I Became a World-Class Striker Episode 3
Why Is the Ball Coming Here?
After hearing about my father, I had no choice but to go straight to my parents’ home. The season was over, so I had plenty of time.
But unexpectedly.
“Oh, you’re here?”
“Father… you’re… okay, right?”
“Hehe. I’m fine. I’m fine.”
Father was in better shape than I had expected. I thought he would have been in great shock after being scammed, but whether he was pretending to be calm or not, he greeted me as I entered the living room while quietly reading his newspaper.
“Is that my son?”
“Mother. You’re… really okay, right?”
“Sigh. How could we be okay?”
The only one who could clear up the questions I had about this strange atmosphere was Madam Kim—my mother. So I carefully followed her into the kitchen to talk.
“Your father may look like that, but he collapsed once.”
“What?!”
“Since you were playing matches and all, we didn’t tell you, but anyway, he must have been deeply hurt after being scammed by a friend he trusted.”
“A friend he trusted?”
“You know Uncle Chang-sik.”
“Gasp.”
Uncle Park Chang-sik. He was someone I knew well, too. He was my father’s hometown friend and childhood friend. He always brought food to share at our house, visited during the holidays to chat, and when I was young, he gave me pocket money—I was an only child. A kind-looking uncle.
That Uncle Chang-sik had scammed him….
“I can’t believe it.”
“He seems to have planned it meticulously. Thanks to that, the 100 million won in the bank account vanished completely.”
“Oh my goodness….”
“He said the Russian king crab business looked good and told your father to invest, said that it should be fine since he had a son who was a soccer player, tsk tsk. They say he can’t be reached now.”
“My father really operates on a grand scale. Still… I’m glad he looks okay now.”
“It’s all thanks to you.”
“Huh?”
“Even when your father had collapsed and was bedridden, he watched every one of your matches. And you scored that equalizer, and the team got promoted.”
“…….”
“He was so happy he jumped up from his seat and started dancing about. Oh my, I couldn’t stop him.”
Father was a fanatical soccer fan. And thanks to that, I too had started playing soccer at a young age, discovered my talent, and made it this far.
He was usually a quiet man who didn’t speak much, but he had supported his son playing soccer tremendously.
When I was struggling in the second division league, my father was the one who said things would work out rather than scolding or nagging me.
“Honestly, you were struggling with the team. Your father was so anxious. It seems the neighborhood friends teased him, asking if his son was really playing soccer properly.”
“…….”
“But this time, your equalizer promoted the team, and you came out for the interview speaking so proudly. Really… even I couldn’t help myself, tears came to my eyes. Sigh. *Sniffle-*”
‘So that’s why….’
After the promotion, I had given an interview acting a bit full of myself. I spoke proudly, unlike before. It was an interview where I had just blurted things out thinking it was my last hurrah anyway.
But it seemed my parents had watched that proudly. According to Mother, thanks to that, Father had dusted himself off and risen up, and walked around with his shoulders thrust back.
Although he was distressed from being scammed, he still bragged to his friends that his son was outstanding….
“I wondered what to do about your father, but thinking that you’ll go up to the first division and do well, I felt a bit relieved too.”
‘Even if I go up, it’s not like my salary will instantly skyrocket or anything….’
That wasn’t the case.
And his parents, as parents of a soccer player, obviously knew that too. But they had seen hope in my confident appearance. Even if that confidence was filled with bluff.
‘What am I going to do about this.’
How should I put it… misunderstandings piled upon misunderstandings, making my shoulders feel a bit heavy. Yet, I hoped my parents wouldn’t lose hope.
Just one goal.
Because of that one goal, it felt like my life had changed a lot.
* * *
“Huff— huff—”
After returning to my parents’ home, I started bodybuilding exercises along with resting. Honestly, I was scared. The expectations people were sending my way. I wasn’t a hero, and I feared the gazes that looked at me like one.
So I had to work hard to at least pull my own weight. It’s not that I hadn’t worked hard sincerely before. I had, but I hadn’t done it with a do-or-die attitude. Because I wanted to rest too. Athletes are human too! Human!
