`Little Maradona`, Chance Has Come

“It’s not all good. I want to stay at home for a while…”

Choi Seong-Kuk (Korea Univ.), who has been selected, rather surprisingly, to be included in the national soccer team and to participate in the training session that will begin from the 12th in Daegu, said there is something regrettable. It is that he has no time at home, even though he moved to a new house on the 10th last month, due to the continuous camp training. While playing for the national youth team since March, he was selected in the national college team on 30th last month to visit Japan, and he now has to participate in the national team’s training.

The new house is Choi’s first `own house`. 66 million won-19 Pyong (63 m²) villa was afforded by taking a 60 million won-loan. Until now, he lived on monthly rents. Korea University’s coach Cho Min-Kuk said, “On the day of moving, his father (Choi Chang-Mo. 42) called to say `do you what feels like to have my own house in 40 years?`.”

Choi’s childhood was poor. The family had to live in a shabby warehouse that was remodeled into a residence near Yongsan-gu’s Samgakji, Seoul, until he entered elementary school. His father thinks that Choi’s short height (1m 70) is due to that he could not sleep straight in a small room.

Choi naturally began playing soccer by following after his father, who was a member of a soccer club. As he stirred around `street soccer`, he transferred to Donggok Elementary School in the 6th grade, in order to start playing soccer for his career. Because he started on soccer quite late, he strived harder than other people during the period at Yokkok Middle School and Jungmyong High School. He concentrated on dribbling to overcome the handicap of a short height.

His dream was to `become like Maradona`. He spent his spare time watching videos of Maradona’s plays. Jungmyong High’s coach Park Yi-Chun said, “Gifted players are usually lazy, but Choi is a striving genius.”

As he entered the 3rd grade in the high school, Choi started being noticeable. He led Jungmyong High in victory at 2000 Jinju MBC National High School Football Championship, and earned himself the MVP title. The nickname `Little Maradona` was also given then. In the same year, he was selected in the national youth team, and scored 4 goals in last year’s FA Cup tournament. Also, he engraved his name on soccer fans’ heart by scoring the final goal during the evaluation match with the Japanese national youth team in March this year.

“I am worried that I might shrink because there are many good players. I couldn’t sleep during the night I was chosen for the national team. But I also feel I’ll do better because there will be good passes.”

Facing the World Cup, Choi’s face is full of confidence.

buddy@donga.com