'Right after the Suwon match' the coach who met Ha Jeong-woo left a final remark after praise: "This is just the beginning" [Hwaseong on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

Ha Jeong-woo, who is regarded as a star who will take responsibility for SuwonFC's future, is one of the most watched strikers in K League 2 this season.

Although he is a young striker born in 2005, Ha Jeong-woo's momentum is fierce. He has already scored five goals in 10 league games this year. While his teammate, foreign striker Freejo, leads the K League 2 scoring chart with six goals, Ha Jeong-woo is also leading the team's attack with decisive power comparable to Freejo's. SuwonFC is further bolstering its attacking firepower with another foreign striker, Julian, who has also scored five goals.

Recently, he has been enjoying dreamlike moments. On the 3rd, Ha Jeong-woo scored a brace in a home match against Suwon Samsung. Despite standing at 191cm tall, he used explosive speed to break through the opposing defensive line and then showed calm finishing. Thanks to this, SuwonFC secured a 3-1 victory against their 'rival' Suwon.

The coach was also extremely satisfied. Park Geon-ha (55), SuwonFC's head coach, met Ha Jeong-woo directly after the Suwon match. He did not hold back on praising the brace and offering advice for future growth. Coach Park said on the 9th during the K League 2 Round 11 match against Hwaseong FC: "Ha Jeong-woo played a very important role in the match against Suwon. He performed well enough to earn a thumbs-up, and we discussed that part. Since he is still a young player, more performances will come, and since this is just the beginning, I told him to prepare well."

Ha Jeong-woo's performance continued in the Hwaseong match. SuwonFC struggled throughout the game against Hwaseong's strong pressure and quick transitions, finding themselves on the brink of defeat. Only Ha Jeong-woo kept firing dangerous shots, preventing the team from losing momentum. In the 44th minute of the second half, when the team was trailing 0-1, he laid the foundation for an equalizer with a decisive shot. Near the penalty box, Ha Jeong-woo unleashed a powerful mid-range shot. Although it was saved by Hwaseong goalkeeper Kim Seung-geon, SuwonFC midfielder Jung Seung-bae collided with an opposing defender while attacking again. The referee awarded a penalty kick. Freejo, who stepped up as the kicker, calmly scored. The match ended 1-1.

On this day, Ha Jeong-woo took six shots against the Hwaseong defense. Three of them were on target. After the Hwaseong match, Coach Park Geon-ha praised: "The opponent dropped their line and set up a compact defense. Both our attacking line and Ha Jeong-woo had a hard time. However, it is positive that Ha Jeong-woo's shot led to a penalty kick goal. He must have experienced overcoming a compact defense himself."

However, after the match, Ha Jeong-woo did not hide his disappointment despite his good performance. He reflected: "For a striker, it's all about goals. It was positive that I took shots, but it would have been better if they had led to goals. Many SuwonFC fans came, and I feel regretful because I thought they would have gone home in a good mood if the team had won."

Ha Jeong-woo, who received many congratulatory messages after the Suwon match, also mentioned his conversation with Coach Park Geon-ha. He said: "The coach told me that this is just the beginning. Especially regarding physical battles, since summer is coming soon, he advised me to eat well, rest well, and prepare to maintain my condition."

Continuing, Ha Jeong-woo explained: "I naturally have to accept the coach's words. I also think very sensitively about body management. I am trying to reduce snacks and fast food. Although I have a body type that doesn't gain weight easily and need to eat a lot, those foods are not good for the body, so I am trying to control them as much as possible. Since it is getting hotter, I think I need to manage my body well."

With his stormy performance, the pressure from opposing defenses has intensified. Just looking at the Hwaseong match, many defenders marked Ha Jeong-woo whenever he got the ball. Ha Jeong-woo said: "I think being marked is something I must accept. Overcoming that is my role. Only then can the team win, so I must do better." He added: "There were many chances in this Hwaseong match as well, so I feel regretful."

Ha Jeong-woo's goal for this year is to score double-digit goals. With the solid support of senior teammates like Han Chan-hee, he has built confidence. Ha Jeong-woo said: "(Han) Chan-hee hyung mentioned in a recent interview that I can score 10 goals. Actually, my goal was low, but since Chan-hee hyung brought it up, I am going to change it." He continued: "Even when I make mistakes, the seniors say 'well done.' So, I have become much less intimidated during training. In the past, I would feel lingering regret if I missed a goal chance or made a mistake. But thanks to the seniors, I have gained the strength to move past those feelings."

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*This content was translated by AI.