ALL NOVEL Chapter 33
The day after the resounding victory against Japan.
The South Korea U-19 National Team finished a simple recovery training and chatted on their way back to the accommodations.
“Are we gathering at Dongwon’s place for tuna again today?”
At Jung Seung-ryong’s suggestion, who is also one of the main strikers alongside Dongwon Tuna, I shook my head.
“I need to contact my girlfriend today. Let’s go somewhere else.”
“Ha… Has our makdongi hit puberty? He’s so cold now.”
I sighed as I looked at Jung Seung-ryong, who wore a wounded expression.
“Well, it can’t be helped. Then let’s go to the goalkeepers’ room today.”
Seeing my resolute attitude, which seemed like a needle couldn’t fit in, Jung Seung-ryong shifted the target.
“No. What about our opinion?”
Although Noh Dong-in, the goalkeeper and head of the goalkeepers’ room, protested Jung Seung-ryong’s statement, it was somewhat futile against the power of democracy.
“Yep~ it’s majority rule. Anyone against?”
“None~”
“Great! So we’re going to the goalkeepers’ room today~”
Observing the decision being made for the gathering in the goalkeepers’ room, I shook my head.
Since the overwhelming win in the match against Japan, the perception of the U-19 National Team from the outside had transformed completely, but the team’s daily lives remained unchanged.
The team was still using two-person rooms.
When on earth would we get individual rooms?
Well, even the A-match national team uses two-person rooms, excluding the World Cup base camp, so thinking that the age-specific national team would have single rooms was probably a dream too far-fetched.
‘But really, why are we using two-person rooms?’
The association might not have funds, or they genuinely believe that two-person rooms contribute to teamwork and performance.
The higher-ups of the association, who probably use public funds for entertainment and golf, would know the details.
Well… honestly, neither scenario makes much sense.
‘…But after the 2018 Russia World Cup, the adult national team gets single rooms.’
Even then, the age-specific national teams would still be in two-person rooms…
‘But anyway, by then I’ll be part of the adult national team.’
I didn’t have to care much.
“By the way, hey! Cha Dongwon! Our makdongi gave an amazing assist, shouldn’t we get him a gift?”
“Oh. Is that so? Makdongi, what do you want as a present?”
Anyway, just like most winning teams do, the atmosphere of our national team after the victory against Japan was absolutely fantastic.
“What gift for just one assist? It’s okay, take care of your condition, so don’t come back too late.”
I declined the offer to Dongwon Tuna, who took my joking seriously, and returned to the accommodations to turn on my smartphone.
I had received a message from Gyeouri.
– Han Gyeouri: (Son Jinho has become a trending topic.jpg)
– Han Gyeouri: Ooooh~ Son Jinho is on the trending topic?
– Ho-woo: Haha, I am pretty amazing after all.
As soon as I sent a message, I received a quick reply from Gyeouri.
– Han Gyeouri: Tsk tsk! I’ve told you time and again! Don’t be arrogant and always stay humble!
What’s with this super fast response?
– Han Gyeouri: Well… but I admit this time!
– Han Gyeouri: Here are the reactions from Japan LOL
– Han Gyeouri: I just brought the fun ones!
– Han Gyeouri: (Failed to make legendary debut in the main squad, Japanese reactions.jpg)
Gyeouri additionally shared posts that seemed to be captured from the Ho-woo gallery regarding the Japanese reactions.
“…Why does one message get six replies?”
Instead of replying to the flood of messages from Gyeouri, I decided to call her.
– …Hello?
As a tense voice came through the smartphone, I burst out laughing.
“Why do you sound so nervous?”
-…I’m not nervous.
Through the call with Gyeouri, the stress that had built up unknowingly was being released.
***
Thursday, October 14, 2010.
Tsubo Stadium.
In the semifinals of the AFC U-19 Championship, the opponent was North Korea, which had left a legacy of hereditary succession, making it the envy of all dictators.
Well… it’s a country that brings up many emotions.
Thinking about the Cheonan sinking incident, just the fact of North Korea as a country felt terrible, but the ‘citizens’ being exploited there felt a bit unfortunate.
In the 21st century, it’s a absolute monarchy, the only unique state in Northeast Asia.
China and Russia are also dictatorships, but these guys can’t pull off hereditary succession like North Korea.
