The Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) 2024 Men’s Challenge Cup is underway in Manama, Bahrain, where the sun is blazing brightly.
Playing in their first official tournament under Ramirez, the Koreans have advanced to the quarterfinals with three straight wins over Pajuk. The players’ determination and enthusiasm is remarkable, especially the eldest brother Cha Young-seok, who is serious but calmly communicates with the younger players, creating a positive atmosphere.
Cha came off the bench on the 2nd against Indonesia, the 3rd against Qatar, and the 7th against Bahrain, scoring an Altoan goal to help the team win. The goals came at crucial times.
It was his first call-up to the A team. It’s a late call-up, so it’s significant. As the oldest brother, 메이저 토토사이트 he also has the intangible responsibility of leading the younger players.
“When I first joined the national team, I felt excited, and I thought, ‘I’m finally going to the national team,’ so I felt really good,” Cha said. “Even though I came as the oldest, I decided to make it as easy as possible for my younger siblings,” he adds.
The eldest brother’s determination has resonated well with the team. “The atmosphere in the team is really good right now. The players say it’s the best they’ve ever had.
“The atmosphere is great, and the players have confidence in their eyes,” says Cha Young-seok. “The atmosphere is good, and all the players have confidence in their eyes,” he smiled.
Cha Young-seok leads the team as captain, while Hwang Taek-ui helps his eldest brother find roles behind the scenes. It’s the ideal form of communication.
In the national team, Cha is being coached by Ramirez. They’ve only been together for a short period of time, but he’s made an impact.
“Coach Ramirez is very passionate about coaching me,” says Cha. He gives us every detail in training and tells us to speak up if we have any disagreements. We have really good communication,” he said.
In the tournament, South Korea defeated Qatar and Bahrain. The team also had a trial in China before the tournament. With six players over 2 meters, Qatar and China were not easy opponents.
“Even though it was an Asian competition, it was different because they were definitely taller teams. They were really tricky to play against, and I’m learning a lot from this tournament,” he said.
Cha made sure to warm up before the game and was ready to go in the warm-up zone. It paid off as soon as he stepped on the court. It was a point that came out of desperation. “It’s special for me because it’s my first national team. I wanted to make a small contribution to the team. The juniors are working so hard, and as the oldest brother, I thought I shouldn’t stand still, so I worked hard,” he said. His eagerness was evident during the interview.
He’s had a tough time lately. He was supposed to be transferred to Hyundai Capital following a trade agreement between Hyundai Capital and OK Financial Group, but it was annulled, and he ended up playing for Hyundai Capital again.
“Actually, I was a little confused at first, but I’m fine now. I’m going to continue to work hard as I always do,” he said.
He is adjusting well to life with the national team. He’s only thinking about the two remaining games before the quarterfinals and the final.
“We have to play well in the remaining matches to win, and I will prepare well. The juniors have also picked up momentum. I’m grateful for the support from many people in Korea and here in Bahrain. I would also like to thank my wife, son and family for always supporting me and tell them that I love them.”
Cha’s sincerity melted on the court, and he was supported by many people.