North Korea is training football players to surpass the abilities of Lionel Messi.
However, like the nuclear capabilities of the secretive state, whether they succeed or not remains to be seen.
The ambitious plans – which eventually involve world (football) domination – were revealed by Ri Yu-Il, a coach at the Pyongyang International Football School, the country’s only football academy.
‘We are training our students to become super-talented players who can surpass the skills of people like Lionel Messi.’
He continued: ‘For now, I think we should dominate Asia and, in the near future, I hope that we will achieve global dominance.’
It’s unknown if the nation’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un is involved in the plans. However, it seems likely that the tubby tyrant will be taking a keen interest, considering his love of sport that’s seen him become mates with former NBA player Dennis Rodman.
Whatever the case, North Korea have a long way to go. They are currently ranked 126th in the world – nestled between Armenia and Ethiopia. They last qualified for the World Cup in 2010 – where they were soundly beaten in every game before returning home. They did however have more success in 1966 – their only other appearance at international football’s top tournament – when they reached the quarter-finals, famously beating Italy along the way.
Jorn Andersen – the Norwegian coach of the national team – thinks that North Korea has a self-inflicted problem in their pursuit of glory.
‘I don’t think [North Korea] can make a Lionel Messi, but I think they can make good players for Asia. There are many talented players but they always have to stay inside the country. They can’t go out.
‘When they are always playing inside [North Korea], it’s difficult to create better players.’
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