It looks like injuries and absences are an issue of the past for TamU-K. The fact that Adnan Omerovic is fit and available, but did not make the squad for Saturday’s league match against Sääksmäen Sopu is a good indication of that fact. Timo Kauppinen is back after his red card suspension, Jesse Kupiainen and Anssi Saiha have healed their injuries, and even Ahmed Lakra and Otto Pitkänen are close to a return. The only negative to report in the injury front is that Kemal Dedic re-aggravated his knee in the second team match earlier this week.

Sääksmäen Sopu did not have a stellar start to their season this year, as they lost their season opener against VesVi and then went on to play two ties against HST and LaVe. However, since then they have won both of their matches (against TaPa and PJK 2), and are looking to climb near the top of the table. They are not to be underestimated here, especially knowing that last year they had a good season, finishing third in the Vitonen table.

Their task wont be easy against TamU-K though. With both Saiha and Jesse Kupiainen available, our creative options are abundant. Will they both start above the midfield anchor Joonas Kupiainen, or will one of them remain on the bench as the other one pairs up with either Lauri Heittola or Vesa Suonsyrjä? Or will we go for a 4-4-2 like we did in Pirkkala last weekend? These are tough choices for coach Mika Suonsyrjä, especially as the choices up top further complicate this. If we go for the 4-5-1, will either Mika Kytöviita or Jan Irjala start on the bench? Or could Kytöviita maybe play on the wing? And who takes the left wing, the apparent first choice Petri Vadén or Mohammed El-Harrak, who seems to be playing the best football of his life and scored two goals last weekend. Tough choices indeed. Especially when you add our top scorer Jacin Dakkaki into the mix.

In the defensive end there is no question of who will play. Ilkka Innola is available, so he will be in goal. The defensive line does not have many variables right now either, and I do believe we will see Adeeb-Kumara-Kauppinen-Eijamo, with Airesto ready to fill in from the bench as needed.

The match kicks off in Kaukajärvi at 5:30 pm on Saturday. This is the first of four matches in ten days. Exciting times for a supporter, especially as on Tuesday we play for a spot in the last 16 in the Finnish Regions’ Cup. But before that match is played in the grassy comfort of Lamminpää, we need to take care of business against Sopu on Saturday. Be there and help sing us to victory!