DD Kim

By Tan Boon Piaw SINGAPORE: The Korea Republic Football Association (KFA) has every confidence in coach Park Kyung Hoon and he will lead the team in the FIFA U-17 World Cup on home soil next year, confirmed a senior KFA official on Sunday. The FIFA U-17 World Cup will be held from August 18 to September 9, 2007, for 23 days at six cities - Busan, Ulsan, Jeju, Suwon, Cheon An and Kwang Yang, though the last one is yet to be confirmed. Japan, DPR Korea, Tajikistan and Syria, together with host Korea Republic, will represent Asia in the FIFA tournament. Park has been the target of intense criticism in the country’s media after Korea Republic’s 1-0 defeat to Tajikistan in the AFC U-17 Championship quarterfinals but General Secretary of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Local Organizing Committee Kim Dong Dae made it clear that he would continue in his position.

“Yes, we expected the team to bring home the trophy but this didn’t happen. But then again, the whole team needs to shoulder the responsibility together. Not only the coach. Sometimes the critics have been unfair to him,” said Kim. “In fact, we always had ball possession but the main weakness is obviously the finishing power, and I am sure we have learnt the lesson, and we can improve.” “Park has led the National Olympics team in the 2004 Athens Olympics before and he is highly talented, well respected, and has high calibre. We trust him and have every faith in him despite the thumbs down from media and fans.” “In this age group, it is always better for a local to lead the team. And Park is the most suitable candidate to get the job done,” Kim added. Kim also declared Korea Republic’s readiness to host the FIFA U17 World Cup next year. “FIFA representatives came for an inspection visit last March and they will come again in November. After the venues have been decided, we will start the ball rolling. We plan to organise a simulation or invitational tournament early next year or in June or July for a test run.” “There will be two matches everyday and the kick off time will be between 4-5pm for the first match and 7-8pm for the second.”

There will be 24 teams play in this edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup compared to 16 teams in the last instalment, with altogether 52 matches in store. The teams will be divided into six groups of four each, with the top two teams and the four best runner-ups qualifying for the knockout stage, the last 16. The draw for the groupings will be held after May 2007 by which time the teams from UEFA and CAF would have been decided.