Hallur Hansson debuts in the Scottish Premier League for Aberdeen
18 year old midfielder Hallur Hansson made his debut for Aberdeen in the Scottish Premier League today as he replaced Clark Robertson during the interval in the 2-0 defeat away to Kilmarnock. The half time score was 1-0.
Aberdeen’s website had this to say about Hansson’s performance: "The only positive on what was another disappointing day for the Dons was the debut of Hallur Hansson. The talented Faroese International acquitted himself well after being introduced at the start of the second half". ( Read the whole match report here).
Hannson has so far not appeared for the Faroese senior national team, but has appeared for different youth teams.
Hansson is the second Faroese to play in the Scottish top Division as goalkeeper Jákup Mikkelsen made 5 appearances for Partick Thistle in the 2003/2004 season.
Aberdeen also has another Faroese player in their fold; 18 year old forward Gilli Sørensen who was voted “player of the tournament” in the Aberdeen International Football Festival 2007.
Previously, from September 2008 to October 2009, 20 year old central defender Rógvi Holm was also part of the Aberdeen club. Holm is now with HB Tórshavn.
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Georgian and Ghanaian strength to NSÍ Runavík
NSÍ have announced that they have signed Georgian Mamuka Toronjadze and Ghanaian Abdul Razak Ismail.
24 year old Toronjadze played for FC Suðuroy who were relegated at the end of the season. The Georgian played as a forward/attacking midfielder and showed superb technique and was one of the best players in the tournament. He scored 7 goals for FC Suðuroy.
The Ghanean, who is 21, comes from Israeli football where he currently plays Hapoel Acre in the top division. He’s a defensive central midfielder and has appeared for some Ghanaian youth national teams.
You can see Ismail in action in the video below as no. 5 in dark-blue jersey:
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Goalkeeper Tórður Thomsen joins B68 Toftir
24 year old goalkeeper Tórður Thomsen has joined B68 Toftir where he has replaced Serbian goalkeeper Vlada Filipovic who has left. Thomsen also played for B68 2006. Thomsen made his debut for the Faroe Islands in the friendly international against Scotland earlier in the month when he replaced Gunnar Nielsen in the latter stages.
Thomsen has appeared for a number of clubs in the last few years. Having been the understudy to legendary Jens Martin Knudsen at NSÍ in the title winning year in 2007, Thomsen got the no. 1 shirt the following season as Knudsen retired. In 2009 Thomsen went to AB Argir on loan and later made a permanent switch to the club. Nut not more permanent than he joined HB tórshavn midway through the 2010 season where he played 7 matches before he surrendered the 1st choice position – originally through sickness - again to polish goalkeeper Marcin Dawid who held on to the first choice spot through the end of the season. Thomsen also had a short spell with ÍF Fuglafjørður in 2005.
25 November, 2010
Hjalgrím Elttør joins KÍ Klaksvík
B36 Tórshavn has lost yet another high profile player, the fourth since the end of the season, as winger/forward Hjalgrím Elttør has rejoined his youth club, newly promoted KÍ Klaksvík, after one season at B36.
Elttør, 27, has been regarded as one of the best offensive player in the Faroes in the last five years. Maybe his best season was his first for NSÍ Runavík in 2007 when they won the championship. Midway through the 2009 season Elttør rejoined relegation-threatened KÍ Klaksvík, but although Elttør did his part by scoring seven goals in 12 matches, it wasn’t enough to save KÍ from relegation for the first time in the club’s history.
In 2004, Elttør spent a year with Danish club Fremad Amager.
Although his talent has been obvious, ambitions have sometimes been more dubious. He has found it hard to convince different national team coaches to select him, and also Brian Kerr has been hesitant of using Elttør, but as Elttør played 90 minutes in the last couple of internationals (the 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland in the Euro qualifier and the 3-0 defeat to Scotland in the friendly international earlier this month), his luck is maybe about to change.
Speaking of luck; Elttør was just a whisker from grabbing a sensational equalizer in the dying moments of a Euro qualifier away to Germany in 2002, but from a clear position, Elttør hit the post-out… - One of the most agonizing moments in Faroese football history.
