Winter is usually a time of rest for the country’s football league, but for the national team this winter is crucial.

With New Year’s celebrations at an end, the Korean national team and U23 team are gearing up for crucial matches next month: manager Choi Kwang-hee’s national team face Kuwait on Feb. 29 in a 2014 World Cup qualifier and Hong Myung-bo’s U23 team play Saudi Arabia on Feb. 5, followed by Oman on Feb. 22 in a London Olympics qualifier.

“This year is an important year for Korean football,” said the newly appoint manager Choi during a press conference on Tuesday.

Choi, who took the helm of Taeguek Warriors two weeks ago, shook hands with U23 team manager Hong Tuesday, pledging a cooperative relationship between the two national sides.

The two national teams feuded over selecting young players, and Hong said earlier that he was having difficulty preparing for the Olympic qualifier.

But Choi noted Tuesday he would select senior players for the upcoming qualifier against Kuwait, allowing some of his young players to focus on their U23 team.

“The national team has a crucial match next month, and the U23 team is also preparing for the 2012 Olympics. The two sides must work together for the sake of Korean football,” Choi said.


By Oh Kyu-wook
(596story@heraldcorp.com)