MFC ladies North Korea trip wins worldwide friends

BORO Ladies football team have returned from North Korea with “memories to last a lifetime”.

The team returned to Teesside in the early hours of yesterday following a four-day visit to the secretive the communist country.

MFC Ladies manager Marrie Wieczorek told the Gazette: “The trip was fantastic. We had an amazing time.”

Marrie, skipper Rachael Hine, 23, and team member Shannon Bewick, 17, had remained in London on their return to appear before millions television.

The 14-strong team and three coaches were invited to East Asia by the British Embassy in recognition of the strong bonds Middlesbrough has shared with North Korea since the 1966 World Cup.

The visit marked the 10th anniversary of diplomatic relations opening with the UK - and cemented a friendship that has lasted over 40 years.

And despite losing two matches against local teams, Marrie said they were “touched” by hospitality they received. She said: “They were so friendly and warm it was unbelievable.”

The travel-weary team arrived last Saturday and by Sunday they took to the pitch. With just one TV channel, an incredible 23 million viewers saw Boro go down 6-2 against professional Korean women’s team, April 25. And bad luck continued when they were beaten by Galmaegi 5-0 on Tuesday.

Marrie said: “Everybody was saying you got beat but we played with professional teams so they were super-fit and fast. It would be the same as us playing against Arsenal or a top team.” Marrie said the stadium was packed with 6,000 people. She said: “We went out to warm up and waved to the crowds and they clapped and cheered. At the end of the game we ran round the outside of the field and they were leaning forward shaking our hands. It was brilliant and that’s my overriding memory - the warmth and friendship.”

Another highlight was meeting three surviving members of the 1966 Korean team, who famously beat Italy 1-0 at Ayresome Park.

Marrie said: “They were really lovely. We presented them with Boro shirts.”

During their stay the team also coached schoolchildren and visited the British Embassy to hand over a letter from MFC chairman and owner Steve Gibson to the Korean people.

British ambassador Peter Hughes told them: “These girls met more Koreans and shook more hands in five minutes than I have in two years.”

The trip attracted media interest worldwide. Marrie said she was told a picture of the team had even appeared on the front of the USA’s Washington Post.

She said of the trip: “I think the girls will remember it for the rest of their lives. They have all be very touched by it.”

Gazette Live

North Korea win 4 nations tournament in Vietnam

North Korea drew Vietnam 0-0 in last match and won 4 nations tournament in Hanoi, Vietnam

North Korea - Kuwait U23

North Korea win 1-0 aginst Kuwait Olympic in 4 nations tournament in Vietnam.

Next match against Vietnam on Friday.

Japanese style wins the day

Japan dragged themselves back from a goal down to beat defending champions Korea DPR in the second semi-final from the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva on Tuesday. Winning out 2-1 and putting on a show of assorted flicks and tricks for the fans in attendance, the stylish East Asians – who scored both of their goals in the space of two second-half minutes – will now meet Korea Republic in the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad and Tobago 2010.

The first half started cautiously as the Japanese set out to match Korea DPR’s well-documented defensive approach. Rather than go all-out in attack – a style that has seen the Nadeshiko score more goals than any other team at these finals – coach Hiroshi Yoshida started ace forward Kumi Yokoyama on the bench, preferring only two in attack. A cracker from the edge of the box by Mai Kyokawa was the first real chance of the game and that effort came bounding back off Choe Kyong Im’s crossbar after 20 minutes.

The Koreans had their first half-chance of the contest a few minutes later when Kim Kum Jong miscued from 12 yards out, the ball bobbling harmlessly wide of Eri Hirao’s goal. Coach Yoshida, perhaps sensing blood in the water, brought on Yokoyama on the half-hour mark in place of midfielder Ayu Nakada. Almost at once, Haruna Kawashima volleyed over from 12 yards out as the Japanese looked more dangerous with three out-and-out attackers on the pitch. Yokoyama then had a go five minutes before the interval, but she failed to test the keeper after cutting inside and slipping past two defenders. Haruka Hamada tried her luck from distance shortly after, but the effort slipped past the post as the half ended in a scoreless stalemate.

