Old and new
Players ready to mark themselves in K-League
By Cho Mu-hyun
The new K-League season starts on Saturday and players both old and new representing the 16 professional clubs are eager to disinguish themselves supreme in their individual roles.
Jeonbuk Motors forward Lee Dong-gook, who marked his return to the national team with a total of three goals in the Uzbekistan friendly and World Cup qualifier against Kuwait, is poised to set a new record in total goals within the domestic league.
“The roar of the spectators is still ringing in my ears,” said the “Lion King” after the Kuwait game. “I want to maintain this mood for the K-League.”
The 32-year-old forward is only one goal behind current Incheon United coach Woo Sung-yong’s record of 116 career total. It is only a matter of time before he topples the score and makes league history. Lee is also moments away from joining the 50-50 club, finishing last season with 115 goals and 47 assists, along with Motors teammate Eninho who has 62-45.
Kim Jung-woo, who was aggressively pursued by former Jeonbuk manager Choi Kang-hee, is to show why he is dubbed the “Bone Striker” for his new team.
Another familiar name is Gyeongnam FC goal keeper Kim Byung-ji who may mark 600 appearances in games this season. The 41-year-old, who is the oldest player in the league, ceded no goals in 193 fixtures during his career and targets the double century mark for 2012.
“At last! 2012 K-League debut day is here ... what we have all been waiting for with the same mind,” tweeted Kim on Friday. With the tagline “there is no ball behind me,” the veteran dares anyone to shoot into the net that he will guard.
Seol Ki-hyun and Kim Nam-il, who were dubbed the “troika” along with the now retired Ahn Jung-hwan during the 2002 World Cup games co-hosted by Korea and Japan, will make their first appearance with Incheon United this season under the leadership of Huh Jung-moo. Though the veterans stated they would “back” younger teammates, the strong plays, especially by Seol last season during the playoffs when he played for Ulsan Tigers, proved that they still have a lot of caliber to show some strong performances.
But besides the old-timers, there are eager youngsters awaiting their chance to make headlines.
Tiger’s Lee Keun-ho, who scored the finisher after Lee in the match on Wednesday, is the new franchise star to lead the team in their attempt to dethrone last year’s winner Jeonbuk. Returning from three years in the J-league, the 26-year-old is ready to prove that Ulsan is a team capable of deadly attacks besides their trademark defense.
FC Seoul’s Kim Hyun-sung, who was indispensable to Hong Myung-bo’s plans to clinch an Olympic berth for London, plays in the first squad for the team that he joined in 2009.
“He’s the player that I anticipate the most for this season,” said Seoul manager Choi Yong-soo on the 23-year-old. And Kim, who was set aside mostly as reserve with Seoul, is confident that he will prove his worth.
“I am good at controlling the ball in the air. I plan to use that well for my headers,” said the forward. “I played up front along with Dejan (Damjanovic) at our training camp in Kagoshima. I want to contribute to the team every chance I get.”
The 30th season of the domestic league will run for 10 months. With players both old and new ready to show the nation that the level of play has developed tremendously since 1983, fans can safely assume that a new chapter is about to began in Korea’s football history.