Kigwancha Sports Club

Kigwancha
Full nameKigwancha Sports Club
Nickname(s)Sinŭiju Locomotive Sports Club
Founded11 January 1956; 69 years ago (1956-01-11)[1]
GroundSinuiju Stadium
Capacity17,500
ManagerHan Won-chol
LeagueDPR Korea Premier Football League
Kigwancha Sports Club
Chosŏn'gŭl
기관차체육단
Hancha
機關車體育團
Literal meaningLocomotive Sports Club
Revised RomanizationGigwancha cheyukdan
McCune–ReischauerKigwanch'a ch'eyuktan

Kigwancha Sports Club or Kigwancha Sports Team (Korean: 기관차체육단; 'locomotive'), known as Sinuiju Locomotive Sports Club is a North Korean multi-sports club belonging to the Korean State Railway and based in Sinuiju. It was established on 11 January 1956, and has been awarded the Order of Kim Il-sung and the Order of the National Flag (First Class).[2] The club is best known for its men's and women's football teams.

Kigwancha's men presently play in the DPR Korea Premier Football League, and won several championships in the late 1990s. The club finished third in the 2006 season.[3] They have taken part in continental competition once, finishing second in its group in the group stage of the 2017 AFC Cup.[4]

Known players (including former players)

Managers

  • North Korea Ku Jong-nam (before 2014)
  • North Korea Han Won-chol (since 2014)

Continental history

Season[4] Competition Round Club Home Away Position
2017 AFC Cup Group I Mongolia Erchim 7–0 3–0 2nd
North Korea April 25 2–2 1–1

Achievements

1st place, gold medalist(s) 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2016
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 1995, 2006, 2012
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2015
4th 2017
1st place, gold medalist(s) 2004, 2005
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2015, 2016
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 2014
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 2012
1st place, gold medalist(s) 2007
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 2010, 2016

Other sports

The club also has basketball and volleyball teams.[5][6] Athletes representing the club also play tennis.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Kigwancha Sports Team Successful in 2013". Korean Central News Agency. 25 February 2014. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  2. ^ "Anniversary of Kigwancha Sports Team Marked in DPRK". Rodong Sinmun. 11 January 2016. Archived from the original on 21 October 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  3. ^ Эпштейн, Арнольд. Северные корейцы учат русский, стоят на голове и ждут документы с родины (in Russian). Спорт-Экспресс. Retrieved 29 October 2006.
  4. ^ a b "Decision by Competitions Committee & Executive Committee for AFC Club Competitions". The-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  5. ^ Yang Ryon Hui (2 November 2017). "National Championships close". The Pyongyang Times. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  6. ^ Jong Tang Song (12 October 2017). "National Championships go on". The Pyongyang Times. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  7. ^ Ri Sung Ik (2 November 2017). "National Championships top annual sporting calendar off with new records". The Pyongyang Times. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.

Documentary on YouTube (in Korean)