“I don’t know why, but when my school scores, we stand up and scream.”
On June 24, while the sun was shining across the country, another summer memory was made in Gangneung City, Gangwon Province. On June 24, the sun was shining down on Gangneung, and the biggest soccer rivalry match in Gangwon Province was taking place.
The Dan-o Periodic Game is a friendly soccer match between Gangneung First High School and Gangneung Jungang High School, two male high schools in Gangneung City. The derby’s origins can be traced back to the ‘Kwandong Danyangje Soccer Tournament’ held in the 1920s. It is said that high schools outside of Gangwon Province also participated.
The derby took its current form in the 1940s, when it was called “Nongsangjeon” or “Sangnongjeon” after the first letters of the old names of Jaeil High School, which was the old name of Commercial High School, and Agricultural High School, which was the old name of Jungang High School. This name is still used today, even though the two schools have changed their names.
In the past, the derby was also a battle of egos, with students tearing down the other school’s gates and engaging in what is commonly referred to as “hooligan” behavior. Today, it’s not as heated, but it’s still recognized as the best derby in Gangneung.
This year was no different. The stadium was packed with alumni, students, school cheerleaders, and Gangneung residents who came to watch the game. Half an hour before the game, the cheerleading squads of the schools started to show their nerves.
Ten minutes before kickoff, I was able to interview a student from the JEILGO cheerleading squad.
- How does it feel to compete as a school cheerleader?
“I’m excited to be a part of a traditional and popular game, and I want to have fun.”
- Do you have any challenging or rewarding memories of preparing for the game?
“It’s been really hot, and it’s been pretty hard to set up the instruments, but it’s been fun.”
- Which team do you think will win today?
“Zegoda, of course. I used to think, ‘I’m a Zego student, will I cheer for Zego?’ But when I was preparing for the game, I naturally cheered for my school. 3:0, ZEIGO will win.”
The answer to the last question was not the opinion of one person, but a common response from many. As you can see, everyone was really into the game. 메이저사이트
The game started off with a bang, with Jungango attempting a powerful mid-range shot.
In the 29th minute of the first half, ZEALGO scored the first goal of the game, and in response, Jungango equalized just two minutes later. The teams then added one goal each to keep the score at 2:2 until the 21st minute of the second half. Both teams’ supporters stood up and cheered after each goal to keep each other on their toes and support their respective teams.
In the 25th minute of the second half, ZEALGO added another goal to widen the gap and the game reached a fever pitch.