A REAL PRO, P-R-O, PRO!!

How long have you been playing floorball??

First time? 1 month? 1 year? 3 years? 5 years?

When was the last time you saw a really, really good player??

None? Penang? Malaysia? APAC? World Championships?

Personally, having playing the game for almost 4 years, and being fortunate enough to be involved in Asia Pacific Floorball Championship in Singapore last year, I say the best player I have seen and really admire are Brown from Singapore and Japan's #13 All-star defender(donno his name, pai seh). Well that was before I meet Jani.

Jani Kukkola with his Fatpipe stick

Jani who?? Ya, that was my impression at first as well. This is all I can korek form the registration form:
Name: Jani "Kukkis" Kukkola
Nationality: Finland
Age: 22,
Number: #29
Height: 177cm
Position: center
Club: SSV(Salibandy Seura Vikingt; Finnish Champions)

Showing off some moves

If you wanna know more about him, you should go ask Linken cuz he was privileged enough to be his "Limo" driver form the airport and made an informal interview with the Finnish star.

To be honest, at the start it was quite boring. We did some forehand, backhand passing and a circuit. Basically, me eyes were fixed on Jani's every move. The stance, the passes, the movement, the dribblings, the spins, the shots. Super! Superb!! and... I'm out of words to describe.

Lets do some drills

After that we did shooting drills, my favourite if not everybody's. The Drag Shots, the Wrist Shots, the Slap Shots. So fast you eyes cant catch it; so accurate it hits both top corners; so hard it leaves bruise on you!! Go ask Linken and you'll understand. You can just feel the pain from the sound of impact.

Wrist shot

Drag shot (Linken: Ouch!!)

Snake drill with drag shot

We move on with penalty shots and still you can't stop your jaw dropping in awe. The movement of the legs and the fakes. Outrageous!! Ask the guy on the receiving end who tried so hard but in vain when facing Jani's superior skills.

Penalties (Gk: enough ald!!)

Game time. And by that time, I think my jaw muscles were all cramped. Nutmegs, fakes, spin-offs, he would just breeze pass you like thin air. It's impossible to express it. It's beyond verbal expression and only when you see it with your own eyes then only you believe how good he is, how far far behind are we compare to the European power houses and his is still not the best yet.



To be frank, 50 bucks for the clinic, I don't think we really gain much from his teachings in the drills and tactics(maybe some about power play and free hits). However, by observing his techniques, by watching him take penalties, by being nutmeg by him, it opened our eyes, it widen our horizon that floorball those not end at where we know it now. There is still so much to explore. Those actions, those moves that can only be seen on xfloor.tv, we see it first hand. Outrageous, unthinkable stuffs that we think can't be done, he showed it with great ease. His mere presence inspired all around him if not me alone. That I think, 50 bucks is so little to lose and everything to gain.

What to train at home

Finale

By 5, the clinic ended we switched roles, we led and became his tour guide. We brought him to Gurney Drive and introduced him to some tropical fruits like Ciku, Coconut, Nangka and other Malaysia Delights. He said the food was OK and hopefully he really does cuz it would really be a shame if Penang food scared him away. We would really love to have him he some time in the future. By then, those who missed it this time, don't be so kiam siap next time and be there. Lets hope it'll still cost 50 bucks.