Lay and Cho arrive early for their afternoon practice. There are still 45 minutes left for the main team to play on the packed (and only) field of Sport Futebol Palmense. There are still dozens of children training at this hour. The two South Koreans of Sport Futebol Palmense do not lose sight of the youngest. They are players of the main team of this centenary emblem, but they also watch the game through the eyes of soccer coaches.
In Portugal and in Paulo Bento’s first club as a player, both Lay and Cho are looking for an opportunity to reconcile their career as footballers with the formation that can open the doors of football in the future, the path of technical management. In the squad of this club in the Palma de Baixo neighborhood, next to the Laranjeiras highway, Lisbon, there are three South Koreans.
Cho is 22 years old and has been playing in Portugal for five seasons. “It’s very interesting to be in the [primeiro] Paulo Bento’s Club (laughs). But I only found out when he came here, ”explains the young player. When the club turned 110 years old, the South Korean coach was at the stadium where he kicked the ball for the first time to record a video. Cho Geun-ho is now a Palmense player, after his time at Alta de Lisboa and Sintra Fútbol.
The Portuguese continues to be a difficult barrier to overcome. “It is very difficult to learn Portuguese. In fact, I am still learning.” Language is released when talking about football “I play on the right wing, I do the whole corridor because we play 3x5x2”. Off the field, Cho has already defined that he wants a life linked to soccer. Studying at the Faculty of Human Motricity, he is already in the last year of his Sports Science degree. “I already train A kids, 12 or 13 years old.”
This Friday, Cho has already set aside time in his schedule to accompany South Korea-Portugal in the 2022 World Cup, a match at 3:00 p.m. Lisbon time. “I hope Korea [do Sul] win”, he explains. Regarding Paulo Bento, the coach who, like Cho, wore the colors of Palmense, believes that the Portuguese strengthened his position in this World Cup. “He leaves a good image” after the first two games.
Son Heung-min is the most recognized name on the South Korean national team. But Cho believes there are other quality players in Paulo Bento’s squad who are a threat to Portugal. “In my field, Hwang In-beom, Olympiakos player. He wouldn’t say that he is dangerous (he lacks goals), but he is a quality player who knows how to have the ball”. A midfielder, like Paulo Bento. “But as a player I didn’t know him” (laughs), Cho acknowledges.
Hyeongoh Lay arrived in Portugal just four months ago but has a conversation in the new language, which he still learns fluently. In Palma de Baixo he found the place to continue his career as a player and look for an opportunity as a soccer coach. “I came to play football, but also to the association’s coaching course [AF Lisboa]🇧🇷 I’m also taking a Portuguese course”, explains Lay.
“I already knew Cho, my Korean friend. I saw that there was an opportunity to play, I liked the club. My teammates are very friendly, we have a dressing room with a good atmosphere.” Language is not an obstacle. “I’ve been in Spain for five years and it wasn’t that difficult. The culture was also similar.”
Playing in the second division of Lisbon, Lay measures the steps to take in Portugal “O Sonho? Now I’m learning about football in the coaching course. Every year that passes I feel something different. I learn more, I’m better, Every year I have a different perspective of football. For now I want to be like this, then we’ll see if I can play at another level. I say this as a player but also as a coach”.
Perhaps Lay will help Palmense discover a talent like Paulo Bento’s. “I train children between nine and ten years old. In Spain I worked with children. I like to see how they grow over the course of a year, it’s something very interesting. When I arrived, my friend Cho told me that this was the club of the Korean coach, Paulo Bento,” he explains.
“It’s interesting to be in Portugal and to know that South Korea will play with the team here. I go to a bar with friends to watch the game, some Portuguese, other Koreans who are here to learn the language. We’re going to watch the game.” all together,” she explains.
Lay will be watching both teams, but knows the names of South Korea well. “There are good players in attack. Perhaps they are weaker in defense. Apart from Son [Heung-min]I highlight a player called Lee Kang-in, who is playing in Spain. Besides age, he has great potential. I think he can help the team, despite not having many minutes. It’s something I don’t understand, but I respect it.”
Respect is the word that Lay repeats about Paulo Bento. Even if you don’t agree with all the picker options. “I haven’t seen many national team matches, but I think he has a very clear idea, he doesn’t like to change too much. He is a coach with a fixed idea. That’s why I can say that he respects him.”
Source: TSF
