FC Lahti’s 17-year-old Eemil Laamanen has already sniffed the pace of the league: \”I can’t afford to fall asleep for a second\”

FC Lahti's 17-year-old league soccer player Eemil Laamanen looks at the camera.
FC Lahten’s Eemil Laamanen is a FC Reippaa grown-up, who considers the Spanish Sergio Ramo his idol.

The Lahti team is looking for a new rise in the football league with a team where young people who are preparing for a breakthrough also get opportunities.

The football league team FC Lahti has gotten significantly younger since last season.

The average age of the representative team from Lahti is about 22 years old, and there are a dozen of Lahti’s junior players.

– The first professional contract gives clarity and I can develop in peace. It also feels good that there is credit from the club and that the club believes in me.

The Lahti team has started its 2023 league season without losses. Laamanen, who enjoys being a top player, has one league match under his belt. He feels that he can easily join the pace of the league. Cunning and creativity are needed.

– You can’t afford to fall asleep even for a second. You have to be on top of the game all the time and know before you get the ball what you are going to do with it and read the game much better than, for example, in junk games.

FC Lahti football players are training on the artificial turf field.  Players in a circle and kicking the ball.
The FC Lahti training ring is going hard in Kisapuisto.

– He has a daily desire to improve. There is a certain calmness and coolness on the field. He is an excellent team player.

Lahti Ski Stadium's grass field in close-up on April 26, after the gauzes have been removed.
The grass field of the Lahti ski stadium was ready for the home opener of the season on April 26.

Last season, FC Lahti kept its league place through the qualifiers. The team was supposed to open the season on Saturday, but the opening at home will be delayed due to the wave of illness among FC Lahti players.

– You can say that we are definitely looking for a new start this season. Game by game, we go and go for a win and three points from each game. Let’s see what it’s enough for, says FC Lahti’s 17-year-old player Eemil Laamanen.

*You can listen to Eemil Laamanen’s thoughts on, among other things, training and playing in the league team in this story.*

*The story was edited on April 28, 2023 at 3:23 p.m. Added mention that FC Lahti’s home opener will be moved due to a wave of illness.*