Choi Tae-Uk, the Opportunity Is Before My Foot

CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal against Costa Rica take place one day after January 30th. While the Korean national team was training on the grounds of California Polytech College in Pomona near Los Angeles, the goal net never ceased dancing with cannon shots by Korean strikers.

The focus of the training on the day was enforcing goal scoring same as on the 29th. While Guus Hiddink`s shout `control!` echoed through the field, Choi Tae-Uk, Song Jong-Kook, and Lee Eul-Yong who are in the 2nd attack line were making successful shots as well as strikers like Lee Dong-Gook, Cha Doo-Ri, and Kim Do-Hoon performing well.

The most prominent player among them was Choi Tae-Uk (21. Anyang LG). The coaching staff applauded him whenever the ball would fly off from his left foot after he rushed into the penalty area from the left touchline. Not to mention the left foot, his heading shots contributed to scoring goals. Though he is short, his timely positioning and instinctive heading showed the highest hitting ratio among the players training together.

Hence, Choi Tae-Uk, who has the best shooting ability after recovering from injury, will be the lead playmaker or commander on the ground in the match against Costa Rica. It was an unavoidable choice due to Lee Chun-Soo`s early comeback from injury and Park Ji-Sung`s missing the game, but it is a challenge which will test Choi Tae-Uk`s skills.

As for Choi Tae-Uk, he reminds us of the so-called `Choi Tae-Uk Zone` in which he overwhelmed Nigeria and others during the professional games. With lightening speed, he rushes through to the left side of the penalty area and scores a goal by making a cross pass with his patent headshot.

After he changed his position to the right wing, his spirit never calmed down. With his small but strong 1m 73cm, 67kg body, he coined the slogan, `left Chun-Soo, right Tae-Uk` cooperating with left wing Lee Chun-Soo, who was his classmate at Pupyeong High School.

The fact that Korea was troubled with unbalance in the left and right wings in the game against Cuba proves his value.

Now he is accidentally facing the challenge of becoming the lead playmaker. He has not proved his passing ability 100 percent yet, but his blade-accurate shooting from the 2nd attack line is expected to quench the team`s thirst for goals.

bae2150@donga.com