WK League powerhouse, the Hyundai Steel Red Angels, have set sail for a promising 2024 season.
The 2024 Red Angels
The Hyundai Steel Red Angels conducted a 14-day intensive training camp in Osaka, Japan, from February 24 to March 8 to enhance teamwork and performance. This marks their second overseas training camp following a previous trip to Vietnam in January. The focus of this training camp was on preparing for the AFC Club Championship final against the Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan in May.
During the training camp, the Red Angels played friendly matches against five football teams including the Kibi International University football team and Cerezo Osaka, eventually recording an impressive record of 3 wins, 2 draws, and no losses.
In particular, the 1:0 victory against Cerezo Osaka from Japan’s WE League was a significant achievement, boosting the players’ confidence against Japanese teams. During the match held on March 3, the Red Angels struggled against the Japanese-style passing play of the opposing team in the first half. However, they regained control in the second half with solid organization and strong stamina. Eventually, in the 14th minute of the second half, Namgung Ye-ji scored a decisive goal from a free kick near the penalty area, leading the Red Angels to victory.
Meanwhile, the performances of newcomers shone brightly during the training camp. Seo ji-youn, who joined the team from Gyeongju KHNP this year, impressed with two goals in five practice matches, while rookie Park Ah-hyun also received praise by scoring a goal.
Aiming for their 12th consecutive WK League championship, the Red Angels will kick off their WK League campaign with a home game against Gyeongju KHNP on March 16. In May, they will finally face off against the Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan in the AFC League Championship final to vie for the title of Asia’s top team.