Battle for K-League glory set to begin

When "Yellow Dust" warnings start to be seen on television, along with pictures of fields of flowers on Jeju Island then you know the K-League season is about to start.

The 2009 season kicks off on March 7 at Suwon World Cup Stadium when champions Suwon Samsung Bluewings take on FA Cup holders Pohang Steelers. It is a big game and it promises to be a big season. But the truth is that - more than usual - nobody is sure exactly what it will bring.

Off-seasons are always busy but the catalysts of extra activity this time are the economic crisis and the introduction of a new club and the Asian 3+1 rule. Some clubs, especially those owned by big business, have cut costs due to the crisis. On the other hand the new rule allows clubs to sign an extra foreign player from FIFA`s Asian area, in addition to the usual three-foreigner limit.

Korean clubs have been picking up cheap talent from nations like Australia and China. Former Chinese captain Li Weifeng was one of the first, moving to Suwon. Li, famous around the continent, replaces Mato Neretljak. The Croatian moved to Japan along with fellow defender Lee Jang-soo. Striker Shin Young-rok is now in Turkey and Cho Won-hee is in England. It will be a new look Suwon plays against Pohang.

FC Seoul pushed Suwon all the way to the wire last December. The capital club has been much more settled. Experienced but increasingly unused veterans such as Kim Byung-ji and Lee Eul-yong have left. There hasn`t been much other major activity, but sometimes stability is the secret of success. If young stars such as Ki Sung-yueng and Lee Chung-yung can continue their development, then Seoul may get the title the club craves.

Seongnam Ilhwa is never far away from the trophy but that could change this year. The Yellows have long been the K-League`s most settled team. But over half of last year`s team have been shipped out - as has coach Kim Hak-beom. Rookie coach Shin Tae-young has returned from a spell in Australia. He brought back with him giant Adelaide defender Sasa Ognenovski. Midfielder Lee Ho has returned again from Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg. In attack, Dzenan Radoncic has joined from Incheon United.

In the past, if the big boys slipped up, then the likes of Ulsan Hyundai Horang-I and Pohang Steelers would often step in. It is hard to imagine the same happening this season. Ulsan looks weaker than usual while Pohang doesn`t seem to be any stronger than they were during a fairly average 2008.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the new season is how the mid-table teams from last time round will fare. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors squeezed into sixth and the playoffs. The Mad Green Boys saw Cho Jae-jin leave for Asian champions Gamba Osaka in the biggest deal of the winter. The striker wasn`t bad in his one season in Jeonju but won`t really be missed. In his place have come former Korean internationals Lee Dong-guk and Kim Sang-sik. The underrated Ha Dae-sung arrives from Daegu.

There is also change in the air on the west coast. Incheon United have signed Australian international Jade North and Macedonian marksman Dragan Cadikovski. Coach Jang Woe-ryeong left for Japan and has been replaced by Serbia`s 2006 World Cup boss Ilja Petkovic. Club officials are optimistic that they will see better football and better results. Jeju United perhaps feel the same after paying Jeonbuk big money for international defender Kang Min-soo.

Daegu was the place for goals last season - the team scored as many as Suwon and conceded more than any other team. This year may not see the same goal action as star striker Lee Keun-ho is likely to be playing elsewhere. Daejeon Citizen had a tough campaign and were far less exciting. The retirement of the team`s one flair player Ko Jong-soo doesn`t bode well for the club.

Gyeongnam FC swapped striker Kim Jin-yong for Seongnam`s Kim Dong-hyun - the jury is still out as to which club got the better deal. In comes veteran goalkeeper Kim Byung-ji from Seoul. It is hard to imagine the Changwon-based club emulating the success of 2007 when it reached the play-offs.

Neighbor Busan I`Park has struggled in recent years. The club is still strapped for cash but coach Hwang Sun-hong has done enough to suggest that things will improve in 2009. Brazilian playmaker Romulo may add a little flair and the loss of goal-shy Ahn Jung-hwan is unlikely to be a big problem.

Military team Gwangju Sangmu is usually in last place, hamstrung by being forced to rely on players serving in the military. Even with the addition of Choi Sung-kuk, this season will be another struggle. To the south, Chunnam Dragons are set for another mediocre campaign though the recent addition of Lee Chun-soo provides some optimism.

And it is a big welcome to the K-League`s new club Gangwon FC. As the name suggests, the team will be based in Gangwon province. The region has long been known for producing talent and now it finally has a team. The big name attractions are 2002 World Cup star Lee Eul-yong and former national team winger Chung Kyung-ho. Joining them from across the East Sea is Japanese midfielder Masahiro Ohashi.

By John Duerden /Contributing writer



(johnduerden@hotmail.com)