The North Koreans came out after the break looking to get forward in attack, with captain O Hui Sun trying a shot from 25 yards that had Hirao back-peddling but flew over the bar in the end. Their coach Ri Song Gun decided to roll the dice for the first time in the competition, bringing on another striker in the form of Kim Yun Mi. The gamble paid off in the 59th minute when the substitute slammed in a low free-kick from 23 yards out. Japan’s captain and keeper fumbled the ball and Kim Kum Jong raced through to finish up.

The Japanese were unfazed by the set-back and began to throw everything into a frenzied hunt for an equaliser. Coming on in waves, they got their leveller in the 69th minute when Hikari Tagaki nodded home Hamada’s cross at the back post. The lively, stylish side then turned the game on its head, going in front just seconds later with a goal of astonishing grace and style. Yokoyama, who coach Yoshida calls the “best player in the team,” got hold of the ball and wriggled past four Korean defenders, raced into the box and fired low and hard past the goalkeeper to make it 2-1.

And there the score remained to the end, despite a late flurry of attack from the North Koreans. Japan, on the strength of their sophisticated attack, will now move into their first FIFA women’s final. They meet up with Korea Republic, who beat Spain earlier in the day, at Trinidad and Tobago 2010’s grand finale on 25 September at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain.

fifa.com

Second defeat for Middlesbrough team in North Korea

Middlesbrough Ladies football team suffered a second defeat during their ground-breaking tour of North Korea, state media said.

The squad was invited to the secretive country to reinforce a relationship formed at the 1966 World Cup when North Korea played in Middlesbrough.

On Tuesday, Kalmaegi beat the Middlesbrough side 5-0, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

They also lost their first match 6-2 against April 25.

The Middlesbrough team arrived in the capital Pyongyang on Saturday.

As well as the matches, they went to a reception hosted by the British Ambassador Peter Hughes and surviving members of the 1966 World Cup squad, KCNA said.

BBC News

North Korea beat Australia Olympic NT

North Korea beat Australia Olympic NT 1-0 in a 4 nations tournament in Vietnam.

Livescores say North Korea Olympic NT , but reports from Vietnam NT say it is the NT.

English women's team thrashed in N.Korea

SEOUL (AFP) - The Middlesbrough women's team got off to a losing start in their "friendship football tour" of North Korea on Sunday, official media in the isolated country said.

A North Korean women's team, April 25, thrashed the visitors 6-2, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, in a game marking the tenth anniversary of the opening of diplomatic relations between the communist North and Britain.

April 25 is the anniversary of the founding of the North's powerful military.

An unlikely bond was formed with the English town when North Korea beat two-time world champions Italy 1-0 in Middlesbrough at the 1966 World Cup, creating one of the biggest shocks in the tournament's history.

Middlesbrough women arrived in the capital Pyongyang on Saturday for the tour, which was due to end Wednesday.

Middlesbrough Ladies coach Marrie Wieczorek earlier said North Korean officials had invited the team to Pyongyang on a sporting and cultural exchange, during which they will play two local teams.

yahoo.com

Kim Shines as DPRK down Germany !

Marabella: Defending champions DPR Korea turned in disciplined performance to tame Germany 1-0 in the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World in Trinidad and Tobago late Thursday.

Kim Kum Jong fired a brilliant goal on the stroke of halftime to see the defending champions through to the last four. The East Asians will now play the winner of the Japan versus Republic of Ireland quarter-final in Arima on Friday

"Germany are a very powerful side and they have a lot of skill and physical strength to go with it,” DPR Korea coach Ri Song-Gu paid handsome tributes to the rivals.

“Their players are technically gifted and very strong mentally. But we were going to give it our best shot because we want to retain the title.”

The Germans dictated the early goings-on and the Asians were content to sit back and hit out on the occasional counter-attack.

After Germany had a couple of attempts on goal, Choe Jong Hwa failed to convert after hitting over from 12 yards out with German keeper Lena Nuding completely off her line.

After Melanie Leupolz has missed a golden chance for Germany, the solitary goal of the arrived when Kim Kum Jong collected the ball about 35 yards from goal and hammered a brilliant strike into the top corner.

A goal down, the Germans came out after the break firing on all cylinders and Lena Petermann missed what was perhaps the easiest chance of the game only before the DPR Korean backline firmed up and stayed solid with goalkeeper Choe Kyong Im working hard as the last line of defence.

