Race for Best Goal Maker Started Already

There are foreign warriors as well as Taekuk warriors in K-League.

In the beginning of regular Korea League, foreign players are at the ahead for score and assist, and domestic players challenge to them.

Especially, foreign players’ goal ceremonies are more interesting than their plays. These days, Dabo(21) is the subject of a talk. Once, he was a member of national team of Mali in Africa and plays for Puchon SK. He becomes at the head for goal records with 3 goals through two games.

He began to play for Buchon SK from the early of this year with 150,000 dollars of annual payment. Now he is treated with courtesy as a lucky boy.

The club worried initially that haven’t had sufficient experience. However, he has appeared goal maker instead of Kwak Kyung-kun and Vitali who are wounded. His looks playing better since his wife, Jessia (18) joined him at 13th of July. They are living in Inchon.

Dabo shows dance and strides along bouncing whenever he makes goal. The attitude makes spectators fun.

Yugoslavian, Manichi(30) of Busan Icons was the subject to talk once. His goal ceremony ‘calling mobile phones to spectators’ reminds people of Emile Hueskey of Liverpool of England. Manichi is at the second head for goal with two goal records. He shows fantastic play with a colleague, Colombian, Harry(28) who records two assist by speed and decisive play.

Macedonian Konan(30) of Pohang Steelers also runs for the head with 2 goals through 3 games. He recorded 10 goals last year and landed softly in Korean League and showed his ability by making two goals in the opening game of Korean League this year.

From this year, Croatian Medo(25) of Pohang Steelers will assist Konan very much. Medo records 2 assists with correct and powerful centering.

Among domestid players, Park Dong-hyuk (23, Chunbuk HyunDai) and Shin Tae -young(31, Sungnam IlWha) record 2 goals for each and compete with foreign players.

Park Dong Hyuk, even if plays as defensive middle fielder and center guard, he records two heading shots and appears as one of candidates for New Best Player. Since Adidas Cup, he has played as a main player.

A veteran, Shin Tae Young has kept his reputation of MVP in last year with matured ability.

Sung-Won Joo swon@donga.com