21 November, 2010
Milan Kuljic to AB Argir After 4 years with HB Tórshavn, Serbian midfielder Milan Kuljic, who turns 35 on Christmas Eve, has joined relegated AB Argir, where he will also be assistant coach for the first team. He has additionally been appointed youth coach at AB.
Kuljic joined VB Vágur in 1998 and played for the club for 6 seasons, winning the championship in 2000. He was away from Faroese football from 2001-2002 and again in 2006 (because of work permit problems), before he joined HB Tórshavn in 2007 where he has been until now, winning back-to-back titles this season and last year.
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Goalkeeper Símun Rógvi Hansen re-joins B71 Sandoy 23 year old goalkeeper Símun Rógvi Hansen, who joined HB from B71 in 2009, has returned to his youth club B71 Sandoy. Hansen was first choice keeper for HB in the first two thirds of the 2009 season, but lost his place to Polish goalkeeper Marcin Dawid in the latter stages. Having played the first match of the 2010 season, Hansen was again released by Dawid, and had most of his season wrecked because of an appendix operation later on. He recovered towards the end of the season and went to AB Argir on loan. As HB at the same time had also signed Tórður Thomsen, Hansen had now become 3rd choice at HB.
This also means that B71 have waved farewell to their Serbian goalkeeper Predrag Markovic, who has been with the club for two seasons. Earlier Markovic has played for Skála and TB Tvøroyri. It’s unclear where he’s heading now – whether he’s leaving the country or not.
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Midfielder Bárður Olsen re-joins EB/Streymur B36 Tórshavn have had to say goodbye to a third high profile player since the end of the season as midfielder Bárður Olsen, who turns 25 next month, has rejoined EB/Streymur after one season at B36 where he scored 5 goals in the league and two in the cup.
With the addition of Olsen, EB/Streymur looks a frightening force for next season.
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KÍ Klaksvík's supporters club: John Petersen and Mikkjal Thomassen appointed coaches at B36 Tórshavn The website of KÍ Klaksvík’s supporters club "Bláa bylgjan" (Blue Wave), blaabylgjan.com, claims that they know for a fact that B36 have appointed former B36 players John Petersen and Mikkjal Thomassen as coaches for next season. We’ll see if that "fact" will remain a fact…
12 November, 2010
Faroese trio heading to Iceland
Last month we wrote that sacked HB coach Kristján Guðmundsson had been appointed new coach at Valur Reykjavík. Well, although he didn’t pick up any trophy in the Faroe Islands, he hasn’t left empty-handed as he has lured three players with him to join Valur:
From B68 Toftir, valur have signed 21-year old Pól Jóhannus Justinussen who mostly has played in centre of defence, but this year also a lot on the left hand side of midfield. He was B68’s top scorer this season, scoring 10 goals in the league. Justinussen, who has been playing for the Faroese U21 team, was drafted into the 20-man strong senior squad for the qualifiers against Serbia and Italy in September, but didn’t appear in the final match sheet, however. He has not been selected for the friendly match against Scotland on Tuesday 16 November (full squad further down the page).
The other two players heading to Iceland are 21 year old Christian R. Mouritsen and Jónas Tór Næs, both from B36 Tórshavn. Mouritsen is an attacking midfielder and spent three years at Manchester City, having joined their youth academy in 2005. Mouritsen, who has been captain of the Faroese U21 team, made his debut for the senior team in March 2009 against Iceland and has so far made six appearances and scored one goal.
The other B36 player to join Valur is 23-year old right back Jónas Tór Næs – or Þór, as his middle name should be spelled correctly – a the Þ is a special Icelandic letter (pronounced “th”) which again reveals the player’s ancestors; his mother being Icelandic. Næs has earned 18 caps for the Faroe Islands. His seasons in the Faroe Islands has usually been short. Næs has played much of his football in the Danish 1st and 2nd division in Denmark since 2004, but has played in the latter stages of the Faroese league in 2007 (AB Argir), 2008 (NSÍ Runavík) and for B36 this season where he played in B36’s last 13 matches. But it’s safe to say that Næs hasn’t been signed for his goal-scoring capabilities as he hasn’t scored a single goal in the 96 league and cup appearances he has made since 2004.
