Fiifi Aidoo once played with Lauri Markkanen in the same European Youth Championships. The defender, who has dealt with injuries, is now one of the champion candidate’s trusted players.
Joel Sippola,
Riku Porvari
A basketball player Fiifi Aidoo was once an NBA basketball star Lauri Markkanen with in the same youth national team. Both were in the under-20 European Championships held in Helsinki seven years ago.
Born in 1997, Markkanen already had a reputation for exceptional talent at that time. There was no hype around Aidoo like Markkanen, but he too was considered to be the future of the Finnish national basketball team.
Markkanen was selected for the star five in the respective youth games.
A year older than Markka, 27-year-old Aidoo has played eight matches in the Finnish men’s national basketball team. However, five years have already passed since the previous matches in Susijeng’s jersey.
In recent years, Aidoo has played on foreign fields, for example in Spain, Italy and Norway.
However, the talented player was hampered by injuries. Aidoo didn’t even play for a year.
The player was in dark waters. I thought about ending my career.
– It was mentally difficult. Even if you make it back, you still have a burning sensation in your head, what will come of this. Am I weaker or stronger? You just have to be able to push the dune, says Aidoo.
Key runs of the top team
Aidoo returned to the Finnish playing fields for this season after a three-year break. The already experienced backcourt man has been one of the most important links for BC Nokia, which is second in the Korisliiga.
Last season, Nokia missed the quarterfinals at the hands of the champion Seagulls. It is currently second behind the reigning champions after seven games. On Friday, in the top game, the Seagulls were better at home.
– The return has been excellent. There has been nothing to worry about. There have been no injuries, Aidoo sums up his early season performance.
Aidoo lists the fierce competitive spirit as the most important factor in the team’s early season mood.
– That’s a big reason. We defend well, which has allowed us to score easy baskets.
Acting as the team’s head coach in his fifth season Greg Gibson reminds that the team’s season’s best mood is yet to be seen. It is set for spring.
– We are in the process. We’re just trying to improve. You want to play the best game of the rest of the season. However, it is important to get an important start to the season, where we have succeeded, says Gibson.
Return to Susijeng?
Aidoo considers game reading to be its strength. However, he does not feel that he is a real playmaker in his new team.
– The game system includes the fact that everyone brings the ball. The actual role has not been discussed with the coach. I just play hard and with good energy.
As a player, Aidoo is still at a stage where you can make a lot of development leaps in the next few years. I am interested in returning to the wolf gang.
– Of course I want to help the national team. We communicate with many national team players. If you can get there, why not. First you have to prove that you can play basketball.