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Jeonbuk State, in collaboration with the Jeonbuk State Office of Education and Jeonbuk Physicl Education Middle & High School, is continuing international exchange and friendship through sports by delivering sports equipment donated by students to youth in three African nations. On the 5th, the State and the Office of Education held a send-off ceremony at Jeonbuk Sports Middle & High School for the project titled “Re; Play Together, Jeonbuk Sports Friendship Gifts,” shipping the items to Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Namibia. The theme, ‘Re; Play Together,’ signifies resuming games (Re; Play) that had been halted due to a shortage of soccer balls and sports gear, this time together with Jeonbuk.

This initiative goes beyond mere material support; it aims to practice solidarity and friendship across borders through sports and to expand the foundation for exchange among future generations. In particular, sharing equipment that students actually used spreads the value of sharing while extending Jeonbuk’s international sports diplomacy into schools and the local community. The project originated from visits last year by officials from Zimbabwe and Namibia, with whom Jeonbuk has maintained international sports exchanges. During their visit to Jeonbuk Sports Middle & High School, they requested support for sports equipment. Students readily agreed to contribute, leading to a broader international exchange program supported by the State, the Office of Education, and the school. The donated items total 616 pieces across 12 sports, including soccer, taekwondo, shooting, archery, swimming, etc. —comprising both gear previously used by students and new items collected for this project. The equipment will be delivered to the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture and National Olympic Committees of each country via Zimbabwean diplomatic missions and international shipping. It will then be distributed to young athletes and youth active in organizations such as the Kirsty Coventry Academy in Zimbabwe, the Waitaka Taekwondo Club in Kenya, and the MTC Hopsol Youth Soccer League in Namibia.

Kim Jong-phil, Director General of Jeonbuk State’s 2036 Summer Olympics Bid Department, stated: “I hope the precious sports items that nurtured the dreams of our Jeonbuk students will serve as a new source of hope for African youth. Moving forward, we will continue to promote international exchange through sports, guided by the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) core values of inclusion and solidarity.” Im Young-gun, Director of Arts, Physical Ed & Health Division at the Jeonbuk State Office of Education, said, “It was a meaningful opportunity for our students to put into practice the spirit of sportsmanship through sharing and caring while developing a global perspective. We hope that the students’ small but heartfelt gesture will be warmly received by young people in Africa.”

Meanwhile, Jeonbuk State has been steadily expanding its international sports network by dispatching a Taekwondo demonstration team to the World Taekwondo U-21 Championship in Kenya, participating in the World Union of Olympic Cities General Assembly, and broadening sports exchanges with African nations. Starting with the “Sports Friendship Gift” pilot project, Jeonbuk State plans to consider expanding the countries and sports covered by the initiative, while also promoting the hosting of international sporting events and exchange programs inviting young athletes from overseas, with the goal of developing Jeonbuk into a specialized international sports city.

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Iraq’s Rashid wary of Indonesia, Mangkualam ready for the challenge

AIPS AISA News:
Doha: Iraq midfielder Osama Rashid warned his side against the threat of Indonesia’s attack ahead of the two teams’ AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Group D clash at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Monday.
The Lions of Mesopotamia had run riot in a 5-1 triumph over their upcoming opponents two months ago in the Preliminary Joint Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™, but Rashid believes the task will not be as easy this time around.

“It will be a very hard match, we already faced them in Basra and beat them 5-1, so it is a bit dangerous because it is easy to get complacent and because they also know us well now,” said Rashid.
“We don’t think it will be easy, we have to be fully focused because in Basra we played against them and we won because we were very good defensively, but they arrived in our box just once and they scored from it, so we have to be very careful.”

Having represented his nation in Australia 2015 where they reached the semi-finals and UAE 2019 where they exited in the Round of 16, the 32-year-old midfielder is eager to share his vast AFC Asian Cup experience with his younger teammates as he draws inspiration from Iraq’s title-winning campaign in 2007.
“For me it’s a big honour to play in a tournament like this. My first in 2015 in Australia was an amazing experience and we did a good job, then I played again in UAE 2019. Now it is the third one and it’s a big honour. I try to explain this to my younger teammates who are just playing their first Asian Cup. I tell them to enjoy the experience and do everything to make our Iraqi people happy.
“I remember the final of 2007, I was watching the final with my family, I remember when Younis Mahmoud scored, we went out and celebrated. I played with some of those players from 2007 and it was a nice memory.
“Recently, we won the Gulf Cup, so it gave us an idea about the feeling of winning a tournament and bringing happiness to our players, and we would love to experience that in this tournament.”
Despite being eight years Rashid’s junior, Asnawi Mangkualam captains his nation, and has expressed his pride in leading Team Garuda out as they return to the AFC Asian Cup for the first time since co-hosting the tournament in 2007.
“We are in good condition. Two months ago, we met Iraq in the qualifiers, but we are in a better condition now and are ready to give our best tomorrow,” said Mangkualam.
“Of course, I’m very happy that we qualified again after 16 years. There are a lot of young players in our squad so I have a big responsibility in this team, and I will carry those responsibilities as a captain with pride. The Indonesian people have high expectations of us, and we will do our best to reach the knockout stage.”