It has been quite a comeback for the Koreans from the north of the peninsula since losing their first group match to Nigeria 3-2. They recovered smartly by keeping clean sheets against Chile and then Trinidad and Tobago.

source : afc.com

DPRK down hosts to reach last eight

Couva: Defending champions DPR Korea advanced to the last eight of the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup courtesy of a 1-0 win over tournament hosts Trinidad and Tobago.

The East Asians were fastest out of the blocks at the Ato Boldon Stadium as Kim Su-gyong flicked home Pong Son-hwa’s free-kick with just three minutes gone and with neither side able to add to the tally it was the North Koreans that rounded off the group stage with two wins and one defeat.

Following the single-goal win over the Soca Princesses and an earlier 3-0 triumph over Chile, Ri Song-gun’s side progress to the quarter-finals as Group A runners-up behind Nigeria, who defeated DPR Korea (3-2), Trinidad & Tobago (2-1) and Chile (5-0).

DPR Korea, champions of the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2008 when they defeated the USA 2-1 in extra-time, will now face tournament favourites Germany, who sealed top spot in Group B with a 3-0 defeat of AFC U-16 Women’s Champions Korea Republic.

afc.com

North Korea to bring half of World Cup 2010 team to Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – North Korea has sent its list of players who will attend the Thang Long-Hanoi Football Cup, which includes half the footballers who played at the FIFA World Cup 2010.

U23 Kuwait and U23 Australian will also bring their best players to Vietnam.

Tickets for the event have been delivered through the Vietnam Football Development JS Company. The tickets are priced at 120,000, 100,000, 80,000, and 40,000 dong.

The tournament will be held at Hanoi’s My Dinh stadium from September 20-24.

To prepare for the event, the Vietnamese national squad is drilling at My Dinh stadium.


Thang Long-Hanoi Cup schedule:


September 20


North Korea – U23 Australia (4.45pm)

Vietnam – U23 Kuwait (7pm)


September 22


U23 Kuwait – North Korea (5pm)

U23 Australia – Vietnam (7pm)

September 24


U23 Kuwait – U23 Australia (5pm)

Vietnam – North Korea (7pm)


Vietnam.net

FIFA U-17 Women`s World Cup - North Korea beat Chile

North Korea beat Chile 3-0 in the second match for North Korea.

North Korea lost 2-3 to Nigeria in the first match .

Last match in group stage is on 12. September against host Trinidad & Tobago.

Middlesbrough ladies to visit North Korea

MIDDLESBROUGH Ladies will embark on a once-in-alifetime football trip later this month when they travel to North Korea for a twogame tour.

A group of 14 players and three coaching staff will travel to the North Korean capital Pyongyang between September 18-23.

The trip, which was the suggestion of the British Embassy in Pyongyang, will celebrate the special relationship that was forged between Middlesbrough and North Korea during the 1966 World Cup.

North Korea beat Italy at Ayresome Park in one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, and the North Korean players became firm favourites on Teesside as a result.

The surviving members of the 1966 squad – including Pak Do Ik, the scorer of the winning goal against Italy – will meet the Middlesbrough Ladies team during the tour, which will feature two friendly matches and a series of coaching sessions with local children.

MFC Ladies manager Marrie Wieczorek said: “Everyone is so excited about the trip. It’s such a fantastic opportunity for all of us to visit a country that we could never have imagined getting to see.

“I know North Korea is shrouded in mystery for many people in the UK, but I get the impression that the Koreans will be wonderful hosts.

“The trip is very much about friendship and is evidence of football’s power to break down cultural barriers.

It has all come about thanks to the wonderful support the people of Middlesbrough and Teesside as a whole gave the Koreans at the 1966 World Cup.”

Northern Echo

Middlesborough FC

DPR Korea ready for title defence

Port of Spain: DPR Korea will kick off their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title defence against Nigeria here in capital of Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday.

The East Asians won the inaugural championship two years back by defeating USA in the final.

Also representing Asia are Korea Republic, who are the current continental champions, and Japan.

For DPR Korea to emulate their success of the previous championship, determination holds the key.

Sin Ui-Gun, the coach of DPR Korea, said: "The one thought our players have is to win matches to send a report of victory to our country."

Sin will be banking on key players Kim Kum-Jong to deliver Pong Son-Hwa in a tough group comprising Nigeria, Chile and hosts Trinidad and Tobago.


afc.com