Jonas Tor Naes joins B36/Super Cup Preview

JONAS TOR NAES JOINS B36
In a turn of events that will seriously upset EB/Streymur fans, stalwart defender, and Faroese international, Jonas Tor Naes has signed for B36. The transfer is a coup for the Torshavn-based club who add another quality player to the mix and strengthen their central defense. EB/Streymur's financial woes continue as they lose yet another key player.



FAROESE SUPER CUP PREVIEW
The Faroese Super Cup, pitting defending league champions B36 and defending Cup champions Vikingur, will be played at the Gundadalur Stadium tomorrow, 3pm GMT. It is a matchup between two sides on the more talented end of the Faroese football spectrum. Super Cup holders Vikingur come in as slight underdogs but both teams played to a pre-season 0-0 draw in January.

Vikingur Gøta (2015 Season Preview)

Vikingur Gøta (2015 Season Preview)

Founded: 2008 (Merger between GÍ Gøta founded in 1926, and Leirvík ÍF, founded in 1928)
City: Gøta
Stadium: Sarpugerði (3000)

The Sarpugeroi Stadium in Nororagota... breathtaking (Photo: Soccerway)

Founded in 2008 due to the merger of GI Gota and Leirvik IF, two Eysturoy Island clubs, Vikingur may have a small history but have established themselves as one of the top teams of the Faroe Islands. They have seen cup success in the past few years, winning 4 of the last 6 tournaments. As a result, they regularly qualify for the Europa League, and last season, there was much magic in the air as they became the first ever Faroese team to make it to the 3rd round of an European competition.

Vikingur's transfer window has been remarkably quiet. Andreas Olsen, frustrated by a lack of playing time at the Nororagota club, chased relegated B68 down to the 1.deild. Their only key player leaving was midfielder Hallur Hansen, who heads over to Denmark for greener pastures. The sole player coming in is fullback Gert Aage Hansen, who made 20 appearances for EB/Streymur last season.

Vikingur were the league leader in scoring last season, and they hit on all cylinders, scoring through many different players, such as Suni Olsen and Hanus Jacobsen. But the player Vikingur will turn to the most once again this season is Finnur Justinussen, who scored 19 goals in 27 games last season as a center forward.

2011 Golden Boot winner Finnur Justinussen

But despite all their attacking prowess, let's not forget the defenders. Captain and stalwart center-back Atli Gregersun has 26 international caps to his name and his leadership is vital for Vikingur.

Atli Gregursen vs Robbie Keane at Croke Park (Photo: Zimbio)

This team continues to have good depth and attacking ability, and maintain last season's chemistry. If the Torshavn clubs get into a rut, you can most certainly expect Vikingur to seize that opportunity. And who knows, perhaps they'll start their season with a trophy in the Super Cup. It's a world of possibilities for Vikingur - they simply need to seize their opportunities, as they have so sublimely done in the past.

Vikingur's 2015 kits with their new sponsor, Wenzel (Photo: Vikingur Website)

Klaksvikar Itrottarfelag (KI) (2015 Season Preview)

Klaksvikar Itrottarfelag (KI) (2015 Season Preview)


Founded: 1904
City: Klaksvik
Stadium: Vio Djupumyrar (3,000)

The Vio Djumpumyrar, also known as Injector Arena (Photo: Soccerway)

A founding member of the Faroe Islands Premier League, and one of the oldest football clubs in the Faroe Islands, Klaksvikar Itrottarfelag represent the second-largest town of the Islands, Klaksvik. Originally a viking settlement, the picturesque Klaksvik town is based on one of the northern-most islands of the country.

The picturesque city of Klaksvik, Faroe Islands (Photo: Wikipedia)

The football club, KI, are the second-most successful in the Faroe Islands, with 17 titles to their name. Despite this, Klaksvik have not won a title since 1972, when themselves and HB were duking it out for the distinction of Foroyameister every year.

