"We will make more efforts to improve the environment of women's soccer." Kang Ga-ae, Vice President of the Korea Professional Football Association, is honored with the FIFPRO Merit Award
Nov 27, 2024
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Kang Ga-ae, vice president of the Korea Professional Footballers Association (hereinafter referred to as the Korea Professional Footballers Association), won the FIFPRO Merit Award.
Vice Chairman Kang raised the status of Korean soccer by receiving the award for the second time in history as a Korean player at the Merit Awards ceremony held at the FIFPRO World General Assembly in Bali, Indonesia on the 26th. Prior to Vice Chairman Kang, Ki Sung-yueng, who did well in 2022 with '3 billion donation', was the first Korean player to win the Merit Award.
The Merit Awards are awarded to professional footballers who have contributed significantly to philanthropy as an award established by FIFPRO since 2008. It is a prize selected for athletes who have tried to induce players to participate in society in various ways and move society in a better direction.
Vice Chairman Kang Ga-ae, the second Korean player to be selected after Ki Sung-yueng, received a big score in the Player Voice, one of the important elements of the FIFPRO Merit Awards. 'Player voice' refers to a voice in which players make their voices heard and draw social change with active remarks and actions to solve social problems.
The portion of the Merit Awards is very large in encouraging players to fulfill their social responsibilities through their conviction remarks so that society can change in a positive direction in their place.
Kim Hoon-ki, secretary-general of the Korea Professional Sports Association, said, `It seems that FIFPRO gave a big score that Vice Chairman Kang Ga-ae took the lead in making remarks to bring about a change in society beyond donation or philanthropy. I want to applaud you for bringing about social change through your platform."
Vice-chairman Kang Ga-ae spoke with courage for the development of Korean women's soccer. In particular, he made a lot of efforts to change women's soccer, demanding poor treatment and environmental improvement at the championships, including the WK League annual salary cap.
Vice Chairman Kang said, `Not for me, but for amateur female student athletes, including my colleagues, seniors, and juniors who will continue to play, but I really didn't know FIFPRO would give me an award. I didn't say it to receive an award, he said. "I said it with the intention of becoming a wheat grain to really sprout a change, but I think it's an award given to all the executives of the Women's Athletes' Association, not to me. The association will continue to do its best to improve the environment for female athletes in the future."
Lee Keun-ho, chairman of the Korea Federation of Players Association, said "I was up to the candidates at the Merit Awards hosted by FIFPRO, but Korean male and female athletes proudly received the honor of winning the award. We will continue to make efforts to make the players' association have a good impact on society`"We sincerely congratulated Vice Chairman Kang Ga-ae on his award.
Secretary-General Kim Hoon-ki said, `I am very happy that Vice Chairman Kang Ga-ae will win the award following Ki Sung-yueng two years ago. First of all, as the award ceremony was held at the World Congress, I plan to return to Korea after receiving the award on behalf of the Athletes' Association Secretariat and hold the ceremony again. "There were many outstanding candidates for the Merit Awards, and I am very proud to win the award after defeating them. I'll keep the trophy and bring it back to Korea", he explained.
Meanwhile, the Korea Federation of Athletes' Association will hold Vice Chairman Kang Ga-ae's Merit Awards ceremony at the 3rd Korea Federation of Athletes' Association charity event.
wman@sportschosun.com