Courtesy AFC
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Iraq’s Rashid wary of Indonesia, Mangkualam ready for the challenge

AIPS AISA News:
Doha: Iraq midfielder Osama Rashid warned his side against the threat of Indonesia’s attack ahead of the two teams’ AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Group D clash at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Monday.
The Lions of Mesopotamia had run riot in a 5-1 triumph over their upcoming opponents two months ago in the Preliminary Joint Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™, but Rashid believes the task will not be as easy this time around.

“It will be a very hard match, we already faced them in Basra and beat them 5-1, so it is a bit dangerous because it is easy to get complacent and because they also know us well now,” said Rashid.
“We don’t think it will be easy, we have to be fully focused because in Basra we played against them and we won because we were very good defensively, but they arrived in our box just once and they scored from it, so we have to be very careful.”

Having represented his nation in Australia 2015 where they reached the semi-finals and UAE 2019 where they exited in the Round of 16, the 32-year-old midfielder is eager to share his vast AFC Asian Cup experience with his younger teammates as he draws inspiration from Iraq’s title-winning campaign in 2007.
“For me it’s a big honour to play in a tournament like this. My first in 2015 in Australia was an amazing experience and we did a good job, then I played again in UAE 2019. Now it is the third one and it’s a big honour. I try to explain this to my younger teammates who are just playing their first Asian Cup. I tell them to enjoy the experience and do everything to make our Iraqi people happy.
“I remember the final of 2007, I was watching the final with my family, I remember when Younis Mahmoud scored, we went out and celebrated. I played with some of those players from 2007 and it was a nice memory.
“Recently, we won the Gulf Cup, so it gave us an idea about the feeling of winning a tournament and bringing happiness to our players, and we would love to experience that in this tournament.”
Despite being eight years Rashid’s junior, Asnawi Mangkualam captains his nation, and has expressed his pride in leading Team Garuda out as they return to the AFC Asian Cup for the first time since co-hosting the tournament in 2007.
“We are in good condition. Two months ago, we met Iraq in the qualifiers, but we are in a better condition now and are ready to give our best tomorrow,” said Mangkualam.
“Of course, I’m very happy that we qualified again after 16 years. There are a lot of young players in our squad so I have a big responsibility in this team, and I will carry those responsibilities as a captain with pride. The Indonesian people have high expectations of us, and we will do our best to reach the knockout stage.”

Courtesy AFC
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Jeonbuk State, in collaboration with the Jeonbuk State Office of Education and Jeonbuk Physicl Education Middle & High School, is continuing international exchange and friendship through sports by delivering sports equipment donated by students to youth in three African nations. On the 5th, the State and the Office of Education held a send-off ceremony at Jeonbuk Sports Middle & High School for the project titled “Re; Play Together, Jeonbuk Sports Friendship Gifts,” shipping the items to Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Namibia. The theme, ‘Re; Play Together,’ signifies resuming games (Re; Play) that had been halted due to a shortage of soccer balls and sports gear, this time together with Jeonbuk.

This initiative goes beyond mere material support; it aims to practice solidarity and friendship across borders through sports and to expand the foundation for exchange among future generations. In particular, sharing equipment that students actually used spreads the value of sharing while extending Jeonbuk’s international sports diplomacy into schools and the local community. The project originated from visits last year by officials from Zimbabwe and Namibia, with whom Jeonbuk has maintained international sports exchanges. During their visit to Jeonbuk Sports Middle & High School, they requested support for sports equipment. Students readily agreed to contribute, leading to a broader international exchange program supported by the State, the Office of Education, and the school. The donated items total 616 pieces across 12 sports, including soccer, taekwondo, shooting, archery, swimming, etc. —comprising both gear previously used by students and new items collected for this project. The equipment will be delivered to the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture and National Olympic Committees of each country via Zimbabwean diplomatic missions and international shipping. It will then be distributed to young athletes and youth active in organizations such as the Kirsty Coventry Academy in Zimbabwe, the Waitaka Taekwondo Club in Kenya, and the MTC Hopsol Youth Soccer League in Namibia.

Kim Jong-phil, Director General of Jeonbuk State’s 2036 Summer Olympics Bid Department, stated: “I hope the precious sports items that nurtured the dreams of our Jeonbuk students will serve as a new source of hope for African youth. Moving forward, we will continue to promote international exchange through sports, guided by the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) core values of inclusion and solidarity.” Im Young-gun, Director of Arts, Physical Ed & Health Division at the Jeonbuk State Office of Education, said, “It was a meaningful opportunity for our students to put into practice the spirit of sportsmanship through sharing and caring while developing a global perspective. We hope that the students’ small but heartfelt gesture will be warmly received by young people in Africa.”

Meanwhile, Jeonbuk State has been steadily expanding its international sports network by dispatching a Taekwondo demonstration team to the World Taekwondo U-21 Championship in Kenya, participating in the World Union of Olympic Cities General Assembly, and broadening sports exchanges with African nations. Starting with the “Sports Friendship Gift” pilot project, Jeonbuk State plans to consider expanding the countries and sports covered by the initiative, while also promoting the hosting of international sporting events and exchange programs inviting young athletes from overseas, with the goal of developing Jeonbuk into a specialized international sports city.

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