Football technical director apologizes for nat'l team performance

SEOUL, Oct. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's football technical director Kim Ho-gon on Sunday apologized for the national team's disappointing performance in recent weeks. Kim, who leads the Korea Football Association (KFA)'s technical committee, returned home with national team head coach Shin Tae-yong following their business trip in Europe. South Korea had two friendly matches with Russia in Moscow and Morocco in Switzerland earlier this month. The KFA also had to interview foreign assistant and fitness coach candidates for the national team in Germany and inspect national team's potential training base at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. South Korea qualified for the upcoming World Cup, but have yet to collect a win in their last six matches. Under head coach Shin, who took over team in July after Uli Stielike's ouster, the national team has been winless in four matches, marking two draws and two losses. Kim said he first feels sorry for fans, but also asked for their support and understanding. "I want to apologize for the national team's underachieving performance, and I'm ready to accept any criticism," Kim said at the KFA House in Seoul. "But one team's football doesn't change in a day. Now we're in the process of making a team for the World Cup and it's important that we find our shortcomings and problems through this ordeal." Kim, who is also a KFA Vice President, said the Taeguk Warriors will display their real strength in March next year, when Shin builds up his team through friendlies and training sessions. The 66-year-old, who had led South Korea at the 2000 Summer Olympics, said the player need more support from fans. "It's reasonable to take criticism when we play bad, but it's about time to change the national team atmosphere," he said. "The national team lacks confidence these days, and to overcome this crisis, I hope fans can boost the players' energy by supporting them." Following a series of uninspiring performance, some angry football fans here have been urging Kim's resign, while demanding Guus Hiddink, who led South Korea to the 2002 World Cup semifinals, to replace Shin. Kim, who is the person responsible for hiring Shin, said he will not step down from his position regarding current situation since he still think he has a job to do. "I don't think this national team problem isn't likely to be solved with someone quitting his job," he said. "I know I'm taking a position with responsibility, but I still have lots of things to do and my job is to help the national team prepare well for the World Cup. If I think I'm no use in that process, I will quit, but now is not the time." Kim has been also involved in a petty war of words with Roh Je-ho, secretary-general of the nonprofit Guus Hiddink Foundation in Seoul, who claimed that the KFA and Kim ignored Hiddink's offer to coach the team back in June. Hiddink said in his interview in September that he delivered his intention to the KFA through an unofficial route -- which turned out to be Roh -- before Shin was hired as the new head coach. Kim previously said they haven't heard anything from Hiddink in their process of finding a new national team boss, but changed his words later that he did receive Roh's message regarding the Dutchman's return. Kim then said he was sorry for causing confusion, but he had to downplay Roh's message because it was sent on the mobile chat app Kakao Talk. Roh later claimed he also had a phone talk with Kim, but the KFA executive said he has no memory of doing it. "I'm going to check my phone records by visiting telecommunication service shop tomorrow," he said. "Roh did send a mobile message, but like most of us do, I didn't think it seriously and forgot about it later. I heard Roh visited the KFA building in several occasions, but why didn't he come to my office?" Kim is also accused of not attending a parliamentary audit purposely on Friday, which lawmakers were about to ask questions related with Hiddink. But the former Asian Football Confederation Champions League-winning coach denied such claim, saying he had to serve his job with the national team which was already scheduled before the parliamentary session. Kim said people should get over with the Hiddink issue since it is not helping the national team, while the Dutchman has now given his answer. The KFA and Hiddink recently met in Cannes, France, and the former Chelsea manager said he will help South Korea, but not by taking official position within the national team. "We have a long way to go and we are busy, but it makes me sad that we're talking about this Hiddink issue over and over again," he said. "I've been in the football community for more than 50 years, and I'm having the most difficult hardship in my life. Since we've talked with Hiddink about his contribution and heard from him, this issue needs to be done." kdon@yna.co.kr (END)