In recent times, KI have been simply average. There are years where they will score and score again, only to concede the same number. There are years where defense is strong but goals are hard to come by. It also doesn't help that in the last 9 years, they have gone through 10 different managers. With a lack of an established system and foreign imports not coming to fruition, this club has truly lacked a Klaement Olsen or an Adeshina Lawal, someone who wants to step up their game and carry the team.

Klaksvik have opened their wallets this year and spent on one player in particular. The real eye-catching transfer has seen former Bosnia and Herzegovina U-17 player Kenan Hajdarevic, the most expensive foreign player in the league according to Transfermarkt, join the Blues. Evrard Blé is from the Ivory Coast and was a key player for now relegated B68 last year, while Mayowa Alli, an American on loan from a Danish club, will hope to strengthen the midfield and defense respectively.

The big frame of Kenan Hajdarevic in action in Denmark. (Photo: Soenderjy Skefan)

KI's pre-season is a tad perplexing because of the sheer lack of information. They started off in January rather poorly, losing games against relegation fodder and relegated teams. But lo and behold, they win a pre-season tournament against HB and B36 in February.

Klaksvik won a trophy, albeit pre-season. Not something that happens often nowadays! (Photo: Nordlysid)

If Pall Klettskaro and Ndende Ndende Gueye can continue to score this season, and Hajdarevic, the key player for this season, converts his chances, then this Klaksvik side have the potential to surprise many - they already did that in the pre-season. But for many, it just seems like KI will be KI and stay firmly midtable once again this year.  They remain in the shadow of KI's dominant women's team.

Havnar Boltfelag (HB) (2015 Season Preview)

Havnar Boltfelag (HB) (2015 Season Preview)



Founded: 1909
City: Torshavn
Stadium: Gundadalur (5,000)

Havnar Boltfelag are by a mile historically the best and in recent years the strongest team in the Faroe Islands. The Torshavn-based club have a whopping 22 titles to their name and 26 Faroese Cups to go with it. Founded in 1909, Havnar (Harbour in English) have been powerhouses for generations and generations still.

The Gundadalur Stadium after renovations to the stands - both clubs that use the stadium, HB and B36, have their names displayed on the seats. (Photo: Worldstadiums.com)

Havnar, despite being one of the big boys of the EFFO-deildin and thus would have more financial muscle, have lost some valuable players in the transfer window. Joan Simun Edmunsson (who scored the goal vs Greece in the Faroe Islands NT's 1-0 shock win over them) has departed as has winger Kristian Mouritsen. On the way in however is a fantastic player in Arnbjorn Hansen, who tallied ten times for EB/Streymur last season.

HB are still a very talented squad with a core of players many teams envy. Their 22-year-old goalkeeper, Teitur Gestsson, will be around a while and has been capped for the Faroese NT, while HB and Faroe Islands skipper Frodhi Benjaminsen, 37 years young, can play in defense or in midfield, which is important as versatility is a valuable asset in the modern game. Benjaminsen was HB's top scorer last season and the capital club will also turn to strikers Andrew av Flotum and the aforementioned Arnbjorn Hansen to convert their chances.

"Get on with it, Zlatan!" Faroe Islands skipper and HB man Frodhi Benjaminsen in international action.
(Photo: Sportky Topky)

Havnar have a strong group of talented players and we can fully expect them to finish amongst the Europa League spots this season. After losing the title painfully by a single agonizing point to cross-town rivals B36 last season, you can peg Havnar as favorites, as so many have done of the years, to hoist at least one of the two trophies, be it EFFO-deildin or Faroese Cup, this season.

HB supporters at the Gundadalur donning their red and white striped kits.

Throwback Thursday (2015/02/19)

The first known photograph of a football game in the Faroe Islands. (Photo: Wikipedia)

Wikipedia may not be the most reliable of encyclopedias, but it has the knack of digging up some fantastic gems like this one. This was the first known photograph of a football game in the Faroe Islands, dating from the 18th of July, 1909. Home team HB Torshavn took on TB Tvoroyi (the oldest club in the Faroes). Wearing the white sleeves, HB won 3-1 at the Gundadalur Grounds. These two teams still do battle, 106 years later, in the EFFO-deildin.

