BECOMING SUPRA

Chapter 15.1: Korea: Chin-Hae

The day Chin-Hae got his braces removed was the day he met his booking agent. Despite the winter storm warning in Seoul, Chin-Hae took a bus to the indoor football stadium to resume his daily practice.

He was half way through his routine, when he noticed the man from the day before sitting on the third tier, chewing on a toothpick, watching his play with keen observation: scissors, flicks, and brooksies.

Hours pf practice passed and Chin-Hae's stomach began to grumble, hunger overwhelming him, he looked at the clock, it was seven pm, he was already late for dinner with his parents.

On his way to the locker rooms, he suddenly heard a voice call out.

"How old are you?"

It was the man from the third tier, still rotating the toothpick in his mouth. It was an abrupt question and without thinking Chin-Hae offered, "Seventeen."

The man handed him a card.

"I'm a scout for the National under 20 Football Team. We are having try-outs early next week. Call me, if you're interested."

Without waiting for a response, the man walked out.

The next day, Chin-Hae called the number, the man gave him the details for the impending tryouts.

A week later, Chin-Hae showed up at the specified time and location. Teams were formed and a warm up game was initiated. A group of men in a plexiglass booth were pointing at the players with laser tags. After a period of discussions, positions were announced, Chin-Hae was chosen to play center-forward.

Selectors and board members sat watching attentively. Chin-Hae noticed the players were highly skilled, he could tell they had spent hours practicing just like him; he could tell they shared the same obsession he did with the game. This was Chin-Hae's one chance, he had to give it his best shot.

Three minutes in, Chin-Hae scored his first goal, by the end of half time, he had scored another four. Chin-Hae fittingly demonstrated his skill-set, he had proved to selectors his mastery was unparalleled and he was satisfied with himself.

It was unanimously decided that Chin-Hae be chosen to join the South Korean National under 20 Football team for the next season. He jumped and screamed in elation, he was beyond thrilled. He bounded up the stairs to share the news with his parents who were waiting in the spectator wings. They were overjoyed, they knew the amount of hard work their son had put into the sport. They knew this meant the world to him. Chin-Hae's accomplishment was celebrated with a dinner in Gangnam with a lot of cheer and jubilation.