Yeom eyes greater glory
Jul 25, 2007
PA Sport
KUALA LUMPUR His budding professional football career may have
been in jeopardy a little over a year ago but after a remarkable 12
months, Korea Republic winger Yeom Ki-hun has got plenty of reasons
to smile.
Having made his professional debut for K-League side Jeonbuk
Hyundai Motors at the start of the 2006 season, Yeom was involved
in a car accident last June that left him wondering whether he
would have to call time on a career that had barely begun.
But the tricky left winger returned just two months later and
helped to inspire Jeonbuk to an unlikely victory in the AFC
Champions League, scoring three goals on their run to the
championship including the crucial opening goal in the 2-0 victory
against Syrian side Al Karama in the first leg of the final.
Looking back on that time, Yeom feels that the accident probably
helped him to focus on becoming a better player.
When I had the accident, I felt that it could be a very serious
blow to me as I had just started my professional career and I was
still a rookie in the K-League, recollects Yeom, who still carries
a scar of the accident on his right forearm.
But during the time that I was recovering, I was able to think
about the things that I should do and the movements that I could
make during the game.
Because I was able to think more about the game, I began to
visualise things better on the field and maybe thats why I was so
successful afterwards.
Yeoms impressive form for Jeonbuk earned him a call-up to Koreas
U-23 squad for the Asian Games last December, creating a dilemma
for the youngster, who also had the opportunity to play for his
club at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.
He eventually opted to go to Doha but despite returning without a
medal after a 1-0 defeat to Iran in the bronze medal game, Yeom has
few regrets about his decision.
If I think about it now, it would have been a good experience to
play for my club in a big tournament like the Club World Cup, he
says
But I felt that it was also a great honour to be a representative
of my nation in Doha. Playing for my country at the Asian Games
meant a lot to me.
Playing under national coach Pim Verbeek in Doha may also have
served Yeoms cause well as he found himself in consideration for
the national team when the Dutchman was selecting his squad for the
Asian Cup.
This time last year, I was still just a K-League rookie, so I
never imagined that I would be selected to play for my country at
the Asian Cup, he says.
The only thing I was concerned about was that I should work harder
than the others because I was a rookie.
I was very focussed on working to establish myself as a
professional player and I never imagined that I would progress so
quickly to the national team.
Yeom is naturally pleased with Verbeeks policy of utilising young
players in the Asian Cup.
I appreciate that young players like me have been given a chance
to play in the Asian Cup, the 24-year-old says.
It is not the usual thing for young players to get the experience
of playing in a big tournament like this but perhaps it is for that
reason that all of us are working really hard and are highly
motivated.
All of us have the belief that if we work hard in training and the
matches, we will get a chance to play here.
While proud of his success at club level, Yeom admits that winning
Asias biggest national team competition would be an even greater
achievement for himself.
It was quite an honour to be a member of the Jeonbuk team that won
the AFC Champions League but personally, it would be a greater
honour for me to play my country and win the Asian Cup.
Thats the target for our team and thats why were here to train
and prepare everything. If we were to win the Asian Cup, it would
be the greatest honour for me.
While he ultimately dreams of a chance to play in Europe, Yeom says
that his focus is firmly on his country and his current club at
this time.
It would be my ultimate target to play for the biggest teams in
the biggest leagues in the world.
But for now, it is important for me to focus on my own
performances in the K-League and to show that I am a good player
for Jeonbuk and Korea.
