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 The two finns of IFK, Joona and Max were skiing in the French alps
last week before the closing phases of the season. The top secret high
altitude training camp was reported to have been a total success and
the duo claims their blood values are so high after the camp that they
would make the Kenyan track racing team envious. Amidst the countless
working hours during their week the guys also had time to sit down and
talk floorball. Below Joona’s interview with ‘the present of finnish
rugby to the french floorball’, ‘the Chabal of floorball’, Max Mether.
-Salut Max!
Salut Joona!
-Ca va?
Ca va tres bien :)
-So, how’s skiing? Knees holding up, no avalanches or anything?
Skiing’s excellent. Lot of snow. And all body parts are good..
-Ok, but let’s cut to the chase.. Why are you so big..? I mean you are
really big and strong, how did that happen? Just tons and tons of
Finnish rie bread?
Exactly. Finnish rie bread and vodka.
-Vodka?
Indeed, finnish vodka. Makes you strong :)
-Ok and how’s your big size working for you in floorball? Any player
ever admitted being scared of you? The refs treating you right when
the smaller opponent is no longer inside the rink?
I never had any problems with my size. It’s actually quite good if
you’re an attacker because it attracts defenders to you. ..the size is
not a problem as long as you are also fast.. And I haven’t really had
problems with refs because of my size, I haven’t gotten that many
penalties. And the good thing about my size is that the refs usually
think it’s a fault when I fall..
-Floorball is in any case quite different from full contact rugby.
Does your rugby background help you somehow in floorball?
I don’t think so. ..actually I had a floorball background before
rugby, but I suppose because of rugby I’m not afraid of contact.
-And to give contact?
Exactly..
-Ok, but frankly, unless I’m totally mistaken, I would say that you
are without doubt one of the true genteleman players in the French
league. Is this intentional and do you think you could perhaps even
add some physical play?
I got two minutes for pushing in the last game..
-So you think there’s no way for you to add physical play without
sitting too much in the penalty box..?
It could be hard. I might try.. Against tougher teams you can usually
play tougher, against the weaker teams it’s difficult because then you
tend to get penalties. But I don’t like dirty tricks.. Trash talking,
poking people’s eyes with my fingers and similar tricks.
- Ever went to Sunday school?
No.. Never.
-Ok..The season has went quite well so far for IFK but Marseille has
the upper hand in the league for the moment. What do you think IFK
will need to change and what will be the key element in IFK’s game
during the rest of the season that will make the spring ’09 victorious
for IFK?
Well I think we have an upper hand against all the other teams, and if
we change our tactics against Marseille to play more offensively, we
should be able to beat Marseille. More offensive play should disturb
their game because we normally don’t play like that. I think we have
the skill and fitness level to play with more offensive forechecking.
-But Marseille is a tough team. Why do you think, historically, they
have been such a difficult opponent for IFK?
Well I think they’ve always had a good team and they’ve taken
floorball always seriously. For IFK floorball hasn’t always been that
serious. It used to be more about having fun at times.. Arrrrgghh..
(Max is performing some painful stretching at the same time)
-Do you consider yourself flexible?
Yes. Rather. In many ways..
-Do you think floorball players stretch enough?
Honestly, no idea. I stretch because I suffer from chronic groin pain.
Ever since my groin injury I’ve been forced to do some stretching.
-Yes, you’ve suffered several injuries in the several sports that you
practice. How’s your health for the moment?
I’ve only had two serious injuries.. And my health is good now, no
worries whatsoever. Lately I’ve just had plenty of time to get some
small injuries, but nothing serious.
-And - to get back to the topic - how do you feel about your own game
so far this season? Anything to improve come postseason?
Yes. I’ve scored no goals so far, which is terrible for a winger.
-Are we perhaps waiting for the ketchup bottle – phenomenon?
Hopefully! Hopefully! ..that’s what I’m personally waiting for.
-Yeah.. Dry spells suck and no better time to end one than in the big
games in the spring. You too just can’t wait for the spring and the
big games?
Of course, of course. I’m really eagerly looking forward to the play offs.
-Kool.. As so many other finns, you are into rock music, is that
correct? ..and is this what you also like to listen to before the
games to get mentally prepared? Metallica..?
I actually don’t usually listen to music before the games, but I guess
my all-time favourite would be metallica, like for most finns.
-I personally don’t happen to belong to that group of finns, but there
sure are a lot of finnish metallica and rock fans. Why do you think
that is?
I think it’s the harsh climate, the darkness, not to mention the lack
of small talking in the finnish society.
-Roger that. But in any case, you don’t listen to music before the
games. Do you have any other pre-game rituals?
No, boringly enough I have no rituals.
-You just like to eat well before the games..?
Yes.. and drink coffee.
-Favourite pregame supper?
Pasta carbonara … and a double espresso
-Ok.. And to get back to the sport and IFK; IFK has gotten several new
players this season, some of who have already gotten the chance to put
on the IFK jersey and get some minutes and even mark some points in
the league. Who of our newcomers in your opinion has improved most
during the season and what hints would you, as one of the senior IFK
players, tell to all the newcomers to floorball, both in IFK and other
teams all around France?
I wasn’t at the practices in the beginning of the season so it’s hard
to say who has improved the most since the start of the season, but
I’ve noticed that several players have improved a lot. It’s really
good for IFK and the sport overall that there are new players. The
more the merrier..
-And any hints to the new kids on the block?
Practice, practice, practice..
-What, there’s no shortcut?
No, there are no shortcuts..
-Ok, there you go kids, straight from the horses mouth; keep
practicing, ain’t no other way. Before we end, who would you like to
be the next player interviewed?
Brothers Thomas & Erik.
-Prepare Thomas and Erik! And forgot one more question, who’s going to
score the decisive goal for IFK in this year’s final?
Me of course :) That’s where the ketchup bottle opens..
-Ok, good luck with that. I guess we’ll see soon enough! Now just
thank you Max and happy skiing!
Thanks same to you! Enjoy all the snow :)
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