“You really have a big shoulder”
Hyundai E&C head coach Kang Sung-hyung received a palm baptism ‘ceremony’ from his players after winning the women’s professional volleyball title (1st place in the regular season and the championship match) on the 1st.
The players, who played full sets in the first through third games, forgot their fatigue for the moment and excitedly patted Kang’s back and 스포츠토토사이트 shoulders.
This is why Kang made a painful sound as he rubbed his shoulder after the post-match interview.
“Lee Da-hyun’s hands hurt more than men’s,” Kang said. I told her to be moderate, but at the end, Yang Hyo-jin slapped her,” Kang said.
Still, Kang’s eyes were red with emotion and a smile was on his face.
Kang, who has been in charge of Hyundai E&C since the 2021-2022 season, has won the league twice (2021-2022, 2023-2024) and once (2022-2023) in three seasons, but this is the first time he has won a trophy.
It was a string of bad luck. In the first season, the team’s chances of achieving the “treble” (first place in the regular season, first place in the Cup and championship match) were ruined when spring volleyball was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022-2023, the team finished second in the regular season and lost to Korea Expressway Corporation in the playoffs (PO) after losing star outside hitter Yasmin Bedardt (registered name Yasmin) to injury.
“In my first season, we had a record-breaking winning percentage, but we were unlucky, and last season, we were unlucky with foreign players,” Kang said, adding, “I think it’s more meaningful that we did it in three or four seasons.”
This season’s victory is even more meaningful because it was achieved despite the underdog status.
“It was difficult (to start) because we had a foreign player and an outside hitter bleeding, and I heard a lot of people say, ‘Hyundai E&C is a bit difficult,'” Kang said, adding, “I think we stuck together well. Moma did a good job of keeping me in the game.”
“It’s my third year, but it’s harder,” he laughed about communicating with female players.
“I got a lot of help from my daughter at home. But the players used to laugh at my dad jokes, but now they’re cold,” he said, laughing.