“Don’t Cry Kyoto. I’ll Give You the Championship Cup.”

“Don’t Cry Kyoto. I’ll Give You the Championship Cup.”. December. 29, 2002 22:47. by Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com.

“I will be the hero of the victory at the final against Gasima Antlers on the New Year`s Day.”

The New Year`s resolution of the ‘star of Kyoto’ Park Ji-sung (21. Kyoto Purple Arcade) is different. He will leave Kyoto next year and goes to the arms of Manager Guss Hidink (the Netherlands PSV Einthoven), who made him a star during the World Cup. But he has a work to do before that. It is to return the support of Kyoto fans, who have cheered for him for the last time.

The stage of recompense is the final of the 82nd Emperor`s Cup Japan Football Championship, which will be held at the Tokyo National Stadium on the New Year`s day. Kyoto reached the final for the first time defeating the Hiroshima San Preche on the 28th with the score of 2-1. Park Ji-sung started the game and helped the team to win. The opponent of the final is Gasima Antlers who defeated Choi Yong-soo`s Jeff United with the score of 2-0 at the semi final.

Park Ji-sung`s present condition is actually horrible. His fatigue has been built up since the World Cup, and right knee injury was added recently. Park Ji-sung started the game against the Nagoya Grampers on the 25th, but he was substituted due to knee pain at the second half. It was rare case for Park Ji-sung, who rarely asks for a substitution during a game. He was also substituted at the second half in the semi final on the 28th.

However, it is too important to exchange with anything to finish his 2-years-7-months-career in the Japanese J League splendidly. Park Ji-sung said, “Since Kyoto is facing the first championship since foundation of the team, I cannot only think of myself. Although my knee is not good, I like to crown it with the championship.”

Park Ji-sung is going to the Netherlands right after the final and join Einthoven after a medical test. Park Ji-sung signed the contract with Einthoven on the 21st with a total of 4.5 million dollars (approximately 5.4 billion won) including a signing bonus of one million dollars and yearly salary of one million dollars.