Sixteen line up for indoor cup

By Mikael Erävuori

The Finnish season does not start until late April, but teams are already preparing for the League Cup, which was reintroduced last term. All Veikkausliiga clubs will take part together with FC Honka and FC Hämeenlinna from the first division.

League Cup indoors
The 16 sides are split into four groups with matches being played indoors from 18 February. Two teams from each group will progress to the quarter-finals and the final will be played on 23 April - just before the start of the league campaign.

Transfer activity
The transfer market has been relatively quiet, though a few clubs are still looking for new talent and giving trials. The most notable move in January was Antti Pohja's switch from Tampere United to FC Vaduz of Liechtenstein, who play in the Swiss second division. Tampere are now seeking a successor for the Finnish international striker.

Germany calling
Ex-Finland full-back Harri Ylönen, meanwhile, has left champions FC Haka, the veteran moving to German lower-league club SpFr Siegen on a free transfer. Myllykosken Pallo-47 on the other hand have signed a centre-back from Paraguay - Hugo Miranda will replace Tuomas Aho who has joined AGF Århus in Denmark.

Familiar ground
Elsewhere, former Under-21 international defender Heikki Haara has returned to FC Lahti after a season apiece with FC Jokerit and AC Allianssi, while FF Jaro have landed full-back Juha Luoma who was latterly with FC Jazz.

Jazz woe
Jazz, national champions in 1993 and 1996 have gone bankrupt and have had to withdraw from the First Division, Finland's second tier. Jazz had been struggling with financial problems for years and relegation from the Veikkausliiga proved fatal.

Licence conditions
All 14 Veikkausliiga clubs have been granted a licence for the 2005 season. Six of the teams, however, must improve the condition of their stadiums to meet league standards within the next three years.