‘Ah, damn it—this is killing me. Huff, huff—’
But now it was different. How should I put it… I felt like fire had been dropped on my feet. Thanks to that, I whipped myself onward. Just a little more. More!
‘Argh, why did I have to score that goal then. No, thanks to it, my parents gained hope. Right. That’s enough. Sigh.’
I ran around the stream near my parents’ home. I signed up at a gym and did muscle training and core exercises together. I might need to look into a personal coach when I returned to the club.
One might ask, a K League player going that far? But many players who were already excellent skill-wise were doing personal training on the side.
Clack—
‘To be exact, full time. I need the stamina to play the full ninety minutes.’
In the past, I, Lee Chang-ryong, spent more time on the bench. But due to injury, Jason had a long layoff of 5 months, and as Coach Lee Geon-il had said, it became clear that I would be in the starting lineup.
‘Of course, I won’t know until I actually play the matches.’
It was December now.
About two months left… until the next season.
* * *
[Hey, isn’t this player Lee Chang-ryong?]
[From our neighborhood stream park, video]
A video posted on social media.
In the video, a man in athletic wear with a baseball cap pulled low was running hard. Perhaps because the video quality was good these days, his face was clearly visible—anyone could tell it was Suwon FC’s Lee Chang-ryong, and fans who recognized him spread the video and wrote comments.
-Oh, looks like he’s preparing for next season?
-Wow. He’s doing personal training? Honestly, that’s unexpected. I thought Lee Chang-ryong just went to clubs every day.
-Lee Chang-ryong has been known to be diligent, though. See, that goal wasn’t a fluke?
-I live near here; that must be near Lee Chang-ryong’s parents’ home? I pass by there often and keep seeing him running. He seems to be training hard.
-Hah… well, not just anyone can become a pro player.
-I saw him at the gym too. I saw him working out on his own, and also saw him exercising and asking a trainer.
-It is unexpected. I thought he was always in a slump and didn’t work out… could he be a late bloomer?
-Who knows. But I’m curious about Suwon FC next season. They lack squad depth; how are they going to manage matches?
-Maybe they’ll play unexpectedly aggressively?
-You’re quite the joker. Since they’re a second-division team, they’ll probably be cautious.
-Coach Lee Geon-il’s style is originally aggressive, though.
It was a short video, but perhaps because of the impact he had shown in the recent promotion playoffs? Most reactions were positive. Especially Suwon FC fans reacted that they had been won over by the unexpectedly diligent appearance of Lee Chang-ryong, whom they had always evaluated poorly.
And it was only natural that such content reached the club.
“Public opinion about Lee Chang-ryong isn’t bad these days, is it?”
“Yes. He’s been doing more personal training lately, and the fans like him.”
“Originally, I personally… wanted to release inadequate players due to financial issues, you see.”
“I thought similarly to you, Chairman. But as you can see from the fans’ reactions, there are many positive aspects to keeping Lee Chang-ryong.”
“Tell me.”
At the words of club owner Shin Il-joon (Mayor of Suwon), General Manager Park In-won continued with a slight smile.
“First, the number of supporters cheering for the club has increased. These are people who joined after being captivated by the intense promotion playoffs.”
“Ah, is that so?”
“Yes. The PR team looked into it, and it seems people took a great liking to Lee Chang-ryong’s dramatic equalizer. Wasn’t it absolutely thrilling? At that time.”
“I saw it too. Live. And at the stadium, no less. The excitement wouldn’t die down.”
That was something everyone could relate to. The thrill at that moment was indescribable.
“And above all, these days his hard-working appearance alone is serving as impressive promotion to the fans. Thanks to that, interest in Suwon FC is rising.”
“Hmm….”
“There are already many fans looking forward to next season. This is a fact backed by statistics.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Furthermore, Suwon currently lacks players. Most are injured, and even the key striker Jason is sidelined due to injury. Long-term, at that.”
“That’s right….”
“That is why the release was put on hold. There is still next season, Mayor.”
Club owner Shin Il-joon showed a positive nod at the general manager’s words.
“First, I will trust the general manager’s decision. You also contributed to this promotion.”
