Paulo Bento meets with U-23, U-19 football coaches to discuss cooperation

SEOUL, Sept. 20 (Yonhap) — South Korea men’s national football team boss Paulo Bento on Thursday met with under-23 and under-19 team head coaches to discuss ways to boost cooperation and develop the sport.

Bento had a meeting with U-23 coach Kim Hak-bum and U-19 coach Jeong Jung-yong at the Korea Football Association (KFA) House in Seoul. Kim Pan-gon, who leads the national team coach appointment committee; Choi Young-joon, acting chief of the technical development committee; and Seo Hyo-won, KFA’s youth football coach, also attended the meeting.

This was the first time that Bento, who took the helm last month, met with South Korean national football coaches in different age groups.

“This meeting was arranged for Bento and other football coaches to share their football philosophy,” Kim Pan-gon said ahead of the meeting. “Since we want our youth teams to share the vision and philosophy, we also included our youth football coaches.”

The meeting was held behind closed doors and the coaches are expected to discuss ways to boost cooperation among each team.

Bento’s senior team and Kim Hak-bum’s U-23 side are believed to work together closely regarding player selection for their team.

Eight players who won the gold medal at the 18th Asian Games under Kim were selected for Bento’s team and trained for September friendlies against Costa Rica and Chile.

Bento’s side is scheduled to play the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup in January, while Kim’s U-23 team will begin its AFC U-23 Championship campaign starting March.

South Korea’s football coaches and officials pose for a photo ahead of a meeting at the Korea Football Association (KFA) House in Seoul on Sept. 20, 2018. From left are U-19 team head coach Jeong Jung-yong, senior team head coach Paulo Bento, KFA national team coach appointment committee chief Kim Pan-gon, U-23 team head coach Kim Hak-bum, acting KFA technical development committee chief Choi Young-joon and KFA youth football coach director Seo Hyo-won. (Yonhap)

After the meeting, Bento said it was “meaningful” and “helpful” to discuss football issues with South Korean coaches.

“It was helpful that we were able to exchange information on the players who could play for the senior national team in the future,” he said. “It’s important to make the players get ready for the senior team even when they’re with youth teams. We’ll try to find the best solutions through cooperation for the player selection issue (with the U-23 side).”

Kim Hak-bum said he also had a good time speaking with Bento.

“It was inspiring that Bento was willing to cooperate on everything and help us,” he said. “It’s important for us to maintain consistency in developing our football.”

South Korea’s senior national football team head coach Paulo Bento (R) and under-23 team head coach Kim Hak-bum enter a meeting room at the Korea Football Association (KFA) House in Seoul on Sept. 20, 2018. (Yonhap)