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Coach Hong Speaks

Posted August. 07, 2007 05:45,   

한국어

“I didn’t want to avoid an opportunity. But I do not regret not having been chosen the manager.”

After manager Pim Verbeek’s resignation, coach Hong Myeong-bo, who had been a candidate for the post of national Olympic soccer team manager, revealed his innermost thoughts yesterday.

Hong spoke with newly appointed manager Park Seong-hwa at the Korea Football Association office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on August 6 about the management plans of the Olympic team. Hong said, “I decided to join manager Park’s team. I thought of the Olympic team’s continuity. Going to the 2008 Beijing Olympic finals is the goal we’re faced with.”

Once considered a strong candidate for the managing position, he responded to those who cited his lack of experience, “I’ve played soccer for over 20 years. Experience is important, but isn’t the most important factor. After this, I realized that more people were interested in soccer than I thought, and I was able to examine myself. What’s important is, “Do I have what it takes to be at the top position?’” Hong expressed his determination to give it his best.

On Verbeek he said, “I feel he stepped down too early. Because soccer fans are very much invested, being the coach of the national team is like holding a grail of poison.”

He said of Park, “With little time for training, I think he was the right man for the job. I’ve heard the players take his lead. Because they don’t speak English, I think they’ll converse more.”

Hong vowed, “I have become a national team coach for the first time with a sense of duty towards the development of Korean soccer. That duty is still unchanged.”



bluesky@donga.com