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| Song Ju-hoon and Mito Holyhawk U-18 squad met at the Jeju clubhouse on the evening of the 27th. Photo courtesy = Jeju United |
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| photo courtesy of Jeju United |
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| photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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| Mito Holyhawk U-18 players will be watching the Jeju-Jeonbuk match on the 27th. Photo courtesy = Jeju United |
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"Mito Holly Hawk juniors are here."
Jeju center back Song Ju-hoon received surprising news after the 35th round of the 'Hana Bank K League 1 2024' against Jeonbuk held at the Jeju World Cup Stadium on the 27th. U-18 players from the Japanese club Mito Holyhawks, where Song Joo-hoon stayed from 2015 to 2016, visited the stadium. Mito Holyhawk, who participated in the K-League club-affiliated youth club and Asian prestigious youth club's friendly confrontation of friendship 'K League Asian Youth Championship Jeju 2024' held in Seogwipo from the 21st to the 26th, visited the stadium after hearing that Jeju's home game would be held on the weekend before returning to his home country. Song Ju-hoon said, `I knew Mito Holyhawk participated in the K League Asian Youth Championship Jeju 2024, but I never dreamed that the players visited our stadium.' The 'K League Asian Youth Championship Jeju 2024' was hosted by the Korean Professional Football Federation, co-hosted by the Federation and Jeju United, and sponsored by the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province.
On the other hand, the Mito Holyhawk U-18 squad knew about Song Joo-hoon's existence. Song Joo-hoon, a 1m 91st tall left-footed center back, made his professional debut in Albirex Niigata, Japan in 2014 and played in Mito Holyhawk uniforms for two years from 2015 to 2016. For Song Joo-hoon, Mito Holyhawks are remembered as a grateful club that gave the first-year professional player enough experience to play. Song Ju-hoon joined Jeju in 2021 after passing through Gyeongnam (2019), Tianjin Tianhai (2019-2020), and Shenzhen (2020). Did Song Ju-hoon receive the support of his Japanese juniors. Song Joo-hoon, who started the day, gave the team a 1-0 victory by pushing a long ball from Nam Tae-hee with a strong header in the 25th minute of the second half when it was 0-0 tight. It was his first goal this year in a year and seven months since he scored against Seoul in March last year. Song Ju-hoon "The goal went in as I practiced. (Im) I practiced the pattern that Chaemin hyung fell outside, and when the ball came in, I followed him, but the sweatshirt didn't stick to me. Ahead of today's game, head coach Kim Hak-beom said 'I'm going to score a goal in a set piece', but the real goal went in' with a smile.
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| photo courtesy of Jeju United |
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| photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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Song Joo-hoon, who was named the most valuable player of the game, had a meaningful meeting with his juniors at the clubhouse after the game. He was exhausted after 90 minutes of right-handed fighting, but he wanted to see Song Ju-hoon' could not refuse the requests of his juniors. Song Joo-hoon greeted his juniors, including U-18 coach Daisuke Tomita and Hollyhawk in familiar Japanese, and gave words of blessing. Coach Domita said, `I was so happy that Song Joo-hoon, who played in Mito, performed well. In the Jeju-Jeonbuk match, Song Joo-hoon was controlling the game as the team's leader amid the long defense time. The strength of the header and the interpersonal mark was particularly noticeable, and he showed a great performance to lead the team to victory with the winning goal" he raised his thumb. Song Ju-hoon "He's a player who doesn't want to score a goal a year, but I think he was able to score an important goal with the support of his juniors. I hope you will participate in the 'K League Asian Youth Championship Jeju 2024' and have a long experience of watching K League games. I hope you become a better professional player than me."
Song Joo-hoon also gave impression to Jeju fans who had a hard time throughout the season. Jeju won three consecutive games with Song Joo-hoon's goal and crossed the remaining nine ridges. Jeju, which rose to 47 points and 7th place, narrowed the point gap with 10th-ranked Daegu (39 points), which is a playoff spot for promotion, to eight points. Even if they draw just once in the remaining three games, they will be confirmed to stay. Song Ju-hoon said, `Our fans said good things and cheered us on when our performance was good or bad. I'm glad that I was able to give joy to my fans by winning back-to-back games at the end."
yoonjinman@sportschosun.com
