SEOUL. May 4: South Korea s prolessional soccer league kicks oil tills week with a lol more at stake than the national championship, reports Reuter.

With only one year to go before world soccer’s ruling body FIFA decides who will host the 2002 World Cup finals. officials want to show off South Korean football at its best, both on and off the field.

South Korea are stepping up their campaign to secure the World Cup and hope this year's league competition, which starts on Saturday with the first rounds of matches between the nation s eight professional sides, will be a showcase.

Enthusiasm among fans at the moment is al its "height since South Korea are eager to host tlie World Cup.” said Kim Jung-Nam. an official at the Pro Soccer League Association.

He saal ilxy were hoping to autact atxMil 12 million fans this season up from last year s 260.000 to watch Ihlwa Chunma -- the heavenly horses — deleiui their national title

South Korea say they are tlie best qualified Asian nation to host the World Cup. having made it to the finals four times, including in the United States last year

They are also untainted by the scandals which have convulsed the sport in Southeast Asia Several Malaysian and

Singaporean players are under arrest on matcli-riggiiig charges.

FIFA has indicated the tournament will be held in Asia in 2002 and it is a straight, increasingly bitter, fighi between South Korea and neighbouring

South Korea maintain their track record of World Cup appearances. compared with Japan s failure ever to make it past the qualifying rounds, makes them the leading contender.

FIFA will announce the winner of the bid In June 1996

Professional soccer was bom in South Korea on May 8. 1983 when two professional clubs, the Yukong Elephants and Hallelujah. Joined forces with three fop amateur teams to form the Super League

In 1987 the league was Um lied to professional teams.

Football has been a favourite sport among South Koreans for decades Women also get In on the act - a national team com pelcd al (he Beijing Asian Games in 1990.

Unlike Japans heavily sponsored and cash rich J-League. South Korea depend almost completely on local talent to play In their professional teams.

But foreigners have started to make their mark and 20 players from overseas will kick off this season

There is also a mounting foreign influence on the sidelines — Russia s Anatoli Bychovets arrived in South Korea in 1994 to coach the national team

Last year another Russian. Valery Nepomniaschy. was appointed head coach for Yukong.

While Justifiably proud of the home-grown talent, fans now feel that South Korea need to spend more money to lure top-class players from abroad, which would raise the standards of competition across the board.

"They have well-known players in Japan. They may be more expensive, but in the long run it’s a good Investment for the sport." said Cho Young, an avid soccer fan.