Hwang Seon-hong (55), coach of the under-23 (U-23) national soccer team, is engrossed in selecting players. They are in the middle of picking boulders while wandering around the K-League site. 

Hwang Seon-Hong-Ho is scheduled to play Asian qualifiers (U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers) for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and the 2024 Paris Olympics in September this year. The U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers will be held from September 4 to September 12. It is attached to the schedule of the Hangzhou Asian Games (September 23-October 8). 

The range of players available in the two competitions is different. As the Asian Games, originally scheduled to be held last year, were postponed for one year in the aftermath of Corona 19, even those born in 1999 (24 years old) can participate in the competition. The U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers must be born in 2001 to qualify for the Maginot Line. In order to prepare for the two competitions, it is necessary to observe players born in 1999 who can play an active part in the Asian Games and those born in 2001 or later who can qualify for the U-23 Asian Cup.

Director Hwang Seon-hong is busy because of the somewhat complicated situation. From the opening game of the 2023 season, I have been visiting the K-League site and meticulously observing the movements of the players. 

Head coach Hwang Seon-hong visited the Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 26th of last month and watched the match between Suwon Samsung and Gwangju FC. He is known to have carefully observed Kim Tae-hwan (born in 2000) in Suwon, Jeong Ho-yeon (born in 2000) in Gwangju, Yul Heo (born in 2001), and Um Ji-seong (born in 2002). 

On the 5th, they also appeared at Songam Sports Town in Chuncheon. Head coach Hwang Seon-hong watched the match between Gangwon FC and Ulsan Hyundai from the VIP table. It is possible that Hwang, who was present at the scene once again, was keeping an eye on Gangwon striker Yang Hyeon-jun (born 2002), defender Kim Jin-ho (born 2000), Ulsan Um Won-sang (born 1999), fullback Jo Hyeon-taek (born 2001) and striker Jang Si-young (born 2002). big. Except for Kim Jin-ho, all of them have experience being selected for the U-23 national team. 

Gangwon representative Kim Byung-ji, who met with the magazine during halftime, said, “I think coach Hwang Seon-hong came because there was a player he wanted to see. The fact that the player in question is in Gangwon is itself positive. I hope that many representative players will come out of Gangwon.” 

The player who left the deepest impression on the day was, of course, Eom Won-sang. Eom Won-sang, who stepped on the ground in place of Jang Si-young in the 21st minute of the first half, led the team to victory in the 4th minute of the second half by using fast speed to penetrate the space and starting the scoring shot. After leading Ulsan to the championship last season, he is showing off good condition by scoring goals in two consecutive games this season. 

Eom Won-sang, who faced reporters after the game, said, “The biggest motivation (this season) is the award. Last year, I thought I was lacking. “I am aiming for the award by filling in the missing parts this season,” he predicted. “If you do well enough to win the award, there is a high possibility of going to a good place called the national team. 

Players of that age who are active on the domestic stage desperately need to play in the league in order to step on the Asian Games stage. It is because the gate to Hangzhou is not wide. The final entry for the Asian Games is 22 players. Excluding three wild cards (regardless of age), three goalkeepers, Lee Kang-in (Mallorca), Jung Woo-yeong (Freiburg), Oh Hyun-kyu (Celtic), and others who are likely to join Sun-Hong Hwang, there are only about 10 spots left. The competition to catch the eye of director Hwang Seon-hong is also expected to intensify.  메이저놀이터

The Asian Games are the last tournament in which players born in 1999 and 2000 were exempted from military service. Korea has won two recent tournaments, including the 2014 Incheon and 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games. 

The U-23 national team, led by coach Hwang Seon-hong, will have an evaluation match this month. The opponent has not yet been decided. After taking the final mock exams in June and September, they will sortie for the Asian Games and the Asian qualifiers for the Paris Olympics.