Field Commander - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 10.

Chapter 10.

Chapter 10.

The football practice stadium belonging to Cheongju Sports Complex.

A crowd had gathered that was rarely seen even during regular K3 League matches.

“Over 500 people applied for this year’s tryouts again, right?”

“Yes. Narrowing it down to just 200 from that pool wasn’t easy either. Oh, it’s 201 people. The coach’s special recommendation.”

“So are you going to report it?”

“It’s Kim Sang-hyuk from Maedong High School, isn’t it? We should test him no matter what, even if we have to change the rules.”

The club was operated with support from Cheongju City and large corporations.

Since they weren’t simply staying in the K3 League but aiming for the K-League in the future, they had abundant funding, and among K3 League clubs, they offered the best salaries and allowances.

That’s why countless applicants flocked to the tryouts every year.

The testing method involved narrowing down to just 22 people through a survival test on the first day, then signing contracts with necessary players through a week of tactical training and practice matches.

About 2-3 people entered through tryouts each year, and roughly one of them would remain for the next season.

Since they recruited players from the K4 League or K2 League through scouting, tryouts weren’t strictly necessary, but they conducted them as a mandatory process with the intention of finding promising talent among ordinary people, as that was the founding principle of the club.

“Coach. A visitor is here to see you. He says he’s Jung Seung-jin from FS Agent.”

“Ah, I see.”

Park Chang-yeol gave instructions to the coaching staff.

“Proceed with the same course as last year. I’ll go meet the visitor and come back.”

“Yes.”

* * *

‘I’ll need to run a lot today.’

Unlike usual, I deliberately prepared a carbohydrate-rich meal plan.

Starting with bananas and low-fat milk, then spaghetti, sandwiches, and baked potatoes as the main course, finishing with crackers and sports drinks for dessert.

Of course, in small portions since I wasn’t going to stuff myself.

Morning preparation took an hour, but today was a day when that was acceptable.

As I consumed these foods, I recalled yesterday’s conversation with agent Jung Seung-jin.

– So you’re saying it would be good to play in Cheongju for about half a season, then transfer to Freiburg II?

– Yes, if you build up your match sense sufficiently, you can get playing opportunities right away, and if your skills are proven there, you can move up to the Bundesliga next season.

– But would Cheongju FC readily agree to that?

– Among the 35 players on the roster, 8 have salary contracts. If you show good performance, they’ll offer a salary contract, but I’m thinking of a 3-5 month short-term contract. Or we could submit letters of intent to other Division 3 clubs.

He seemed like a really nice person, but his thinking and speaking were completely businesslike.

– That’s one way to do it.

– Cheongju FC’s goal is to advance to the K-League. They’re steadily preparing with various support. Teams like this need to bring in many good players.

– That makes sense.

– Then just creating one news story about a Cheongju FC player advancing to the Bundesliga should be enough.

– News?

– Yes, I think that would be enough to convince Cheongju FC. If they give permission, I’ll contact the club immediately.

Cheongju Sports Complex was about a 20-minute walk away.

After packing my gear, I warmed up lightly and jogged there slowly.

When I arrived at the designated location, there were really bustling crowds of people.

– Cheongju FC conducts tryouts in a rather unique way. Maybe because it’s a team that started from the Early Morning Soccer Club, but they select a huge number of people and narrow them down through a survival game format on the first day. They select 22 people based on fitness, fundamentals, and form, then make final selections through practice matches with their own training squad members. On average, about 2-3 people were selected each year.

‘Only 2-3 people out of all those people?’

There seemed to be at least over 100 people.

It seemed the saying that joining a professional team is harder than getting into Seoul National University wasn’t just talk.

When I went toward the open door, a staff member said.

“Your name?”

“Kim Sang-hyuk.”

He looked up and glanced at me several times.

Like, you really came?

That kind of feeling?

And this kind of feeling was often right.

He gave me number tag 201.

“Please go in, warm up, and wait comfortably.”

“Yes.”

Still, it was comfortable that he didn’t openly show recognition.

While only players were on the field, cheering sounds could be heard from here and there outside the fence, as if players’ families had come too.

It was somewhat distracting and enviable, but I soon focused on what I had to do.

* * *

Narrowing down 22 people from 201 in one day wasn’t difficult.

“We’ll begin the basic physical test. Line up in number order.”

The coaches prepared the test with practiced ease.

Basic tests for speed, agility, and stamina were conducted.

“How about number 201?”

“He should barely avoid elimination.”

Among the players who came for today’s test, 182 were from select teams and 20 were ordinary people.

“Even in high school, he wasn’t particularly outstanding physically except for height and physical battles.”

However, the faces of the coaches who conducted the test clearly showed disappointment.

100 people who failed the 2-hour physical test headed home.

“Now we’ll conduct the fundamentals test.”

Pass, shooting, and ball trapping tests began, and some players made consecutive mistakes due to nerves.

Players who made such mistakes received the cold evaluation of elimination.

“If you’re nervous enough to make mistakes in this level of test, you shouldn’t become a pro.”

Even players who never make a single mistake in practice will make errors on the field depending on opponents’ abilities and stamina conditions.

And in this test, Kim Sang-hyuk immediately stood out.

Basically, tall players tend to have a higher center of gravity and slower movements, but Kim Sang-hyuk handled the ball agilely and leisurely as if unaffected by such things.

No matter what speed the ball came at, once it touched his feet, it became docile like a shy girl (young lamb), and his passes were very accurate.

Despite being a defender, his right foot shooting power was the best among all the test candidates today.

