The two Koreas meet on Tuesday in Pyongyang, where officials will hope that this World Cup qualifier ends in a better fashion than the last. The abiding memory of the Seoul game in April 2009 was the eternally glum North Korea coach Kim Jong-hun striding into the post-match press conference flanked by two minders. Taking no questions, the trenchcoated tactician accused the hosts of poisoning his players and then stormed out, pushing bewildered South Korea FA officials out of the way.
There was a much more positive atmosphere in the qualifier that had been scheduled to be held in Pyongyang a few months earlier. With the two countries technically still at war, Dear Leader Kim Jong-il moved the home tie to Shanghai as the prospect of seeing the flag of the south flutter and its anthem ring around the stadium named after his (and the nation’s) father Kim Il-sung was a bit too much.
Written by John Duerden
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/oct/14/south-korea-north-korea-football-world-cup-qualifier-tottenham-son-norths-ronaldo under the title “South Korea make historic North Korea visit but without their fans”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
