KuPS - The Rocky Road To Glory

July Update

It was a perfect month for us, winning every single game and conceding just one goal (sub goalkeeper started).



3-0 Win vs FC Lahti (H) League, 1.7.12.
Fredrk Karlsson 16'
Fredrik Svanback 46'
Jussi Lansitalo 71'
Paul Obiefule (8.2)
Ilja Venalainen 12'

Heighway - "We were very strong at the back today which allowed us to foucs on attacking and we managed to get three goal. Unfortunately Ilja picked up a slight injury but he should be okay for the game against Haka."


3-0 Win vs Haka (A) League, 8.7.12.
Ilja Venalainen 36'
Ole Kristian Salnaes 48'
Shefki Kuqi 63'
Fredrik Svanback (7.6)

Heighway - "We are on top form at the moment and with a game against HJK and the Champions League qualifiers coming up, that is a very good thing. Kuqi got his first goal on his debut as a substitute. He is a wonderful player and really adds to the team."


3-1 Win vs HJK (A) League, 15.7.12.
Raymond Fafiani 5' (Goal of the Episode)
Akseli Pelvas 17'
Antti Hynynen 22'
Ilja Venalainen 41'
Raymond Fafiani (8.3)

Heighway - "We really did run riot here. Raymond was brilliant again and has been outstanding since he joined the club this month. Maachin is still injured, unfortunately, and will only be able to play in a month or so. We have the qualifier up next and we want to win the home leg."


3-0 Win vs Metalurgs (H) CL Champions Qual Rnd 2 Leg 1, 18.7.12.
Miika Ilo 16'
Shefki Kuqi 78'
Jonas Emet 85'
Miika Ilo (8.1)

Heighway - "We were brilliant. The atmosphere and the desire of the players really shone today."


1-0 Win vs Jaro (H) League, 22.7.12.
Etchu Tabe 16'
Etchu Tabe (8.0)

Heighway - No Comment


3-0 Win vs Metalurgs (A) CL Champions Qual Rnd 2 Leg 2, 25.7.12.
Raymond Fafiani 9'
Antti Hynynen 13'
Paul Obiefule 45+1'
Stefan Strandberg (8.0)

Heighway - "We were very good again. I think that everybody was expecting a tight encounter but we strolled to victory. We showed our class by scoring three goals home and away. stefan was brilliant again. I really want to sign him permanently because he is such a great player."


1-0 Win vs MYPA (A) League, 28.7.12.
Antti Koskinen 14'
Etchu Tabe (7.5)
Raymond Fafiani 54'

Heighway - No comment



League Table




Player Stats




Manager of the Month




Fixtures

KuPS Confirm Joronen Signing

Jesse Joronen (GK)
Free Transfer - Fulham

No Picture Available

A young 'keeper with great talent.


CA:
PA:




Loaned him out to PS-Kemi for the remainder of the season.

That is that. Here is the Goal of the Episode and stay tuned for the August update.

This is a great story! Finland is so different! I like your Goal of the Episode thing as well!

2012-09-16 18:31#66061 jamstoe : This is a great story! Finland is so different! I like your Goal of the Episode thing as well!

Thank you! I am just trying to make this story as unique as possible. And being from Kuopio myself, there is personal interest in the club.

Spoiler

teams looking pretty good so far m8 , good luck against basel .. good wee read

Cool to see a story from Finland. Must be the only one on this site! Your results are very good as well :-)

2012-09-16 19:40#66076 MarkKolatowicz12 : teams looking pretty good so far m8 , good luck against basel .. good wee read

Thanks. I will need all the luck I can get but no matter how we do, we have gauranteed a place in either the Champions League or Europa League group stages

2012-09-16 19:41#66077 Henna96 : Cool to see a story from Finland. Must be the only one on this site! Your results are very good as well :-)

Thanks! With your story it is nice to know that I'm not the only one with a Scandinavian story. You could say we are almost family in some ways.

Thanks! With your story it is nice to know that I'm not the only one with a Scandinavian story. You could say we are almost family in some ways.

Agreed! A little competition on who will be the most successive Scandinavian team in Europe :-)

BREAKING NEWS!

Stefan Strandberg has completed a permanent move to Kuopion Palloseura in a deal which will keep him there until December 2017. The fee was a reported £85000 and he is reported to be on a wage of £1800. A close source says that he is happy to sign for KuPS on a permanent basis, especially with Nick Heighway in charge. - SKY SPORTS FINLAND

Injury News 17.8.12.

Raymond Fafiani will be out for five weeks with a twisted ankle that was received in training. This does unfortunately mean that he will miss the games against FC Basel.

Been reading this for a while, keep up the good work!

2012-09-18 17:55#66222 manchesterblue97 : Been reading this for a while, keep up the good work!

Thank you. I hope you will continue reading.

KuPS One Step Away From Europe's Elite Competition

SKY Reporter - "Congratulations on your victory here today. How do you feel about your teams performance?"

Heighway - "Thanks. I felt that we played very well and the scoreline reflects that. The players had confidence in themselves to perform at the top of their game and they also showed great passion and great commitment to win every tackle, to get on the end of every pass and to be first to every header. I really cannot fault the players' work ethic here today."



"Your team, as good as they performed today, were expected to lose heavily but managed to win. Do you think that you can go back home and secure a place in the Champions League?"

"Yes. We know that FC Basel will go all-out in the second leg and we have to be prepared for that. But I firmly believe that the players can and will perform. This club has moved forward in leaps and bounds and we are not stopping here. There is a ladder to be climbed and we are still on the first few rungs."



"We wish you and your team all the best and good luck for the future."

"Thank you very much.

You'll Never Walk Alone Sang During Memorable Night in Finland

SKY Reporter - "What a night we had here at Magnum Areena! Congratulations on the result. How do you feel after this game?"

Heighway - "I am quite simply over-the-moon after that. We predicted FC Basel to come out with all guns blazing and they did exactly that scoring very early. We were fortunate with the red card, the own goal and the penalty but this tie was played over two legs and I felt that we deserved the result over the two legs."



"The crowd's chanting of "You'll Never Walk Alone" can still be heard half an hour after the game. What is your view on the fans and their apparent new song?"

"I don't think that the fans can be credited enough for their support. Unfortunately this stadium only seats 2700 because I believe we could fill it ten times over. The song "You'll Never Walk Alone" is sung by the fans of very passionate clubs. You can see that at Borussia Dortmund, Celtic and especially Liverpool. The song just makes your heart pump with adrenaline, you can feel the hairs on your neck standing up and your back stiffens up due to the power, the passion of the song. I have been a Liverpool fan since when I was a very young child so to have my own team's fans singing it just makes me want to cry. I believe that the marvellous fans of this club deserve to be able to sing such a song."



"One last question. You just recently signed a new contract of an estimated £950 p/w until 2017. Is this a sign of commitment to stay at the club even if a big club comes knocking?"

"Let me answer that with a question of my own. If you found your true love, would you ever let her go? That is how I feel here, I'm engaged to the club. Thank you."