September 2012 Round-Up:
September 30, 2012
FIFA president Sepp Blatter to visit the Faroe Islands
FIFA president Sepp Blatter will visit the Faroe Islands on 9-10 October where one of his conducts will be to mount a commemorative plaque at Tórsvøllur Stadium which FIFA has helped funding.
---------
Faroe Islands squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Ireland
Faroe Islands coach Lars Olsen has picked a 24-man squad for the qualifiers against Sweden and Ireland on 12 and 16 October.
Generally, it’s the same team as for the Germany match except for the inclusion of striker Arnbjørn Hansen. Some youngsters are also included, mostly to give them some experience of the atmosphere, so to speak.
Goalkeepers
Gunnar Nielsen, Manchester City (Eng)
Kristian Joensen, NSÍ Runavík
Jákup Mikkelsen, ÍF Fuglafjørður
Defenders:
Rene Joensen, Brøndby IF (DK)
Jónas Tór Næs, Valur (ISL)
Pól Jóhannus Justinussen, NSÍ Runavík
Odmar Færø, Forfar (SCO)
Rógvi Baldvinsson, Ålgård (NOR)
Erling Jacobsen, Víkingur
Rógvi Holm, HB Tórshavn
Jan Ellingsgaard, ÍF Fuglafjørður
Midfielders:
Súni Olsen, B36 Tórshavn
Fróði Benjaminsen, HB Tórshavn
Símun Samuelsen, HB Tórshavn
Hallur Hansson, AaB Ålborg (DK)
Hjalgrím Elttør, KÍ Klaksvík
Daniel Udsen, FC Helsingør (DK)
Christian Lamhauge Holst, Silkeborg IF (DK)
Karl Løkin, ÍF Fuglafjørður
Kaj Leo í Bartalstovu, Víkingur
Gilli Sørensen, TB Tvøroyri
Forwards:
Klæmint A. Olsen, NSÍ Runavík
Jóan Símun Edmundsson, FC Fredericia (DK)
Arnbjørn Hansen, EB/Streymur
September 27, 2012
Penultimate round brought forward to Saturday 29 September!
The penultimate round of the Effodeildin which according to schedule was supposed to be played on Sunday 30 September has been brought forward to Saturday 29 September at 16:00 local time due to possible storm on Sunday.
September 15, 2012
1st division: AB Argir promoted to the top division
AB Argir are back in the top flight after a 3-1 win over EB/Streymur.
But AB were living dangerously though, as they went behind after only 12 minutes. A loss would have meant that they would have been overtaken by Skála, if they managed to beat KÍ on away soil.
AB drew level on 37 minutes but had to wait nervously until the 80th minute before they finally managed to take the lead through Hørður M. Mohr who had come on 5 minutes earlier. Towards the end, Mohr netted again before Leivur Holm Joensen, who had also scored AB’s first, made it 4-1 in stoppage time.
As Skála failed to beat KÍ Klaksvík, they drop 4 points behind AB with only one match remaining of the season, and AB will therefore be promoted alongside 07 Vestur who made sure of their promotion a week ago.
AB won’t stand much of a chance in the top division with current squad, and they are already talking about strengthening their squad for next season. Current team has lot of youthful talent and hopefully not too much of it will be sacrificed next season. It’s a balance act.
September 14, 2012
B68 Toftir sack coach Pauli Poulsen and appoint former coach Bill McLeod Jacobsen
The day after the catastrophic loss to FC Suðuroy on Wednesday which sent B68 heading for relegation on 9th place, the club has announced that they have sacked their coach Pauli Poulsen and his assistant Johan Nielsen.
B68 are in serious problems, visiting HB Tórshavn on Sunday before they take on title contenders ÍF Fuglafjørður and EB/Streymur. That could easily produce 0 points, and then they will have to get at least a draw, but will probably have to beat TB Tvøroyri (depending on goal difference) on away soil on the last day of the competition to avoid relegation.
On Friday B68 announced that they had appointed Bill McLeod Jacobsen for the rest of the season. He was also their coach from 2008 to 2011. To assist him, B68 have appointed Øssur Hansen who was assistant before Johan Nielsen replaced him in the middle of the season.
September 10, 2012
Jákup Mikkelsen oldest international goalkeeper ever
When Jákup Mikkelsen played in the friendly match against Iceland on 15 August, he was 42 years and one day old and thereby became the oldest ever goalkeeper to have played in a FIFA registered international.
Faroese newspaper Sosialurin has been I contact with Alfredo Pöge, the president of IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics), who in an e-mail said:
"The oldest goalkeeper was Alexander Morten (Crystal Palace FC London), who played on 8th March 1873 for England (4:2 vs. Scotland) in London. He was on this day 41 years and 113 days."