“Haha. For now, let’s see next season and proceed with discussions regarding Lee Chang-ryong and other players.”
“Let’s do that. The board of directors is also exchanging positive content because of this promotion. The chairman is very satisfied as well.”
“Then I am glad.”
The two smiled slightly as they looked at the profile and video of Lee Chang-ryong, Suwon FC’s top release candidate.
* * *
February.
The 2021 season had arrived.
Boom—! Boom—! Boom—!
“Suwon FC!”
“Strongest Suwon FC!”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The season opener began, the first home match. As the players changed into their deep blue uniforms and came onto the pitch, the home fans’ reactions heated up. They beat drums, and some rhythmically struck their prepared cheering tools.
And among the players moving in line behind the referee.
Thud—
“Hoo….”
I was there.
‘My hands are shaking like crazy.’
In a way, it was a starting opportunity that had come after a long time. I was someone who spent match days waiting on the bench all day, and if not summoned, went straight home. To me, Lee Chang-ryong, who had been living such a life, an opportunity had arrived.
He would probably think this.
That since he had worked hard all this time, and since he had worked hard alone, there would be good results—or that his skills must have improved.
But to tell the truth.
‘…I didn’t improve.’
Seems like innate talent really is unavoidable. Even with personal training and effort, no dramatic results came out. Just so-so. Average.
Just about that level. If I had to be confident about anything, it was probably stamina that wouldn’t give out during team training?
So I didn’t have huge expectations this time. Though those around me were sending expectant gazes, saying “We’re counting on you again!”
“Hey. Lee Chang-ryong.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t show off. You’ll ruin the first match after promotion.”
“…….”
One of the team’s midfielders, Yang Hyuk. He was a player who still held negative thoughts about me. Two years older than me, a hyung. A man with a stylish appearance, sporting a mustache with pomaded hair.
But perhaps that reaction was only natural. What he had shown in the promotion playoffs was really a flukey goal.
Such a coincidental opportunity… wasn’t going to come again, was it?
Tap, tap—
“Don’t get too discouraged. He just wants to do well. Hyukie-hyung.”
“…No. It’s because I haven’t been doing well all this time.”
“I believe you’ll do well this time. You trained hard too.”
‘Should I thank him for this? Or not?’
The person patting my shoulder and comforting me was Park Won-woo, the one who had shouted “Hey!” and created my goal before. I smiled slightly at his consolation. After finishing the customary greeting with the opposing team players, I trudged toward my assigned position near the center circle.
The formation was 4-2-3-1. It felt a bit defense-oriented. It was an uncharacteristic choice for Coach Lee Geon-il, who usually managed matches offensively, but it was understandable.
The opponent was none other than FC Seoul.
Because they were last season’s runners-up.
‘Kya—definitely a different aura, a different aura.’
They appeared wearing clean white away uniforms, overflowing with confidence. Well, you couldn’t compare a team that had just been promoted with the runners-up.
And look at that stacked squad. It really makes you feel anew how important money is.
I can even see players who had been called up for A-matches… this won’t be an easy game.
Then what should I do? Honestly, the skill gap was insurmountable. It would be hard to catch up to them. Breaking through their defense might be difficult too.
That’s why.
‘Let’s run as much as possible and play as selflessly as possible.’
The previous season, how should I put it… I had tried hard in my own way, but things didn’t work out. Because I tried desperately to score, something felt blocked. So I decided to approach it with the mindset of helping the team as much as possible.
Beeeeep—
“Hoo—”
With the referee’s whistle.
Finally, the first match of the season had begun.
* * *
The flow of the match was exactly as the commentators had predicted.
=It was already expected that Seoul would have ball possession—
=Ahh—once again Seoul is taking control.
=Should we say this is the skill befitting runners-up? The Suwon FC players can’t keep up easily.
=They’re driving forward again! Adrian! He’s fast!
Tatt—
“Huk! Huk!”
Thud— thud—!
Waaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Damn it!”
“Run!!! Don’t lose him!”
The foreign mercenary with his hair tied back, Adrian, dashed forward with crazy speed, dribbling the ball in long strides, and just watching Suwon players struggle to catch up showed a clear skill gap.
