Asian Cup 2015: North Korea v Saudi Arabia brings colourful fans out in force
IN another context, many would have eyed the Saudi Arabia fan with suspicion. But his broad smile exuded the goodwill that has characterised the Asian Cup.
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AS THE spectators wound their way through the parkland towards AAMI Park, there was not a North Korean supporter to be seen.
Plenty of Saudi Arabians piled off the South Morang train at Jolimont Station, skirting past the birthplace of Test cricket and the sprawling courts for this month’s tennis major, and made their way across the road to a stadium that in some ways resembled a cluster of modern Bedouin tents.
One of the Saudi fans, a burly man with a thick black beard (no moustache) was happy to talk about how easily his team would account for the Koreans.
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“My name is Khalid,’’ he laughed, extending his hand for shaking. Over one shoulder was draped in the green Saudi flag with its white shahada script, and one the other was slung his small son’s Disney backpack.
In another time, another place, another context, many Australian would have eyed him with suspicion. But here a broad smile beamed from his face, and like everybody else in the crowd he exuded the goodwill and enthusiasm that has characterised this tournament.
“We will win easy,’’ Khalid said. “North Korea is nothing. Our manager made a big mistake not playing (Mohammed) Al Sahlawi against China. It didn’t work. Tonight he plays and we will crush Korea.’’
At the stadium there were hundreds of Saudi Green Falcons supporters milling around, carrying flags and even wearing team shirts with player names. Equally plentiful were non-aligned locals wearing Socceroos, Melbourne Victory and Europeans club tops.
Eventually a small knot of Korean fans was to be found outside Gate 6, handing out small hand-size white plastic flags, showing a blue map of the entire Korean Peninsula.
One of them, Jung, said that everyone in the group was from South Korea — “nobody from North here’’ – but said that they were simply keen to show their support for all Koreans.
They were mystified when, moments later, a security guard appeared and confiscated the flags. Quizzed about it, he said he could not comment to the media, but pressed, he said “the Federation doesn’t allow them’’.
Inside the ground, the crowd of 12,349 was dominated by Saudi fans, who sang along loudly to their national anthem. And yet the North Koreans, as quirky underdogs, drew considerable support from the neutrals.
Two locals, wearing red stars on their T-shirts and army caps, waved a huge North Korea flag at the northern end of the stadium. Asked why, one replied: “Just taking the piss really …. and because I don’t believe all of the crap we get fed by America.’’
Nearby a fan yelled “Go North!’’ prompting a round of AFL-themed jokes about how the defensive-minded Koreans might employ “Kim Jong-un’s paddock’’ and launch “long bombs’’ into the attacking zone. Star striker Pak Kwang Ryong even had a bit of the Wayne Carey swagger about him.
At the other end of the ground there was no tolerance of humour, with security staff confiscated Kim Jong-un masks from the Saudi fans.
The north-west corner of the stadium had a strong contingent of Melbourne Victory fans, and they might have had Kevin Muscat flashbacks when, inside the opening 12 seconds, North Korean midfielder Jong Il Gwan was shown a yellow card for a crunching studs-up tackle.
The North Korean national team earned the nickname the Chollima, the winged horse of Korean mythology, after their fast-paced and energetic style unexpectedly took them to the 1966 World Cup quarter-finals, famously including a 1-0 win over Italy.
But the 2015 version was expected to be more like draught horses, camping in their back half and trying to pinch goals on the counter attack.
When they scored a nicely constructed opening goal through Ryang Yong Gi after 11 minutes, the crowd erupted, sensing an upset. The quips started about how North Korean officials might have to relent on the live broadcast ban and flick on the transmission switch.
Instead, the Saudis were stung into action and swarmed all over the Chollima the second half.
The Koreans lost the match, but not their new supporters. At the 80th minute the Melbourne Victory fans turned their backs to the game and launched into the Poznan.
They began chanting “North Korea is still No. 1’’.
The Green Dragons fans won’t care — their tournament is alive. A showdown with Uzbekistan awaits.
Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: North Korea v Saudi Arabia brings colourful fans out in force
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