Manager Kim Jong-hun |
By Matt Flemming
Staff Reporter
The Zambian national football team will host North Korea in an international friendly Saturday at Nkoloma Stadium in the capital Lusaka, Zambia.
The North Koreans reportedly arrived Wednesday evening in Lusaka, hoping to gain experience by playing against African opposition ahead of next year's FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
"It is important for us to get a feeling of the African style of play because we do not know who will be in our group," said North Korean coach Kim Jong-Hu, according to the Zambia Post.
"Our players will do their best to their abilities in the game. I am missing three main players who play abroad and some out due to injury."
North Korea played to a scoreless draw with Congo in a friendly as part of its visit to France in October, which also included a match with French club Nantes.
The Stalinist nation's football club qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1966 by finishing second in Group 2.
North Korea lost 1-0 to South African league champions SuperSport United, Tuesday, at Super Stadium in Tshwane, South Africa, before arriving in Zambia.
A North Korean representative also said the team hopes to use the match to build better relations between the two football organizations.
"We hope to play a good game and hope to build closer relationships," Kim Jong-man said.
Zambia is currently ranked 96th in the world while North Korea is 91st. The African nation failed to qualify for the World Cup, finishing behind Algeria and Egypt in Group C of African qualifying with a record of one win, two draws and three losses.
mattflemming@koreatimes.co.kr
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[단독] 르노삼성, 본사 모델로 한국 공략
