KuPS’s early season in the Veikkausliiga has been dark. Jani Honkavaara, the returning master coach to the club, is literally rooting for the team’s play and player material.
Roope Visuri,
Jukka Eskanen
Football Veikkausliiga’s Kuopio Palloseura released its head coach Pasi Tuut from his duties after only three matches.
Jani Honkavaara jumps in as the new head coach.
Honkavaara tells that everything happened very quickly. Team owner Ari Lahti and CEO Jarmo Heiskanen approached Honkavaara.
– I was only asked about my willingness to jump at the helm. I immediately expressed my interest, that I am ready for the job, says Honkavaara.
KuPS had grabbed only one draw point from their three matches and scored one goal. KuPS, which started the season as a successful candidate, has lost to FC Inter and Honga and played a draw with KTP, who came into the series.
– In light of the results, the game has been quiet, Honkavaara admits.
Honkavaara speaks directly when asked about KuPS’s playing and player material.
– There is talent and know-how. It’s not about that. However, the game needs to be clarified. Roles must be clearer. The game needs to be sped up a bit. In the different stages of the game, you need to get clarity, what you are aiming for and what you are looking for. It already helps a lot, Honkavaara says directly.
Honkavaara wants to see KuPS active in both defense and attack in the future.
– That is perhaps the biggest change, but quite a lot changes at the structural level of the game as well, Honkavaara states.
Honkavaara states that KuPS’s current team is young.
– The team is built for a somewhat different style of football, which is what I think. From my point of view, there is a slight imbalance in the team. With the right roles, the thing can be made to work. That’s for sure. It will certainly take some time, Honkavaara states.
He sees the team’s middle sector as the strength of KuPS’s current player material.
– It certainly causes challenges, how do we get the most out of it. There are so many players for the middle sector. We have to think about what kind of grouping is done in order to use all the strengths, Honkavaara says and adds that of course a successful team must also have scope.
The 100th anniversary season in Kuopio – Honkavaara wants to create security for the players
Honkavaara is a well-known coach in Kuopio. In 2019, he led KuPS to the Finnish championship after a 43-year break. On his previous visit to Kuopion, Honkavaara won the overall straight, while under his leadership KuPS also won silver and bronze.
After that, Honkavaara coached the Seinäjoki Football Club in the seasons 2020 and 2021. In the latter season, he won the SM bronze. In 2022, Honkavaara started at Palloliito as an expert in the top and youth stages.
KuPS will be under Honkavaara for the first time this year on Sunday, when Ilves from Tampere will play on their home field. The coach states that the first game will come quickly.
– In the first game, we keep things simple. We need to get whole training weeks under, then we will be able to bring more to play. Players must first of all be given clear models for playing. It brings security to the players, Honkavaara states.
In that sense, the current year is big for the people of Kuopio, because KuPS is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
– I hope that with good game performances, we can get the spectators moving in the same way as last time. As a professional coach, it’s nice to be back at the lathe again, Honkavaara describes his experience.
Honkavaara is still looking for a second coach, but will not speculate on names in public.
On Saturday, will broadcast the National League match Honka–KuPS live. The live broadcast starts on TV2 and Areena at 1:47 p.m.