Vimpelin Veto’s Finnish championship is unique because of the successes of young players and their own children, writes Urheilu’s reporter Simo Arkko.
How the hell did the boys do it?
It inevitably crossed my mind when Vimpelin Veto’s young players celebrated with the original “Poja” in Savonjoki.
The bet was perhaps not one of the biggest champion favourites. Many bet, for example, Manse and Kouvola’s Ballonlöji for the Superpesis finals.
I’m talking about boys because Vimpelin Veto’s team was full of boys. At least compared to others. The average age of the young team was only 22.8 years.
The top three was formed by a trio Mikko Vihriälä (21 years), Aleksi Lassila (19) and Elmeri Anttila (22). Each of them is the club’s own foster.
In total, the team’s playing lineup had six of its own graduates. Three of the 12 players were from nearby municipalities.
Vimpelin Veto’s Finnish championship is unique precisely because of the successes of young players and their own children. While many city clubs hired star players from other clubs for money, Vimpeli grew its own.
Perhaps the hardest performance was made by Lassila, who became a top player Mikko Kanalan due to an injury, the number one situation has been dismantled for number two.
The youngster was so good in his role that the management didn’t even consider it appropriate to promote Kanala to a familiar number after his injury.
– We decided that we need to be able to break certain patterns and thereby reform. Aleksi’s frontcourt role was one such. He responded amazingly inside as well. He dabbed even by accident when Mikko was injured, the game director Tomi Niskanen admitted to Urheilu at the final party and praised the competitive spirit of the young players.
Veto surprised with its delayed mark during the season and the team’s inner game was often irresistible to batting jokers Jukka-Pekka Vainionpään and Janne Mäkelän under.
Everything was crowned by a lock that surprised everyone in his peak season Teemu Kinnunen, who moved to the club for this season. Before the start of the season, Kinnuse was even talked about as a “triple basket” lock.
– I became aware of the views and, accordingly, my own skills. I only got an additional boost from the comments to work even more. I would also say that the speakers talk and the authors do, Kinnunen said in an interview with STT (you will switch to another service) before the start of the final series.
This is indeed how it worked in the pennant. That’s why the boys succeeded.
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