Son Woong-jung, the father of Korean football’s “captain” Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur) was shaken when asked about his prospect of winning the Asian Cup in 64 years. Yonhap News Agency had an interview with Son at a hotel cafe in Seoul on Wednesday.
It was a place to hear about the secret of raising his child as a “first class” and the educational philosophy, but I couldn’t help but ask about the prospects of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Qatar Asian Cup, a big feast for Asian soccer with less than 10 days left before the opening.
Despite claiming to be the “strongest in Asia,” Korea has never won an Asian Cup trophy since winning two consecutive championships in the first event in 1956 and the second event in 1960. Expectations are high that Korea will win the title at this year’s Qatar event.
This is because Son Heung-min, who has become one of the world’s best strikers, is full of skills and has special players across all positions, including Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), who knows how to throw creative passes, and Kim Min-jae, the main center back of the prestigious Bayern Munich (Germany).
Some even say that Son is the strongest in history for the upcoming national team. However, Son was negative about Korea’s victory. He was more of a “no” than a “no” to win the championship. 온라인카지노사이트
When asked which team seems more likely to win among Korea and Japan, the “enemy” of which side is considered to be the favorites, Son said, “(Given the sum of players’ individual capabilities) Korea cannot even play a game against Japan. Korean soccer players should reflect on themselves.”
“Korea lags behind Japan in every aspect, including soccer skills and investment in the soccer community. We should not win the championship,” he said. “Not only I but also all soccer players should reflect on the fact that we have never won a championship in 64 years,” he said, expressing frustration.
When asked, “My son is the captain of the national team. Can you say that?” Son, who was full of passion and confidence, looked a little shaken. Only then did he seem to have recognized that he was the father of Son Heung-min before he was the leader of the youth soccer team.
“Of course, I hope that Korea will win the championship. But if we win the championship without such preparation, how much more will we worry about the result (without any change),” Son said. “I am worried that the Korean soccer will get sick.”
“No matter how you tricked me with your empty skills to get ahead of Japan once, it’s deceiving yourself. To be cool-headed, you can’t win,” he said with a mixed look.
Son has been criticizing the Korean soccer coaching method, which has been obsessed with the outcome of winning and losing matches and has been negligent in laying the basic skills. Son has been teaching basic skills such as ball lifting at the SON soccer academy. Then, he decided to make small changes starting this year.
After years of practicing basic skills at the SON soccer academy, first and second graders will compete with teams led by third graders.
“I will not dwell on winning or losing games,” Son stressed. “I just want to see our players kick smartly against tall and bulky players,” Son said with a smile.
Meanwhile, when asked if he still thinks Son is not in the world class, Son said, “No. Please don’t touch the last name and use it as it is. It’s not the world class.”