“It would have been terrible if he’d failed the physical test.”

“His passing rhythm is quick, and his pass and cross accuracy are surprisingly good.”

“It’s Kim Sang-hyuk from Maedong High School. Class doesn’t change.”

“But how did he create so many clean sheet games with an ordinary team with that kind of physicality…”

“We’ll see directly in the practice game.”

After the subsequent fundamentals test, about 40 people remained on the field.

“We’ll conduct the final tactical test this afternoon. We’ll provide lunch, so please eat comfortably and rest.”

* * *

‘It would be troublesome to get eliminated here.’

Especially with the mission to make Korea win the World Cup within 15 years.

Despite the chilly early spring weather, I wiped the beads of sweat on my forehead and was about to stand up when someone approached.

“Excuse me, senior?”

Senior?

I raised my head and body to look at the person approaching me.

And I immediately remembered who it was.

Among the people taking the test today, he had the fastest speed.

So fast that even the judges’ eyes widened in surprise.

Fast enough to make you wonder if a track athlete had shown up.

“…Who?”

“I’m Dong-cheol. Don’t you remember me?”

“Dong-cheol?”

A vague old memory came to mind.

“That first-year right fullback, Shin Dong-cheol?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

The guy looked truly moved.

Wow, to meet a school junior in a place like this…

I extended my hand for a handshake out of joy, and he eagerly took it.

“Why are you here?”

From what I remembered, he was someone the school had specially scouted.

As Maedong High School made a name for itself in national tournaments, there were many promising players who wanted to enroll, but this guy was someone the coach at the time had specially brought in.

Above all, he had incredible speed and good individual skills, so he was chosen as the next-generation ace of Maedong High School.

“I couldn’t get into university.”

Well, it wasn’t unusual since so many promising young players who were flying high in their youth ended up dropping out as they became adults.

“What happened?”

“At some point, I couldn’t beat opponents with just speed anymore. My confidence dropped a lot from then on. But I was really shocked to see you here, senior. You were so badly injured back then… I never thought you’d be playing soccer again.”

“Everyone who knows me is as surprised as you are. Want to have lunch together?”

“Yes!!!”

* * *

“Who’s that guy eating with Kim Sang-hyuk?”

Park Chang-yeol suddenly appeared and asked the coaches.

“Number 48, Shin Dong-cheol. He’s 21 years old this year, from Maedong High School. Is there something wrong?”

Park Chang-yeol shook his head at the coaches’ words.

“No, no… But seeing how you immediately know that guy’s name, he must have something that really catches the eye?”

“Oh, his speed is incredible.

“Just in terms of speed, he’d be good enough to put straight on the National Team.”

“Really that good?”

“His footwork is also very good, so we’re discussing why he came here.”

“How about Sang-hyuk?”

“In terms of fundamentals, he’s just overwhelming compared to the other participating players.”

“Right. Don’t worry about his physical condition. He’s only been working on his body for 3 months.”

“Actually, he almost got eliminated. His evaluation score was exactly 100th place.”

“….”

“I’ve been doing this for 3 years now, and I feel like the skill level of players applying for tests keeps getting higher.”

“Of course. The 2002 World Cup semifinal miracle had a big influence. Youth clubs have increased a lot too.”

Park Chang-yeol, who arrived late at the test site, exchanged stories about the test with the coaches.

“Excluding Number 201, Numbers 3, 22, and 48 stand out. We plan to observe them closely.”

Park Chang-yeol looked toward Kim Sang-hyuk again.

‘If he’s 21 and from Maedong High School, was he a first-year when Kim Sang-hyuk was a third-year? Then they must have played together… Fast enough to put straight on the National Team….’

* * *

“Really? None of them made it to the pros?”

Despite winning two consecutive championships, none of my third-year teammates made it to the pros.

It couldn’t be helped since it was a new high school team where players with mediocre skills had gathered.

From the next batch onward, skilled players started coming in, which allowed us to sweep tournament victories for two years.

“Yes. But Young-ju and Ki-chan, who were second-years, went to the K League, and Jae-yong, Seong-woo, and In-seok went to university. Five of my classmates also went to university, and Su-seong went to the K League.”

Hearing stories about the junior players I played with brought back hazy memories of those times.

Those were really enjoyable dormitory days.

“I see.”

“But it seems like they haven’t been able to play in games yet.”

Going pro is just the beginning.

Regardless of age, there are players who are supposedly the best at soccer in Korea, and you have to compete with them and win to get into games.

“Thanks to you, senior, it’s now become the most renowned prestigious school in Gangwon Province.”

“Thanks to me? As I always say, soccer is a team sport. Everyone has to play well to achieve victory.”

“You’re still the same. But did you really cut off contact after that?”

Right after the injury, the only emotion left was despair.

“Yeah.”

“Everyone will be shocked when they hear news about you, senior.”

“Right. I want to let them know once I can properly play soccer again.”

“Right? I feel the same way.”

“Are you also living with cut-off contact?”

“Hehe. Yes… It’s embarrassing, you know?”

I didn’t know it back then, but this guy seems to be quite similar to me.

While talking with him, I glanced toward where Director Park Chang-yeol was.

He was definitely looking our way too.

“Coming here gave me a goal.”

“What?”

“I want to play soccer with you again, senior.”

“Is that a love confession?”

“Absolutely not!!! It’s just that I feel like we’d never lose any game if I played with you, senior.”

“Then work hard and survive until the end.”

At my words, life returned to the guy’s eyes.

“Yes!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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