Exclusive Interview: The Curious Case of Karel De Smet: Daejeon Citizen
The curious case of Karel De Smet.
Even those who cast a particularly keen eye on all things K
League may be excused for not knowing too much about Karel De Smet - certainly,
those outside of Chungcheon province.
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Photo Credit: DCFC.co.kr |
Experienced Belgian centre back De Smet
arrived on the Korean peninsula in the winter of 2012 but his career in the
land of the morning calm was practically over before it had even begun.
During the winter break between the 2012 and 2013 seasons,
Daejeon looked to strengthen their squad by bringing in a like-for-like
replacement for the popular striker Kevin Oris whose departure to Jeonbuk was
imminent.
But it wasn’t just another striker that was on Daejeon’s
shopping list as De Smet
explains: “As Kevin Oris did well for Daejeon, and the club were anticipating
his move, they were looking for a Kevin-type of player in the Belgian
competition.
“Kevin's
agent was also contacted for 'more good' players. It was indeed Kevin that
recommended me.
“I had
played against Kevin for I don’t know how many times and we played
together before he left to Daejeon in January 2012.
"I actually succeeded him as
team captain of Royal Antwerp FC after he left”, added De Smet.
It is easy to see why Oris recommended De Smet as the Ghent-born
veteran boasted of an impressive resume having captained Royal Antwerp and
accumulated over 400 career appearances.
Thus, the addition of De Smet was heralded as an excellent
signing and exactly what Daejeon needed – an experienced and cultured defender
who could organise from the back.
However, quite why De Smet was never able to properly don
the colours of Daejeon Citizen has remained somewhat of a mystery ever since.
Some sections of the Daejeon support were under the
impression that internal politics primarily caused by Daejeon’s change of
manager was at the crux of De Smet’s non-starting
career south of the 38th parallel.
Former manager Yoo Sang-chul had overseen the arrival of De
Smet but neither Daejeon nor Coach Yoo could come to an agreement on a new
contract and so he left to coach Ulsan University.
In came Kim In-wan, former assistant manager at Busan IPark,
who wanted to build his own team with his own signings.
But, if
there was any friction from the incoming manager, it certainly wasn’t
noticeable: “I did not even know up till that there was a departure of the
former coach, but it is possible that he agreed with the scouts for my move and
then they brought in the new players.”
Although determined to prove himself to his new manager and teammates, De Smet admits that sometimes football wasn’t at the forefront of his mind: “The start was difficult because I was not yet thinking football from day one, but thinking about lots of other things; how to cope with the new life, the Korean style of training, the intensity, trying to find the balance between focus on football and my family - for example school for the children.
Although determined to prove himself to his new manager and teammates, De Smet admits that sometimes football wasn’t at the forefront of his mind: “The start was difficult because I was not yet thinking football from day one, but thinking about lots of other things; how to cope with the new life, the Korean style of training, the intensity, trying to find the balance between focus on football and my family - for example school for the children.
"My mind was never at rest and my body had to
adapt to hard and long training camps.”
It was
around this time that De Smet’s injury problems began: “I started feeling physical
pains and they only got worse at the last training camp at Namhae.
"I
decided to stop trying to train and play through the pain caused by
inflammation. Just one week before the opening game against Jeonbuk and Kevin -
that was a big disappointment.
“The injury was triggered by more than one thing; my age and previous injuries that in some way cause a dis-balance in the body, training methods and the emotional dis-balance in my life at that moment.
"I always said afterwards that
I should have been able to make a move like this being single and young. It
would have made a huge difference.”
De Smet’s
move to Korea came somewhat out of the blue, he explains: “The move came as a
surprise to me, because I did not know they [Daejeon] were also thinking about
a defender.
"They were doubtful about the contract of a Brazilian defender
at that time so the Daejeon scouts came to a game in which me and the striker
that my agent recommended played in against each other.
“We both
impressed the scouts - this was beginning of December 2012 - and Kevin's [Oris]
agent proposed we should work together. For me this looked like an opportunity,
this could be a life altering experience in many ways.
“In the end
the striker, at that time 24 years of age, did not want to leave Belgium,
because he also had lots of interest from teams in Belgium, and he thought this
was too early in his career.
"The striker’s name is actually Laurent Depoitre, now playing now for KAA Gent and was voted player of
the year by the fans of the last season champion in Belgium.
“After a
good long talk we, me and my wife to-be, decided to take the chance and make
the move with our kids being in kindergarten still. A lot was settled on short
notice, as was the contract.
“I flew to
Korea the 28th of December 2012 together with my agent, had the physical tests
and signed the same day. I had more X-rays in one day than I ever had in
Belgium!
“I flew back
to Belgium on the 30th, so I could have New Year’s Evening together with my
family then 10 days later I left to join the team at the training camp on Jeju
Island.”
Once
arriving, De Smet recalls his settling in period. A spell which proved to be
somewhat trying for the former Vigor Wuitens Hamme man: “I never had a great
settling in period, but I think that's quite difficult, so I understood.
“There were
a lot of players, and the culture does not make them understanding and patient as
I know it took Kevin also quite some time to cope with circumstances but
scoring goals settled him after a couple of months.
