<012. FC Chabum (2) >
The office of Bum Gon Cha's Soccer Academy.
Two men who decide the direction of the company were drinking coffee together.
The two: the coach of the S class, Sang Un Lee and the legend of Korean soccer, Bum Gon Cha.
Sang Un started speaking.
"What do you think?"
"Well. You're deliberating on whether or not to put Sang Un in the entry?"
"Yes."
Bum Gon's eyes drifted to Ho Yung Wu's performance report. All the statistics were recorded - his assists, success rates, performances from matches, and training.
"Impressive."
It was an impressive record even in the S-class. But that didn't mean they needed Ho Yung in the team.
"There's only one week left until the match so it'll be tricky to suddenly put him in… Although, if you look at his skills, there really isn't much to worry about."
"Well that's hard to tell just by stats, I'll have to look at him in real life."
Bum Gon was invested in this match - more than any other match. It was also a chance to check the successes of developing the youth.
"Okay. Let's see."
"Yes. I'll play it."
Bum Gon Cha played a soccer tape on the LCD monitor in front of him.
"And this was the match this morning?"
"Yes."
It was none other than the match between FC Run Shoot and San Paolo FC. He had gotten the tape from the MBS. He was able to get the tape because Bum Gon Cha was a sports commentator at the MBS.
"Haha."
Bum Gon crinkled his eyes watching the game.
"It feels like watching Du Rim when he was young."
"What do you mean?"
"It's illogical how fast he runs."
To Bum Gon, watching Ho Yung was like watching his son Du Rim.
Just looking at one game, Ho Yung might actually be greater.
"He's young but the play is amazing. He's going to be a fun player."
"So what do you think…?"
"I'll still have to see him in real life. I've always said I was going to go see him but I've been so busy. When's the class?"
"Tomorrow at 2:30. Should we move it?"
"Yes. Why don't you contact the parents tomorrow morning? Surely the kid also has things to do."
Two days later.
As soon as the school bell rang, Hi Sun and Ho Yung entered the academy and doubted their eyes.
"You're Ho Yung?"
"Yes… Hello! I'm Ho Yung Wu!"
Bum Gon Cha.
It would have been weirder to not be amazed seeing a living legend of Korean soccer. Plus, his talents were on a completely different level.
'He's a retired legend so his criteria is difficult… Let's think about this later.'
He didn't have the luxury to think about that right now.
Pat pat.
Bum Gon patted Ho Yung's hair.
"Do you know who I am?"
"The brown tank!"
"Haha."
Such a weirdly mature kid.
That nuance showed on Bom Gon's face.
"Funny kid. Ma'am, why don't you come inside and we can talk?"
The mum and son, who followed Bum Gon to his office, sat down together. What he had to say was actually quite simple.
"So you'll do a test and decide whether or not you'll put Ho Yung in the competition?"
"Yes, with your permission. And also Ho Yung's… Haha… Ho Yung's expression tells me he's already made up his mind."
The opportunity to be in the world youth soccer competition had been given to him, just like that.
The only thing left was the test.
'I can do it!'
Ho Yung did up his soccer shoes.
"What kind of test?"
"Well."
Ho Yung joined in training with the U13 at 1:15.
'Woah. I've never seen these older kids before.'
He had always played with lower elementary school graders but now he was surrounded by older elementary schoolers and high school kids.
'Is that a giant?'
There was even a kid that was over 170cm tall. Ho Yung looked at him.
The name was Hyung Jun Suk.
'Talents jackpot.'
For Ho Yung, who was 130cm tall, this was someone he couldn't take on but his heart was bouncing in anticipation.
A very tempting talent.
But this was an 11 vs 11 full field match.
Beep!
The team started training.
Ho Yung's team was ordered a 4-4-2 tactic. Ho Yung was on offence and had to carry out the timing rush. More specifically, he was the poacher.
Famous examples of poachers were Italy's Filippo Inzaghi, Brazil's Ronaldo and Netherland's Ruud van Nistelrooy.
