'GROUND.N K League Youth Championship' is 'Dream Stage' for youth players.
The Korean Professional Football Federation has implemented various youth policies since it mandated the youth system of all K-League clubs in 2008. The year-round weekend league 'K League Junior League' was implemented, and in 2014, the Youth Club System Operation Regulations were enacted. It is said that all clubs belonging to K League 1 and 2 should have youth clubs of each age (U-18, U-15, and U-12) under their umbrella. In 2015, the federation created a championship in which the K-League's youth team participated and competed with the purpose of 'Improving the performance of young players and providing opportunities for experience'. Starting with U-18 and U-17 (high school), three years later, the tournament expanded to U-15 and U-14 (secondary school) in 2018, and U-12 and U-11 (elementary school) in 2019. That is 'GROUND.NK League Youth Championship'.
The reason why the Youth Championship is special is that it takes place in an environment that is most similar to the official K-League game. It's not just the uniform that's worn just like Team A. The K-League's system, including providing video analysis data for all games, providing physical data using the Electronic Player Data Measurement and Tracking System (EPTS), holding night games, and conducting cooling breaks, was unfolded. The same was true of the final of the '2024 GROUND. NK League U15 Championship' between Suwon Samsung and Daejeon Hana Citizen held at the main stadium of Cheonan Football Center on the 23rd.
The final match was broadcast live on Sky Sports, a sports channel. From the position tailored to the theme music to the introduction, the K-League remained the same. The VIP room scene was similar. Park Kyung-hoon, head of Suwon, and Kim Hyun-tae, head of Daejeon's power reinforcement office, also joined the team. In the stands, supporters from both teams joined in cheering. The cheering songs of Suwon and Daejeon, which can be heard at the stadium, also resonated. Naturally, the fierceness on the ground throughout the game was also the same as the K-League.
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| Cheonan Football Center Main Stadium / 2024 GROUND.N K-League Youth Championship / U-15/ Finals / Daejeon Hana Citizen U15 vs Suwon Samsung Bluewings U15/ Suwon manager Lee Jong-chan/ Photo by Kwak Dong-hyuk |
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| Cheonan Football Center Main Stadium / 2024 GROUND.N K League Youth Championship / U-15/ Final / Daejeon Hana Citizen U15 vs Suwon Samsung Bluewings U15/ Suwon Lee In-woo/ Photo by Kwak Dong-hyuk |
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The result was Suwon's victory. Suwon won 1-0 with Choi Ji-eon's winning goal in the first half. Suwon, whose best performance was third place in 2022 and 2023, succeeded in winning the competition for the first time. Many people watching the game cheered as the game continued to be hit and hit in a high-quality game that was not similar to the middle school. The players also looked excited. He performed more than he had. Daejeon scored an equalizer at the end of the second half, but it was a pity that it was canceled due to offside. The ending whistle blew, and Suwon players celebrated the victory with a wonderful ceremony.
Suwon manager Lee Jong-chan said, `The Youth Championship has a different atmosphere. I won for the first time, and I think I was happier because it was a special competition." Lee, who played in Daejeon, spent nine years as a leader at Daejeon Youth after his early retirement. Manager Lee said, `I didn't want to lose more because I was a former team. The players worked hard to see if they knew that" he said. Director Lee said "We have a clear water source system. I think there are a lot of good players because they are nurturing the players well"I hope the players will grow further using this victory as the foundation."
Lee In-woo, who received 'MVP', said "It was my last competition with the third graders, and I'm happy to win the championship." Yang Min-hyuk's success story, who recently made his professional debut through a semi-professional program and advanced to Tottenham, was the best stimulus for players of this age. He said, `I want to work harder and make my professional debut soon"I want to become the most famous player in Korea later. I want to be a player who is as good as a foreign player" conveyed the goal.
vanbasten@sportschosun.com
