Tag: Veikkausliiga

In Conversation, Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

In Conversation with… Salim Yussif

Mark Wiltshear

In this episode, Mark W is joined by SJK Seinäjoki defender, Salim Yussif, who talks through his unconventional route to Finland. From a childhood living in a slum in Accra, through teenage years on a football scholarship in the USA, to becoming a regular starter for SJK near the top of the Veikkausliiga. We discuss the challenge of moving countries and making friends, learning how to play Stevie Grieve’s ‘chaos football’ and just what is the ‘Seinäjoki African Community’. Salim’s a young guy with a long future ahead of him and his eye on a Barcelona shirt (if he’s lucky!)

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Helmarit, Huuhkajat, Podcast Show Notes, VeikkausliigaLeave a comment

Is Finland Heading ‘Backe to the Future’?*

Mark Wiltshear

Mark W and Keke again with match reports from Finland’s two away games; a 1-0 friendly defeat to Norway, followed by a 3-1 defeat in the World Cup qualifier against Poland. Keke shares tales from his trip to Chorzów, Poland. They revisit the topic of an early episode* to ask if Finland is regressing under Jacob Friis, back to the performances of the Hans Backe era.

Finally, they discuss a positive week for Finnish referee, Mohammad Al-Emara, who made his elite international debut in the England-Andorra match at Wembley, before an unprecedented(?) post-match Q&A with the fans, after SJK 3-3 HJK 🤯

* See FFS episode #12: Backe sacke & ‘Crack’. Hans Backe Fired. Continue reading Is Finland Heading ‘Backe to the Future’?*

Helmarit, Huuhkajat, Podcast Show Notes, VeikkausliigaLeave a comment

Huuhkajat & U21 Match Previews. Veikkausliiga splits into Champions & Challenger series.

Mark Wiltshear

Mark W and Keke get back together after a long summer break. They give a brief update on the Veikkausliiga* as the league season splits into the Mestaruussarja and Haastajasarja. Who is in the race to win and who is trembling on the relegation trapdoor?

They then focus on upcoming games for the Finland men’s national teams, as the Huuhkajat play Norway in a friendly, before facing Poland away in a World Cup qualifier. The U21s, the Pikkuhuuhkajat, also have two games over the coming weekend, both Euro qualifiers against San Marino (home) and Cyprus (away).

* Look out for our full review of the Veikkausliiga season so far, as we hear from fans reviewing their club’s performances in the runkosarja. Coming soon. Continue reading Huuhkajat & U21 Match Previews. Veikkausliiga splits into Champions & Challenger series.

Helmarit, Huuhkajat, Podcast Show Notes, VeikkausliigaLeave a comment

New Kit For Finland. Helmarit Nations League Match Reports. Huuhkajat World Cup Qualifier Previews. U21 Euros Preview. Veikkausliiga Update.

Mark Wiltshear

Keke hosts again as Producer Mark is ‘otherwise engaged’ feeling poorly. He is joined by Ally and Rasmus to look at a very busy spell for Finnish football, starting with launch of an eye-catching new kit for the Finland National teams 😮‍💨🤌

They looked back at the recent Nations League matches for the Helmarit, who just missed out on promotion from Group B3, but who are heading straight into the Women’s Euro 2025 in Switzerland in July. Next, they preview upcoming Men’s World Cup 2026 Qualifiers with the Huuhkajat facing the Netherlands (Sat 7.6.) and Poland (Tue 10.6.) The international segment finishes with a preview of the under-21 Euro 2025, where Finland’s ‘Pikkuhuuhkajat’ will compete.

They finish the show with a look at (mostly the top of) the Veikkausliiga, considering the recent performances of Ilves, KuPS Kuopio, HJK Helsinki and Inter Turku – being sure to save a few minutes to smirk and chuckle at SJK Seinäjoki’s recent form! When the (SJK supporting) cat is away, the mice will play… Continue reading New Kit For Finland. Helmarit Nations League Match Reports. Huuhkajat World Cup Qualifier Previews. U21 Euros Preview. Veikkausliiga Update.

FFS Awaydays, Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

FFS Awaydays: Travelling To Finland For A Football Fix

Mark Wiltshear

Producer Mark gets together with two football fans from England who both travelled to Finland just to watch football. Well that and to try Finnish food. Yes, really!

