The Denso Cup, a regular college football match between Korea and Japan held in Japan on the 20th and 21st, not only the existing men’s exchange match, but also the first-ever 1st and 2nd grade championship and women’s exchange match, which comprehensively gauges the level of U-23 age groups in both countries. it became a chapter
The goal is to exchange the next generation of adult soccer players in Korea and Japan, but we can get a glimpse of the future of the two countries through actual matches. However, Korea took the record of losing all three matches in three official matches. Incheon University lost 1-5 to Tsukuba University in the 1st and 2nd year championships. The male and female college selection teams also bowed to Japan 0-1 and 1-4, respectively.
Aside from the score, there is no dispute that Japan played a better game in terms of game management, crisis management, and goal finishing. Already, the Korean soccer team, from the A national team to the representatives of each age group, is realizing the gap that has widened as they have been humiliated by ‘4 consecutive 0-3 defeats’ in official matches against Japan in the past two years. This Denso Cup also reaffirmed the difference in level between Korea and Japan.
It was foreseen. Aside from women’s soccer, where the total number of registered players is only 1/800 of Japan’s, men’s college football is entangled in the youth player policy and changes in the entrance examination system, such as the Korea Football Association (KFA) U-21 rule and the K League U-22 rule. was on the brink of collapse.
According to the low-age policy, the number of cases in which freshmen and sophomores went directly to the pros increased, and among them, they were selected as representatives for each age group and showed favorable results in international competitions. However, the reality is that there are more players who are entangled in this system and fall from horses than those who are attracting attention. An increasing number of players are expelled from professional teams and live as “journeymen” when they are out of U-21 or U-22 qualifications. Also, even if you play in a professional game according to the rules, it has become a ‘familiar scene’ to step back to the bench after playing only 10 or 15 minutes in the first half.
In college, several soccer clubs are in danger of being disbanded as more and more cases of third-year players who have not been able to go pro have quit soccer early. This is the reason why the policy to improve the competitiveness of players in the U-23 age group led to the downward leveling, and the Denso Cup this time also proved the sharp drop in competitiveness.
A number of university leaders who visited the site were furious. The coach of University A said, “Isn’t the desk theory proven? Due to the low-age policy, universities are trying not to run a soccer team because the employment rate has dropped. Also, due to the government’s entrance exam policy, coaches cannot select the players they want. It is not possible to lead this age group and look to the future and play football.”
The coach of University B also skeptically mentioned the U-League run by the KFA. He said, “Didn’t KFA initially say that it would bring profits to the school by making it like an American college league? The reality is quite the opposite. Most schools do not have home stadiums. “When you talk to the KFA, they talk to the school, prepare a playground, and ask them to do it themselves,” he said. In that case, it is much more beneficial to Korean soccer as well as universities to train abroad with this money and play evaluation matches with high-level teams.”
Choi Soon-ho, general manager of Suwon FC, who watched the Denso Cup on-site, said, “Leaders have to be proactive. You have to either make them understand (the low-age policy) or listen to the opinions of university coaches,” he said. “The gap with Japan was predicted 30 years ago. When we were concentrating on our schedules (right in front of us), Japan was planning. I’ve been losing for a long time, but only Koreans didn’t know. It’s a serious illness, but I thought it was just a cold,” he said, pointing out the performance-oriented administration and guidance method.
Lee Woo-young, head coach of the Japanese university selection team, also participated in the men’s Denso Cup. He said, “I have to look 10 years later, whether (a U-23 player) goes pro or stays in college, but it’s not the reality, so I feel frustrated (as a Korean).”
The Korea University Football Federation is presenting a system in which younger players go back and forth between pros and colleges as an alternative. It is similar to the Japan J-League Specially Designated Player system. Professional clubs do not appoint youth players for their own youth team or other clubs, but for general school or club teams. The nominated player can accumulate experience by playing both team and professional games at the same time.
The case of Kaoru Mitoma, who raises stock prices in Brighton in the English Premier League, is a representative case. In high school, he was offered a ‘professional’ by the Kawasaki Frontale club, but he wanted to go professional after entering college himself. And according to the special designation system, he went to Tsukuba University, trained every year with the Kawasaki club, and participated in J-League Cup competitions and laid a stepping stone for growth. However, in Korea, many professional clubs are reluctant to mention first the interests of player ownership and related universities.
Nevertheless, it seems that the voice that a ‘meth’ is needed in some way over the low-age system in Korea will grow louder.먹튀검증 The KFA, K-League, and the university federation that hosts this age group are in a situation where they have to make concessions.
