The IV KOMIA tournament 13th-16th February

The second tournament of the week takes place in Seinäjoki, from Wednesday 13th to Saturday 16th February.

Here is a rundown of the teams involved, and details on how to attend.

SJK

Hosts of the tournament, and silver medallists in the 2012 Ykkönen. Their playing squad includes two British players, in Welsh defender Richard Dorman and English midfielder Chris Cleaver. Scheduled to play FC Inter and VPS, so a good test against top flight opponents.

Finland U21s

The U21s get a run-out as well, and good experience for a lot of players from the Finnish league. Only Daniel O´Shaughnessy of Metz is involved from abroad. The players have been involved in a training camp recently, and learned their opponents for the next Euro U21 qualifiers, including tough opponents in England and Wales. Scheduled to play Mjällby and Nõmme Kalju.

Mjällby AIF

Famous Swedish club, who finished 12th in the Allsvenskan in 2012. Under new management, but will still be a test for their opponents, who will be Finland U21s and Nõmme Kalju.

Nõmme Kalju

The 2012 Estonian champions (for the first time). Previous experience of playing Finns after playing Honka in the Europa League in 2011, and lost in a friendly to FC Inter last week. Will play Mjällby and Finland U21s.

FC Inter Turku

Runners-up in the 2012 Veikkausliiga, their only victory coming back in 2008. Have lost Mika Ojala and Joni Kauko but brought in Tamás Gruborovics from JJK. Inter still have 2012 league top scorer Irakli Sirbiladze to rely on for goals, but he's injured and won't feature this week. Only one point from three Liigacup matches so far. Will face SJK and VPS.




VPS

8th in 2012, their joint best finish since their return to the top flight in 2006. But VPS have lost their Jamaican striker Steven Morrissey (now in Denmark), and only one point from their opening three Liigacup matches. Will play Inter and SJK.








Saturday will see matches to decide 5th/6th place, 3rd/4th place, and the final. The matches will take place in the Wallsport Arena, and tickets for all matches are available here.

The Vantaa Tournament 13th-16th February

With the Liigacup now in full swing, and everyone having played, what better time to have a break, and allow the Veikkausliiga clubs a chance to play some different opposition…

Two tournaments are taking place this week, in Vantaa and Seinäjoki, which see several familiar faces take on opponents from beyond the shores of Finland.

We'll start with the Vantaa Tournament, and have a brief look at the teams involved, and where to get tickets should you be inclined to go watch...
 

HJK

Champions of Finland for the last four years, HJK have already started 2013 well with 3 out of 3 Liigacup wins, and playing well in Spain against FC Twente and Strømsgodset. Have added experience to the side in Mikael Forssell and Teemu Tainio, and retained forward Joel Pohjanpalo, until August at least.

TPS 

The 2012 bronze medallists in the Veikkausliiga, and are unbeaten in four Liigacup matches so far (they won it in 2012). Look to have strengthened over the winter with English midfielder Wayne Brown returning and Honka's midfielder Duarte Tammilehto likely to sign soon.

Djurgårdens IF

Recently the strongest team in Sweden but have gone throughdifficult times and finished 9th in 2012. Captained by Finn Joona Toivio, and until recently, home to international Kasper Hämäläinen (now at Lech Poznan of Poland).

FC Flora
 
Bronze medallists in the Estonian league in 2012, they knocked Haka out of the 1996/97 UEFA Cup. Now under a new coach in former international Marko Lelov. Former team of Mart Poom and Jonatan Johansson.






Hønefoss BK

13th in the 2012 Norwegian Tippeligaen, and home to former TPS striker Riku Riski (and midfielder Toni Kolehmainen). Promoted back to the top division after relegation in 2010.

 FC Lahti
 
Surprised many on their return to the Veikkausliiga by finishing strongly to come 5th in 2012. Have brought in defenders Markus Joenmäki and Pyry Kärkkäinen from KuPS, and surprised many by signing young Inter midfielder Joni Kauko (until the summer at least). Formed in 1996 by the merger of Reipas and Kuusysi.

MYPA
 
Finished a reasonable 6th in 2012, and made it through the first qualifying round of the Europa League but lost in Romania. No such distractions in 2013, and look set to keep last season's top scorer Pekka Sihvola, who was busy trying to get a move over the winter. Played three Liigacup fixtures so far, won one, drawn one, lost one.






JJK
 
Finished a poor 9th in 2012, again got to the second qualifying round of the Europa League. A porous defence was the main cause for the low finish, but have not yet made any changes to the squad. Eero Markkanen looks the likely dangerman for 2013. One win and two draws from five Liigacup matches.

Skonto Rīga
 
One time permanent champions of Latvia, finished 2nd in 2012 under guidance of Marian Pahars, and won the Latvian Cup as well. Lost to Hadjuk Split in the Europa League, will return to the competition in the summer. Once the home of Arsenal 'legend' Igors Stepanovs.





PK-35 Vantaa

Finished fourth in the Ykkönen in 2012. The local team in the tournament, and have already defeated MYPA this pre-season, but lost to Haka last week. Will be challenging the top half of the table at the end of the season.



If you want tickets, they're available through Lippupalvelu.

We'll be looking at the IV-KOMIA tournament soon, watch this space.