Coach Jo Tong-sop is confident his Rimyongsu players are ready to ride the recent wave of DPR Korea’s footballing success all the way to the 2014 AFC President’s Cup title in Sri Lanka, citing the performances of the national team’s U-14 and U-16 sides, who reached the finals of their respective continental tournaments in August and September, as a “great motivation”.
Having progressed through qualifying undefeated, to represent a DPR Korean team for the first time in the AFC President Cup finals, in what will be the last edition of the tournament, Rimyongsu will first have to face FC Erchim of Mongolia and Bangladesh’s Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Limited in two Group B ties, with the top-placed side progressing to Friday’s final against the winner of Group A.
And having seen the achievements of his nation’s youth teams, at the AFC U-14 Championship in Iran and the AFC U-16 Championship in Thailand respectively, coach Jo feels that his side too will go far in their competition in Colombo.
“There has been a lot of great success in DPR Korean football this year, with the U-14 and U-16 sides doing so well and getting to the finals of their AFC tournaments,” said Jo, who helmed his nation at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
“It’s a great foundation and motivation for us to win the championship at these finals. But a lot depends on the personal performance and qualities of our players, and the group we are in is also very strong.”
While he does not know much about their upcoming opponents, coach Jo believes his team are prepared for anything the other sides – or even the humid Sri Lankan weather – can throw at them.
“We are not very familiar with the level of the other teams but we have prepared for a long time with the aim of getting to the final of this tournament,” he added.
“We played in the group stages in May in the Philippines and it was very hot but there was no problem for the players then with the temperature or the humidity.
“We arrived two days ago in Colombo and we have two days more before our first match, so we think we will be adjusted to the heat and humidity here.”
Group B’s first match will instead see Sheikh Russel face-off with FC Erchim, with the Bangladeshi club’s head coach SM Zakaria in bullish form ahead of the Saturday show-down with their Mongolian counterparts.
“We came here to get to the final. Our vision is to be playing on September 26 and to win the championship,” said Sheikh Russel coach Zakaria, who will strive to overcome the absences of several key players.
“Unfortunately, we have lost five of our players for this tournament as they are playing for the national side at the Asian games, but we have some newcomers into the squad who are also experienced and they will help our team.”
“We played our AFC President’s Cup qualifying games here in Sri Lanka in May and came top of our group, so this like a second home and we know the conditions. Hopefully this can help us make it to the final.”
Opponents FC Erchim are playing in their third consecutive AFC President Cup finals, and their coach Vojislav Bralusic is determined to better their two group stage exits from the 2012 and 2013 tournaments.
“Although this is a very, very strong group, our aim is to improve upon last year and we’re aiming for the final,” said the Serbian.
“Sheikh Russel are a good side and, in my opinion, Rimyongsu are the best team in the whole tournament. But of course there is always a chance for us. We know how we can play and how hard we’ll work – we respect all teams but fear no one.
“We don’t know so much about the strategies and tactics of our opponents but we’ll know more after the first games. We aim to get off to winning ways, so our first game is very, very important.”
The AFC President’s Cup matches will be live streamed on www.thepapare.com
20-09-2014 Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Limited (BAN) 13:00 FC Erchim (MON)
22-09-2014 Rimyongsu Club (PRK) 13:00 FC Erchim (MON)
24-09-2014 Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra Limited (BAN) 13:00 Rimyongsu Club (PRK)
Matches will be played at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo. All times are local.
