A pit stop for Saravanan
Former international grateful for career break in Finland, but his heart belongs to Malaysia
IT BEGAN as a sojourn but former international footballer V. Saravanan became smitten with Finland and decided to make it his home.
While many Malaysians tend to shy away from the cold climate, Saravanan has stayed put to become one of the successful youth football coaches in the nation, known for its icy lakes, wild reindeers and bright Northern Lights.
The Perakian has been in Finland for six years and is currently coaching the HJK Helsinki youth side after years of hard work in producing youngsters from the IF Gnistan academy.
“I was speechless when I was offered the job,” said the 41-yearold.
“Finland have produced worldclass players like Teemu Pukki, Sami Hyypia and Jari Litmanen and I want to help the nation produce more quality players through the HJK Helsinki academy.”
Before heading for Finland, the former Perak, Pahang and PKNS winger played for Malaysia in the 1997 World Youth Championship and represented the country 43 times from 2000 to 2004.
He won the Malaysia Cup twice with Perak and the Malaysian Premier League 1 twice during his playing career.
After quitting the game in 2011, he had offers to stay in Malaysia to do his coaching badges but decided to follow his girlfriend to Finland.
Calling it a move to better his knowledge, Saravanan is beginning to make his presence felt in Finnish football.
● Tough beginnings
The pacy forward went to Finland to live with his wife Satu Johanna Ekholm in 2012, and he thought it was all going to be a bed of roses.
However, it was anything but rosy as he went through the most challenging time in the first six months and found it hard to adapt to the culture, language and surroundings.
“I became depressed. It was tough for me. My wife was there for me but I missed my family and friends back home. I was waiting for my residence permit and I was jobless for a while,” said Saravanan.
Fortunately, his brother-in-law came to the rescue.
“He knew I was a football player and invited me to play for fun with IF Gnistan. I played with the reserve side, and they were involved in a relegation fight in the amateur league.
“We had only five games to salvage. I joined the team and scored 13 goals in five matches. The team ended up finishing top five.”
And the rest was history.
● Starting with IF Gnistan
Calling it a small club with a huge level of professionalism, Saravanan was intrigued by the facilities provided by the club.
“They had everything – mini stadium, gymnasium, sauna and training fields. It was a struggle in the beginning as I had to pick up the language and the style of play there, but I managed,” said Saravanan, who did his UEFA coaching certification while at the club.
“Coaching youths can be tough too. There are many age groups, but I somehow managed to groom these players.
“The Finnish football system starts from the age of three, and by 16, you will know if a player can play in a professional league or not. Even if they can’t, they will play for regional sides.
“Finland emphasises on education, and it can be seen among the kids here. Attitude is the utmost importance and discipline is part of them. I learnt a lot from my stint in IF Gnistan.”
● It’s about the right attitude
Saravanan may be 8,871km away from home, but he always monitors the development of Malaysian football. Having been included in several WhatsApp groups involving former players and coaches, he feels connected to home.
“To be honest, Finland is way ahead of us. The national sport in the country is ice hockey, but the footballers here are improving and getting better. Recently the women’s team played in the Under-17 World Cup,” said Saravanan.
“Not just the players, but coaches here continue to improve. They emphasise on education. I’m benefitting from it.
Having been part of Finland’s systematic youth development for more than six years, Saravanan said he had learnt a lot about technique, passion and understanding of the game.
He acknowledges that there is development in Malaysian football, but he feels players in the country are still a pampered lot.
● Players need to leave
Saravanan believes there is minor progress in Malaysian football. Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) for instance, he said, have embraced the junior development culture while professional players are being paid well.
“We weren’t paid much during my time. I’m glad players now are earning well. Facilities have also improved, but performances are still the same,” he said.
“We recently did well in the AFF Suzuki Cup, but we should be aiming big. Our players refuse to come out of their comfort zone.”
When asked what he meant by comfort zone, Saravanan said players should not just play in Malaysia but look elsewhere.
He said Malaysian players have the talent to play outside of the country, but they just can’t let go of their local food.
“When I was with the 1997 World Youth Championship squad, many scouts were checking out our games, and there was one talent hunter from Belgium who offered us to play there.
“Five of us – Gopal (M. Gopalan), Hazman (Tengku Hazman Raja Hassan), Azmir (Mohd Azmir Norhakim Burhan), Chow (Chee Weng) and I – were offered a chance to play in Belgium but coach (Hatem Souissi) did not let us go.
“Players should take their chances and spread their wings. It will be tough in the beginning, but if you are really good, the money will come.
“If I had not left Malaysia for Finland, I wouldn’t have learnt about the youth system in Europe.”
● Will he return to his first home?
Saravanan’s heart is in Malaysia. He will be back but has not decided when.
He has received offers to coach in Malaysia but wants to complete his coaching education in Finland where he is pursuing his UEFA A licence.
“I prefer playing than coaching but age has caught up with me. I miss playing the game because one always feel connected to the fans,” he said.
“Even until today, I always get messages from Perak fans. Football has widened his social circle. My footballing days were beautiful, and I wish I could do that again.”
Saravanan hopes to conduct a football exchange programme with Malaysia.
“It would be great if I can bring our Finnish junior players to Malaysia and take our locals to Finland. Learning different cultures will help football development.”
He also wishes to step up from youth football to a first-team football coach in the future.
“The UEFA A licence will be the stepping stone for me. Whether it is in Finland or any other country in Europe or Asia, I want to lead a professional side,” he said.
“I could have gone to Kelantan with coach Bojan Hodak in 2013, but I wanted to continue my coaching development here.
“Hodak still keeps in touch with me, and he has visited me in Helsinki. I could have coached in Malaysia, but I wanted to challenge myself.
Saravanan also keeps in touch with B. Sathianathan, Datuk K. Rajagopal, Tan Cheng Hoe and former national striker Khalid Jamlus and hopes to catch up when he returns.
“I have not been back for a while now. I want to do something for our football.
“I miss my family back home too, but in life, you have to make some sacrifices to be better. In Finland, I have my son Aaron and my wife. But I’m sure they would understand when the time comes for me to contribute to Malaysian football one day.”