All Football Talents Are Mine Chapter 17

017. The frog that came out of the well (1)

The World Youth Championship, which was held at a tight schedule, was finally scheduled to end today.

If FC Chaboom wins the championship, it will be a good picture for both the academy and the organizers.

But the problem was this guy.

[Holger Badstuber]

Possessed Talents

-Soccer Gifted (B)

-Excellent Defensive Positioning (B-)

-Good Ball Blocking (C-)

(You can pursue one talent if the conditions are met.)

(Condition 1: Match (To win)

(Condition 2: Score 1 point and assist 1) A

top prospect who will be evaluated as the future of Germany’s defense in the future, but will be held back by his terrible glass body.

It was Holger Badstuber.

‘He’s seriously too tall.’

It seemed like a white giraffe was standing in front of me.

No matter how fast his legs worked, it was not easy to break through Badstuber, who was physically superior.

It’s like a battle between a fast-moving ant and an ordinary giraffe.

In the end, it was VFB Stuttgart who scored the first goal 15 minutes after the game started.

Beep!

“Ha…”

Hoyoung let out a breath.

It was only 1 goal conceded, but the important thing was not that, but the reality that the levels of the two teams were clearly different.

To be honest, I had no hope of winning.

‘it’s tough.’

The game was literally difficult.

The game was becoming frustrating as Schuttgart defended closely with systematic defensive tactics.

The year was 2002.

It was a slightly modified version of the popular Silly Soccer from Schutgart.

Counterattack after first defense.

It was a tactic aimed at Hoyoung, who is currently the tournament’s leading scorer.

The tall German players, who weigh around 170 pounds, are putting heavy pressure on the entire pitch, so what can the striker do on his own?

There was no space behind, the mid-range shooting angle was not visible, and the space was not open.

It was truly a total disaster.

‘Oh Mr. Just wait and see. ‘I will definitely score a goal!’

Still, I promised myself that even if I lost, I would show everything I had to show.

Hoyoung has already scored 9 goals in the tournament, so if he increases his attack points in the finals, he will be able to win the Golden Ball.

“Let’s go!”

Hoyoung burned with enthusiasm.

35 minutes remaining.

It won’t fall easily.

However, a continued cross heading at the end of the first half resulted in an additional goal for Stuttgart.

And another headed goal in the 15th minute of the second half brought the game to 3-0.

[Oh, that’s too bad. It seems that VFB Stuttgart has prepared thoroughly for the competition. This is usually referred to as physical soccer, right?]

[Yes. In fact, if the height difference exceeds about 20cm, it is difficult to cover it only with the skill difference. In particular, Woo Ho-young is still only 134cm tall.]

[I see. However, if there is one piece of good news, it would be a good experience for FC Chaboom players…. Ah, the moment you mentioned! Woo Ho-young boldly attempts to break through the center! And at the same time, Holger Badstuber clings to him!]

Center back Badstuber aggressively rushed towards Hoyoung.

But Hoyoung also didn’t stop walking.

Let’s see who wins.

With that decision, he hit inside the penalty box and forced open space.

“Move!”

“Ugh!”

As Hoyoung ignorantly tried to break through like a bulldozer, Badstuber, who was blocking his path, fell away.

However, the reaction cannot be ignored.

Hoyoung, like Badstuber, was also thrown to the side and only came to rest after rolling three or four times on the floor.

“Eh…”

It felt like my five organs and six parts were twisted.

Still, I avoided injury thanks to my instinctive use of the fall techniques I consistently learned in injury prevention training.

however.

Beep!

The whistle blew.

“why?!”

Hoyoung, who momentarily forgot that the referee was Korean, changed his words.

“why! “I just went my own way!!”

However, contrary to Hoyoung’s thoughts, the referee’s direction was not towards him but towards Badstuber.

Then he took out a red card.

‘Uh um. I acknowledge the good whistle.’

Hoyoung prepared a free kick without saying anything.

Badstuber’s sending off just now was the right decision even without considering the home advantage.

Badstuber’s charging was careless, reckless, and used excessive force.

If you look closely, there was no body slam.

“But who owns this? “The kicker in charge is Junhu, and he’s on the bench.”

“I! “I’m the one!!”

Hoyoung, who ran towards me with his hands raised in a frenzy, immediately took his stance.

