WHILE there is quite a lot of myth in hockey circles about degrees of professionalism, it seems that the Korean players spend a great deal of time together in the months before international tournaments not least in their preparation for this World Cup qualifying competition in Kuala Lumpur.
Indeed team information available to the media here gives the profession of nine members of the squad as "hockey players of Seongnam Cityhall." The other seven are listed as students. The head coach Sang Ryul Kim could not be drawn on the issue, especially with language barriers, at last night's press conference in the Bukit Jalil stadium after the 3-1 defeat of Ireland.
Professionalism in the sport, of course, has been fully accepted by the FIH but as the Ireland coach Cees Koppelaar staunchly asserted, in making comparisons, "we are a totally amateur team, with no time off."
The irony was that on a relatively fresh evening, the Irish side admirably matched the Koreans in most facets of play, except as Koppelaar admitted in concentration and in putting the ball in the opposition's net. Indeed, the short-corner count was 6-6, notably with three set-piece shots by Robbie Taylor being kept out before half-time as Ireland mounted a greater volume of pressure in midfield.
What was even more unfortunate was that after closing down Korea in the first half, during which Ivan Bateman and Gregg Sterritt made exceptional clearances, two goals were edged between the Irish posts by their own defenders in the 44th and 49th minutes. In both cases, though, it was the wizardry and pace of right winger Song Seong Tae that did the damage.
By far the most penetrative attacker on the field, Song Seong darted to the backline, and in attempting to squeeze the ball back to his supporting raiders, he first forced Bateman to concede a score off the edge of his pads and then was credited with the second goal via Sterritt's misplaced stick.
Yet, these setbacks did not dismay Ireland as they pressed forward purposefully. Lee Tumilty, notably, drove skilfully at the cover. After Alastair Dunne had seen a set-piece shot well saved, another attack yielded a free for Alan Dowd to take quickly and for the industrious Julian Stevenson to send the deflection on target.
Thus, with eight minutes still to play, the margin was reduced to the minimum. But naturally, in trying to salvage an equaliser, Ireland were leaving space at the back in which the flying Son Seong capitalised to the full. He broke clear again and sealed the issue with a clean and clinical shot, the like of which Ireland could not match.
So, a second defeat has been endured, and though there is now a much needed rest day, two torrid afternoon matches, against Argentina (tomorrow) and New Zealand (on Sunday) are next on the list. Unless exceptional performances can be produced, it seems that our hopes of reaching Utrecht next year will not materialise.
There must always be hope, however. There was an example of a side never giving up yesterday when Canada fought back from arrears of 4-1 against South Africa to make it 4-3 and then score twice in the last two minutes to win 5-4.
