2.8 Billion Won Player Sasa Shot Title-Winning Goal

If Draulic Sasa (29, Songnam Ilhwa, photo), an imported Yugo player, joins the Korean national team, what result can the Korean team obtain for the 2002 World Cup?

Proving his true value to the full, Sasa made a decisive contribution to his team`s winning a regular season title with a marvelous goal in game with Pusan Icons of the 2001 K-League yesterday.

Sasa`s goal was an exquisite one to the extent that nobody expected it, which made him good enough to be compared to internationally-renowned players. After snatching the opponent`s ball, he was surrounded by the defenders thick and fast, but he made a turning shot getting out of the jam without getting caught up with others.

With this goal, the Songnam clinched the regular season title in six years for the first time. Sasa became a hero of four victories in three different teams—Pusan, Suwon and Songnam. In the beginning of this year, when the Songnam made a 2.2 million dollar deal (about 2.8 billion won, contract deposit 1.3 million dollars plus three-year salary 900,000 dollars) with Sasa, people worried that it was just a gamble. While his goal-getting ability was well recognized, he had showed the disappointing performance in Japan and Suwon last year, and further his unique personality would sometimes hamper the team work.

Sasa seemed to have shaken off such worries recording two hat tricks in the beginning of this season. But during the scoreless eleven games, he faced the critical moment to fall into just a `blank check`.

However, an experienced `victory maker` showed his strength in the big game. Sasa brought the win trophy to his team making goals in two straight games with Bucheon on 21st and Pusan on 24th, which were the most crucial moment toward the regular season title.

After the game, Sasa said, ``I have a lot of experiences in big games, so that I could play unperturbedly. I can change my nationality at any time if my team or the Korean national team wants me to do so.``

Bae Keuk-In bae2150@donga.com