For Orphan Players, Soccer is a Remedy for Loneliness

Lee Won-chol, a 12-year-old boy who has dark skin and oozes impishness, thinks about soccer.

He is a fifth grader at the Boys’ House Elementary School, located on the hillside in Seoul. His school belongs to Maria Monastery. Won-chol has been living at the House since he was a preschooler.

“I hope the next year comes quickly,” Won-chol said, referring to the fact that he can play in all games once he reaches the sixth grade. Prior to World Cup Soccer 2002, he dreamed about becoming either a chef, the president or a biologist. Now he wants to be a soccer player.

After class on May 3, 18 soccer players gather in the school stadium. The school encourages students to play soccer as an after-school activity. This encouragement has won the team quite a reputation, with 20 championships in a variety of tournaments since it was founded in 1975.

Shooting practices follow passing exercises. Won-cheol banana-kicked the ball in mid-air. “Use your ankle,” Manager Lim Cheol-ho, 30-years-old, yelled. “Nice shot! Keep up the good work.”

Lim, who graduated from Myoongji University with a BA in physical education, is a former Boys’ House student. When he attended the school in the mid-1980s, playing soccer gave him a rare opportunity to leave the school campus because the administration put restrictions on entrances and exits of the campus to protect students. Lim is a tough manager who pushes players to their limits. “They are emotionally vulnerable because they are under protection by the school, 24/7,” he said.

He feels sympathetic with his players because they don’t have parents to support them in their games. However, it only further solidifies his resolution because he knows his players will soon enter a tough society. “Soccer increases not only their physical and mental abilities, but also the spirit of citizenry,” Hwan O-hyun, the principal, said.

Online games and entertainers are hot among elementary school students these days. However, for the Boys’ House students, soccer is their sole past time and means to overcoming loneliness.

“I want to be a player who never falls, but just runs like Park Ji-seong,” said Kown Wook-han, a six-grader, who was left at the House by his divorced father when he gave up custody of Kown because of his inability to take care of the child. Kim In-su, a shy six-grader, said, “When I kick the ball I always forget about my parents and loneliness.” He added, “I will find my parents after I become a rich professional player.”

Sung-Kyu Kim kimsk@donga.com