Korea Republic to use Macquarie University’s North Ryde facilities as AFC Asian Cup base

2 December 2014

AFC Asian Cup contender Korea Republic have chosen Macquarie University at North Ryde as their base to prepare for their AFC Asian Cup tilt in January.
Korea will arrive in Sydney on Dec. 27 and train at the University until Jan. 6, when they will head to Canberra for their first two Asian Cup games against Oman on January 10 and Kuwait on Jan. 13.
This will give them 10 days to get ready for the 2015 Asian Cup, the biggest football tournament ever held in Australia.

Macquarie University
Macquarie University’s Sport & Acquatic Centre Photo: FJ Gaylor

The Taegeuk Warriors were drawn in Australia’s Group in the Group Stage and will play the Socceroos in a blockbuster game at Brisbane Stadium on Jan. 17.
Korea Republic joins China, who will set up at Campbelltown in Sydney’s west, Japan (Cessnock), Bahrain (Ballarat), Jordan (Mulgrave in Melbourne’s east), United Arab Emirates (Gold Coast), Oman and Qatar (both Canberra), Saudi Arabia (Torquay), Uzbekistan (Rockdale).
“To attract a team of South Korea’s stature to North Ryde speaks volumes for Macquarie University, which has worked hard to ensure it benefits from Australia hosting the Asian Cup,” said Michael Brown, CEO of the Asian Cup Local Organising Committee.
“With less than three months to go until kick-off, this announcement takes the excitement and anticipation up another notch.”
Macquarie University’s Deidre Anderson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Students and Registrar, said: “Sport has been at the heart of our University since it was founded 50 years ago.
“Recently we have hosted the All Blacks to the Socceroos, and Sydney FC have had their home training grounds here for several years now.
“We are delighted to welcome the Korean Football Association to our sporting community!”
Minister for Citizenship and Communities and Member for Ryde Victor Dominello said having Korea Republic set up camp in Ryde was a great boost for the local community.
“There are many members of the Korean-Australian community who will be very excited that the team has chosen our community to prepare for this very important tournament,” Mr Dominello said.
“We will warmly welcome the Taegeuk Warriors when they arrive in our community and wish them very well for the event.
“This is also a good boost for local businesses. Having a strong delegation stay in North Ryde will bring significant economic benefits.’
The AFC Asian Cup is Asia’s biggest football competition and was established in 1956.
The 16 nations to qualify for AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 are Australia as hosts, defending champions Japan, Korea Republic and 2012 AFC Challenge Cup winners DPR Korea, along with Bahrain, China, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Palestine.
The 16 finalists will take part in a 23-day festival of football in five cities which the Socceroos will kick off against Kuwait on Jan. 9, 2015, in Melbourne, with the final set for Sydney’s Stadium Australia on Jan. 31, 2015.
The tournament is being financially supported by the Australian Government and the NSW, Victorian, Queensland and ACT Governments.

About Macquarie University

Established in 1964, Macquarie University in Sydney is ranked among the top 200 universities in the world. Set on 135 hectares of peaceful green parkland, Macquarie’s modern campus is just 30 minutes from Sydney’s city centre and features cutting-edge facilities for learning and research.
Macquarie University has been placed equal 9th among the 25 most international universities in the world by the UK’s Times Higher Education (2014).
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