Alas! Coelho!

Is there any hope for “Coelho Divison”? On October 22, at the 2004 Asian Cup, second preliminary second round, “Coelho Divison” was defeated by Oman. Losing to Vietnam, 0-1, two days ago, the Korean national soccer team head coach, Coelho, has been faced again with another strong ambush, standing at the crossroads of “Alive? Or Death?”

At the sports complex of Muscat Sultancabus in Oman, the Korean national soccer team was defeated by Oman, 1-3, having played without spirit during the match. That was the first time for Korea (FIFA ranking 39th) to lose to Oman (FIFA ranking 102nd). Korea has recorded three wins and two losses, falling to second place in Group E, handing over its first place standing to Oman (four wins, one loss).

Humberto Coelho, who has a record of four wins, one draw, and five loses so far since his taking over the head coach position in March, might not be able to get away with a public clamoring for a change even though he has already been guaranteed his term through July 2004.

If the Korean soccer team were to be defeated against Nepal, the weakest among the group, and Vietnam were to beat Oman, the ticket to the final round of Asian Cup, which allows the first and second place teams to advance, would not be available for Korea.

Jung Kyung-ho scored the first goal at 2 min, 2nd half, but rapidly succumbed to Oman after permitting the equalizer at 7 min, 2nd half. The team gave up two more goals, and then went down under entirely. It was unbelievable, with the team consisting of six former World Cup members, although most players who are playing in foreign leagues were not able to play for Korea.

When the result of the match, many articles on the internet bulletin board of Korea Football Federation (KFA) have been posted, calling for the removal of Coelho.

KFA is under a funeral ceremony-like atmosphere. There is no logical reason for the failure of the Korean soccer team, which reached the semi-finals of World Cup 2002, and grew into the core of world soccer in 2002, but now has sunk to such a low point, with unbelievable consecutive defeats against weak teams such as Vietnam and Oman.

Jung Mong-jun, the chief of KFA, at the executive meeting this day, pointed out, “The preparation of concrete material, rather than an improvised one, is the most important thing. After the championship ends, we will analyze it deliberately to bring out a countermeasure,” and took off from the meeting quickly.

KFA is supposed to prepare a plan to cope with the problem just after its executive officer, Cho Joon-yeon, comes back from the championship around October 23. It is known that Cho passed on his opinion, “It is time for an essential research of Coelho soccer. The public opinion and people’s viewpoint for the national team would work as a variable.”

“With the positive results of the 2003 Asian Cup, I will lead the Korean soccer team to 2006 German World Cup,” remarked Coelho when he took over the head coach job. But, because of this disaster, it is indispensable for him to go through “mid-term evaluation.”

On the other hand, some people pointed out that the average training period for each player comes up to only 36 days, without any discipline program overseas. Coelho does not have to answer for all of the blames.

Sang-Ho Kim hyangsan@donga.com