Saastamoinen was seen playing in Finland in the World Cup of American football, and that opened the way to play in Washington.
Essi Saastamoinen sitting in the dressing room in Sotkamo’s Vuokatti Areena.
The place is familiar, because for three years he started his sports high school training mornings from the same house. In his high school days, Saastamoinen lived and breathed baseball, but now his eyes are on a different kind of ball.
After his successful baseball career, Saastamoinen switched to American football. It is precisely this that has transported Saastamoinen first to Kuopio, from there to Turku and brought to life a common-law partner and a bunch of championships.
In April, he gets on a plane with an address to Washington DC, USA.
– Everything has started from baseball and it has come a long way. I’ve been thinking about leaving for several years. I thought that now is a brave moment to leave, says Saastamoinen.
Saastamoinen will join the ranks of the DC Divas team for the summer. The place to play is as a defensive support man, i.e. the same as in Finland.
The first game is the first weekend in May in Pittsburgh.
As a wish, a better understanding of the game
Four Yankee teams approached Saastamoi. Performances Saastamoinen believes he gave in the World Championships held in Finland a couple of years ago.
– The name had stuck in my mind and the inquiry came through that. It was a really big screen spot at the World Cup back then, and I played really well against the United States.
Then DC Divas was also contacted by a teammate Anni Alankoon. So Alanko and the third also get on the plane Janina Nikander. The trio had hoped for a long time to get on the same team.
The Divas play in the WFA Pro league, which is the highest level in women’s yankee football and at the same time the most followed series level. The winner of the league is the US champion.
– Player fees are not paid, so we can talk about an amateur series, even though the activity is professional, Saastamoinen sums up.
Work as an investment advisor will be on hiatus for a few months. Savings and a few sponsorships make the trip possible.
– You won’t get rich from this when you look at your bank account, but you will accumulate intellectual capital. Of course, women’s sports are challenging all over the world, it’s not a goldmine to go to the United States as a female athlete. I have calculated that this is a good enough deal for me.
The hope is that when he returns in July-August, he will still be able to fit into the team for the World Flag Ball Championships to be played in Finland, and that the games will possibly continue in Finland with Yankee Futsal.
In return for being homesick, Saastamoinen expects to gain more understanding of the game.
– I expect to get another big step as a player there. More complicated games are played in the Yankees, it certainly opens up a new gaming perspective.