Hwaebul Sports Club

Hwaebul Sports Club is an association football club from Pochon, North Korea, founded in 2013.[2] It is the sports club of the Kimilsungist-Kimjongilist Youth League[3] and is based at the 5,000 capacity Hwaebul Stadium. They are presently playing in the DPR Korea Premier Football League.

Hwaebul SC
Full nameHwaebul Sports Club
Founded2013 (2013)[1]
GroundHwaebul Stadium
Capacity5,000
ChairmanKim Jong-min
ManagerIl Mun-ho
LeagueDPR Korea Premier Football League
Hwaebul
Chosŏn'gŭl
홰불 체육단
Revised RomanizationHwaetbul cheyukdan (횃불)
McCune–ReischauerHwaebul ch'eyuktan

History

The team was given its name by Kim Jong-un when it was founded, in the hopes that the club would be a guiding light for football in North Korea, as "Hwaebul" means "torch" in Korean.[2] Despite its newness, the club has already achieved considerable success, finishing third in their inaugural season,[4], winning the Highest Class Football League in the second season, along with securing several wins in the Paektusan Prize, the Poch'ŏnbo Torch Prize, and other competitions.[2]

The club made its competitive debut in the 2013 competition of the Poch'ŏnbo Torch Prize,[3], in which forward Kim Yong-gwang was top scorer with twelve goals, seven scored in the first round and five in the second round.[5]

After having finished second in the Highest Class in 2017, Hwaebul are currently taking part in their first continental competition, the 2018 AFC Cup.[6] They defeated Erchim FC of Mongolia with a 7–0 aggregate score in the qualifying play-offs,[7][8] and have advanced to the group stage, where they will play matches against April 25 of North Korea, Hang Yuen of Taiwan, and Benfica of Macau to try to qualify for the knockout stage.[6]

Current squad
As of 20 February 2018

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 GK Song Tae
18 GK Kang Ju-hyok
GK Mun Jong-hyok
3 DF Jang Kuk-chol
11 DF Ri Chang-ho
26 DF Jong Chol-hyok
20 DF O Jin-hyok
DF Kim Kwang-hun
23 DF Kim Kuk-chol
12 DF Pak Chol-lyong
DF Ri Jong-min
MF Jon Chung-il
27 MF Kim Chol-jin
No. Position Player
MF Kim Ju-won
MF Ri Song
MF Hyon Chol-bom
MF Ri Yong-gwon
2 MF Kim Kwang-jin
8 MF Song Jong-hyok
9 MF Ri Jon-hyok
FW Choe Kwang-jin
7 FW Pak Chol-song
FW Ri Il-san
10 FW Kim Yong-gwang
6 FW Choe Won
22 FW Kim Jin-hyok

Managers
  • Jo In-chol (first)
  • Il Mun-ho (current)

Continental record
Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2018 AFC Cup Qualifying Play-off Round Erchim 3–0 4–0 7–0
Group I April 25 0–2 0–1 3rd
Benfica de Macau 2–3 0–3
Hang Yuen 6–1 1–0

Achievements

Domestic
  • DPR Korea League: 3
Champions: 2014
Third place: 2013
Runners-up: 2014, 2016
  • Osandŏk Prize: 3
Champions: 2015, 2016, 2017
  • Paektusan Prize: 1
Champions: 2016
  • Poch'ŏnbo Torch Prize: 3
Champions: 2013, 2017
Runners-up: 2014

References
  1. Grimm, Justin (6 January 2018). "AFC Cup Preview: Erchim FC versus Hwaebul SC". Mongolian Football Central. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  2. "High-profile Hwaeppul Football Team". Naenara. 29 August 2017.
  3. "Hwaebul Team, Football Champion of DPRK – North Korea Aggregator". nkaggregator.com. KCNA. 3 December 2014. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  4. 축구강팀으로 등장한 홰불팀. The Choson Sinbo (in Korean). 27 January 2014.
  5. 남자 홰불팀, 2련승으로 종합순위 1위／보천보홰불상체육경기대회 1급축구경기. The Choson Sinbo (in Korean). 12 July 2013.
  6. "AFC Cup – AFC". AFC.
  7. "Play-offs: Results & Reports". AFC. 13 February 2018.
  8. "Play-off East: Hwaepul SC 3–0 FC Erchim". AFC. 20 February 2018.
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