Tabe is on trial with Finland Veikkausliiga side IFK Mariehamn along with Tomiwa Ogunsola http://www.veikkausliiga.com/News.aspx?type=1&ID=37273
Wow.. If he signs there, that means all four Yanks are gone from Ljungskile. We may not hear from david_c ever again!
I believe they were mid-table. Team was known for their defense during the season. They didn't allow many goals, but then again, they barely scored any. Mariehamn is an island that sits between Finland and Sweden. In fact, many of the locals speak Swedish. Yes, it is in the Veikkausliiga, the top level in Finland.
Is a midtable 1st division team in Finland a step up from LSK? I have next to zero knowledge of the Finnish system, but it doesn't seem to be highly regarded. Tabe did quite well in Sweden, I wouldn't want to see him move down a level in competition.
Pedantic addendum from dorky mod: Mariehamn is on a more or less autonomous island called Åland, which as you said is home to many members of Finland's ethnic Swedish minority. Soccer isn't the #1 sport in Finland, and the Veikkausliiga is relatively weak, yes. I haven't watched enough of the Swedish second division to comment on relative quality, but if this move is a step up it's not a big one, in my opinion. The OP might possibly have more to say on this than I do.
It's a valid question. You look at the top teams in Finland like TPS and HJK and there has been some moderate success in European play in the last decade. The thing about LSK is that just two years ago they were in the Allsvenskan which is far superior than the Veikkausliiga... but the Superettan is a different story. I dunno, I think I'd have to side with the Superettan being just a hair above the Veikkausliiga. So probably a small step down for Etchu.
Well if it is a small step down or even a lateral move, then the only reason I can see for leaving would be better pay. Anyone have any ideas of the pay in the Finnish 1st division compared to the Swedish 2nd?
Found a thread where IFK Mariehamn fans are discussing this transfer. It is in Swedish so hard to follow, but one poster claims Energie Cottbus were (or are) also looking at him.
Like Friedel'sAccent wrote "Mariehamn is on a more or less autonomous island called Åland" And Åland decides many things on their own. Like taxes so maybe IFK Mariehamn can pay more to their players. Like Monaco who play Ligue 1 in france. Don't really know about the level of Finnish 1st division but AIK Solna who won Allsvenskan signed two players from the team that won Finnish 1st division 2008 and both players were important players this year. But I really hope that Etchu stays in LSK.
His trial is completed; however, Mariehamn won't decide on Tabe until some time in January. I love the team director's quote: "We will presumably make a decision, but not until January," director Peter Mattsson told YA. "Presumably" Does that mean he is not sure whether the team will ever decide who they are going to sign for those vacant roster spots? http://yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=content&id=5627
From the man himself: "It's (IFK Mariehamn) a very viable option, but I have a few other things going on with some other clubs, including Ljungskile, so we will see what happens." http://yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=content&id=5652
Well It's only to wish Etchu good luck and thank him for his time in LSK. But on the other hand I'm pretty suprised, with all respect to RoPS but the finnish second division? It feels like he is a little bit better than that.
I really don't understand the switch. He can't be making that much more money and the swedish 2nd division is more than likely way better...so kind of at a loss.
Here he is on the club's roster page: http://www.rops.fi/component/option,com_joomleague/func,showPlayer/p,65/pid,369/Itemid,1127/
Many clubs i sweden has to cut their costs and LSK has lost some players due to worse contract offers. And Etchu signed when LSK was playing in Allsvenskan had a pretty good contract i think and LSK didn't have the economy to give him the same contract or as much the rumours says that he will get in RoPS. And it seemes likes he will get some other benefits to. So thats a good deal for Etchu.
That's pretty good. Don't blame him if he wasn't going to get that in Sweden. But I hope he dominates here and goes to a bigger league this summer or next winter.
About his move to Finland: "A very influential person in my football career always tells me ‘sometimes it's necessary to take a step sideways, to go forward,' and I look forward to this new experience with a good team with great history." http://yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=content&id=5826
I can't understand a word of Finnish and Google translate doesn't seem to do a very good job; however, I do understand a picture of Etchu on crutches. Can anyone get more out of this article than he has a knee injury and doesn't know when he can return? He seems to be a promising, young defender, and I hope he can recover soon and continue to develop his game.