Asian Roundup

Sun Jihai goal strikes a blow for Chinese

LONDON (Reuters) -- Manchester City's Sun Jihai has said that his goal at Birmingham City on Saturday, the first by a Chinese player in the English Premier League, will delight fans in his homeland.

The international defender finished off the best move of the game with a firm header from eight metres to set Kevin Keegan's side on the way to a 2-0 win, their first away victory of the season.

"I think the goal has big significance for China's soccer fans -- everyone will feel very happy," the former Crystal Palace player said in an interview with the website Sina.com.

"My feeling about the goal at the time was that it wasn't real, that it was a dream.

"For a Chinese player, being able to represent my country in one of the top five leagues, and moreover being able to win everyone's recognition and respect, I feel is enough for me.

"I'm not saying scoring is that big a deal. Every game, every training session I work hard to gain more trust from my coach, the fans and the club.

"It proves a lot to me if I can take part in each game because the competition is very fierce in this team and there are many excellent players in each position.

Sun Jihai joined City in March from Chinese club Dalian Wanda following a spell with English first division side Palace.

"Coming back to Britain this time I just wanted to see what I could do," added the 25-year-old.

"I didn't want to set a very big or clear goal for myself, I just hope I can play 300 games in the English Premier League."

Report: Yokohama axes Brazilian striker Will

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Brazilian striker Will has been axed by J-League club Yokohama F-Marinos after an on-field tirade against a team mate at the weekend, a Japanese newspaper reported on Monday.

The 26-year-old aimed a kick at Daisuke Oku after receiving a red card in extra time as Yokohama were beaten 3-1 by first division leaders Jubilo Iwata on Saturday.

Will had kept up a running feud with Oku during the game in Tokyo's National Stadium.

F-Marinos are set to inform Will of their decision formally in the next couple of days, according to the Nikkan Sports.

Will has scored 14 goals this season but has had repeated warnings for breaches of discipline since joining Yokohama on loan from Consadole Sapporo in February.

F-Marinos president Shigeo Hidaritomo had initially said he would ask the player for an apology for his latest outburst.

But the position of the club has hardened to the point that a Yokohama official was quoted by the Nikkan Sports as saying: "Even if he apologizes we cannot let this kind of thing go [unpunished]."

Warm welcome for returning N. Korean heroes

MIDDLESBROUGH, England (Reuters) -- In a front garden on a Middlesbrough housing estate, a group of North Koreans gathered this week to recall their soccer heroics of 36 years ago.

They clustered around a bronze cast of football studs, one of several memorials made by artist Neville Gabie to mark significant spots around the housing estate, built on the site of Middlesbrough's old Ayresome Park stadium.

It was in Ayresome Park, on July 19 1966, that the gallant North Korean underdogs scored arguably the greatest World Cup upset in history when they beat mighty Italy 1-0.

Seven surviving players returned to Middlesbrough this week for the first time since 1966.

"While we were disappointed that the ground where we played our games had gone, we were pleased to see the historic relics that marked the spots of particular places at Ayresome Park," said former defender Rim Jung-son.

The bronze cast, set in the garden of a house called "The Holgate" after Ayresome Park's singing end, marked the spot from which Pak Do-ik scored the winner against Italy.

"Returning has brought back many happy memories of the warm welcome we received from the citizens of Middlesbrough," said Rim.

Middlesbrough shirts

The former players, with coach Myong Rye-hyon, went to the new Riverside Stadium on Saturday to watch Middlesbrough draw 2-2 with Leeds United in the English Premier League.

Much has changed in the industrial town on the banks of the River Tees in the Northeast of England but the 30,000 fans -- many born long after the North Koreans shocked the sporting world -- gave the visitors a rousing reception.

Before kick-off, the players -- including Pak who scored the first-half winner against Italy -- went out on the pitch and were presented with Middlesbrough shirts bearing their names.

Earlier, the group, now in their 50s and 60s, took a walk around a town center bedecked with banners welcoming them back.

One six-year-old boy asked: "Which one's Pak Do-ik? My granddad said I had to get his autograph."

The former players even stopped for a cup of tea at the home of one Middlesbrough fan, Rob Nichols.

"It's amazing that although a long time has passed, the people of Middlesbrough still remember us," said goalkeeper Li Chan-myong, who was nicknamed "The Cat."

In London, the players were invited to have tea on the terrace of Britain's House of Commons and attend a dinner co-hosted by the Foreign Office and the Minister for Sport.

Thirty-six years ago, the British government, which did not recognise North Korea at the time, tried without success to deny the World Cup team visas and stop them flying their national flag at matches.

The 1966 World Cup was held at the height of the Cold War and only 13 years after the end of the Korean War, in which British troops fought against the North.

Civic reception

During a five-day visit to the north-east of England, the returning Koreans stayed at the St George Hotel at Teesside Airport, the same place they stayed in 1966.

They were guests of honor at a dinner at the Riverside Stadium where former Middlesbrough manager Jack Charlton, a member of England's World Cup winning side in 1966, was the guest speaker.

They enjoyed a civic reception at Middlesbrough Town Hall, attended by five local mayors, and a guided tour of the Riverside Stadium after watching Steve McClaren's team train.

Documentary film maker Dan Gordon, who arranged the nostalgic return to Teesside after spending five years tracking down the team members and getting permission to interview them, hailed the two-week trip to England as a great success.

On their first weekend, the players went back to Everton's Goodison Park, the scene of their World Cup 5-3 quarter-final defeat to Portugal which followed the victory over Italy.

Then it was back to Middlesbrough.

"The depth of feeling Middlesbrough supporters seem to have for the Koreans is very special," said Gordon.

Li summed up the visit. "We've been so busy because so many people want to meet us but it is our pleasure. It feels like meeting relatives because people have been so welcoming."

Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.