KuPS – RoPS preview

Colourful match to be expected in the heart of Savo

KuPS:0-0-0-0-0-0
RoPS:3-0-0-0-0-3

H2H : 4-2-6 11.08.2008 League KuPS – RoPS 0-1

KuPS strengthened their squad with two new players from Nigeria. Dickson Nwakaeme (23) is a striker and Segun Ikudehinbu (20) is a midfielder, they both gave good performances in a test game against St. Petersburg Zenit reserve team on Thursday. Both should be available against RoPS. Another test player Laszlo Almasi is still being tested, while Balazs Horvath did not pass his testing period.

”Dickson is an excellent striker and Ikudehinbu a hard-working midfielder, exactly what we have needed, we are getting a good line-up for Saturday´s game, and this a good opportunity to start our run of five consecutive home games,” says KuPS head coach Esa Pekonen.

KuPS is finally returning to their own home ground after playing their home games so far this season at their old Väinölänniemi stadium where the conditions are poor and aged. At Magnum Arena, where they will play from now on, a new artificial pitch has been installed which slightly adds up to their home advantage. ”We have not played on artificial pitch for a long time”, admits RoPS coach Mika Lumijärvi, ” but fortunately we got a win against JJK and can breath more freely now. For KuPS this is a must win, we are more relaxed.”

KuPS have some injury worries in the form of captain Jani Hartikainen 10/0 being out for the rest of the season due to knee injuru which will be operated. Defender Ilo 12/0 is suspended, Savolainen 10/0 and Tuomas Kuparinen 10/0 are doubtful. Goal-keeper Joonas Pöntinen 2/0 will be with Warkaus JK in the Kakkonen game.

RoPS goal-keeper Kwon 12/0 is suspended, otherwise RoPS are with the full squad.


KuPS: 1 Ville Iiskola 10/0 – 8 Tero Taipale 12/0 – 9 Balazs Balogh 8/1- 3 Janne Reinikainen 11/0 - 4 Patrik Turunen 8/0 – 15 Ollo 8/0 –11 Pele Koljonen 9/1 – 10 Ilja Venäläinen 10/3 - 26 Dickson Nwakaeme 0/0 - 27 Segun Ikudehinbu 0/0 - 7 Miikka Turunen 10/0

Bench: 2 Joni Nissinen 1/0, 13 Betim Aliju 7/0, 17 Jussi Kolari 0/0, 21 Jesse Miettinen 0/0

out: 5 Jani Hartikainen 10/0 for the rest of the season, 20 Miikka Ilo 12/0, 12 Joonas Pöntinen (gk) 2/0, 23 Jussi-Pekka Savolainen 10/0, 24 Atte Hoivala 5/0, 6 Tuomas Kuparinen 10/0

coach: Esa Pekonen


RoPS: 12 Kari-Pekka Syväjärvi (gk) 1/0 – 4 Stephen Kunda 12/0 – 5 White Simwanza 10/0 – 6 Joonas Ikäläinen 12/1 - 3 Marko Koivuranta 7/0 - 11 Chileshe Chibwe 12/1 - 10 Chanda Mwaba 12/1 - 30 Echiabhi Okodugha 12/1 - 18 Christopher Musonda 12/3 - 16 Jeferson Pires 6/1 – 17 Ville Syväjärvi 10/0

Bench: 2 Godfrey Chibanga 10/0, 8 Nchimunya Mweetwa 4/0, 9 Zeddy Saileti 10/1, 13 Jukka Yrjänheikki 1/0, 15 Mika- Matti Maisonvaara 10/1, 20 Juha-Pekka Inkeröinen 5/0, 19 Janne Turpeenniemi 7/0

Out: 7 Jarno Tenkula 0/0, 1 Jung-Huyk Kwom (gk) 12/0, 22 Juuso Majava 0/0

Coaches: Zeddy Saileti & Mika Lumijärvi

Betting analysis: Tough to decide with new players and new pitch. Over 2.5 looked tempting at 1.89