AFC U-19 Championship: Homecoming and the Iran Clash
The schedule in Korea flew by in a flash. I caught up with my father-in-law, my uncle-in-law Hwang Geum-sun the chairman, and the Geum-sun High soccer team members led by Kang Chan—it had been a while.
Well... everyone was doing just fine. My father-in-law, who had suddenly become a goose dad, was spending his weekends fishing with Chairman Hwang Geum-sun as a hobby.
Kang Chan had already become Geum-sun High's starting striker and was playing in matches.
The Geum-sun High soccer team was on an unbeaten streak, virtually securing their spot in the King of Kings tournament, and they were in training camp preparing for the current competition.
"Hyung, do crowds still come out to watch games these days?"
"A few show up in the stands from time to time?"
According to Kang Chan, most of the fans who used to visit the stadium every day after I left for Germany had drifted away, but a few still dropped by occasionally to cheer for Geum-sun High when they felt like it.
Well... that was a good thing. It'd be even better if youth soccer kept developing.
- Hoooooo─!
"Uh... hello. Looks like even more of you than before..."
I thought back to the airport welcome when I arrived. Among the familiar faces were some new ones, so I asked them what was up.
- We saw your highlights on SBK News!!
The Hoo sisters explained that SBK had been heavily featuring my performances...
Hmm, looks like I might end up on TV soon. With the planning approved, they'd be hyping me up with some fuel, right?
But why haven't the casting requests come yet? No way. These bastards think they can just shove a camera in my face without asking because it's terrestrial TV?
This was still an era when cable networks couldn't stand up to them, so terrestrial TV's dominance was rock-solid—and so were the rampant power trips by their PDs. It left a bad taste.
He didn't seem like that kind of guy, though...
Guess looks can be deceiving? I shook my head, picturing the PD's innocently wholesome face.
Well... I'd picked up a good mindset in Europe, so no issues. I was always ready to shove the broadcasting laws down their throats.
If the TV station tried to screw me over, I'd just hit 'em with double the regulations.
Meanwhile, at SBK that same time. The aftermath of the month-long strike in July was still shaking things up.
"Haa... how much of a mess did that one-month strike make?"
PD Kim Hyun-deok clutched his head and continued to the writer.
"Writer Choi, what's the top priority right now?"
"First off... you need to cast Son Jinho."
The weary-looking writer replied to the PD.
"...Didn't we put in the casting request before the strike?"
"I told the rookie to handle it, but he quit and bailed during the strike."
PD Kim Hyun-deok sighed deeply, head bowed at Writer Choi's words. You should've managed him, nearly slipped out, but he held it back. After all, it was partly his responsibility too.
"...Let's start with casting Son Jinho. I'll make the call."
With that, PD Kim Hyun-deok grabbed his phone and stood up.
The day before heading to China, I got a call from the TV station PD.
"Hello, Son Jinho. You might not remember, but this is SBK PD Kim Hyun-deok—we met before."
Hmm. Guess his looks checked out. Hearing PD Kim Hyun-deok greet me so politely, I figured I could shelve the double regulations.
"W-We have this new program we're planning and wanted to cast you, so I reached out."
Eh...? Wait a sec. Do PDs usually make the casting calls themselves? It felt a bit off, but I focused on the conversation for now.
"We're planning a pilot program filming your daily life studying abroad in Germany."
I wondered if it'd make for fun variety show material, but... that was up to the PD.
"The appearance fee would be roughly..."
I nodded along to the PD's proposal and accepted. Might not be entertaining, but at least no devilish editing.
October 2nd. The Republic of Korea U-19 youth national team departed from Incheon Airport for Qubao in Shandong Peninsula to compete in the AFC U-19 Championship in China.
With qualification for the FIFA U-20 World Cup on the line, it was a hugely important tournament for Korea's promising youngsters—enough that SBC, which had exclusive World Cup coverage, scheduled broadcasts.
As such, the Korea U-19 team had been in training camp a month prior. My sudden addition sparked media buzz: why was I, not even on the preliminary list, now on the final roster?
"Who the hell wants to come back from Germany! And if those kids were any good at soccer, they wouldn't have called me up!"
Probably some pissed-off parents whose sons got cut because of me, tipping off the press.
At least Cha Dong-won had made the final list without camp too, so it didn't blow up too much.
"Baby maknae!"
"Dong-won tuna!"
Anyway, Cha Dong-won, whom I hadn't seen in ages, had debuted pro successfully and was building his career.
"How's Germany? Livable? No bad racism?"
"Agh, one question at a time. It's livable enough. Some slit-eyed pricks now and then, but one elbow manners lesson and they don't try it again."
"...Doesn't the ref catch that?"
"Not against pros."
We roomed together again after the UAE friendlies and swapped stories—mostly about Germany.
Having trained at Reading, it wasn't surprising he burned for overseas moves.
Especially as the only Korean there without a contract offer.
Honestly, must've bruised his pride...
For whatever reasons, maybe that's part of why he jumped at Sunderland's offer.
Well... I'd have done the same.
"If you're going abroad, try Germany first to adapt to Europe, then move leagues. Not a bad path."
I subtly nudged him toward Germany. From what I remembered, he didn't thrive at Sunderland.
His call, but he'd shone on loan at Augsburg, so Germany was worth considering seriously.
Since I'd regressed, better to thrive together than solo—personally, I preferred lifting those around me.
Monday, October 4th, 2010. Linzi Stadium, Shandong Province, China.
With the whistle from Lebanese ref Andre, the Korea vs. Iran match kicked off.
We were grouped with Australia, Iran, and Yemen—media called it the group of death, fretting over elimination, but we were confident in victory. The U-19 team delivered a performance to match.
Before receiving, I scanned for passes, then chipped the ball's underside on touch, sending a perfect parcel cross to Cha Dong-won infiltrating the penalty box.
Dong-won met it forehead-first, rattling Iran's net.
"Waaaaaaah─!"
As Cha Dong-won sprinted to the stands for his ceremony,
"Inshallah. (As God wills it.)"
I approached the stunned Iranian keeper, conveying that it was all by Hoo's will—nothing a mere human could do.
Seeming to get it, the keeper nodded.
"Allahu Akbar. (God is great.)"
Hmm. Not bad words, but hearing a Muslim say it live was freaking terrifying.
40th minute of the first half. Korea 1 : 0 Iran.
"Hoooooo─!"
[Son Jinho roars out after scoring!!]