“I never really felt much appreciation from the
head coach but I understand this, because respect is what I have to earn and I
never got to play my best level and I was under-performing at the time.
“But, the players
were nice and they treated me with respect.
"Some of them were really making
efforts to talk and joke but it still was difficult.
“I had a good relationship with
Joao Paolo and Yuta Baba who were my roomies on training camp and at the
clubhouse so my Portuguese improved, still far easier then Korean!
"Also youngster Jeong Yeon-woong who has spent the last year and a half in
Germany at FC Kassel, he has contacted me sometimes for contacts and maybe a
club in Belgium but him being a non-European I couldn't do a lot for him.
“Also, luckily,
there was my translator Hyun-soo, from who I got a lot of help with settling in
and arranging thousands of things.
"And
there was the first team coach, Michael Kim, who’s still there and who I also
appreciated very much.
"He was one of the few guys I could really talk about the
hard time being injured and me wanting to play and perform well for the club.”
Still
undeterred, De Smet went about his rehabilitation: “My rehabilitation was quite
difficult as the injury was an inflammation of the pubis and abs.
“There was
not a lot I could do except for weight training of the upper body and cycling
exercises. I would do 3 to 4 hours a day of rehab and gained 6 kg of muscles in
3 months.”
He continued: “I got to see a lot of hospitals and doctors. Needles and cryotherapy turned into a daily routine for 3 months.
"At 8 AM to the hospital
for cryotherapy then 9 AM to another hospital for exercises, then off to the
club for more exercises at 10 AM and sometimes treatment, back to home 12:30 PM
rest and more training 2:30 PM.
Despite De
Smet’s hard work in order to get himself back to fitness, the medical team at
the club appeared somewhat indifferent to their resident Belgian: “I just went
up to the medical staff every day to show my face and take my weight.
"A lot of
days they didn't ask me what I was doing, so I kept repeating the exercises I
knew and those they gave me the occasional 2 or 3 times.
“They were
disappointed and I don't think they were patient and understanding. What I
needed was a long rest for my injury to heal, time that I didn't have, so I
forced exercises and didn't heal at all.
“There was
no good rehabilitation, because they didn't have the time, competition had
already started and the trainer didn't quite believe in me either.
"After two months
they took me to Seoul to a specialist doctor who said I needed to have an
operation.
But, despite what may seem like
progress, De Smet feared the worst: “I didn't hear anything for two weeks. No
date for surgery was suggested.
"I already felt at that time what was going
to happen, my possible release.”
In May 2013, after failing to make a single competitive
appearance for Citizen, De Smet’s contract was paid up and he returned to his
native Belgium: “I think
what mainly lead to my release was my wage and the fact that I wouldn't play
that season if I had surgery.
"It was the Korean agent - with who my agent
worked together for the deal - that suggested the release in April.”
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De Smet says his farewells to Daejeon supporters |
Despite what
some might consider a lack of patience on the club’s part, De Smet understood
their view point: “I don't know if there was some politics behind the scenes,
but seen from their point of view, they made a financial decision.
"I had done
the homework with my wife - what would be the best in everybody's interest;
kids’ school, us, family, my recovery, and we made a compromise with club.”
De Smet still keeps a close eye on Daejeon’s
results and could not help but offer his disappointment at the club’s current
plight: “I do still follow the results, and Kevin's [Incheon United], and was
happy they got promoted again, but it’s a pity they are back in last position.”
His interest
in Korea doesn’t just halt at the fortunes of his former club, however, as De
Smet admits that he took a great deal of positives out of the experience: “I
hope one day soon, I can visit back there and meet up with some people.
"Although I did not succeed in football over
there, this experience next to football brought me something extra in life.
“It is an
interesting culture which I felt closely related to as I value respect for
elders and discipline. I enjoyed the stay with my family and got to see a
beautiful country with nice people and interesting habits.”
Despite such bad luck, De Smet looks back on his time
in the land of the morning calm somewhat philosophically: “It's been approximately two years now since I left
Korea.
"A lot has happened since, but I still reflect a lot on the time I had
there - on the chance I had been given and the chances that were missed.
“There are
always two things when I think about Korea. On the one hand you have the family
moving and living abroad part.
"The other part was the football story, me
trying to adapt and succeed in football.”
Since
returning to his native Belgium, De Smet began his long road to recovery: “Since
I returned I had to take one year off with no sports at all.
"The doctors here
advised me not to have surgery but just have a good rest.
“In November 2013 I started working
for ING Bank in Belgium then in July 2014 I joined a low league amateur team
and played consistently without pain.
"We became champions with great
stats winning 27games drawing 3 scoring 110 goals and conceding only 10.
"I
enjoy playing again without injury and have fully recovered!”
De Smet never got to properly wear the colours of Daejeon Citizen but he has still got some with him back in Belgium: “I got to keep and receive
eight sets of match shirts and shorts when I left.
"I gave some of them to
people who were fans but I've got two shirts left.
"I couldn't take all of the
training-gear but most of it I took with me.
"I still use it to go to training!”
We would like to thank Karel for this exclusive interview and wish him
all the very best.
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