Come See Park Joo-young at Sangam

“Come see Park Joo-young at Sangam.”

In the midst of an atmosphere that is still flying high due to the Korean national team’s recent victory over Uzbekistan, pro-soccer team FC Seoul is busy gathering fans with the “Park Joo-young card.”

FC Seoul head coach Lee Jang-su included “Soccer Genius” Park Joo-young in the starting “Top 11” as a fan service in the Samsung Hauzen Cup 2005 match against Bucheon SK that is to be held on April 3 at the Sangam World Cup Stadium. The head coach made this decision for fans that are missing Park Joo-young, as he was unable to play in the 2005 Suwon Cup International U-20 Football Festival.

Lee Jang-su said, “Joo-young’s condition is almost 100 percent recovered. He is adapting to the pro team faster than expected, so there will be no problem with him being a starting member.”

Park Joo-young is FC Seoul’s mascot. As a rookie who not only focuses on his training but also volunteers’ hard work without boasting his star status, he is a favorite among his older teammates.

Having only been able to watch the Suwon Cup on TV, Park Joo-young is determined to give a good performance in front of his fans. Having scored a goal in his second game and having his first assist in his third game, Park Joo-young is looking forward to contributing to the team’s victory with another point this time as well.

The Suwon Samsung Bluewings will face FC Daejeon at Daejeon on April 2. Song Jong-gook of the Bluewings is on the rise after scoring a comeback-for-Korea goal on March 20. Song Jong-gook has not been on the national team roster for a while, and this is his chance to catch the eye of national team head coach Johannes Bonfrere who will be watching the game in preparation for the national team’s two away games that are to take place in June.

Chunnam Dragons head coach Hur Jung-moo, who came back to the K-League after seven years but had a disappointing comeback with two ties and three losses in the beginning of the season, will go for his first victory at an away game against Chonbuk Hyundai Motors on April 3.

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com