In the center of this miraculous story is South Korean Park Hang-seo (59), head coach of the Vietnamese national football team and the Vietnam national under-23 football team. Park’s huge success came after just three months in his position. The Vietnamese government recognized him with a national badge.
All of sudden he has become an international star, but few know about his Christian faith. According to sports mission circles, Park and his wife Choi Sang-ah have lived a life of prayer together.
“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) is their favorite Bible verse. Park and Choi do their best to allot time for prayer, and have asked God for happiness and peace. They have pride in themselves, not considering what others may think of their situation. It was in this context that Park encouraged the Vietnamese players, “Raise your heads up!” when they were sad after losing the AFC U-23 final game.
The decision to go to Vietnam was also the result of the couple’s shared prayer. In a telephone interview with Kukmin Daily on February 4, Park said, “I was getting old, and no one hired me anymore. It was then that Vietnam gave me the opportunity. I was really grateful, and I worked and ran harder to coach the Vietnamese players.”
Park said that his four years as assistant to head coach Guus Hiddink, the manager of the Korean national soccer team for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan, greatly influenced him. “In my 40-year soccer life, now is the greatest time, and I feel worthwhile. Games continue. As with Korea, in order for soccer to regain its popularity, children and youth soccer needs development. I hope more corporations and churches will cheer for young soccer players.”
Rev. Lee Young-mu (former manager of Goyang Hi FC), who spent years with Park as a fellow soccer player, said, “As a soccer player, his faith was sincere. As a coach, he’s really strong and competitive. When he was passing through hard times, he depended on God. He’s truly a person of God.”
In Vietnam, Park attends church regularly. When he wakes up in the morning, he prays not to lose his original intention and heart. Now he is focusing on how to share what he has received from God. “My hope is to do good work with a soccer ball in one hand and the cross in the other.” His voice was full of energy.
Reporter Yeong Dae Yoo (ydyoo@kmib.co.kr)
Photo from Kukmin Daily DB
Original Article in Korean:
[미션&피플] 특유의 지도력 발휘 ‘베트남 축구 영웅’ 된 박항서 감독:부족함을 기도로 채운 진정한 主의 사람
