KUALA LUMPUR — South Korea’s head coach Min Tae-seok praised his players for maintaining their focus and handling the intense heat to achieve a 1-0 win against South Africa, which earned them a spot in the semi-finals of the Nations Cup.
The team ranked 14th in the world faced tough conditions in the 35°C heat at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil, but managed to secure their second victory in Group A, earning a place in the semifinals.
Speaking to Scoop after the game, Tae-seok admitted that their performance wasn’t at its peak, but he commended his players for their dedication and mental resilience in challenging circumstances.
“I’m not completely satisfied with the match. The players were a bit off the pace and didn’t show their full potential. It was our third match played at 2pm, and that clearly had an impact on their stamina.”
However, Tae-seok also voiced his worries about the tournament’s schedule, mentioning that it has impacted his team’a performance.
“Having played three consecutive games under the afternoon sun, the players were naturally drained. I feel that it had a significant effect on how we managed this game.”
Despite setting modest expectations at the start of the campaign, South Korea has now surpassed their initial target.
“Our initial goal was to progress beyond the group stage. Now that we’ve reached the semi-finals, if our players can recover and regain energy, I believe we can deliver a strong performance and push for a place in the final.
“It was a 1-0 result, so yes, very close,” said Min. “I don’t have any complaints, but I think our players were under a lot of pressure in the midfield. It was physically demanding — a two-hour match in this kind of heat is not easy.
“It was a tough situation, but I’m grateful to the players who didn’t give up. They gave everything they had. Even though they were running low on stamina, they kept pushing. I think that was the best they could do overall,” Tae-seok added.
With a semi-final spot secured, South Korea, as runners-up of Group A, will take on the table-toppers of Group B in the semi-finals on Friday. — June 18, 2025