New ground no worry for DPR Korea ahead of AFC U-16 quarters

PANAJI: DPR Korea coach Yun Jong-su is confident that the turf at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda will not hamper his team’s chances of qualifying for next year’s FIFA under-17 World Cup.
DPR Korea qualified for the next stage of the AFC U-16 Championship and are now a win away from qualification to the big event in 2017. Korea played all their group matches at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim but have been drawn to play Oman in Fatorda on Monday.
“For a good player, the field does not matter,” Yun Jong-su told reporters when questioned if the new ground –where they will play for the first time – will hamper them.
The East Asians have won two of the last three continental tournaments at Under-16 level but enjoyed mixed fortunes in qualifying for the last eight as Group D runners-up after successive wins over Yemen and Thailand were followed by a 3-1 reversal to Uzbekistan.
“If we win we qualify for the World Cup next year and this is a dream for all the young players. One of our main targets from the start of the tournament was to make it to the World Cup so we will be doing our best to ensure that happens,” said the DPR Korea coach.
DPR Korea were found wanting in their concluding league clash against Uzbekistan which they lost 1-3 but the coach said they are fully prepared to take on the might of Oman in the quarterfinals.
“Oman showed they are a strong team because they won their group. But I don’t think there will be any problems physically, tactically or mentally with our players. I don’t think there is any pressure and we are ready for this game,” said the coach.