KOC opposes Eninho push for naturalization

Brazilian Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors player Enio Oliveira Jr. has stormed the media here after the national team coach pushed for the midfielder’s naturalization, which would enable him to play for the national team.

However, the Korean Olympic Committee, which makes an advisory judgment on the issue, has decided not to recommend special naturalization for the Brazilian player widely known here as “Eninho.”

“We really spent a long time looking at the issue, and what we found is that there are numerous factors that we have to consider,” said one KOC legal department official who declined to be named.

According to the official, the two biggest factors were the timing of the request by national team coach Choi Kang-hee, and Eninho’s knowledge and understanding of Korean culture.

“Eninho actually qualified to sit for the regular naturalization test, and if he had the desire to be naturalized, they should have prepared much earlier,” said the official.

The official pointed to the fact that Eninho has been playing in Korea since 2007 and meets the 5-year qualification for naturalization.

In a statement released by the KOC on Wednesday, their decision was based also partly on Eninho’s understanding of Korean as well as his position on the team.

Choi had initially reported that Eninho was essential to the national team as a winger. However, the KOC said there were several Korean options, such as Lee Chung-yong.

The official also mentioned other factors as well, including the position of the K-League on the matter.

According to the KOC official, while the K-League was in favor of the special naturalization, they did voice concerns about the effect the 30-year-old would have on other clubs.

He explained that once the Brazilian was naturalized, Jeonbuk would be the only team in the K-League with five players of foreign descent, which would have a huge impact on the other clubs and the league overall. Currently, each club is allowed four foreign players.

However, the official did add that the KOC’s decision was simply a recommendation for the Ministry of Justice and it was difficult to say how much weight its decision has on the overall process.

Special naturalization was created to attract international talent to Korea and is given to those deemed as a “talented person with ample potential to contribute to the nation’s development.”

Those granted special naturalization are awarded dual citizenship, regardless of the previous amount of time spent in Korea or their knowledge and understanding of the language and its culture.

Eninho played for Daegu FC from 2007 to 2008 and has been playing with Jeonbuk since 2009.

By Robert Lee (robert@heraldcorp.com)