With a long history in high school soccer, the Presidential Geumbae has been a gateway to the future of Korean soccer. Now in its 56th year, the tournament is known for being the stage where many players first made their mark on the field wearing the Korean flag.
Former national soccer team coach Cha Bum-geun appeared as a high school freshman at the second edition in 1969 and led Gyeongshin to a runner-up finish. In addition to Kim Jong-bu (Jungbu High) and Shin Yeon-ho (Kumho High), who wrote the story of the fourth-place finish at the 1983 World Youth Football Championship in Mexico, Lee Dong-guk (Pocheol Gonggong), Park Ji-sung (Suwon Gonggong), Park Joo-young (Chargeul), Kim Shin-wook (Gwacheon), and Hwang Hee-chan (Pohang Steel) went through the gold medal and became top stars.
Pyeongtaek Jinwi FC’s Bae Jun-ho and Bae Seo-joon, who won gold medals last year, also made a name for themselves at this year’s U-20 World Cup in Argentina, where they were part of the team that advanced to the quarterfinals. With 31 teams participating in the tournament, which kicks off on Tuesday in Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do, many high school stars are dreaming of becoming the next Bae Joon-ho and Bae Seo-joon.
Yeongdeungpo Gonggo, which has emerged as a powerhouse in high school soccer this year, has a strong team, not a specific player. “We are a strong team with a strong defense, control of the midfield, and decisiveness,” said Kim Jae-woong, head coach of Yeongdeungpo Gonggo.
On the soccer field, however, the spotlight is on striker Kim Tae-won and midfielder Son Seung-min. The two combined for 19 goals in the Baekwoongi championship in February. While Kim Tae-won was the top scorer (11 goals) with his penetrating runs, Son Seung-min was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) with two goals in the semifinals and one in the final.
Add to that Kim Hyun-min, who helped Korea reach the final at the U-17 Asian Cup, and there’s no shortage of attacking options. After scoring a goal in the quarterfinals against Thailand, Kim made waves with his ‘control tower ceremony’.
Midfielder Kang Kang-wook and striker Choi Hae-min have emerged as the top priorities for rivals in Bupyeonggo, which boasts the most presidential gold medals (six). Not only does Kang Kang-wook coordinate the offense and defense with his excellent vision, but he also has the ability to score goals at crucial moments. In fact, he’s responsible for eight goals in nine games in the Gyeongin League Second Division. Choi Hae-min, who is also an excellent goal scorer, has done his part with seven goals.
On the other side of the ball, defender Go Eun-seok is the star of the show for Gangneung Jungang High, who defeated Bupyeong High in the Geumgangdae this year. Go Eun-seok was the key to Gangneung Jungang’s defense, which kept a clean sheet all the way to the final except for two goals in the first group game at Geumgangdae. “We expect our captain, Ko Eun-seok, to hold the center of the team in this tournament as well,” said Lee Tae-gyu. 메이저사이트
Bojin-do also has an impressive lineup of players who perform well every time they participate in the tournament. The captain, Noh Seung-ki, is a defensive midfielder and has been tipped to go straight to the professional ranks. Lee Dong-hoon, a right-sided defender, is also expected to perform well in the tournament.
Coincidentally, Boyango and Gangneung Jungang were drawn together in Group 8, so the talents of both teams will be pitted against each other early in the tournament.
Joongang has been highlighted by the rapid development of defender Lee Chang-young, who won the Gold Bae Young Player Award last year. Joongang in Group 1