EB/Streymur (EB/S) (2015 Season Preview)

EB/Streymur (EB/S) (2015 Season Preview)


Founded: 1993 (Merger between Eiðis Bóltfelag, founded in 1913, and Streymur, founded in 1976)
City: Streymnes
Stadium: Við Margáir (1000)

Við Margáir in Streymnes Photo: uefamembers.wordpress.com

E/B Streymur finished in 5th place last season. They have won the Faroe Islands Premier League twice, in 2008 and 2012 as well as four Faroese Cups, in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011. One of the darkest hours in the history of the club came in September of 2014, when one of their star players, Gunnar Zachariasen, a Faroese International, died in a tragic workplace accident. This came as a huge shock to his club and the whole of the Faroe Islands.

Today, their success has been more limited than in recent years, in part because of the departure of some key players. Case in point - René Tórgard, their longtime goalkeeper and former Faroese international, has retired. In addition, the Streymnes-based club have lost 30 year-old winger Hans Pauli Samuelsen who left for defending champons B36. They also must now cope with the loss of Arnbjorn Hansen, their center forward last season.

Their only transfer in was 20 year-old goalkeeper Jákup Höjgaard, who warmed the bench for title holders B36 in the past year. The youngster will hope to beat out Jakup Hansen for the job between the sticks. Despite the loss of so many key players, their squad is greatly strengthened by the presence of Faroese international defender Jónas Tór Naes, who could be key to success this season.

EB/S star Jónas Tór Naes in international action against Northern Ireland. Photo: uefa.com

With their squad vastly different than in previous years, it is difficult to say how EB/S will perform this season. One could argue that with an aging defense and an inexperienced keeper, as well as a lack of a real goal scoring threat, that this squad will struggle. But with good enough performances and a bit of luck, E/B Streymur could be a contender for the Europa League spots or even, if the odds are in their favor, the title.

Bóltfelagið 1936 Tórshavn (B36) (2015 Season Preview)

Bóltfelagið 1936 Tórshavn (B36)


Founded: 1936
City: Tórshavn
Stadium: Gundadalur Stadium (5,000, shared with HB)

The Gundadalur Stadium before renovations to the seats. Photo: Wikipedia

Bóltfelagið 1936 Tórshavn (in English, Football Club 1936) are the defending champions of the EFFO-deildin. Based in the capital city of Torshavn, B36 have 10 titles to their name and are a founding member of the Faroe Islands Premier League.

Members of the Torshavn derby with rivals HB Torshavn, their supporters' like to chant "This year, arise - Champions of Faroe Islands!" The illustrious club also have 5 Cups to their name as well as a Super Cup. They also have a win in the UEFA Champions League qualifying first round, quite a feat for such a lowly nation. Past successes or present successes, B36 are perennial powerhouses in the Faroes.

(Photo: Screen capture KVF) B36: 2014 Faroese Champions!

There are a lot of variables to B36's season this year. They have lost important defender Simun Joensen to retirement, but more worryingly, last year's top scorer Adeshina Lawal to IF Fuglafjordur. They will hope that new Senegalese signing Ibrahima Camara, the Faroe Islands' Ibra, will bang in the goals in his place. (He's already scored 2 in pre-season.) He has a proven track record with lower level clubs. Furthermore, they have lost former manager Samal Erik Hentze, who quit because he did not have enough time for football (he runs a construction company). Their new manager, Eyoun Klakstein, is a former U-19 manager.

The capital club have, for the most part, the squad that saw them win the league last season. They will need their attacking trio of Jakup Borg, Lukas Cieslewicz and new signing Ibrahima Camara to shine as well as leadership in defense from stalwart Hogni Eysturoy. Tordhur Thomsen was excellent for B36 last season as well, keeping 12 clean sheets and being named keeper of the year. The squad also boasts important youngsters - namely Alex Mellemgaard and Hordhur Askham.

