Bochum: Jong Tae-Se not allowed to leave for England

German 2.Bundesliga club VfL Bochum will not release North Korean Jong Tae-Se after there was interest in the striker from ambitious English Championship club Leicester City FC. The Foxes coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has been looking to strengthen his attack, but Bochum have now said they will not release Tae-Se and need him themselves in their quest for promotion.

27 year old Jong Tae-Se (written Chong Tese here in Germany) has had a mixed first season in the German 2.Bundesliga. After joining the Ruhr valley club Tae-Se scored nine goals in the first-leg of the season, while only one more goal after the winter break.

Now going into the new season Tae-Se has internal competition in Bochum in young strikers Mirkan Aydin and Daniel Ginczek.

Jong Tae-Se has impressed one and all in Bochum! The North Korean born and raised in Japan, who has never lived in North Korea, integrated as quickly into the team as rarely happens with foreigners. Tae-Se has been eager to learn German, has picked-up the language quite fast and I myself interviewed him in German during January's Asian Cup in Qatar.

Moenchengladbach retain Bundesliga spot

VfL Borussia Moenchengladbach drew tonight one-all against VfL Bochum at the Ruhrstadion to maintain their spot in the German Bundesliga after a 2-1 aggregate win in the Relegation Playoffs after Gladbach had won their home tie 1-0 at the Borussia Park last Thursday.

The Relegation Playoffs in the German Bundesliga are the most important set of matches in the season, then the team which finishes 16th in the Bundesliga face the team which finished third in the 2.Bundesliga to play out if the teams remain in their respective leagues or gets promoted/relegated. For the clubs being in the Bundesliga means a guaranteed additional revenues of 10 to 20 Million Euros depending on the size of the club.

And the two west derbies over the last six days were action packed and only small differences decided that Moenchengladbach stay in the premier tier, while Bochum remain in 2.Bundesliga. In the first leg Gladbach's Igor de Camargo had scored the winner late in injury time.

It meant Bochum had to score at least once to take the match into extra-time. Bochum seemed up to the task then after an initial period of a wait and watch they took charge of the game. After a mistake in midfield by Gladbach's Martin Stranzl a Christoph Dambrowski ball was put into his own goal by Norwegian Havard Nordtveit in the 24th minute. Bochum had more of the game, but not the chances to double the lead.

After the break Gladbach did more for their attack and they were rewarded with a 72nd minute equaliser from Marco Reus off a Igor de Camargo through ball. Bochum now needed two goals to gain promotion, but the Ruhr valley side lost their composure and became hectic in their approach with no real chance to get another goal towards the end of the game.

After the final whistle it was party time for Gladbach - the players, management and fans. And it marked one of the most remarkable comebacks in German football, then Gladbach had spend most of the season in last or the relegation zone and survived due to an excellent late rally in the season.

North Korean Tae-Se impresses in Germany

Do you remember the North Korean player who was weeping when the countries national anthem was being played at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa? That was Jong Tae-Se and after the World Cup he signed a two year contract with German second division Bundesliga club VfL Bochum.

Now striker Jong Tae-Se (written Chong Tese here in Germany) impressed last night in the first 2.Bundesliga league match for his new club against 1860 Munich. Tae-Se, nicknamed the Asian Rooney, scored two goals for his club in their 3-2 victory.

And both goals were great to watch. First Tae-Se gave Bochum the 2-1 lead in the 38th minute of a flying header from a Bjoern Kopplin cross. It came as a surprise to many as he beat Munich keeper Gabor Kiraly to the ball. And only seconds into the second half a Milos Maric corner came into the box and Tae-Se headed in to give Bochum a 3-1 lead. And the Bochum fans now have a new crowd favourite in Tae-Se, but he will have to follow-up his strong performance from last night.

Tae-Se has impressed one and all in Bochum so far! The North Korean born and raised in Japan, who has never lived in North Korea, is trying to integrate as quickly as possible and that not only into the team but in general. He has been eager to learn German, has picked-up the language quite fast and even gave a small TV interview post match yesterday in German.