Since he was the ace of the team, no one stopped him.

‘Be sure to put it here!’

Distance to the goal is about 18 meters.

It was the moment when Hoyoung, who had taken a close approach without hesitation, strongly extended his right foot.

Cough!

The ball, which had barely any spin, stretched out coolly and fell down the left side with the wind.

indeed.

The power of a sharp free kick, or toe kick, was a talent shown for the first time in an official game.

“Waaaaaa!”

Hoyoung’s one-beat quick shot was enough to embarrass the opposing goalkeeper.

And Hoyoung jumped higher than ever before.

“downpour!!”

Today again, he showed off a ceremony that took his opponents by surprise.

The game continued with Badstuber being sent off.

The Stuttgart coach adopted a lock-and-lock tactic in earnest, resulting in a dull game.

Hoyoung continued to knock on the goal, but unfortunately the result was a 3:1 loss for FC Chaboom.

It was the first bitter defeat I experienced in the competition.

“Whoa.”

I felt sad and resentful, but at the same time, I felt relieved.

I was able to take comfort in the fact that I gained more from the competition.

And in fact, just getting this far was nothing short of a miracle, and since I was only ten years old, there was nothing to worry about after losing just once.

Because excessive competitiveness can be harmful.

‘Next time we meet, I will definitely win. please.’

After the winning and runner-up teams were given prizes for their achievements, the individual awards began.

Hoyoung shook off the regret of being runner-up and climbed to the individual podium.

“haha.”

Although I feel resentful, I can still smile because, in addition to being the top scorer, I also won the Golden Ball.

Since this was an award given to the most outstanding player, it was natural that Hoyoung, who recorded 10 goals and 5 assists, was selected as a suitable candidate.

A total of 4 million won in prize money was paid, including the top scorer prize and the golden ball prize.

“and.”

I was even more thrilled because it was the first money I made while playing soccer.

And finally, there was one more reward left.

[Choose the talent you want to pursue.]

-Widely open growth plate (B+)

-Confident heading (B-)

Hoyoung was happy inside.

And then on the way back to the athlete bus.

“Hoyoung! good job!”

“Our Hoyoung is the best!!”

Cheering erupted outside the control line.

They were Hoyoung’s fan club members who had not left the stadium despite the cold weather.

‘madam. I’m crying again.’

“Ugh.”

It would have been better if I had won.

As I faced the fans, my disappointment grew.

But isn’t that what soccer is like?

All you have to do is do better next time and repay them double.

“Hahaha. “I will definitely win next time!”

Only 10 years old.

Hoyoung showed off his spirit as runner-up at the U13 World Youth Championship with a record of 10 goals and 5 assists.

But it hasn’t even started yet.

‘It’s just the beginning. ‘I will definitely become the best soccer player in the world and win everything.’

“Aaaah!”

Inside the limousine bus, where everyone was asleep, Hoyoung groaned and strengthened his aspirations.

“let’s go! let’s go! let’s go!”

“Oh my, I’m surprised. “How can I go if there is a signal?”

“Knight. “When it comes to soccer, which country are you in?”

“Of course Brazil now~”

“Right?”

Hoyoung’s wings, which had just sprouted, spread out in that direction.

After the competition ends.

Hoyoung, who had a meeting with Sao Paulo FC, decided to study abroad in Brazil and boarded the plane as soon as he completed the series of procedures for studying abroad.

January 16, 2003.

So, Hoyoung entered Sao Paulo, Brazil with his parents.

Woo Hwang-seon and Kim Hee-seon were scheduled to stay briefly and then return to Korea to help Ho-young adapt to the local environment.

“wow. “It’s really hot.”

In direct contrast to Korea, which is in the middle of winter, Sao Paulo has temperatures approaching 30 degrees.

As it is Brazil’s largest city and economic center, the population density was considerable.

“Why are there so many people at the airport?”

At that time, a woman shouted at Hoyoung’s family who had gone out to the immigration gate.

“here! “Here!”

A woman in her mid-20s with a slim body and long straight hair.

“hello. “My name is Maria Choi.”

The 28-year-old was a second-generation Korean-American in Brazil who ran a homestay in Sao Paulo.

In other words, she was the owner of the house where Hoyoung would be staying from now on, or more accurately, the owner’s eldest daughter.

