Tears in Mokpo – Coach Kim`s KHC Lost to Hyundai Construction

Kim Myung-soo, head coach of Korea Highway Corporation team that is at the center of whirlwind this year, was wearing stiff look as he left the court after his team lost big to Hyundai Construction. KHC, which finished last the two previous seasons, has been on the run this season defeating strong ones one after another.

At a women`s match of the 2003 Samsung Fire Volleyball League held on Jan. 10 in Mokpo Indoor Sports Complex, Hyundai Construction beat KHC by three to nil (25-21, 25-23 and 25-10).

With the day`s loss, KHC, which earlier defeat LG Chemical and KT&G, marked three wins and one loss. Hyundai Construction tied KHC with one loss to KT&G and three wins. The women`s league is then expected to enter intense competition among three forerunners – KHC, Hyundai Construction and KT&G.

Hyundai was trailed by 16 to 17 in the early part of the first set, facing the spirited KHC, but Jang So-yeon saved the team by sending a fast strike to the opposite side of the court at every crucial moment.

KHC closed in on Hyundai by 23 to 23 in the second set, but Hyundai`s seasoned players managed to keep their lead. Some hundreds of spectators cheered for KHC led by coach Kim, who headed Mokpo Women`s Vocational High School before.

Kim, who started playing volleyball while attending a middle school affiliated to Chosun University, had to give up his dream of becoming a big player in high school as he stopped growing at 1m 71 cm.

His coaching career began as he took Hampyong elementary school after graduating from Chodang University. Since then, he headed Songwon Women`s Middle School team, Songwon Women’s High School and a high school affiliated to Choennam Teachers University before he became the first coach of newly-formed Mokpo Women`s Vocational School team in 1994.

Barely maintaining the team with only six players, he led the team to the third spot in 1995 National Mudeung Flag Championship. The team was in its prime years for the next two years winning two national championships in 1996 and three in 1997.

He headed a national junior team in 2001, and led the team to the second spot in the world junior championships. Having won recognition for the achievements, he was then named head coach of KHC in March last year.

Apparently perplexed by the defeat in Mokpo, which is like a home base to him, Kim had hard times finding words. ˝We will have another match with Hyundai,˝ he later said. ˝Then, we will do our best to defeat Hyundai to become the No. 1.˝

Meanwhile, Han Song-i at KHC played face to face with her elder sister Han Yu-mi at Hyundai Construction during the game as a backup.

Won-Hong Lee bluesky@donga.com