In other words, they were the 'solution', the goal hunter that focused on only goals. So it was a position that would be constantly marked.
But for Ho Yung, he didn't even get to touch the goal let alone get marked.
"Hey! Pass! Pass to me!"
His own team wouldn't pass to him.
They could have passed even once but it was almost as if he had become invisible.
'So these elementary schoolers are showing off, huh? Right, if they're gonna play this way…"
Ho Yung briefly forgot that he was also an elementary schooler and made a plan. If he couldn't receive it, he'd go after it.
Ho Yung started running all over the place.
"Hey! Here!"
Who gave a damn about ages or hierarchies? He started speaking like he was equal to them.
The atmosphere of the ground became cold. Sang Un started laughing on the bench.
"Haha. I shouldn't be laughing at this."
On top of that, Bum Gon was laughing heartily next to him too.
"Ahahah. That kid's got character."
"Sorry?"
"If you don't have the trust of your team, you have to show them your skill. I did too. In Germany."
Some decades ago, Bum Gon fought through racism in Germany with skill alone.
"As Thierry Henry said, soccer is becoming happy when you have the ball. There's a risk that it'll get stolen but that's soccer. Look at him. He's playing like that."
The moment Bum Gon started exclaiming, Ho Yung finally got the chance to get the ball.
Unfortunately, it was not a normal way to get possession.
"My ball!"
"Hey, kid, that's mine!"
He intercepted a ball that was passed to a player from the same team, Wan Gyu. Ho Yung snatched the ball.
Bump.
He won against his own team and finally got the ball.
'This is too easy.'
Wan Gyu started screaming.
"Hey, stupid! Why would you do that to your own team!"
"Nice pass!"
Regardless, Ho Yung started kicking and running.
If they won't accept him as a team member, he would make them accept him with skill.
It was that moment.
That Ho Yung went mad.
"Wahaaaahahah!"
I'm running! I'm crushing everything! Get out of my way!
He didn't say it out loud but Ho Yung's movements spoke enough. A true poacher - a stupidly determined goal-getter.
He used Chaminator's kick and run to evade the defence and attacks and entered the penalty area.
'He's so fast!'
The opposition defence only had one thought. They had never seen something like that in their age range. It was like seeing a mad bull charge.
"Mark him!"
The tactic of the opposition defence was to mark him as a group.
Suddenly, the defence zone surrounded Ho Yung.
However.
Bump.
In an unexpected move, Ho Yung chose to pass instead of charge on.
This wasn't a normal ground pass either - this was a lobbing pass.
"Huh?"
The sudden flying shot drew an arch in the sky and went over the heads of every player. It landed right in the penalty box.
There was no one there to defend. Waiting in the zone was Ho Yung's team's ace, Hyung Jun Suk.
"Heads!"
This was Ho Yung's plan.
'This is the soccer that I've perfected in the army!'
It was a slow and uncertain lobbing pass but Hyung Jun earned a perfect no mark chance thanks to Ho Yung. Hyung Jun 's height was 170 cm even though he was only 12. Ho Yung could not have given him a better opportunity.
Smash.
"Nice pass!"
Hyung Jun, who scored a goal with his head, flashed a thumbs-up to Ho Yung.
He had proved his worth to the team with his assist.
Bum Gon Cha smiled.
"Hey, Sang Un, look how persistent that guy is. Huh."
There was no reason to worry about disharmony in the team.
But that wasn't Ho Yung's true intent.
'Nice, I've done one.'
Ho Yung looked at Hyung Jun Suk's abilities.
[Hyung Jun Suk]
Skills Possessed.
Soccer trainee (C+)
Basically unlimited height growth (B+)
Confident Hat Trick (B-)
(A skill can be taken if the criteria is fulfilled.)
(Criteria 1: In official/ unofficial matches, assist 15 times )
(Criteria 2: play together for 250 minutes in official matches)
No one knew.
Why Ho Yung gave up a goal and chose to assist.
'In this life, I'm going to be at least 180 cm tall!'