United Colours of Japan & Korea: COVID United Japanese, Koreans to Play Soccer as Friends in India
Two distinct Asian nations that harbor many deep-rooted historical differences have set a fine example of friendly relations in India as their nationals play soccer together as friends, not as competitors.
NEW DELHI: Every Sunday, the lush green football ground in the foothills of Aravali mountains about 35 km away from New Delhi buzzes with friendly laughter, jokes, and referee whistles.
Interestingly enough, the India-based business professionals and executives from Japan and South Korea – the two competing Asian nations, these days play soccer together like friends – in a very congenial environment.
Both sides owe it to the COVID-19 pandemic that united them to play soccer together as friends, not as competitors. The football playground where Koreans would play earlier was shut down due to a coronavirus outbreak in March-April, they moved to another one just off the Faridabad Expressway where Japanese players were already playing.
“We used to play soccer in the ground in a school in Sector 46 but that facility was closed due to closure of educational institutions due to COVID-19 spread. We moved to another ground on Faridabad expressway where we met the Japanese players, and we got introduced to each other here,” said Euy Don Park, President, Korean Association in India. Park also plays soccer here.
As players from both sides reduced as many of them returned to their respective countries due to the spread of Corona, they decided to play together to make up for the reduced number.
It’s a never-ever seen phenomenon as both the nations carry century-old trade and political dispute, and therefore, are known to be arch-rivals even though both being the world’s largest economies and giants in technology.
Muki BAE, CEO of a Korean company based in Gurugram says, “Before the outbreak of Corona, we had had over 40 soccer players in the Korean team. The number, however, reduced by almost half to 20 as the rest of them returned to Korea because of the spread of Coronavirus disease in India. Both the sides decided to play together with the mixed formats since then with each side having Japanese and Korean players.”
Muki BAE who himself is an excellent amateur soccer player had found a Korean team of soccer players in India, who essentially are entrepreneurs, management executives, engineers working with various Korean companies based in Delhi and NCR towns.
Interestingly, one of the Korean players flew down from Bangalore to New Delhi this Saturday evening and returned on Sunday evening after playing friendly soccer with their Japanese counterparts.
Tomohiro nicknamed TOMMI who heads a Japanese company in India plays for the Japanese team, says, “COVID-19 has connected us – the Japanese and Koreans.”
The Japanese team of amateur soccer players was formed in India in 2010, and their number too reduced to almost half when the Coronavirus outbreak struck India.
SHUN, a Japanese national working with a Japanese firm in India has been playing soccer in India since 2017. When asked for his reaction to playing soccer with Korean counterparts, he said, “It’s a new experience for us, and we enjoy it too. It’s because of this soccer we now know each other and get friendly. We have been playing mixed formats with each side having players from both the sides – Japanese and Koreans.”
Even SHUN too had returned to Japan after the outbreak of Coronavirus in India and returned in early September. He added, “Though we are concerned about the rising COVID-19 cases in India we have no other option but to carry on with business.”
