군절 변천사와 김정은의 고뇌". Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
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    "Newstream – KCNA Watch". KCNA Watch.co. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
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    미달때 北韓(북한)에선 大學(대학)입학·軍(군)입대 보류
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    "<北韓의 實相>...(39) 체육". Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
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    "The Chosun Jørn: Can Jørn Andersen Make Sense of North Korean Football?". 13 June 2017. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
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    "The AFC". www.the-afc.com. Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
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    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.
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    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. [26]
    "North Korea – List of Women Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  27. [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. [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. [29]
    Müller, Stephan (2005). International Ice Hockey Encyclopedia 1904–2005. Germany: Books on Demand. p. 485.
  30. [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. [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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