The Briefing

Dear fans!

As you may have noticed, the 1^st season of ac Piraijat has just ended. Actually it ended over a week ago… But that’s not important. The important thing is, that we were able to place 4^th in our league. And that is quite well for the 1^st season.

Because we were 4^th, we received 15 000 euros as prize money. First, we thought we would use them for our youth team or for new players. But after long negotiations with the players, we came to the conclusion we would celebrate with the money. So, right now, all of the 15 000 is gone. And a bit more. But that’s not important either.

The important thing is, that now we are almost ready for the next season.  Contracts have been signed with the existing players and we are looking for one or two new players. Our headhunters have been working hard for the past two weeks. Hopefully, before the new season we have good news for you guys.

We are very proud to have such great and enthusiastic fans. Kalannarraajat –fan group is growing every week. I hope we’ll have even more audience in our matches next season. More fans means more singing and cheering, better performances by the players and more money for me… krhm… for the team to continue on its way to fame and glory.

As a thanks for all the support from our fans, we have hired a designer to design new Piraijat -fan products. Scarves and T-shirts are coming soon! You’ll be able to buy them from our stadium on match days, for a reasonable price.

For now, we say adios and hope some of you will join our team on our way to an international friendly match in Switzerland.

- The Manager -

Round 12: FC Nilkki vs ac Piraijat

As expected, Saturday wasn't Piraijat's day. The match against FC Nilkki ended 3-0. It felt like Nilkki was only playing with half a heart, but that was definately enough.

"We tried counterattacks, but they weren't very succesful. In the last four matches we've made only three goals. That is quite depressing. But we know we started in the middle of the season, so we can't really expect much. Actually, we have decided already to start preparing for the next season. Of course we'll still give our best in every match, but the main point is to be better next season", said Lassi Loponen.

Fans are not abandoning the team

As a Piraijat-fan I'm also already waiting the next season, but that doesn't mean I will miss any of the up coming matches. I really hope the Kalannarraajat -fangroup is not filled with gloryhunters, but real fans, who stand behind their team no matter what. Piraijat needs that right now.

Next Saturday Piraijat will play against vartijat oy for the first time. The fans are expecting it to be a tight match, but I have full confidence on Piraijat. After a few weeks of waiting I think there's going to be a victory dance performed by Piraijat. Hopefully everything goes right and we'll see a lot of goald made by the red'n'black'n'white.

Text and photos by Petrus Penkki

Players for sale!

There have been some huge changes in ac Piraijat. Two players announced to coach Hämynen, that they would like to leave Piraijat and join some other team. So, today Mikki Haajanens and Jukka Niklanders names appeared on the transferlist. Also Pan Talonpoika decided to stop playing football for good. He resigned and said that he "needed some time of his own to think about the future".

Because of these changes, some rumours have started to spread about the team spirit in ac Piraijat. It's been alleged, that new players in the team have started to smoke the original players out. Haajanen and Niklander both deny these rumours. They said: "We think it would be better for our career to change the team. We love to play for Piraijat, but we have our families and ourselves to think about. We are not leaving because we want to, but because we want more experience. And money".

It seems, that Piraijat was not ready give any raises to players' salaries just yet. The Manager wasnt answering his phone, so we were unable to get his statement about these events. Luckily, one of our readers was alert and able to snap the photo below of the Manager with his cellphone. We are not sure, what's going on in the picture. Our alert reader said the Manager looked like he was counting the money he saves, when the three players leave the club. But we can never be sure.

The Manager, perhaps counting his own bonusmoneys

 Text by Petrus Penkki

Photo by an alert ac Piraijat -fan

Youth team

ac Piraijat's youth team, PikkuPiraijat or PiPi, has started operating. Piraijat wants to offer a quick way to the top for young football players. Joining PiPi means one league match in an international league and a couple of training sessions per week. Once in a few weeks PiPi will also play a friendly match, that offers unique experience for any young player. So not too much work, you can still keep studying or working in Alepa on the side.

Piraijat has already gathered 16 players between the ages of 15 and 17. Many of you may already know that 16 is the limit for players one can have in a youth team at one time. But don't worry! PiPi's scouts Ari Pessi, Nyrki Koivukari and Jyri Kananen are always "headhunting". Because the Manager has decided to start building the 1st team from the defence, there is always a place for players who are interested in playing as a defender. Especially if you have good references from your last coaches, Janne Määttänen, the coach of PiPi, will take your application under hard concideration.

Of course, the more dedicated you are, the more you get from being a part of ac Piraijat -organization. As a little spur Piraijat offers a free season ticket to the 1st teams matches for every player in the youth academy. So, go get your applications from the Kylpyamme-stadion and send them to the scouts. Every application will be filed, and if the coach Määttänen needs a player like you, he will be in touch. One of the scouts will come to see atleast one of yout matches and then decide, if he wants to recommend you to the academy. Be prepared and play well, you never know when a headhunter is after you.

You could be a part of this enthusiastic young team