When Federico Federico takes a defensive position near the free-throw line and spreads his arms, is a ball-forward attacker in wonder. Which way should you deliver the ball to the basket?
The words of a familiar children’s song come to mind: You can’t exceed it, you can’t undercut it, you can’t get around it…
When a person’s span from one fingertip to the other is on average about their own length, the 211-centimeter Federiko’s reading is almost 230 centimeters. With this special feature, he has become a real terror for the defensive end on the basketball court.
– Already last summer, some of the rearguards were amazed in front of “Fede”. They weren’t allowed to make their own throw, when they had to put more curve in the throw, Susijeng’s head coach Lassi Tuovi tells.
– In today’s basketball, there is a lot of talk about playing on the iron, and how skillfully you can finish baskets with a dunk straight from the air. Fede’s strength is above all how well he can protect the rim on the defensive end. If someone drives to the basket a bit unnecessarily, Fede can play volleyball quite well there, Tuovi continues.
The larger public got a sample of this in the Urhea hall during Midsummer week, when Finland’s challenger national team faced Latvia and Estonia in practice matches. Especially against Estonia, Federiko was on fire. Most of the 16 points came with spectacular dunks. Blocks and steals were recorded in the man’s column with two and rebounds with five.
In addition, Federiko does things on the defensive end that cannot be seen in the statistics, but video analyzes reveal afterwards how much the youngster has made the opponent’s attack difficult.
A name to remember – a first or last name is enough
Federiko Federiko’s name often causes confusion. In Finland, we are not used to the fact that the first and last name are exactly the same.
– My name is an inheritance from my Sudanese grandfather. Quite a few people in Finland have asked if I’m serious? Or is my name real, Federiko laughs.
So Federiko’s roots are in South Sudan, where the family first fled the war to Egypt. In the end, the trip brought me to Finland and Vantaa. The story is almost exactly the same as the brightest star of the female choir Awak on Kuieri.
– Yes, we are family acquaintances. We go to the same Sudanese events, Federiko reveals.
Like Kuieri, Federiko’s journey has once again taken Finland abroad. He belongs to the generation that was hit by the corona pandemic at a bad time. However, during the pandemic, Federiko realized his dream and headed to the United States, even though he couldn’t find a place to play.
Through twists and turns, he first ended up in a junior college in Oklahoma and from there finally to Pittsburgh for the last season. The University League NCAA has trained the youth one step closer to Susijeng. During the season, Federiko rose to the starting five and gained fame especially with his good rebounding and defense.
– The beginning was a bit slow, but then I got into the game. In Pittsburgh, we played specifically as a team. I also noticed little by little that not many people kept up with my pace, Federiko smiles.
Fierce competition for playing spots
Rekolan Urheilijode, who played in Finland’s youth national teams, was already part of Susijeng’s challenger group last summer. This summer, 19 Susijeng’s door-knocking pledges have been camping Hanno Möttölän and Mikko to Larka under the eyes throughout June. This is the so-called Rising Star group.
– The competitive situation is always good. That’s when the best comes out in an athlete. We have many potential players who are starting their professional careers. They have important years ahead of them, when we will see which direction their careers are going, says Möttölä, a pioneer of Suomikoris who jumped to the NBA through university basketball.
– This summer may show whether the competition is too tough. Are the grips enough for a wolf gang? However, sport is honest, and we want to keep the door open for as many players as possible, Möttölä continues.
Although there is now room in the national team, when for example Shawn Huff mixed Petteri Koponen ended their careers last season, the competition for playing spots in the fall World Cup tournament will be fierce.
– We have to remember that after the World Cup, next year will be the potential Olympic qualifiers and in 2025, the EC home games. If I had been told when I was 20 years old that such years would be ahead of me, it would have been an unfathomable situation, Möttölä exclaims.
– If you don’t want to be part of the national team now, then you probably have to think about your own goals in sports. On the other hand, now no talented 18-year-old just walks into the national team like maybe once before. Now we have to seriously show that we can handle adult men, Möttölä continues.
Are you jealous of today’s players?
– I am quite jealous. Of course, on the other hand, I’m also happy that I get to enjoy coaching these young people, and that I’ve been able to be involved in this for 20 years, building this opportunity, Möttölä admits.
Is Federiko the big bad wolf?
According to Federiko, Federiko is ready to fight for a place in the fall World Championship team.
– My biggest dream is to play against the best players in the world. Get that experience and develop as a player at the same time. That’s why I’m here. Learning something new, Federiko summarizes.
Even the fact that the evidence has to be given in July doesn’t scare the defense expert Lauri from Markka against.
– I’m really looking forward to it. I get to defend an NBA All Star player. I believe that if anything teaches, Federiko smiles.
What does the coaching staff say about Federiko’s chances for the World Cup tournament?
– No race pass has been stamped yet. Federiko is an interesting piece for this team. Such types of players are rarely seen in Finland. Activity and reach are big things for me. In that sense, however, you have to be honest and humble that the competition is tough. You have to give a chance, but also time, says Lassi Tuovi.
– Mobile, sporty and fast. Likes to work for a team. World-class dimensions per centimeter. I myself would have liked to have taken those two centimeters more length and a similar span. These qualities will serve Susijeng now and for sure in the future as well, Möttölä thinks.