“Wouldn’t you come (to the stadium) as soon as time permits?”먹튀검증
Chungbuk Cheongju FC, a new K-League 2 (2nd division) club, will start this season after appointing coach Choi Yun-gyeom, who is well known as ‘the father of SHINee’s Minho’. There was a great desire to become a pro in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, and after a long time, he entered the K-League 2.
Recruitment of players was not easy. In the past, there was a system that gave away some of the players except for protected players when the team was founded, but this is not the case now. Director Choi, who attended the ‘Hanawon Q K League 2 2023 Opening Media Day’ held at The-K Hotel in Umyeon-dong, Seoul on the 21st, said, “In the past, there was a system to support players except for 18 players, but there is no such thing now. It was difficult to contact,” he confessed, saying that it was not easy to supply and demand players.
Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, entered the professional league after enduring for a long time as Cheongju FC in the K3 League (third division). It is true that it was difficult to upload all the players during the K3 League. Coach Choi also calmly diagnosed his strength, saying, “I thought the team’s competitiveness was low at the level of the K3 League, K4 League, and college students. I raised 4 players during the K3 League, but it is true that they are also difficult to become a starting point.”
So the realistic goal is 9th out of 13 clubs. Coach Choi said, “It is important to improve our performance, but my personal goal is to be in ninth place,” expressing his intention to gradually improve the team.
The aspirations of the local people are also significant. Even during the K3 League, the Cheongju Sports Complex had 16,280 spectators. On October 23 last year, 4,124 spectators filled the game against Pocheon Citizens Club. The average number of spectators exceeded 1,000, and it won the award for the largest number of spectators. Considering that it is a K3 league, it is a great figure. It means that the people of Cheongju City and North Chungcheong Province are very enthusiastic about watching soccer.
Director Choi said, “The fans and the people around them are very interested and passionate. Even during the K3 League, we put our energy into attracting spectators. This year, we are going to work harder on social contribution and volunteer work. I will make it better.”
His son, SHINee’s Minho, is well known for being a soccer fanatic. Coach Choi was young when he was in charge of Daejeon Citizen, but when he was in charge of Gangwon FC, Busan I-Park, and Jeju United, he liked it enough to come to watch the game himself. Director Choi said, “I heard that he is coming back to the K-League after a long time, so he really liked it. He is a friend who loves soccer very much. I wonder if he will come to home and away stadiums as soon as time permits.”
His son will rejoice only when the victory continues. Coach Choi has experience in many games as a K-League game supervisor. He pledged to make a team full of passion, saying, “K-League 2 has a more physical and more combative part. I made it known to the players as well.”