Ankle Pain Sidelines Park for a Day

At Oslo’s Ulleval Stadium on June 1, Park, Ji-sung along with Kim Nam-il (Suwon Samsung), Lee Eul-ryong (Trabzonspor), Lee Ho (Ulsan Hyundai), was engaged in a rehabilitative training exercise when he approached the physical trainer Reymont Ferheyon to complain of the pain in his ankle. The subsequent scene was that of Park sitting on the bench with an icepack wrapped around his foot. Park, the untiring engine, has been rarely the one to voluntarily sit out of an exercise.

Park seems to be hobbled with injuries lately. He has been in rehabilitation program since an ankle injury suffered early last month during a Premier league match. Adding to that was a freshly sprained ankle while training for the World Cup. According to the national team’s medical staff, his recent ankle injury seems minor and Park is expected to resume the training soon enough. However, the statement seems to be not entirely accurate when Park had to discontinue his rehabilitative training.

Park is the core of the national team. His role in the midfield is essential to the flow of the team’s defense and offense. What separated the poorly-fought Senegal match from the successful Bosnia-Herzegovina match was the brilliance of Park Ji-sung. Park has shown his determination to have another successful World Cup run. Dick Advocaat said Park will be able to participate in the training after three days of physical therapy.

Lee Young-pyo, who provided a ground for Park’s injury by jostling with him during practice, said, “We are carefully checking his condition. It is good news that he will soon be able to rejoin the training. Our goal is not the evaluation match but the World Cup games. Park will show his stuff when the time comes.” Park himself has not lost his smile despite the recent injuries that have been holding him back.

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com