Suwon’s coach Lee Geon-il seemed to sense that this flow was ominous and jumped up from his seat.
“Defennnnnnnse!!!!!!!”
No one could have imagined that old, roaring shout would resound so loudly.
=Adrian! Adrian shoots straight away!!!!!
“Hup!”
Bbaaaang————!
The fortunate thing was.
Swhaaaack!!!!!!!
“Kurk!”
Teorreong!
=He blocked it!!!!!!!!!!!
=Suwon FC’s defender Park Chan-seong! He blocked Adrian’s low-driven shot with a sliding tackle!
=The ball goes over the goal line! Seoul’s corner kick chance right away!
That Suwon players somehow blocked these crisis moments.
17th minute of the first half. Score 0:0. For Suwon fans, it was a nerve-wracking, tense, and thrilling match.
“Argh! We can’t even touch the ball properly once!”
“Well, because the opponent is Seoul.”
“Still. No, why can’t we even pass properly? There’s no chance. No chance!”
“It’s because Seoul’s pressure is strong. Sigh.”
“Damn, that Lee Chang-ryong hasn’t touched the ball properly even once. Damn. Sigh.”
It was exactly as the fans said.
Lee Chang-ryong, who was receiving some support. That Lee Chang-ryong who had gained popularity thanks to his appearance in the promotion playoffs was currently unable to receive the ball properly.
Difference in skill. Intensity of pressure.
Seoul was stronger than Suwon after all. And Lee Chang-ryong knew that too.
* * *
‘Only 4 touches as we approach 20 minutes, is this for real?’
FC Seoul’s pressure was that great. Did they intend to face us with full power even though we were a team that had come up from the second division? It was truly a great mindset, but it was something I hadn’t wished for today. Damn it.
Still, the fortunate thing was.
‘I hadn’t screwed up as catastrophically as before.’
Not losing passes and not acting recklessly. I evaluated myself somewhat positively.
‘I wish an opportunity would come.’
The opponent’s corner kick chance arrived. Why did our team players gathering near the box look so sorrowful? It must be hard. Because the opponent was last season’s runners-up. Even if I steeled my mind with forced mental strength, it would look as big as Mount Tai. I was nervous too.
Ah.
But if a goal went in from this situation. Really… our team’s morale might hit rock bottom.
Swoosh—
The hand signal of an opposing player rushing in. I watched it from a spot slightly away from the box with a tense heart….
Bbbaaang———!
‘It flew!’
I couldn’t help but admire the corner kick that was beautifully curled in. It felt like if that just touched someone’s head, it would become a header goal right away.
It was the moment I was watching blankly like that.
Kkaaang!!!!!!!!!
At the situation that unfolded with the loud noise, I had to make a bewildered expression. Should I say the Seoul player was too enthusiastic? Or did he take the wrong angle with his ankle trying to curl it properly? No… I didn’t know exactly, but anyway….
Bwoong—
‘Is this for real….’
I never dreamed that the corner kick would hit the top of the goalpost and bounce straight up. A scene that made you wonder if it was a well-made CGI. Anyway, thanks to that, the ball bounced not inside the goal, but outside the box.
“Eit!”
Bbaang!!!!
Yang Hyuk, who noticed it, hurriedly hoofed the ball beyond the halfway line.
The ball drew a parabola. It flew higher than expected and in the direction of the opponent’s goalkeeper, so I naturally thought, ‘Ah—the goalkeeper will catch it, or a defender will intercept it.’
Still, thinking I should at least apply some pressure, I ran powerfully after the ball. Who knows? In this situation, the opposing team might make a mistake….
Tuk!
“Ah!”
Aaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
‘…Huh?’
A “Huh?” sound involuntarily came out. The ball that drew a parabola should have been trapped properly by the defender, but perhaps due to a miscalculation, he missed it.
The ball ended up bouncing. That ball….
De-gu-ru-ru—
Waaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Chang-ryong-ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!”
‘Why is this rolling here….’
It was rolling toward me, who had been running all this while. Really… quite by coincidence.