– Huh, I’ve been busy all morning! Anni Hartikainen jerks, but arrives at the interview on time, a familiar twinkle in the corner of his eye.
The Finnish defender’s week has been busy, because the previous Saturday the Kuopio Palloseura, which he represents, secured the Finnish championship.
It was a relief for the team, because for the first time the championship was suspended almost a month earlier.
Even after that, the people from Kuopio had a chance to settle the game on their home field, but PK-35 Vantaa stretched to a draw. Disappointment was visible on the players’ faces.
The decision threatened to stretch all the way to the final round, but in the end it was settled before the round on the away field in Espoo.
The party stretched into the morning and night.
– The bus broke down and for two hours we stood somewhere in the halls of Mäntsälä. We weren’t home until four o’clock, but it quickly changed when we had karaoke tricks with us!
The bus party was just the beginning. The real party started only after the final round of the National League and lasted for several days. Props were needed for them, which Hartikainen took care of together with the team captain Gentjana Rochin with.
– We are usually the conductors of the parties. Gentja is the kind of person who likes to create an atmosphere, just like me, Hartikainen admits.
Like Roch, Hartikainen also knows how to score goals and occasionally heat up emotions.
In the final of the Finnish Cup, he angered some of the spectators when he fanned his goal with his finger in front of his mouth.
That’s not what we’re used to on Finnish courts, at least in women’s games.
But Hartikainen is a refreshing exception.
From idols to teammates
Hartikainen grew up as a football player in Kuopio. She discovered football at the age of 6, when her father enrolled his daughter in a football school.
– I was driving there alone, and I didn’t feed anyone. Every time we played, the directors just shouted, try to take the ball away from that Ann. I always scored alone, Hartikainen laughs.
During Hartikainen’s childhood, Pallokissat and Kuopio Mimmifutis KMF were responsible for women’s football in Kuopio. Hartikainen’s path led right from the start to the girls’ team.
– I’m so young that back then there were already quite a lot of girls’ teams everywhere. I remember playing with my parents for a long time.
Prototypes were also found on and near women. As a child, Hartikainen used to go to all Ballokitsas matches.
– I admired No Berg and Paula Auvis. I bought Auvinen’s jersey and it has the autographs of all the players of that team, for example from the current KuPS Given (Anni-Maija) The storewhich I got sometime when I was 7 years old.
That’s why Hartikainen wants to give back to current juniors as well. The previous evening, he has visited the training of 14-year-old girls, and there is always time for the juniors even after the matches.
He answers all messages sent by Juniors on social media and is happy to help with school presentations, for example.
– They often send a message that you are my favorite player, what have you done when you got there, Hartikainen says.
So what does he answer?
– You just have to train hard and believe in it!
Ballokissat merged with KuPS at the end of 2018. At the same time, the women’s representative team got under the same limited company as the men.
Hartikainen was only 15 years old when the change happened.
– I’m lucky to have been born in a place where women have the best team in Finland, good conditions, good coaching and have started investing among the first. I’ve been able to grow up and spend my first league years in my hometown, and I haven’t had to go anywhere. I’m really grateful for that.
A perfect season
In her debut season in the main series, Hartikainen logged only ten minutes due to an ACL injury that is sadly familiar to female players.
– It was my first injury ever. I didn’t even know what that meant. If it happened again now, I would know that a really difficult rehabilitation is ahead. But then I didn’t know and nine months went by really fast! I rehabbed it really well.
In the following season, the responsibility was already released in 18 matches, and the 2021 season has been talked about as Hartikainen’s breakthrough season. The defender played in the main series in 18 matches and scored four goals.
– Then I just thought that I have a lot to give. Even the following year, it was said that this was your breakthrough season at the latest. But I’m just thinking that I haven’t played anywhere near my best season.
For the same reason, Hartikainen decided to stay in Finland, even though there were enough inquiries from abroad.
– I knew that I still had something to give to the Finnish series and Kuopio. That I can be the best on the field, almost in every game.
Hartikainen, who is comfortable on the wing in a free role this season, scored eight goals and provided ten assists in the 22 matches he played.
– The season is personally my best, really successful, Hartikainen admits.
KuPS celebrated the double championship for the first time, when it won the Finnish Cup before the National League championship. There were also difficult moments on the team’s path, and during the summer the Kuopio team piloted the team for four and a half years Ollipekka Ojala stepped down as head coach.
– Of all the coaches, Opo has had the greatest impact on my career. He gave me a chance to play in the league and in a big role. Big thanks to him for that. However, the change came in a good place.
Became the new head coach Pauliina Miettinen, who, at the very first team meeting, urged the team to follow the example of Hartikainen, whom the KuPS pilot named “the embodiment of KuPS”.
The first team meeting in Hartikaista is laughable.
– Pade said that we don’t air goals anymore and since then we have started airing every success on the field.
There was no need to encourage Hartkai to ventilate. He has been doing spectacular airings since the first league seasons.
– When it is such a rare treat to score goals, why not give it a lot of fanfare. It’s one of the best things football can give!
National team dream come true
Hartikainen’s moves have also impressed the national team’s head coach Marko to Saloranta. Hartikainen already received his first invitation to the national matches in July Emmi Alanen injured.
– I was in shock when I hung up the phone. I thought no, is it really happening now. When it’s been a dream since I was little… I didn’t really internalize it during the whole day. Had to thaw.
He made his national team debut in September in front of the home crowd in the Nations League match against Slovakia.
That too came a bit of a surprise.
– I had assumed that I wouldn’t come to play very much. It was exciting to stand and wait. When I went to the field, it erupted a bit, but I have to say that the pretty tough player was there on the left side! Hartikainen laughs.
Saloranta and Miettinen are not the only ones who have noticed Hartikainen’s talent.
– When you go out to people, it feels like strangers come every ten minutes to say that it’s a great season and you’re a good football player. It feels really good!
Hartikainen will, however, be seen mostly in the national team shirt in the future.
– Yes, I would like to leave. The Finnish series feels like it’s over. But no decisions have been made yet.
To that, because the new address is clear, Hartikainen answers in the Savo dialect with a big smile.
– Isn’t there information about where the roe will be harvested this fall during the first season!
The Finnish women’s national football team Helmarit will face Croatia in the Nations League match on Friday 27 October. from 6:45 p.m. Broadcast on TV2 and Areena from 18:15.