About 20 youngsters of the youth soccer team from East Timor came to Yeoju Headquarters Temple Complex on Nov. 11, 2006. They were guided to dojang facilities such as Yeongdae, Tower of Cheonggey, Simwudo by Director of Planning and Management, Seongam Baek Seung-Yeon and given a brief introduction on the way to Sinchuk Hall, a newly-built fellowship hall.

Seongam Baek greeted Kim Shin-Hwan, director of the team and handed over soccer uniforms and balls to the players. They brought towels for a return present. The luncheon was held in Sinchuk Hall. The youth team and Daesoonjinrihoe agreed to keep in touch for consistent exchanges.

In fact, these young players came to Korea to take part in "2006 MBC International Youth Soccer Competition" held in Namhae from Nov. 3 to 7. The seven teams from six countries participated in the competition. The 1st place went to the Brazilian Rio team followed by the Korean team of the Elementary Federation. The Spanish Snatanter and the German Brehmen team tied for the 3rd place. Unfortunately, the East Timorese team could not make it to the finals.

Director Kim Shin-Hwan, who has been leading the youth team since April, 2003,  has produced a remarkable accomplishment breaking through obstacles like the civil war and other political, economic difficulties that a newborn country might have faced upon, yet, under his leadership, the team was able to win the international soccer competition held in Hiroshima, Japan in 2004 and 2005 consecutively. Director Kim has given a hope through soccer to the East Timorese who had fallen into despair due to the long lasting war.

Pic. taken with the East Timorese Youth Team on Nov. 11, 2006
Seongam Baek Seung-Yeon, second from the right, Director Kim, third.