April 25 Sports Club (, Sa io ch'eyuktan), shortly 4.25 SC, also known as April 25 National Defence Sports Club (4.25'국방체육단', Sa io "Kukpang ch'eyuktan"), is a 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 Defence; all members of the professional teams (male and female) are considered officers of the Army.
History The club was established in March 1947 or July 1949 as the Central Sports Training School Sports Club (중앙체육강습소체육단, Chung'ang ch'eyukkangsŭpso ch'eyukdan).
On 25 June 1971[Most South Korean press reported that On 25 June 1971, club name was changed to April 25 Sports Club or 26 June 1972, 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. (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.)金正日(김정일)권력승계 큰 變數(변수) 「軍部(군부)장악」유난히 강조
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. 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.
4.25 reached the final of the 2019 AFC Cup. They lost the final against Al-Ahed from Lebanon. The final took place in Kuala Lumpur. 4.25 reached the final after a goalless draw against Hanoi FC from Vietnam. The 2019 AFC Cup knockout stage game took place at the Kim Il-sung Stadium in Pyongyang in front of a crowd of 5,500. 4.25 SC usually play home games in front of thousands of spectators. The club drew an average home attendance of 4,050 in their four home games at the 2019 AFC Cup.
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.미달때 北韓(북한)에선 大學(대학)입학·軍(군)입대 보류 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.
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".
Continental history Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate1985–86Asian Club ChampionshipQualifying TournamentEast Asia 1 Seiko 4–1 1–2 2nd Liaoning 3–1 0–01986Asian Club ChampionshipFirst round group 7 Liaoning 0–0 0–1 0–11987Asian Club ChampionshipQualifying RoundGroup 5 August 1 0–2 3rd Hap Kuan 2–11988–89Asian Club ChampionshipQualifying RoundGroup 6 South China 3–0 1st Wa Seng 4–0 Guangdong Wanbao 1–0 Yamaha Motors 3–1Semi Final LeagueGroup B Mohammedan 0–1 3rd Al-Sadd 1–2 Al-Ettifaq 1–1 Pahang FA 2–01990–91Asian Club ChampionshipQualifying RoundGroup 7 Nissan Yokohama 1–0 1st Liaoning 1–0Group B Esteghlal Tehran 1–2 2nd Mohammedan 0–0 Bangkok Bank 4–3Semi Final Liaoning 0–3—Third Place Pelita Jaya 2–2 (6–7 pen.) Fourth Place1991Asian Club ChampionshipGroup B Al-Hilal 0–2 3rd Esteghlal Tehran 1–1 2017 AFC Cup Group I Erchim 6–0 5–0 1st Kigwancha 2–2 1–1 Inter-Zone Play-off Semi Final Bengaluru FC 0–0 0–3 0–32018AFC Cup Group I Hwaebul SC 1–0 2–0 1st Hang Yuen 5–1 5–1 Benfica de Macau 8–0 2–0 Inter-Zone Play-off Semi Final Home United 9–1 2–0 11–1 Inter-Zone Play-off Final Altyn Asyr 2–2 1–1 3–3 (a)2019AFC Cup Group I Hang Yuen 5–0 0–3 1st Kitchee 2–0 1–0 Tai Po 4–0 1–3 Inter-Zone Play-off Semi Final Dhaka Abahani 2–0 3–4 5–4 Inter-Zone Play-off Final Hà Nội 0–0 2–2 2–2 (a) Final Al-Ahed 0–1
Honours Domestic DPR Korea Premier Football League Winners (23): 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2003, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2024–25 Runners-up (2): 2014, 2016 Hwaebul Cup Winners (4): 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 Man'gyŏngdae Prize Winners (7): 2002, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 Paektusan Prize Winners (1): 2017 Poch'ŏnbo Torch Prize Winners (3): 2005, 2011, 2014 DPR Korea Championship Winners (3): 2001, 2006, 2011
Continental AFC Cup Runners-up (1): 2019 Asian Club Championship Fourth place (1): 1990–91 AFC Challenge League
Invitational DCM Trophy Winners (1): 1972List of winners and runners-ups of the DCM Trophy www.rsssf.com. RSSSF. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
Women's football
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.
Other sports In addition to football, April 25 participates in dozens of different sports, including athletics, ice hockey, basketball, volleyball, and handball.
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.
Ice hockey April 25's ice hockey team won the national championship in 1989.
Volleyball April 25 has both women's and men's volleyball teams. 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.
Achievements VTV Bình Điền Cup: 1 Champions: 2015
VTV International Women's Volleyball Cup: 2 Champions: 2008 Third place: 2015
See also
February 8 Sports Club
References
External links