If Kim Il-sung was in hell, would he not ridicule Mr. Sparrow, his sulfur buddy, and the Georgian nobleman by saying, “You guys are such losers that you can’t even inherit power?”
Wheeek─!
Anyway, with the referee’s whistle, the match began.
“Yo, South Korean bastards! Taste the step-kick that our dear leader personally praised!”
The players from North Korea seemed to grit their teeth in fear of being dragged to the Aoji coal mine if they lost.
It appeared they were trying to overcome the skill difference with sheer willpower.
Shudder─!
“Hoouuuuuuuuu─!”
But nothing would be resolved by sheer mental might.
If it could be done, would North Korea have developed nuclear weapons? They would have beaten the USA with sheer bomb spirit.
In the same way, South Korea also sometimes refers to ‘spirit’ before crucial matches, but just as I don’t think North Korea can beat the USA with bomb spirit, I didn’t think the South Korea Football Association believed they could beat Brazil with spirit either.
“…Damn these bastards. They really make football suck.”
Anyway, after shaking the net with a long-range shot, I finished the celebration and on my way back received glowing praise from an unnamed North Korean player.
“This is the core of the Juche nuclear bomb. You get it? This bomb doesn’t eat the people’s rice.”
I pointed to my thigh and responded.
“…Splat.”
Damn kid. Looks like he’s thrilled.
I chuckled as I looked at the grinding North Korean player.
Other foreign friends didn’t understand my slam dunk, but these North Korean kids understood the meaning of what I was saying since we are the same ethnicity.
Still, is this why they say we are the same ethnicity?
***
The semifinal match against North Korea ended in victory for the South Korean national team.
“We’ve already beaten them once! Just do it like we did in the group stage!”
And a few days later, the final against Australia unfolded.
[South Korea is intensively pushing Australia from the start of the match!]
[The players’ faces are filled with confidence! What a great look!]
Since we had already won against Australia in the group stage, the national team players were brimming with confidence.
[Woohoo!! South Korea claims the AFC U-19 Championship title after six years!!]
Dominating the match from the start, the South Korea U-19 National Team easily secured victory in the final, thanks to multiple goals from Son Jinho, demonstrating the clear advantages of a young team.
And then came the awards ceremony.
“Hoouuuuu─!!
“Haowooooo─!”
Of course, the MVP and top scorer of the tournament went to Son Jinho.
***
[The rise of an extraordinary middle striker! Son Jinho winning tournament MVP and top scorer!]
└ Our gallery head won the award!!
└ Hoouuuuuuu─!
└ Honestly, he was really good.
└ Ha… finally, a world-class football player emerges from South Korea?
└ ??? We already have a world-class player, Park Jisong.
└ I’m talking about a world-class level, okay?
└ What? Is this kid saying Park Jisong isn’t world-class?
└ He’s great, but objectively speaking, Park Jisong isn’t world-class.
└ Please, as a Korean, let’s not compare and support Manchester United and Park Jisong!
[When someone asked about the future of South Korean football, turn your head and let them watch the AFC U-19 Championship match! The birth of an extraordinary prospect!]
└ Wouldn’t he be a good partner for Ki Sung-yueng in the adult national team?
└ But he’s only 15 years old, that’s too young;;;
└ Still, there’s a lot of potential for the future.
└ I see he has leadership skills despite being young; he might follow in Park Jisong’s footsteps.
[Dortmund pays attention to ‘genius’ Son Jinho! Praises pouring in locally!]
└ Wow, LOL, even local fans are praising his talent!
└ He’s just a promising player; isn’t the reporter overdoing it?
└ No, he surprisingly made it onto the radar of local communities too!
└ T.T My grandfather was a miner who went to Germany, and he said when he saw Son Jinho, it reminded him of Cha Bum-kun. He said that seeing Cha Bum-kun score and the name appearing on the scoreboard was a great motivation for him while working, and seeing Son Jinho smile made him tear up. T.T
└ T.T.T.T Later, let’s go watch a game of Son Jinho together with grandpa T.T.T.T
***
“Jinho! Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Jinho! I watched the match well!”
“Jinho! ….”
“Jinho! ….”
After winning the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship and returning to Dortmund, Son Jinho looked flustered at the coaches who welcomed him.
“…Why do they keep calling me ‘Chino’ all the time? Is this racism?”
Jinho had become a bit sensitive after the trip to China.