ACTUALITE |
15.07.2002
World Cup success takes toll on Korean stars
SEOUL
Success is taking an early toll on South Korea`s World Cup heroes with one fleeing to a hospital to avoid the limelight and others battling over their future.
Midfielder Kim Nam-Il, who has become the focus of the country`s soccer fervor after the departure of coach Guus Hiddink, disappeared last week and was later reported to be in a hospital in a secret location, being treated for injuries sustained during the World Cup.
The tough-tackling 25-year-old has taken on pop star status in the country with hordes of teenaged girls following him wherever he goes since South Korea became the most successful Asian team yet at the World Cup finals.
Kim is known as the "Vacuum Cleaner" because of the way he handles opposing forwards and fans say they worship him because his blunt style epitomised South Korea`s fearless approach which got them to the semi-finals.
When the squad were feted before hundreds of thousands and given top honours by President Kim Dae-Jung in Seoul after the tournament, each member was asked by television presenters to make a comment.
Kim said "I just want to go to a night club". And he did for four days.
When he was given a 300-million-won (250,000-dollar) reward by the Korean Football Association he immediately gave it to his father and later told reporters he was "broke". Kim has turned down lucrative advertising offers.
But nearly every day last week, he featured on the front page of the main sports dailies who told tales of young girls following him around the country.
One group of 1,000 girls organised their own special train to go and see a match by his Korean league club Cheonam Dragons, even though he did not play and only appeared to sign autographs.
Cheonam Dragons secretary general Park Kang-Hoon said "all our staff are now tied up with endless telephone calls" about Kim.
But the number of spectators at the team`s K-League games has reached record numbers even though Kim has not played. Nearly every club has reported a surge in attendance because of World Cup fever.
Kim`s personal website has become one of the most popular in South Korea and is now swamped with requests from fans for news of his whereabouts.
According to press reports, however, doctors say the fanatical women around him have delayed his recovery from an ankle injury suffered during the World Cup. In hospital he has no communication with the outside world.
His team said he is not expected back in action before August 7.
Women have played a key role in the football mania that has swept the country since the World Cup opened in South Korea and Japan on May 31.
The authorities now say up to 60 percent of the millions of people who poured out onto the streets of major cities for South Korea`s matches were women.
Groups of chanting housewives in their 40s now cheer the top players at K-League matches.
Kim`s father, Kim Jae-Ki, said: "I have hardly seen his face because he has always been surrounded by fans. Now the biggest concern is his injuries.
"I hope he will not be distracted by his popularity and work harder and make his dreams come true by going to Europe."
The dream of going to Europe is also proving difficult for star strikers Ahn Jung-Hwan and Lee Chun-Soo.
Pinup boy Ahn has not been playing for the Busan I.cons during his battle against Italian club Perugia. The club insists Ahn should return now, making a u-turn from saying his loan contract would be terminated because Ahn scored the winning goal in South Korea`s shock second round win over Italy.
Ahn`s managers, who say they are negotiating with two clubs in England and one in Spain, insist that his contract is now held by Busan.
Lee is wanted by English Premier League side Southampton, but his Korean team Ulsan Tigers have refused to let him go for a trial insisting that a permanent transfer be organised first. Negotiations are still going on.
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Hits: 1 | Source:Dailysoccer | |
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