'2024 GROUND.NK League U15&14 Championship' Who is notable?
Aug 09, 2024
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The U15 Championship, in which 25 teams will participate, will be divided into seven groups, will play the group stage, go through the round of 16 tournaments, and then determine the winner at 7 p.m. on the 23rd at the main stadium of Cheonan Football Center.
Twenty-three teams will participate in the U14 Championship, a lower-grade tournament, with a total of six groups playing the group stage and then the quarterfinals, and the final will be held at 7 p.m. on the 22nd at the main stadium of Cheonan Football Center.
Introducing the promising players who will heat up this summer ahead of the opening of the '2024 GROUND.NK League U15&14 Championship'.
■ 'Talent beyond grade' , players from high school fallback
Since 2022, the K League Youth Championship has revised the competition rules to allow lower-age players to participate only in lower-grade competitions, and as a result, middle school players can participate in the U17 Championship and elementary school players in the U14 Championship. According to this regulation, ace players with experience in high school competitions will also participate in this competition.
First, Suwon Anju-wan is a left wing forward, and he has scored 32 goals in 13 K-League junior games this season, leading the league in scoring. This is 14 more goals than his teammate Kim Woo-jin (18 goals), who ranked second in scoring. Ahn Ju-wan played in the K-League U17 Championship last year when he was a second grader in middle school, scoring one goal in three games against his high school seniors over two years old, and also played two games as a substitute in this year's U17 Championship. Ahn Ju-wan, known as the son of Jeonbuk coach Ahn Sung-nam, is regarded as a player with all the talent needed by strikers with his side breakthrough, sophisticated shooting, and excellent goal-scoring ability using fast speed.
Ahn Sun-hyun of Pohang usually plays as a central midfielder, who has a wide field of view, dribbles and sophisticated pass skills, and has nine goals and nine assists in 16 K-League junior games this season. Ahn Sun-hyun is a player who is not only good at solving in front of the goal but also at crucial penetration passes that lead to scoring, and started two U17 championships last month.
Gangwon Choi Jae-hyuk is a center back with a solid physical body of 1m77 and 75kg, and stands out in a struggle with opposing strikers and one-on-one competition. In addition, he has good performance on both sides of offense and defense, such as aggressively breaking through if he sees a gap while catching the ball in the last room. Choi Jae-hyuk played in all three U17 Championship group games last month, and he is expected to keep Gangwon's defense firmly in this tournament.
■ Strong attack! Score, look out for the help frontrunner
Players who are at the top of the K-League's junior scoring and help categories this season are also noteworthy.
Daejeon Kim Ji-ho led his team to the championship at the U14 Championship last year and won the Most Valuable Player Award. Kim Ji-ho played as a center back last year, but in the K-League junior this season, he played as a striker and scored 16 goals, recording the most points in the team. Kim Ji-ho's greatest strength is his ability to use both feet freely, and he also has the ability to break through dribbles from the right side to the center and penetrate the back of the defense line.
Busan's front-line striker Kim Ji-woo is also a player who shows explosive attack power. Kim Ji-woo won the U14 Championship's most points award for the second consecutive year last year, and at the National Youth Sports Festival held in May this year, he scored a total of six goals, including a hat trick in the semifinals, leading the team to win. Kim Ji-woo is characterized by overwhelming the opponent's defender with a tall height of 1m83 and a sluggish physique, and he is also aiming for the opponent's goal in this competition.
Seoul's offensive midfielder Moon Ji-hwan has 15 assists in 11 K-League junior games this season, leading Group A assists. Moon Ji-hwan provides a decisive opportunity to his teammates with accurate pass timing in each game, and he also has the ability to pass as well as the ability to finish directly, so he is expected to perform well in this tournament.
■ other notable players
Incheon's front-line striker Arkady made the U14 national team roster last month, drawing attention. Arcadi, whose parents are both from Russia, boasts a tall height of 191 centimeters even though he is a second grader in middle school, and has scored 10 goals in 13 K-League junior games based on his excellent positioning and goal-making ability.
Ulsan's left fullback Ahn Tae-yoon is a fullback with a strong aggressive tendency, often showing sharp crosses following high-level breakthrough ability and side overlap. In addition to the bold penetration into the center, Ahn Tae-yoon's mid-range shooting is also a strength.
In addition, Jeju Moon Yuno and Suwon FC Choi Sung-hyun stand out in goalkeeper positions. Mun Yuno is a player born to a German father and a Korean mother, and his strength is his tall height of 1m85 and his keeping ability using long sleeves. On the other hand, Choi Sung-hyun is not tall as a goalkeeper with a height of 1m78, but his strength is his ability to block shots with excellent quickness and reflexes, and he is also playing a role in the rear build-up by using his feet. The performance of the two players, who are in the same position but have different charms, in this tournament is also expected.
dhhan@sportschosun.com
