Area Sports Round-Up

Kia Tigers Struggle With Leadership Criticism

Although the Kia Tigers are currently in first place this season, their recent poor performances have led to repeated embarrassment and humiliation. They once led Lotte by 13 runs, only to end up in a 15-15 tie. Against Kiwoom, they set an unwanted record by conceding 10 runs in a single inning. Most notably, on July 31, they allowed an unheard of 30 runs in a single game, which intensified fans’ dissatisfaction with Coach Lee Bum-ho’s lack of coaching experience.

Some are concerned about the excessive criticism. Despite the recent losing streak, the Kia Tigers are still far ahead of second-place LG. Their July record was 15 wins and 7 losses, with a winning percentage of 0.682. In a long season, it’s challenging for any strong team to perform exceptionally well throughout. Overcoming the excessive pressure from fans is also a challenge the Tigers must face. In 2009 and 2017, the team faced similar skepticism but went on to win the championship in both seasons.

The Kia Tigers have recruited a new international left-handed pitcher, Eric Lauer. Lauer has played six seasons in MLB, and in 2022, he started 29 games for the Milwaukee Brewers, delivering an impressive performance with 11 wins and 7 losses, with an ERA of 3.69. The team stated, “Lauer’s strengths lie in his extensive MLB experience and excellent game management skills. Standing at 190 cm, he can throw pitches at a maximum speed of 151 kilometers per hour!”

Starting with the July 6 game between the Tigers and KT Wiz, the Global Gwangju Network (GGN) has been broadcasting the remaining Kia regular season home games in English via radio and YouTube. GGN can be heard in the Gwangju area on 98.7 MHz and in the eastern region, including Yeosu, on 93.7 MHz. Fans can also listen to the broadcasts live from anywhere in the world by visiting the GGN website.

Gwangju FC Faces Second Half Challenges

As the 2024 K League 1 enters its second half, an intense battle for rankings has begun. According to the schedule, teams will play 33 regular matches, followed by playoffs in groups ranked 1st to 6th and 7th to 12th. If they enter Final A, teams can compete for the championship and a spot in the AFC Champions League (ACL) without worrying about relegation.

Compared to other teams, Gwangju FC’s roster lacks depth. Although several players, including Eom Ji-sung, were transferred during the summer window, the team was banned from recruiting new players due to non-compliance with financial stability regulations. While there are concerns that Eom Ji-sung’s departure will weaken the team, they have made significant improvements during the break. Asani, who returned from Euro 2024, has rejoined the team and is leading it.

However, Gwangju FC is a team with limited rotation options. To achieve good results, some key players will have to play more minutes than others, which naturally adds a physical burden. Additionally, the ACL, which starts in mid-September, will inevitably be affected. Despite this being the club’s first appearance in the ACL, Gwangju FC does not intend to finish the tournament with a loss.

Dapic Reinforces AI Peppers’ Roster

The AI Peppers announced that Barbara Dapic, the top pick in the 2024 KOVO international player tryouts, arrived on July 28 and underwent a medical examination with the club. Standing at 191 cm, Barbara has played in several leagues, including Belgium, Italy, Germany, Hungary, and Switzerland, and was part of the Croatian national team that participated in the 2023 Volleyball Nations League.

Speaking about joining the team, Barbara said she would make every effort to contribute through extensive communication with the coaching staff. She was deeply impressed by her teammates, who were very friendly and continuously tried to communicate with her in English despite the language barrier.

Since their debut in the 2021–22 season, the AI Peppers have finished at the bottom of the rankings for three consecutive seasons. The desire to “escape from the bottom” is stronger than ever, and the hope is that Barbara will contribute to that escape.

The Author

Zhang Jiuzhou (Julius) is from Harbin, China. He began writing in 2022 and has contributed to the Chinese media in Gwangju. He concurrently serves at a sports data company. At the same time, he is pursuing a master’s degree in media and communications and is responsible for the Chinese Students Association at Chonnam National University.