Thursday was a holiday in Finland - called Hellatorstai, which is the equivalent of the Pentacost, the day the disciples of Jesus are supposed to have spoken in tongues.
When Christian, my good friend from Espoo / Helsinki, called me and said he was coming to Oulu, and that he was going to watch a game between his club, Atlantis from Helsinki and TP-47, the club from Tornio in north Finland, I said I would go along with him.
He arrived by train at 15:15. We had lunch at Goreme, so that he could have a few words with owner Hasim, who is now the largest shareholder of the AC Oulu, Oulu's football team which is presently topping the FirstDivision.
Then we drove the 132 kilometres to Tornio, only to discover that the game had been shifted across the border to Haaparanta, in Sweden.
No hassle, as the field was just 3 minutes into Sweden!
The snow was still on the ground showing that even in mid May, we still have a winter /spring situation in these northern latitudes.
It was one of the worst games of football that I have witnessed in a long time. Two First Division sides were playing as if most of the players were kicking the football for the first time in their lives. One team was worse than the other.
On the Atlantis side there were four players which showed some skill and speed, but they were unsupported by their other team members. What was surprising was that Janne Arolinna, who was doing a good job on the right, even though he had no support from the midfield, was taken off. Kerry Skepple played a good game till he was injured, but again he had no support.
There were spectacular saves by the Atlantis goal keeper, who will certainly do well if he keeps up this form.
The first kick at the goal by the Atlantis side was after 56 minutes!
About 10 minutes from the end the Atlantis coach brought on a Dutch player, Jasper Velentijn.
That changed the complexion of the game as this lanky youngster was everywhere. Suddenly Atlantis looked dangerous.
It was a goal mouth melee which resulted in the only goal of the match for Atlantis after 88 minutes.
No kudos to the goal scorer, Timo Aaltonen, as he played a poor game throughout the 93 minutes.
What can be said about the Atlantis side is that it consisted of 7 players who had been playing in Division 2. They played like Division 5 players with no idea of strategy or no idea of team work. Each time they touched the ball it was more danger for the Atlantis defence. It is obvious that the Atlantis Coach, who must have coached that Division 2 side, thought he could make a Division 1 team out of his previous club players. In that he is sadly mistaken as those players have no talent!
Coaches have been fired for less. I think both these coaches should go back to coaching kids!
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