Apologies for the recent lack of posts, it appears the Rugby World Cup is having a serious impact beyond the oval ball as well... Anyway, here is the latest interview, with Finland and Chievo midfielder Perpa Hetemaj. Enjoy and share etc.
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Chievo have made a good start to the season, your goal against Juventus has been a highlight. What are the team's goals for 2015/16?
The team’s goal is the same as always, that is staying in the division, though the start of the season has been really good and now we’re trying to get the points we need as quickly as possible to ensure staying up, then we can think about other things!
Qualification isn’t in our hands, but we are going out to win the next two games and then we can see where we are! There’s always a great atmosphere when you win a match, though after a game you can’t hang around for too long as everyone goes their separate ways, getting showered and changed before heading home because you usually have an early flight back to your club's training.
You took centre stage with the Pohjoiskaarre megaphone after the match (not for the first time) - what is the bond like between the players and the fans?
The fans are important to us and after a match, it’s fun for the whole team to celebrate with the fans, and I think they also enjoy that! We have a great relationship with them. There’s a great atmosphere in Pohjoiskaarre (North end) and you can feel the support from the pitch!
Your brother Mehmet has returned to play in Finland this season with SJK and is doing very well - do you think you'll play for a Finnish club again?
Yes, my brother is a very good player and I will be glad if he wins the Finnish Championship with SJK. He has had a good season, as have SJK in general. I have been able to see SJK from close-up; they’re doing good work with their feet on the ground and a step-by-step attitude. It’s a shame my brother hasn’t had the chance to play in the Finnish national team because he’s a good player.
I would like to finish my career in Finland; I was raised by Klubi (HJK) – I have never represented any other team in Finland so the ideal option would be to finish my career with HJK where I started my footballing career. I would like to win the Finnish Championship wearing the HJK jersey – I’ve yet to get that medal!
With big name players moving to the Middle East, USA, China etc, would you like to play outside Europe?
I would rather not go to China or the Middle East, but I would be interested in playing in MLS, Australia or Japan at some point… Of those countries, I’d most like to go to Japan.
The new Finland manager (Hans Backe) starts in January, what new ideas do you hope he'll bring to the squad?
I don’t know this coach, but what I have heard has been positive and he knows his stuff! We have two more matches with Rive (Kanerva), Nurre (Nurmela) and Tintin (Johansson), so we mustn’t get ahead of ourselves.
Your recent tweet about Finland being a welcoming place for refugees was very well received, were you surprised at such a positive reaction?
I really only use Twitter to read UFC news, I hardly ever tweet, but I wanted to put out that tweet because it is a feeling that many former refugees have. But as to whether I was surprised – yes I was.
Haluan kiittää Suomen valtiota turvapaikasta hädän hetkellä. Saimme perheeni kanssa uuden alun ja mahdollisuuden elää turvassa! #greatful
— Perparim Hetemaj (@Perpa56) September 3, 2015
Kosovo played some friendly international matches in 2014, did they ask if you would play?
I have spoken with the coach of the Kosovo national team, but we have decided not to comment on this in public.
Who has been the best player you've played against in Serie A, and why?
It’s hard for me to say who has been the best, there are a lot of good players and a lot of annoying players…
Eero Markkanen told me that he'd like a rematch of the wrestling match you won last year - do you accept the challenge?
I have read that Eero put on 16-18 kilos since the last wrestling match. I could consider a rematch against him if he put on another 16-18 kilos! Seriously speaking, I don’t think Eero has much of a chance against me. Petteri Forsell has asked a few times about a wrestling match, but he is such a nice guy that I don’t want to make him angry at me after he loses!
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Thanks again Perpa for your time, I wish you the best for the coming matches. There are a few more interviews in the pipeline, hoping to get them on soon. Assuming the rugby finishes at some point.