This means that B36 have now lost two of their better players and it will be curious to find out in what shape B36 will be in next season. Often they haven't been shy of spending money. We'll see what happens...
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AB Argir's Ivorians to Víkingur and 07 Vestur
28 year old Ivorian midfielder Evrard Ble, has joined Víkingur. Ble is regarded as one of the better midfielders in the league, but sometimes pays the penalty for wearing his heart on his sleeve and picking up to many yellow cards, and in most seasons, one coloured in red, too. - Except this season and in 2008, but otherwise he has received one red card every season since he came to play for VB/Sumba in 2005 where he stayed for three seasons before he joined AB in 2007.
Ble's compatriot, 23-year old defender Téhé Aristide has signed a contract with newly promoted 07 Vestur. The tall defender, who was recommended to AB by Ble, has been two years at AB.
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Scotland vs. Faroe Islands, friendly match
Faroe Islands’ national team coach Brian Kerr has announced his 18-man squad for the friendly against Scotland on Tuesday 16 November.
The Faroes will be without their captain, midfielder Fróði Benjaminsen and winger Símun Samuelsen. The Faroese squad will include uncapped 20-year old defender Rógvi Baldvinsson. Baldvinsson plays for Norwegian 3rd level club Ålgård FK where he made his debut for the senior side as a 16-year old in 2006. In 2010 Baldvinsson was appointed the captaincy of the team. Baldvinsson is born in the Faroe Islands and has Faroese parents, but the family moved to Norway when he was three years old.
The Faroese squad: Goalkeepers: Gunnar Nielsen (Tranmere Rovers) and Tórur Thomsen (HB Tórshavn).
Defenders: Rógvi Baldvinsson (Ålgård FK), Jónas Tór Næs (Valur Reykjavík), Levi Hanssen (HB Tórshavn), Hendrik Rubeksen (HB Tórshavn), Johan Troest Davidsen (NSÍ Runavík), Jónhard Frederiksberg (NSÍ Runavík), Atli Gregersen (Ross County F.C.), Erling Jacobsen (Víkingur).
Midfielders: Hjalgrím Elttør (B36 Tórshavn), Christian R. Mouritsen (Valur Reykjavík), Rógvi Poulsen (HB Tórshavn), Daniel Udsen (EB/Streymur), Jan Ingi Petersen (NSÍ Runavík), Bogi Løkin (NSÍ Runavík) Christian L. Holst (Silkeborg IF).
Edit 16. November: Defender Hendrik Rubeksen has since withdrawn because of injury and has been replaced by Pól Jóhannus Justinussen who just recently signed for Valur Reykjavík in Iceland.
Hmmm... with 1 forward and 8 defenders it looks like the tactics will be defending...
Scotland's squad:
Goalkeepers: Bell (Kilmarnock), Gilks (Blackpool), Gordon (Sunderland).
In order to keep players in a reasonable shape, the football association is organizing an informal winter tournament – to be treated like friendly games - in November and December.
8 clubs will be competing in the 11 x 11 tournament where each team will play 5 matches. 4 clubs will compete in a 7x7 tournament (are they serious? – they claim that, yes!).
There will probably not be much news to gather from these matches, but if we get any results, we might mention them. According to the schedule, the first round of matches should have been played last weekend. As many of the clubs had their annually party on Saturday evening, it’s maybe doubtful what happened to the matches in the first round. (if the weather doesn't allow football, the matches will just be cancelled without any fuss). But as mentioned, this tournament is very informal!
So far, we have managed to trace one result from last Saturday: ÍF-B68 0-3 (0-1 Remi Langgard, 0-2 Kristian Anthon Andreasen, 0-3 Fróði Johannesen) (ÍF was one of the clubs who had their annual party on that same day…)
The 4 clubs that play in the 7x7 tournament are: Víkingur, B71 Sandoy, NSÍ Runavík and Skála.
They will have 4 rounds where all teams play each-other in matches lasting 30 minutes.