The leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) or simply North Korea, Kim Jong-un, announced that one of the country's strategic plans is to grow hundreds of high-class football players who would dominate not only in Asia, but also worldwide. And this needs to be done within the next five years.
"We are training football players to be better than Lionel Messi. In the beginning, we will be the best in Asia, and then we will aim for the world. We will become a nation with hundreds of Korean Messis," said Ju Mun, director of an international football school in Pyongyang, as reported by "Marca".
It is explained that Kim Jong-un gave instructions across the country to select the most talented young football players, enroll them in boarding schools, and send future North Korean Messis to Pyongyang, where they will become football stars.
However, Norwegian coach Jorn Andersen, who works with the DPRK national football team, expressed skepticism about these plans. The football specialist, who has been working with Koreans since this year, insisted that all such ideas smell more like utopia.
"I really don't think Koreans could grow a star of Lionel Messi's level. However, it is not impossible to assume that good players can really 'be born' among them. I have seen several football talents in this country, but all players only compete in the domestic league and they are unlikely to improve enough to reach the level of stars. The best do not emerge from the best in a closed system," explained the 53-year-old Norwegian.
Under J. Andersen's guidance, the national team won five games, played once as a draw, and lost once in seven matches.
lrytas.lt
