Ko Jong-Su Run Again

``the Korean soccer runs again as well as Ko Jong-Su rises again….``

Who would be the player who was most unsatisfied with the 2001 Confederation Cup? It might be Ko Jong-Su (23, Suwon Samsung) who had been called attention before the opening, but failed to meet the expectations in the actual games.

Ko had shown the fabulous performances at the Asian Club Championship just before the Confederation Cup, but did not take an active part in the Confederation. Let us set aside the game with France. He was replaced in the second half in game with Mexico, and had to stay on the bench in game with Australia.

This evidences that Ko has failed to show the performance suitable to his reputation. Because he has shown the matured ability to the extent that he was bequeathed the nickname `a man of left kick` from Ha Seok-Ju (Pohang), the fans could not but be disappointed. Furthermore, the Confederation Cup was the test board for him to gauge the possibility to advance the Europe.

`The big tournament jinx` of Ko Jong-Su has tortured him. He could not play his role at the Sydney Olympics due to the right knee injury, and furthermore he was not selected in the entrée at the Asian Cup. Unfortunately, he has missed so many times the chances to show his potential to the international stage.

But Ko still has the chance to prove his ability. His immediate task is that his team Suwon Samsung grabs the victory cup in the K-League. And his ultimate goal is the World Cup that will be held next year in Korea.

After dismissed from the national team, Ko has put his body and the mind in order. He is planning to have the oral surgery on 7th. He has suffered from the acute pains in the teeth whenever he plays hard, because he was not completely recovered from the injury that he wounded in 1998.

Ko was fatigued from the consecutive participations in the Adidas Cup, the Asian Club Championship and the Confederation Cup. Now he should recover the normal physical condition before the opening of the K-League.

Coincidentally, Adidas Co., that is Ko`s sporting goods sponsor, has planned to manufacture the custom-made spike fitting to Ko`s foot, and will begin to manufacture from 7th. Now he is ready.

We may see that Ko is running again in the opening game of the K-League on 17th.

Joo Sung-Won swon@donga.com