Yangsan United FC fosters football players equipped with skills and manners

▲ Yangsan United FC / CEO Bae Ik-du

(PowerKorea) Football is one of the most popular sports in the world. Unlike in the past, Korean footballers are gaining global recognition in top football leagues in the world including Premier League. Like many other sports, football requires agility and physical strength and skills. Experts say the earlier the start the better. 

Yangsan Elementary School Football Clubs was reborn as Yangsan United FC in January 2021 to focus only on football. Formerly, the football club won the Hwangdae League for 8 times with 6 times making to the final, another final at the U-11, and 4 times winning and 3 times finals at competitions in South Gyeongsan Province.

Manager Jo Yong-ki used to be a midfielder at Daegu FC. He likes possession football style used by Pep Guardiola, current manager of Manchester City and former manager of FC Barcelona and FC Bayern Munich. 

“Physical strength can play better in youth matches but understanding of position and strategy comes far more important in professional matches. So I’m focusing on all players including the goal keeper to play midfielder to cover both attack and defense” says Jo.

Bae Ik-du, CEO of Yangsan United FC, is a great fan of football and has built friendship with Jo. They have made Yangsan United FC recognized by the Korea Sport & Olympics Committee as the sole public sports club in Yangsan City.

The Club has the largest 991 square meter football ground in Yangsan with 2 football stadiums. The ceiling heating and cooling system creates fresh environment for managers and players to give their very best whenever in training. Apart from Jo, 6 of KFA 3 grade coaches are assisting the training. 

As little as 5 year olds can join the Club and grow a sense of sociability, responsibility and teamwork alongside football skills. 200 children are currently trained under excellent guidance of Jo and the 6 coaches in two types of training: professional and amateur. Some amateur pupils shift to professional on finding one’s potential. Whether professional or amateur, the skills taught are the same but only the amount of time for training.

Jo is famous for valuing manners more than skills. This was well recognized by Jo and his pupil Choi Lee-hwan receiving prizes side by side at the 33rd Cha Bum Kun Football Awards. 

“A good way to play better is to enjoy it. If the player focus too much on winning the game, the movement gets intense and the feeling heavy. Football in a way is an art of passing the ball, forming a strategy and a good team work” says Bae.

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