Choi Byung-chan, who made waves when he broke through the “255-to-1” odds in Seongnam FC’s open tryouts to become a professional, is writing another story in Gimcheon. After scoring his first goal of the season, he revealed that the fans’ support was an inspiration.
Choi played in the 28th round home match of the Hana OneQ K League 2 2023 against Chungnam Asan FC at Gimcheon Sports Complex at 7 p.m. on Nov. 26. He rattled the net with a mid-range shot in the last minute of the first half, helping Gimcheon Sangmu to a 4-0 victory.
After the game, Choi, who was named the Man of the Match, said, “I’m very happy for the team’s big win. We’ve been playing well and lost the last game, so we worked hard to turn that around. I’m happy that our hard work paid off.”
On scoring his first goal of the season with a great shot, he said, “I practiced shooting a lot in training. Before the game, coach Sung told me to try to shoot a lot, which is my strength. When I got the chance, I tried to take it, and I think I scored because (Jo) Young-wook gave me a good pass,” he reflected on his goal.
The match was Choi’s third in the league. After suffering bad luck in his previous two outings, he finally put in a satisfying performance. “I’ve played three games this year, but I was disciplined in the first game, and I got an eye injury in the second game,” Choi said. “Every time I played, I played with a lot of heart, and I was upset that it didn’t work out. I wanted to contribute to the team, but it was hard because I kept feeling like a negative factor,” he said.
“But I didn’t get discouraged and trained hard, so the coach gave me a chance, and I’m glad I got a good result. I think this game will be a turning point,” he said.
Choi enlisted in the army in June last year and will be discharged in December. Like other players whose careers took off after enlisting in Gimcheon, Choi learned a lot here. He said he learned and grew every day in Gimcheon, which is home to national-level players. 토토사이트
“At the beginning of my military career, I was confused. But the people I’m with now, from the seniors to the juniors, are really good players. I spent my military life with the idea of learning soccer, so it’s honestly not hard,” he said. “My outlook on soccer has improved and I have more time to relax. If I used to be rushed in situations, I can now be calm and choose a better pass or dribble,” he smiles.
Choi, who met with fans during winter training prior to this season, revealed that their support has had a huge impact on him. As a player, he struggled with how to repay their love, and he felt that being the best he could be on the field was the way to do it.
“When I started 2023, I started my winter training with a mindset. I was able to feel the hearts of the fans through the club’s events, and I thought about what I could do for them as a player,” he said. “I think it’s my job as a player to give them joy and be dynamic on the field. I am grateful and thankful to the fans.”
“To be honest, I don’t think I’m a good enough player. I try to do my best every year, but sometimes the results are good and sometimes they’re not. In each case, the club, the front office, and the fans continue to support and believe in me. I want to be a player who plays for the team,” he concluded.