“We should give him a chance….”
Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-kyu (61) asked footballers to think about the future of Kim Eun-jong-ho after the team’s fourth-place finish at the 2023 Under-20 (U-20) World Cup in Argentina.
Chung attended the ‘2023 Footballers’ Golf Tournament’ at Oak Hills CC in Wonju on the 13th and said, “If our players went to the final, I was going to go to Argentina on a five-day, no-night schedule. They did really well. (K League) coaches should give these young players a chance. I always ask them, but it’s not easy.”
Chung’s plea is that he wants to turn the youngsters who stood out at the U-20 World Cup into a ‘golden generation’. If the talented youngsters develop as expected, Korean soccer could be competitive beyond Asia.
The problem is that the environment for that talent to blossom is not in place. If history is any indication, it’s not uncommon for players who stand out at the age-group level to not be able to play for their clubs.
Right now, there are still players from Poland’s finalist squad from four years ago who are still on the bench. Only the youngest player, Lee Kang-in (Mallorca), has made it to the senior national team.
“I know what it takes to be a starter in the national team, from top to bottom,” Chung said, “but we need to use more players in this age group. “But we need to use more players at this age,” he said, “and give them a chance in games where the coaches are clearly winning, or in games where they are losing.
At Chung’s urging, the coaches on the ground nodded in agreement, but acknowledged the limitations of the situation. It’s not easy in the professional arena, where it’s common for players to suffer hardships depending on their performance.
Daejeon Hana Citizen head coach Lee 스포츠토토 Min-seong said he already uses Bae Joon-ho, who showed his talent in Argentina, but emphasized that he is a special case. “I’m writing that I’m the player we need,” Lee said, “and I need the managers to guarantee me a contract extension (to ensure my playing time).”
Gimcheon Managing Director Jung Jung-yong, who personally led the team to the runner-up spot in Poland, felt the same way. “I have the idea that the players who played in the tournament should play a lot for their clubs,” he said, “but I also need to check the competitiveness of Lee Young-joon and Kim Jun-hong,” he added.
“I think the best alternative is to promote a specialized age group league like overseas. It requires investment. I would like to see the K4 League actively utilized.”
Contrary to Chung’s wishes, some argued that the existing system needs to be tweaked. “It is true that domestic prospects are becoming more and more competitive,” said Ha Seok-ju, head coach of Ajou University. However, there is also a problem with the K League’s mandatory under-22 rule that causes college seniors (who do not enter the professional ranks before that age) to retire prematurely. I would like to see this complemented.”