“I’ll try until I can.” Kim Cheon broke the stigma of being a candidate. He succeeded in a pleasant rebellion by confirming his early advance to the Final A.
Managing director Kim Jeong-yong was a strong candidate for the 2024 season. It was a bittersweet but cold reality. Gimcheon is the only team that was promoted this season. Last year, the team that won the K League 2 (division 2) and made it to the K League 1 stage. At that time, Gimcheon barely managed to secure the top spot in the final match of the season. Furthermore, Gimcheon’s limitations were clear due to its characteristics as a “military team.” Players repeatedly join the military and discharge from the military every season. There was a limit of one year and six months of military service. This is why many experts selected Gimcheon as a candidate for demotion before the opening of the season.
Gimcheon recorded three wins and two losses in its opening five matches. It was a tightrope walk. It lost to strong teams such as Ulsan HD (2:3) in the second round and FC Seoul (1:5) in the fifth round, hardly getting the mood. Gimcheon used the crisis as an opportunity. After suffering a crushing defeat by Seoul, it regained consciousness. Since then, it has had no loss in a whopping 11 matches. It continued its race with Ulsan and Gangwon FC to become the leader.
The secret of the team’s rise was because all of its players became “heroes.” Kim Hyun-wook, Lee Jung-min, and Kim Tae-hyun, who mainly played in the K League 2, showed off their talents. “Jupo” Cho Young-wook (Seoul) made his name known by filling up the vacancy where he was discharged early due to exemption from military service at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Players did not hesitate to sacrifice. Some of the “Gimcheon 7th” players, who were discharged from the military in July, even returned their last year off to play in the team. They played a powerful role in the “transitional period” where people were discharged from military service and joined the military. New players also joined the team without gaps in the training center. After leaving the training center, they were assigned to play while taking a vacation. Players clenched their teeth to play another game in Gimcheon.
Chung’s “motivation leadership” played a part. Chung gave goals to players who could become lax. It was “growth.” Earlier, Chung said, “There are not many things that we can give to players in Gimcheon. There is a chance for growth. Players can have a good form to compete after being discharged from the military. I hope they can dream of not only competitiveness in the K-League but also becoming a member of the national team.” In fact, Park Seung-wook joined the A-team for the first time as a member of Gimcheon. Some players, including Lee Young-joon (Grashofer Club Zurich), have successfully advanced to overseas leagues after being discharged from the military athletic team. Some players have also moved from the K-League 2 to the K-League 1.
The crisis came at an unexpected time. Gimcheon lost strength in August due to the scorching heat. It failed to secure victory over Gangwon FC (1-2), Daegu FC (0-3), Daejeon Hana Citizen (2-2 draw), and Jeju United (0-1 loss).
Gimcheon did not fail. The team completed its A-match period in September. It went on a short training camp in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province. The team conducted a short but intense training session for four nights and five days. It also held three practice matches. The team had 11 players divided into three teams and fully managed 90 minutes, boosting its performance.
The effect was certain. Gimcheon defeated Incheon United 2-0 at a home game held at Gimcheon Sports Complex on Sunday. Lee Dong-joon scored his first goal as a member of Gimcheon, cheering for the team. Gimcheon confirmed its advance to Final A early on by garnering 50 points (14 wins, 8 draws, 8 losses). It was the first time for the team to advance to Final A since its foundation in 2021. 스포츠토토
Gimcheon will take on a new challenge now. It is not just looking at this season. It will be a military team next year as well, and it will have to overcome the limits of one and a half years. The team will survive only when it maximizes the teamwork of the current players. “I am so grateful to the players. I think I am over a corner now. I have confirmed my qualification for Final A. I will develop various aspects including tactics in the remaining games. I will try to go as far as I can go.”