Photo By Sgt. Duong Le | Staff Sgt. Prince Ads Nti, Sustainment Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, CBRN NCOIC,...... read more read more
CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea – The sound of flood lights turning on echoed across the Humphreys Middle School soccer field as two teams prepared for a showdown two decades in the making.
On the right was a team representing the cream of the crop from two of the Camp Humphreys soccer teams: the over 40s and the younger squad.
On the left, entering to the thunderous sound of cheering fans: the legendary 2002 FIFA World Cup Korean National soccer team.
History Revisited
In 2002, for the first time in history, the FIFA World Cup took place in Asia - jointly hosted by the Republic of Korea and Japan. The KNS team was up against the United States in the pre-quarter finals. The game ended in 1-1, putting Korea in 4th place and leaving the U.S. in 8th.
Two decades later, on a hot July evening, the KNS team stood cleat-to-cleat with a group of fierce U.S. servicemembers - the Warriors. Both teams recollected the World Cup game 20 years ago, and both teams were ready to defend the honor of their nation.
Humphreys' dream team made it known before the game started that they were there to bring the heat.
“We said in the pre-game, we would be physical, and we would be strong, that is how we play soccer in America,” U.S. Air Force Capt. Jason Hoist with 604th Air Support Operation Squadron, confidently stated. “We have a lot of athleticism and physicality in American sports. It is just kind of inbred in, and we came out to play.”
Game Time
At the sound of the whistle, the Warriors pushed hard in pursuit of a goal. The Warriors forcefully dribbled the soccer ball down the field, passing it through their feet to teammates. Minutes into the game there is a loud roar as the ball goes through the Korean goal: The Warriors score!
“I didn’t know what to expect going in,” said Sgt. Maj. Sheldon Jones, Eighth Army G3 aviation, senior enlisted advisor. “I also didn’t realize how fast they were. I was here thinking they’re in their 40s and it has been awhile since they played, maybe they don’t run as fast and then you see them on tv and they don’t seem as fast. They didn’t look as tall on TV either, but in person it’s different and it took some getting used to.”
Echoing the 2002 World Cup score, the Warriors team would only gain one goal that evening. The KNS team increased their shots against the U.S. net and after three hours of intense game play, with a score of three-to-one, the Korean National Soccer Team again became the victors.
“We were able to get a goal, unfortunately we couldn’t get a little more,” said Hoist. “We had great keepers and great defenders. The other team was just so talented and we knew they would be really strong. At the end of the day, they were a better team. I think part of the sport is building a team and coming together and we did just that.”
Strong Alliances
Jones attributed the Korean win partly to the KNS captain, number 22, who played with the Camp Humphreys over 40 team as an honorary member.
“(...) It was an awesome experience playing against him,” said Jones. “He was the key to them moving the ball around well (...) It was a complete honor to play against these guys. They are world class athletes and I’ve never played against world class athletes before, now I can say I have and it’s one thing I can add to my resume.”
Stronger alliances were made on the field that night both between the two teams (and two countries) and within the Warriors team.
“One thing I can take away is the bonds we forged and the capacity to listen to each other,” said Hoist. “These are the things we need during our military service. Hey at the end of the day we didn’t get the victory, but there is always a win if you dig for it and there are a lot of good lessons from this event.”
Who knows maybe this event will be held every 20 years, like the World Cup is held every 4 years.
“If South Korea has another good run this year in Qatar at the World Cup, maybe in 20 years we’ll have a reunion tour,” said Jones. “ It is a lot of fun, a lot of effort went into this. We couldn't ask for better support. This felt like a world-class match and thank you to all the garrison services, the commander and his team for helping put this together. It was awesome.”
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 08.01.2022 19:30 |
| Story ID: | 426208 |
| Location: | GYEONGGIDO [KYONGGI-DO], KR |
| Web Views: | 95 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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