Korean coach expects positives against Ghana

(From Veronica Commey, GNA Special Correspondent in Egypt, courtesy Ministry of Youth and Sports)

Suez, Oct. 8, GNA - Korea Republic's coach, Hong Myung-Bo says he yearns for a positive result when the Asians meet Ghana's Satellites in the FIFA U-20 World Cup quarterfinal duel at the Mubarack Stadium in Suez on Friday.

The Koreans make a third quarter-final appearance in 11 attempts at this level and after finishing fourth in 1983 and making the quarter-finals in 1991, Coach Myung-Bo says his charges are aiming to make history here in North Africa.

He told GNA Sports in Suez that "Ghana is one of the strongest nations in Africa, but if we play our own game and give it our all, I'm sure we'll get a positive result here."

The Coach said he will rely on the obvious fact that the only star in the Korea Republic squad is the total team and "with hard work and teamwork, our attitude will be strong enough to beat the Black Satellites on Friday".

Coach Myung-Bo described his side as super-fit and capable of playing beyond 120 minutes without running out of energy. "We're getting stronger with every game, becoming more and more confident and we have no problem performing over 90 or 120 minutes because we're super-fit,"

The Koreans biggest threat is Kim Min-Woo, a full-back by trade, who has become a goal hero at the tourney that laces the world's best 24 teams together.

Min-Woo notched a brace in the Koreans' 'Round of 16' victory over Paraguay to book a date with Ghana on Friday.

Coach Myung-Bo told GNA Sports that their only disappointment in the tourney so far was against Cameroon - an African side whose style of play he reckoned, looked like Ghana's but was quick to add that "against Ghana, we know they have physical players but the experience we got against Cameroon will aid us".

The Coach, however, similarly has a lot of respect for Ghana as he said: "My players have made me to believe that they can do great things, but I'm urging them to concentrate on Ghana because I'm worried about the threat Ghana will pose to us. They are a very strong team."