By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Pim Verbeek has started a special training program for Middlesbrough forward Lee Dong-gook ahead of the Asian Cup in July.
The Dutch coach had Lee, 27, join the South Korean Olympic football team's Sunday training session in Daejeon in preparation for the second round final qualifier for the Beijing Olympics against the United Arab Emirates Wednesday with the goal of helping Lee sharpen his actual game sense.
``As Lee didn't have enough time to play in the Premier League, he will join the Olympic team,'' Verbeek said after the friendly match against the Netherlands.
The striker has not played a game since the English Premier League came to an end three weeks ago.
Considered to be lacking game sense, he was benched in Saturday's friendly match against the Netherlands.
During Sunday's practice, Lee, teamed up with Park Chu-young of FC Seoul, led the team's offense and outshined his teammates, exhibiting brilliant skills like converting a left-footed volley shot to a goal.
``Young players are better in techniques and are better composed than I was on the Olympic team,'' said Lee after the practice.
He denied a rumor that he will play for the Olympic team as a wild card, saying, ``They train and play hard so it is premature to comment on the issue. To begin with, I will focus on the Asian Cup."
Lee Dong-gook, who has scored 22 goals in 64 international matches, played outstandingly in the past two Asian Cup.
In the competition held in Lebanon in 2000, he notched six goals to win the leading scorer award and netted home four times four years later in China.
That's the reason the Dutch coach, aim to top the Asian ranks at topping Asia after 47 years, gave him special treatment.
Verbeek, 51, thought of Lee training on a local team but it turned out to be inconvenient. As a result, he joined the Olympic team, also coached by Verbeek.
The attacker will also train with South Korea's U-20 football team at the National Football Center (NFC) in Paju, Gyeonggi Province following the Olympic team's qualifying match.
The youth squad is now preparing for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada from June 30-July 22.
``Lee has had individual workouts such as running and physical fitness since he came back to Korea. However, those are not enough for a football player."
``Training with the Olympic and the U-20 teams, he will be able to adapt to team practice. I think it will be more helpful than mountain climbing and working out in a gym," the coach said.