“Ri Kum Suk is widely known as highly skilled forward and prolific scorer. During her professional career as a player she took part in over 100 matches and scored some 120 goals, demonstrating her ability as a world-class football ace,” said Kim Chol Ung, department director of the Football Association of the DPRK.
Born to an ordinary worker’s family in Sapho District, Hamhung of South Hamgyong Province, she began to play football at Sapho District juvenile sports school of the city as a junior middle school student.
She was picked out by the April 25 Sports Club in 1993 and cut a fine figure in several local tournaments.
She became a member of the national team in 1996 when the DPRK women’s soccer was in its heyday with many talented players included in it.
An excellent forward and gifted header, she made a crucial contribution to the team DPRK’s winning a series of international events.
In particular, she scored a winning goal in the final match with Japan in the 13th Asian women’s football championships, receiving the top scorer award of the event.
She also made decisive goals in the final matches of the 14th Asian women’s football championships and the 14th and 15th Asian Games, earning their top scorer and most valuable player awards.
She scored a hat-trick against Australia in the semifinals of the 16th Asian women’s football championships and won the top scorer and most valuable player awards of the event.
She also made her presence known in the team of world women’s soccer stars as she was invited to it.
“Ri was active as captain of the women’s national team for a long time. She not only had high skills but also the knack of playmaking, that is, she sensitively grasped the game tactics of the coach and commanded the teammates to play accordingly. So her presence in the field often decided the team’s morale and the development of matches,” said Kim.
She is now devoting her time and energy to training national team players as a women’s football coach at the April 25 Sports Club.
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