D-6 Confederation Cup, Ko Jong-Su vs. Nakada

The 2001 Confederation Cup, which is considered to be the rehearsal of the 2002 World Cup, is 6 days ahead.

Korea and Japan, co-hosts of World Cup, have given much attention to the operation and results of the Confederation Cup because it would be a barometer of the 2002 World Cup.

Korea`s genius star Ko Jong-Su vs. Japan`s Nakada Hidetoshi

These two stars, taking the fates of both countries on their own shoulders, have drawn huge attentions from the fans.

The Confederation Cup would be a great chance for Ko Jong-Su (23, Suwon Samsung) to leap to the world stage. He would like to use this event as a springboard to advance to the foreign teams by performing excellent plays in games with strong teams such as France, Mexico, and Australia.

Ko became a starting member with consistent plays under the strict Guus Hiddink Head Coach, and had contributed his team to win the title of the 2001 Adidas Cup playing a core role with the matured performance. He is now ready to be a world star, which is his final goal.

Just after graduating from the Kumho Highschool, Ko entered Professional soccer league. He has led his team, Suwon Samsung, to win the first place of regular season in 1996, playing as a midfielder. And in 1999, he led his team to win every available titles of the year.

To speak frankly, however, he was a frog in a small pond. As he was named MVP of 1998, and became a fixed starting member, he has no more interested in his career as a soccer player. He has been negligent in training and has suffered from frequent injuries. Hence, there was no expectation for growth.

But he announced a new start. While living, from the beginning of this year, with his parents who have suffered from chronic disease, he has brought up the ambitious hope to succeed in the world stage. He set a new goal to impress the persons concerned with soccer around the world in the Confederation Cup, and finally hopes to advance to a foreign team after the 2002 World Cup.

``I`m ready to go.`` He pledged himself to run toward the new goal.

Broad outlook utilizing the whole ground, and quick as well as accurate passing ability…..

If World’` best, France team, can be called Zinedine Zidane`s soccer, Asia`s best, Japan team, would be called Nakada Hidetoshi`s soccer.

Japan`s soccer is characterized as `Balance Soccer` that the offense line and the defense line move together just like a toothed wheel around the playmaker. How can Japanese soccer be explained without Nakada?

Why are Japanese fans so excited about Nakada?

Nakakoji Dor, a reporter of Asahi Shimbun of Japan, analyzed that `` the reason for Nakada’s success is his indomitable spirit, witty performance and play in world scale beyond Asia.``

Nakada`s performance in game with the Juventus in the Italian Serie A soccer league was good enough to illustrate the reporter`s claim.

Led by 2-0 allowing Del Piero and Zidane to score goals in the first half, Head Coach Fabio Capello of AS Roma made a bet in 10 minutes of the second half. He replaced a starting playmaker Totti with Nakada. Nakada scored a goal with a 34m mid-range scoring in the 34 minutes of the second half, and assisted to Montella`s tie goal with a powerful shooting at a over-time. That is, he has demonstrated Asian playmaker`s outstanding talent in front of Head Coach Capello.

Nakada has kept his successful career as he transferred to Peruggia in 1998, but he became a bench member after a transfer to the AS Roma. But Nakada was not disappointed, and finally was able to regain his reputation. Now he is an Asia`s hero. He will transfer to the Arsenal team in the England Premier league after this season, and will achieve even bigger dreams.

Yang Jong-Koo yjongk@donga.com