"Nobody expected us to win, nobody picked us, but I knew we can be in the top." B36 #11 Lukasz Cieslewicz

Can B36 win a second consecutive title and repeat the pitch invasion celebrations like last season? Some may say that they over-achieved last season, but if recent friendlies are any indicator, they should be just as competitive this year! Who knows, perhaps they CAN repeat as Foroyamesitari!

(Photo: Screen capture KVF) The scenes after a 3-1 victory to secure the title for B36 against B68!

An introduction to the EFFO-deildin + Argja Boltfelag (AB) Preview

The Faroe Islands Premier League was founded in 1942 as the Meistaradeildin, with the original teams being KI Klavsvik, TB Tvoroyi, B36 Torshavn and HB Torshavn.

1976 was a huge year for the FIPL as promotion and relegation was introduced, and in 1979, the Faroe Islands Football Association became its operator. In 1987, the first division was expanded to ten clubs and two teams were automatically relegated, with two coming up from the second division, in 1988. This system remains in place today.

After several rebrandings including Formula-deildin and Vodafone-deildin, the Faroe Islands Premier League is now named the EFFO-deildin, named after their sponsor, and Faroe Islands petrol company, EFFO.

This season, there will be 27 games in a triple round-robin spanning from March to October. The champion of the EFFO-deildin gets an UEFA Champions League First Round Playoff berth, while the two runners-up and the winner of the Cup get Europa League First Round Playoff berths.

In its first series, The Blog previews all 10 EFFO-deildin teams. The Blog starts in alphabetical order. You're up, Argja Boltfelag!

ARGJA BOLTFELAG (AB)


Founded: 1973
City: Argir
Stadium: Blue Water Arena (2,000)

The Blue Water Arena in Argir, Faroe Islands

Argja Boltfelag represent the village of Argir, from the Old Irish "Airge" for summer pasture.

In 2000, chairman Toralvur Stenburg invested in the club and its facilities, bringing it from the 3rd Division (3.deild) to the Faroe Islands Premier League. After relegation in their first season in 2007, Argir have been a relegation contender year in and year out, except when they plied their trade in the 1.deild, of course.

Argja finished in 8th spot last season, just above the relegation spots, and these poor results can be attributed to a leaky defense. In 27 games last season, AB conceded 61 goals, the worst in the EFFO-deildin. They will need leadership from captain Jonas Stenberg (son of former chairman Toralvur) to solidify their backline.

Jonas Stenberg in the AB Home Kit. (Photo: Argja Boltfelag Flickr)

They will also count on Sorin Anghel converting his chances at forward. Perhaps last summer signing Aleksandrs Cekulajevs can also impress after winning the Maltese league.

But things are looking up for Argja, as they beat relegated side B68 and competed with EB/Streymi, in pre-season friendlies. Will AB surprise the Faroe Islands this season? Only time will tell!

The blog hopes you will stay tuned to it - more EFFO-deildin previews coming up in the coming days!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Faroe Islands Football Blog!

An idea by two crazy friends who decided to find the most intriguingly recluse football nation to write about, Faroe Islands Football Blog aims to provide summaries of the action in the 2015 EFFO-Deildin (Faroe Islands Premier League) as well their international games.

It started as a joke, "What if we could write a blog on a recluse, yet intriguing football country?" and the names Gibraltar, Luxembourg, Azerbaijan and Andorra were thrown around. But we (the creators of this blog) settled on the Faroe Islands - and after we remembered their fantastic 1-0 shock win over Greece in EURO 2016 Qualifying - we realized they deserve our respect.

So, here, fellow readers, ends a rather short intro. At the moment of writing, we are still trying to memorize the teams, know when the league starts (for heaven's sake, FIFA, Soccerway and FSF can't agree!) and do some research. We're not experts by any means, but dedicated for sure.

Also, from now on, we will not use the pronoun "I" or "We", but instead, "The Blog." Yes, in the third person. Deal with it. =)