Tas trip for Korean boy stars

JULIUS ROSS | July 02, 2011 12.01am

HOBART will welcome an under-12 representative side from the Korean Youth Football Association today which will compete in a tournament against state, club and representative youth sides next week.

The Korean contingent will consist of 19 youth players and three officials, including the Youth Federation's vice-president Young Kyun Kim.

The tour has been organised through local club Derwent United whose South Korean coach Hyo Suk Jin has connections with the Korean federation.

The tour has been praised by Football Federation Tasmania which will field an under-13 state team and a southern regional representative team in a mini-tournament with Derwent United against the Koreans.

"It will be a tremendous week of football that will feature some of our best talent on display," FFT chief executive John Boulous said.

"Football is the world game and a tour such as this brings cultures together and is a wonderful experience for all children and their families involved in the week.

"Derwent United should be congratulated for their part in making this happen and I would like to acknowledge the tremendous support we have received from Brighton City Council and the Korean community in Hobart."

The Brighton council will host a welcoming ceremony today for the squad who will be billeted by members of the Derwent United under-13 team.

Derwent United's Ron Cure is also excited by the prospect of working alongside the high-calibre Korean team.

"Our players are looking forward to hosting the players from Korea for the week and having opportunity to both train and play against the squad," Cure said.

Derwent United will hold a training session tomorrow, followed by a game at 2pm at Wylie Park, Bridgewater.

Further games are scheduled on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 3.30pm and 5pm next week at KGV Park.
http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/07/02/242411_soccer.html