Longtime FFS follower, Joe Parr caught Mark’s attention with a shout-out on The Sweeper podcast about his connection to Musan Salama (MuSa), who play in Kakkonen, the Finnish fourt tier. Jonny Hibberd set his sights higher by paying a flying visit to watch KuPS Kuopio in the Veikkausliiga, but it was his mission to to try a local delicacy that first inspired his trip. Continue reading FFS Awaydays: Travelling To Finland For A Football Fix

Podcast Show Notes, VeikkausliigaLeave a comment

Veikkausliiga Update: Final games previewed. KuPS wins the Suomen Cup (again!)

Mark Wiltshear

In this episode, Mark W, Rasmus and Mark H take centre stage to focus on the domestic game. They discuss the recent Suomen Cup final won by KuPS Kuopio (again) and then turn their attention to the closing stages of the Veikkausliiga season – where five of the top six places will be decided on the final game of the season. Several friends of the show also send in updates on their team, so we hear from Jamie (Ilves), Ally (HJK Helsinki), Julian (SJK Seinäjoki) and Farid & Isak (EIF Ekenäs). Continue reading Veikkausliiga Update: Final games previewed. KuPS wins the Suomen Cup (again!)

In Conversation, Podcast Show NotesLeave a comment

In Conversation with… Abdirahman Sugulle: “Is racism a problem in Finnish football?”

Mark Wiltshear

In this episode, the FFS team talk with Finnish referee, Abdirahman Sugulle. This episode was prompted by Abdi’s LinkedIn post in the summer of 2024, a powerful post in which he lashed out at racist abuse aimed at him by a supporter.

We invited Abdi on to discuss this situation, but also his rise through the Finnish refereeing system as a young ref of Somalian heritage, the influence other minority background referees had on him, the problem of racism is Finnish society and football, but also some lighter moments from his time on the pitch.

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In Conversation, Podcast Show Notes, VeikkausliigaLeave a comment

Guest host: Pyry Hannola + interview. Recent news. Veikkausliiga Update, August. Suomen Cup semi-finals. Veikkausliiga transfers.

Mark Wiltshear

In this episode, Mark W and Keke are joined by a guest host, SJK Seinäjoki playmaker, Pyry Hannola. Firstly, they discuss some recent news events from the world of Finnish football. Then they interview Pyry about his career to date, from his transfer to Denmark age 16 to his current role, starring for SJK near the top of the Veikkausliiga.

They are then joined by some of the FFS listeners, who give an update on their team and then get Pyry’s perspective on his Veikkausliiga opponents. They discuss the semi-finals of the Suomen Cup. then finish-up with a few prominant transfers to VL teams and a suggestion that you listen to the new, FFS-adjacent, SJK Seinäjoki fan podcast. Continue reading Guest host: Pyry Hannola + interview. Recent news. Veikkausliiga Update, August. Suomen Cup semi-finals. Veikkausliiga transfers.

In Conversation, Podcast Show Notes1 Comment

In Conversation with… Ashley Coffey

Mark Wiltshear

In this episode, Mark W is joined by AC Oulu hitman, Ashley Coffey, who talks through his unconventional route to the top of the Veikkausliiga scoring charts – kickstarting his professional career, by EMAIL(!), then working as a teacher while playing in the Swedish league, turning pro at Eskilstuna before moving to AC Oulu in Finland, and developing an unusual love/hate relationship with fans of SJK Seinäjoki. It’s an intriguing story that, hopefully, still has a few chapters to run.

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In Conversation, Podcast Show Notes2 Comments

In Conversation with… Ilmari Niskanen

Mark Wiltshear

In this episode, Keke logs in for a one-on-one chat with Ilmari Niskanen a Finland international player who has been a regular in Markku Kanerva’s squads since 2020 and a Veikkausliiga champion back in 2019, with KuPS Kuopio.

“Immi” talks Keke through his career that started at PK-37 before flourishing at KuPS Kuopio. A challenging move to Germany conicided with his call-up to the Finland national team. Then a spell at Dundee United in Scotland, which started well but ended in relegation, bofre Immi moved to Exeter City in the EFL League 1.

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