World Footy News

With Finland entering the International Cup for the first time in 2008, the push for new recruits has been in top gear since the first tufts of grass appeared through the melting snow. It is a big ask for one of the newest footy nations on the world to embark on such a mammoth task, and so the net has been cast far and wide to secure Finland's best athletes.

Julian "The Big Rooster" Clark, Finland Footy's Founding Father, recently journeyed out to the British International School in Jakarta, Indonesia where 16-year old Finn Tuomas "Timebomb" Antilla has been developing well with the Jakarta Bulldogs AFC.

The Jakarta Bulldogs are an under 18 team that often play in conjunction with (and sometimes even against) the Jakarta Bintangs AFC, as well as some of the Java AFL's localised senior sides.

The word going around was that Antilla was getting quite a bit of distance off the boot, and at 181cm, was a useful tall with a vice-like grab. Rooster's mandate was clear - and that was to secure the services of Antilla for the International Cup in Melbourne at any cost (within the annual operating budget of the Finland AFL, i.e. verbal appreciation).

Tuomas was presented with the Number 32 Finland IceBreakers jumper, donated by Big Rooster Footy. The IceBreakers jumper was designed by former Finnish footballer David King, as a variation of an original design by the Big Rooster. The number 32 jumper had been reserved for Tuomas, in order to integrate him seamlessly into the Finnish squad.

Tuomas eagerly donned his new jumper, and wore it to great effect in an impromptu scratch match, displaying skills that confirmed the word on the street about his kicking and marking. As impressed as The Rooster was, he made an offer on the spot to Tuomas, which of course was to be subject to consultation with his Sports Management Consultant (his Dad).

During the intense and sometimes heated negotiations that followed, Tuomas' Manager tabled the concerns of school time and more importantly exams. Despite drawing on everything available in his arsenal, Finland's International Scout couldn't counter these concerns, and so sadly all International Footy Fans will have to wait until the next International Cup to see Tuomas dominate in the ruck, or be the key target up forward for Finland. And by the look of him, probably in a bigger jumper which is a little more Dunstall-sized.