Hwang Son-Hong, ``Let`s Go J-League``

He wore again the red uniform in a year and three month, but he never felt any uneasiness. The red uniform fit just like a custom-made cloth to a `stork` Hwang (33, Kishiwa Reysol) who have played as a member of the national team over 10 years.

Although the Korean team failed to advance to the second round, the Confederation Cup was a glittering comeback stage for a striker Hwang Son-Hong. As expected, he scored the goals in games with Mexico and Australia. He could enjoy the taste of the goal for the first time in A-match game since the game with Czech Republic on May, 1998. He recorded 47 goals in 89 A-match games, which are the most among the currently active players.

His quick movement in front of the opponent`s goal gate deserved the praise that ``He is the best``.

Head Coach Hiddink who included Hwang in the national team, told that ``There have been the unsatisfactory strikers so far. Thus, I wanted to see Hwang`s play``. Hiddink has said that the Korean team still lacks the ability to score a goal, but he seems like solve the problem to some extent through Hwang`s excellent performance at the Confederation Cup.

Hwang Son-Hong returned to Japan on 6th, and now is preparing for the J-League.

He will first take part in game with Kashima in the second round of the Nabisco Cup.

After the game with Kashima who possesses Nakada Koji, a defender of the Japan national team, he is supposed to play in game with Iwata in the regular season on 16th. Iwata is the team who possesses the outstanding goal getters such as Takahara Naohiro who is a current leader in the score ranking, and Nakayama Masashi who had two scoring titles in 1998 and 2000. The scoring race between Hwang and these players will be very interesting.

Since Hwang Son-Hong surely recovered the ability to score a goal at the Confederation Cup, he is expected to keep hunting a goal in the J-League in which thus far he recorded four goals. If he maintains his current condition until the end of the league, he may win the second scoring title of the J-League. He earned once the scoring title in 1999.

Joo Sung-Won swon@donga.com