"Following it is very probably that Jákup Mikkelsen is the oldest active national goalkeeper of all time."
We’ll take that as official enough, and give Mikkelsen the record.
Records are always funny to have of course, but if we take a critical look at it however, it might also signal some problems.
Because goalkeeper-coaching in the Faroe Islands has always been a neglected area and is so still today. And if that’s the reason why younger goalkeepers haven’t come through the ranks to wrest the no. 1 jersey from Mikkelsen, then Mikkelsen’s record is a symptom of deficiencies in the development department.
But take nothing from Mikkelsen, though, as he has played some very good internationals since he reached the big 40. Another factor in Mikkelsen’s record is the injury of Gunnar Nielsen who was out of action because of injury for 18 months. Otherwise Mikkelsen likely would not have beaten Alexander Morten’s record and maybe not Dino Zoff’s, who was 41 years and 3 months old when he played for Italy the last time.
--------
TB Tvøroyri part with Serbian forward Bojan Timic
Relegation-threatened TB Tvøroyri have parted with their Serbian forward Bojan Timic who has scored 7 league goals this season, 4 of them on penalties.
The reason for the separation is apparently because of behavioural reasons, and newspaper Sosialurin writes that according to their sources, Timic had been spitting and hitting at club officials in a night club.
Timic was an extremely good player, but TB chairman André Dalfoss said that it would not be Bojan Timic that will be the difference between survival or relegation.
In the summer, the other Serbian TB forward Igor Grkajac returned to Serbia.
Since the summer break, TB have only earned one point in 7 matches.
September 08, 2012
1st division: 07 Vestur return to the top flight
With a 4-1 win over B68 Toftir, and a 7-point lead in the table with only 2 matches remaining of the season, 07 Vestur have made sure of promotion to the top flight.
Next season will be 07 Vestur’s 3rd try in the top division since their foundation in 2007. On both of the other occasions – in 2011 and 2009 – their visit was just one year. It already looks like a déjà vu for 2013…
07 Vestur coach is Piotr Krakowski from Poland.
The other relegation spot is a hard-fought battle between AB Argir and Skála, where AB are one point ahead. AB got their nose in front last Wednesday when they beat Skála 2-1, where Skála were cheated for a clear penalty towards the end of the match.
AB’s two remaining matches are against 8th placed EB/Streymur (h) and on the last day against 7th placed B71 Sandoy (a). Although B71 could be a bit tricky, it shouldn’t go wrong for AB now.
Skála’s penultimate match is away to 6th place KÍ Klaksvík while their last match is a difficult home encounter with 07 Vestur.
No. Team Games Goal diff. Points
1 07 Vestur 25 +45 62
2 AB Argir 25 +51 55
3 Skála 25 +32 54
September 05, 2012
Germany match: Kaj Leo í Bartalsstovu replaces injured Bogi Løkin
21-year old Víkingur offensive midfielder Kaj Leo í Bartalsstovu, who has made a real breakthrough this season, has replaced injured ÍF Fuglafjørður midfielder Bogi Løkin in the Faroe Islands team to play against Germany on Friday.
Løkin suffered a recurring knee-injury in the match against TB Tvøroyri last Sunday. Løkin’s participation in the league run-in is now in doubt which will be a blow to ÍF’s title hopes, as Løkin has been a key player.
September 03, 2012
Hallur Hansson joins Danish Superliga club AaB Aalborg
20-year old HB Tórshavn midfielder Hallur Hanson has made loan-deal with Danish top division club AaB Aalborg for the rest of the year. AaB will however have the option to make a permanent deal, should they be interested.
Although a number of Faroese players have joined Danish top league clubs during the years, it’s still only goalkeeper Jákup Mikkelsen and forward Todi Jónsson who have managed to become regulars of their teams. They have both won Danish league titles.
But Hansson is hopefully one that can break the bad habit of late. One of his main assets is his enormous work rate that hasn’t been seen in Faroese football since former international Julian Johnsson about whom it was usual to say that he could runt the sun black.
Hansson also has good technique and a lethal Ronaldo-style free kick. And although quite small, he wins most aerial duels. He’s is one of the most exciting Faroese players for quite some time – a diamond that needs some final cutting.
Before he re-joined HB last season, Hansson spent 3 years at Aberdeen’s youth academy and played one match in the Scottish Premier League.
Hansson made his debut for the Faro Islands senior team in the friendly against Iceland in August and is also selected for the world cup qualifier against Germany next Friday.
--------
Jóan Símun Edmundsson joins Danish 2nd level top team FC Fredericia
21-year old forward Jóan Símun Edmundsson, who signed with Norwegian top level club Viking Stavanger ahead of the season, has found it difficult to make the team and has now moved to Danish 2nd level top club FC Fredericia on loan for the rest of the year.