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Kim Jong-un personally honoured Naegohyang Women’s FC after their historic AFC Women’s Champions League triumph, the first by a club from the country.
Kim Jong-Un meeting Naegohyang players (X)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un personally welcomed the players of Naegohyang Women’s FC after their historic triumph in the AFC Women’s Champions League, with emotional scenes unfolding in Pyongyang as players celebrated alongside the country’s top leadership.
Images released by state media showed Kim embracing members of the squad, posing for photographs and congratulating the players after they became the first North Korean club to win Asia’s premier women’s club competition.
Naegohyang secured the title with a 1-0 victory over Tokyo Verdy Beleza in the final held in Suwon on May 23. The victory marked a significant milestone for North Korean football and capped an impressive run through the tournament.
According to state media, Kim praised the team for bringing pride to the nation and later watched a friendly match between the club and North Korea’s under-17 women’s national team.
The victory carries added significance given Naegohyang’s links to North Korea’s Guard Command, the unit responsible for Kim’s security. The club’s success has been portrayed domestically as both a sporting achievement and a symbol of national strength.
The country’s ruling party newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, described the players as “proud daughters of the motherland” who had showcased the determination and spirit of the Korean people through their performances in the semi-finals and final.
The reception drew dozens of senior officials and members of the public, who waved national flags and applauded the returning champions.
Naegohyang are reported to have earned around $1 million in prize money for winning the competition, although questions remain over whether the club will be able to access the funds because of international sanctions imposed on North Korea.
Their title-winning campaign was also notable because it required the team to travel to South Korea, marking the first visit by North Korean footballers to the neighbouring country since the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.
About the Author
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His…Read More
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