Since he was introduced by Sao Paulo FC, there was no problem with trust.

And standing next to her was an Asian staff member from Sao Paulo FC who came with her to greet Hoyoung.

His characteristic was that his Korean was slightly slurred.

“hi. “Are you that Hoyoung?”

“hello!”

“haha. Yes, nice to meet you. I saw it a lot on TV. But it’s even brighter in person.”

He introduced himself as a ‘foreign local support officer’ who helps Korean and Japanese children who come to study at Sao Paulo FC adapt.

The name is Lucas Kim.

“Welcome to Sao Paulo.”

“i look forward to!”

It was the moment when my long-awaited life in Brazil began.

Hoyoung was told by the club to unpack his bags at his accommodation and get some rest.

Until the medical test in two days.

Thanks to the club’s consideration, Hoyoung’s family was able to stay in an empty room at Hoyoung’s dorm for free for three days.

The exact location of the house is ‘Town Victoria Recife’, where various elite sports facilities are located.

It was the birthplace of many Brazilian athletes, and in Korea it was similar to Taereung, the birthplace of elite sports.

“Hoyoung’s room is on the second floor. “Do you want to come over for work?”

“yes.”

While Hoyoung was climbing the spiral staircase following Maria Choi, he ran into a girl who was coming down.

“hi.”

A girl shyly greets me in Portuguese.

He was a boy with distinct facial features and everything that befits a South American.

He’s tall, his eyes are big, his mouth is big.

‘As expected, the woman… is like a Barbie doll.’

There seemed to be some Eastern European ancestry mixed in as well.

After a while, I asked Maria Choi and she said that she was the girl who was staying in the room next to Hoyoung.

“How old are you?”

“Monica is probably… ten years old in Korean age.”

“Ten years… billions. Same age as me?!”

ah.

I thought he was a middle school student, but it seems that the West develops quickly.

Because he seemed to be 10cm taller than Hoyoung.

“Um… but where is my room?”

“See it at the end of the hallway over there? “Mother and father, come and see!”

Sigh.

As I opened the door and entered, a small room unfolded before my eyes.

One desk and one single bed with a low ceiling.

It was a room often seen in foreign movies, even with the musty smell of an old house.

‘If this is enough, thank you!’

In Sao Paulo, which has a high population density, finding a single room worth this much for 800,000 won per month was a struggle.

Moreover, the club has even promised to pay for the homestay expenses on our behalf…

“It’s perfect!”

The Woo couple were relieved to see that Hoyoung liked them.

And two days later.

Hoyoung visited the club’s physical measurement room with Lucas Kim.

It was a medical test to decide which class to join.

“Just don’t be nervous and think of it as a physical examination.”

“yes.”

When the test began, Lucas went to see Mr. and Mrs. Wu, who were waiting outside for the results.

“Excuse me, but how tall are your father and mother?”

“I’m 168 and this guy…”

“I’m 166.”

“Um… my mother is on the tall side and my father…”

“I’m a bit on the short side. Haha….”

“Oh, I’m sorry if you felt bad. Actually, Hoyoung is having a growth plate exam right now. Since height is a genetic factor… you’ll have to wait until you come out to find out, but don’t be too disappointed if it turns out to be small. “There is also a growth management system operated by the club.”

“Ah… yes. Thank you.”

In fact, because of genetics, there was a 50/50 chance that Hoyoung would become tall.

Either below average, like your father, or above average, like your mother.

Woo Hwang-seon felt like she would kneel down on the ground and bow to the sky even if her son was 1.75 million tall.

Tiriring.

It was then that Lucas received a phone call.

“Oh. Ochimu!”

“Ochimu?”

Lucas immediately hung up the phone and spoke with his mouth wide open.

“ha ha ha! “It means good.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s no different. The results of the growth plate test just came out, and they say Hoyoung can grow up to 6 to 6.2 feet tall in his current condition.”

“yes?”

“Oh my. If I convert it to centimeters, it would be around 182 to 189.”

The couple was dazed.

Not 172 to 179, but 182 to 189.

There’s no way my son would do that…?

Woo Hwang-seon had exactly that expression, but what was certain was that this was a moment to be happy.

As a father, I felt like a heavy burden had been lifted.