April 25 SC


April 25 Sports Club, or 4.25 SC for short, or sometimes "April 25 National Defence Sports Club", is a multi-sports club in North Korea based in P'yŏngyang, primarily known outside of North Korea for its men's and women's football teams. The club belongs to the Ministry of People's Armed Forces; all members of the professional teams are considered officers of the Army.

History

The club was established in March 1947or July 1949 as the Central Sports Training School Sports Club.
On June 25, 1971or June 26, 1972, the club 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 April 25, 1932.
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, but in international club competition, home matches are usually played at the Kim Il-sung Stadium. In 2015, April 25 achieved an uncommon feat, with both the men's and women's clubs winning their respective national championships.

Confusion with February 8 Sports Club

and April 25 Sports Club are similar in many ways.
In conclusion, North Korean Ministry of People's Armed Forces are operating both sports clubs separately. In 2017 Paektusan Prize and Mangyongdae Prize, April 25 Sports Club won and February 8 Sports Club hold the 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".

Current squad

Continental history

Honours

Domestic

Rank Team
127 Warriors FC
128 FC Dordoi
129 April 25
130 Than Quảng Ninh
131 Salam Zgharta

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 Value Player of the tournament.

Achievements