ID :
53060
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 10:06
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/53060
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South, North vow victory in Wednesday's inter-Korean football match
SEOUL, March 31 (Yonhap) -- Football coaches of South and North Korea on Tuesday pledged victory over each other at their World Cup qualifier slated for Wednesday in Seoul, but with a wish for both teams to advance to the World Cup finals next year.
"Tomorrow's match is very crucial for both teams," South Korea's national
football coach Huh Jung-moo told reporters at a joint press conference in Seoul.
"North Korea has displayed outstanding performance in recent games, but we are
also well prepared and our players are in good condition. We will do our best to
win the game."
North Korean coach Kim Jong-hun also was determined to win against the South
Korean rival.
"I and all our players are well aware of the importance of tomorrow's match. I'm
sure we can win three victory points. We'll do our best to the last moment," said
Kim.
The North jumped to the top spot of Group B with 10 points after they beat the
United Arab Emirates 2-0 on Saturday in the Asian qualifier for the 2010 World
Cup in South Africa. South Korea is now behind North Korea by two points.
The winner of the Korean derby, which is the fourth match throughout the entire
regional preliminaries, will gain an edge, earning three winning points. All the
previous Korean matches ended in draws.
"I and all our players know the three points are important to advance to the
finals," Kim said. "We are ready to do our best in the game."
Only the top two nations of the group will grab direct berths to South Africa,
while the third place team will have to undertake a playoff.
"If the two Koreas can go to the World Cup together, that will be great," Huh
said when asked if he hopes to share the ticket with the North. "Even though we
are divided, we are one nation."
Kim agreed, saying "I, too, think it is great."
The match will be held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Wednesday night.
The inter-Korean football game will come amid the rising cross-border tension
over the North's plan to launch a rocket between April 4-8. The communist North
has demanded that its home game be held in a third country, such as China,
arguing that it cannot allow South Korea's national flag or anthem in Pyongyang.
"Tomorrow's match is very crucial for both teams," South Korea's national
football coach Huh Jung-moo told reporters at a joint press conference in Seoul.
"North Korea has displayed outstanding performance in recent games, but we are
also well prepared and our players are in good condition. We will do our best to
win the game."
North Korean coach Kim Jong-hun also was determined to win against the South
Korean rival.
"I and all our players are well aware of the importance of tomorrow's match. I'm
sure we can win three victory points. We'll do our best to the last moment," said
Kim.
The North jumped to the top spot of Group B with 10 points after they beat the
United Arab Emirates 2-0 on Saturday in the Asian qualifier for the 2010 World
Cup in South Africa. South Korea is now behind North Korea by two points.
The winner of the Korean derby, which is the fourth match throughout the entire
regional preliminaries, will gain an edge, earning three winning points. All the
previous Korean matches ended in draws.
"I and all our players know the three points are important to advance to the
finals," Kim said. "We are ready to do our best in the game."
Only the top two nations of the group will grab direct berths to South Africa,
while the third place team will have to undertake a playoff.
"If the two Koreas can go to the World Cup together, that will be great," Huh
said when asked if he hopes to share the ticket with the North. "Even though we
are divided, we are one nation."
Kim agreed, saying "I, too, think it is great."
The match will be held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Wednesday night.
The inter-Korean football game will come amid the rising cross-border tension
over the North's plan to launch a rocket between April 4-8. The communist North
has demanded that its home game be held in a third country, such as China,
arguing that it cannot allow South Korea's national flag or anthem in Pyongyang.
