The “2024 GROUND.N K-League U15&14 Championship” hosted by the Korea Professional Football Federation (President Kwon Oh-gap) will open on Sunday (Sunday). The tournament will run for 13 days from Saturday (Saturday) to Friday (Friday), and all matches will be held in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province.
The U15 Championship, in which 25 teams will participate, will be divided into seven groups, will go through the round of 16 tournaments, and the winner will be divided at 7 p.m. on the 23rd (Friday) 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 match will be held at 7 p.m. on the 22nd (Thursday) at the main stadium of Cheonan Football Center.
Ahead of the opening of the “2024 GROUND.NK League U15&14 Championship,” we will introduce the promising players who will heat up this summer.
■ “A talent beyond the grade,” players from high school’s moon class
Since 2022, the K League Youth Championship has revised the competition regulations 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. Under the regulations, ace players with experience in high school competitions will also participate in this competition.
First, Anjuwan of Suwon is a left wing forward, who has scored 32 goals in 13 K-League junior matches this season, and is the leading scorer in the league. The number is 14 goals more than his teammate Kim Woo-jin (18 goals), who ranks second in scoring. Anjuwan played in the K-League U17 Championship last year when he was an eighth grader, and scored one goal in three matches against older high school students, and played in two matches as a substitute in this year’s U17 Championship. Anjuwan, known as the son of coach Ahn Sung-nam of Jeonbuk, is regarded as a player with all the talent needed for a striker by banking on his fast penetration on the side, accurate shooting, and even excellent goal-scoring ability.
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 matches this season. Ahn Sun-hyun is a player who is good at not only solving in front of the goal but also crucial penetration passes that lead to goals, and started in two U17 championship games last month.
Choi Jae-hyuk of Gangwon Province is a center back with a strong physical strength of 177 centimeters and 75 kilograms, and stands out in a physical fight with opposing strikers and one-on-one competition. In addition, he has good performance on both sides of offense and defense, as he penetrates aggressively when he sees a gap while catching the ball in the last minute. Choi Jae-hyuk played in all three group matches of the U17 Championship last month, and he is expected to keep Gangwon’s defense firmly in this tournament as well.
■ Steady 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 victory at the U14 Championship last year and won the Most Valuable Player Award. Kim Ji-ho played as a center back last year, but he played as a striker in the K League Junior this season and scored 16 goals, recording the highest number of goals in the team. Kim Ji-ho’s greatest strength is his ability to use both feet freely, and he also has a dribble breakthrough from the right side to the center and penetration into the back space of the defense line.
Busan’s frontline striker Kim Ji-woo is also an explosive forward. Kim Ji-woo won the U14 Championship’s highest score award for two consecutive years last year, and led his team to win the championship by scoring a total of six goals including a hat trick he scored in the semifinal at the National Youth Sports Festival held in May this year. Kim Ji-woo, who is tall standing 183 centimeters and physically weak, overwhelms the opponent’s defenders, is aiming for the opponent’s goal in this competition as well.
Seoul’s offensive midfielder Moon Ji-hwan has 15 assists in 11 K-League junior games this season, leading Group A assistance. Moon Ji-hwan provides a decisive opportunity to his teammates with accurate pass timing in each game, and he is also expected to perform well in this tournament as he has the ability to pass as well as the ability to finish himself.
■ other notable players
Incheon’s frontline striker Arkady made the U14 national team roster last month, drawing keen attention. Even though his parents are both Russians, Arkady is tall at 191 centimeters and has scored 10 goals in 13 K-League junior matches based on his outstanding positioning and goal-scoring skills.
Ulsan’s left fullback is a fullback with strong aggressive tendencies, and frequently displays high-level penetration skills and sharp crosses following side overlapping. Attire-yoon also has strength in mid-range shooting, following bold penetration into the center. 스포츠토토
In addition, Moon Yuno of Jeju and Choi Sung-hyun of Suwon FC stand out in the goalkeeper position. Moon Yuno is a player born to a German father and a Korean mother, and his strength is his keeping ability with 185 centimeters tall and long sleeves. On the other hand, Choi Sung-hyun is 178 centimeters tall as a goalkeeper, not very tall, but his strength is his ability to block shots with excellent quickness and reflexes, and he is also taking on the role of a rear build-up by using his feet. The two players, who are in the same position but have different charms, are also expected to perform well in this tournament.