Nordic Football News

In: Jukka-Pekka Tuomanen, Christian Sund, Kim Hyun Kwan, Toni Koskela (until the end of June)

Out: Babatunde Wusu, Juha Veijonen, Marko Kivilä, Ady

Coach: Ville Priha

Claimed playing budget: €470,000

Egan says: The newly promoted Jyväskylä side have kept faith with the squad that won Ykkönen in 2008, by and large. Babatunde Wusu will be missed for his goals, after scoring 35 in 45 games since signing for the club, but Christian Sund and Mika Lahtinen have both been tipped for greatness earlier in their career and deserve the chance to show what they can do in the top flight. The club’s superb support and careful management have given them a chance of avoiding relegation.

Juha says: The anticipated promotion finally took place last fall and it looks like JJK could well stay up. They are pretty much an Ykkönen team, but the great team spirit that promoted teams usually have in the spring and good, solid Veikkausliiga performers such as Tuomanen, Sund and Koskela will bring a touch of professionalism. The first few games will be important. Stealing points from opponents such as MyPa, RoPS and KuPS in the first rounds would largely boost the confidence at JJK.

Fan’s view: Our JJK fan is Tomi Auvinen.

1. Realistically, how will your team do?

JJK will fight to stay in the league. It’s possible if the South Korean forward Ik Kyung Nam really is the man to replace Babatunde Wusu.

2. Which teams did you like and dislike most last season?

I have to say I liked FC Lahti and the reason is, of course, Jari Litmanen. Amazing comeback! FC KooTeePee showed that they didn’t belong in the league. The club is plastic and the emblem looks childish!

3. What was the best moment of last season?

The decisive game where JJK won promotion to Veikkausliiga. Boy, I was happy!

4. What was the worst moment of last season?

After last season, Babatunde Wusu signed a contract with TPS. “Tunde” was a key player to JJK.

5. If your club wasn’t in the football business what other business would it be in?

JJK would be a small zoo which would have a couple of cool animals, but sometimes someone would screw everything up, maybe the guard would leave the cage doors open…

6. Who will win Veikkausliiga and who will go down? (Just the names will do)

FC Honka wins the league. KuPS will be relegated and I won’t miss them!