Podcast: Former HIFK player had enough of Olli Jokinen’s antics – “Yes, it pissed me off”
Former HIFK goalkeeper Niko Hovinen gives harsh feedback on Olli Jokinen‘s leadership style. The veteran, who played three seasons with the Helsinki club, describes the atmosphere last season in the darkest terms.
Hovinen shares his experiences in the Touru&Hoffrén Forever podcast, which was reported by Ilta-Sanomat.
– I can only speak for myself. The feeling I had last year about the general atmosphere was that it was really tense and oppressive.
Hovinen also played under Ville Peltosen coaching at HIFK. According to him, the club’s daily life changed fundamentally when Jokinen became the head coach. Peltonen shared responsibilities with his assistants, while Jokinen, in Hovinen’s view, wanted to keep all the strings in his own hands.
Hovinen was particularly left with a bad taste from his own treatment. The experienced goalkeeper was sidelined from the team’s activities last season, but according to Hovinen, the head coach did not discuss the situation with him.
– Yes, it pissed me off. I tried to ask what was happening. Do you want me to find a new team? Are you selling me? What is going on? No one said a word, Hovinen recounts.
Hovinen admits he played poorly and does not believe he deserved more playing time. However, he would have been willing to consider a change of club if the matter had been handled properly.
The situation was complicated by the fact that the season was already well underway and Hovinen’s wife was in the late stages of pregnancy. In the end, the goalkeeper decided to respond to the silence in kind.
– When no one said anything, I perhaps thought a bit childishly that if we’re playing this kind of silent game, then I’ll play along.
Hovinen finds Jokinen’s methods difficult to understand. In his opinion, even unpleasant decisions should be communicated directly to the players.
Jokinen’s tenure at HIFK ended with his dismissal on October 21. His successor Tommi Miettinen has led the Helsinki team to four victories in five matches.
Hovinen reports hearing from former teammates that the impact of the new coaching staff has quickly been visible in the team’s daily life.
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