Mikkelin Palloilijat’s young defender Joona Kuismala requests transfer after receiving inappropriate feedback from coaches

18-year-old defender Joona Kuismala of Mikkelin Palloilijat (MP) has requested a transfer to another team. According to the club’s statement, Kuismala, who has played in youth national teams, received inappropriate feedback from the coaching staff during a Finnish Cup match in June, a situation which apologies have failed to rectify. MP lost the cup match to TPS, and was subsequently eliminated from the tournament. Since then, Kuismala has not been seen on the field in the Ykkönen, Finland’s second-tier football league. He has been maintaining his game fitness by playing with the club’s reserve team, which competes a few tiers below the main team.

According to Ilkka Mäkelä, the Chairman of Mikkelin Palloilijat, the comments directed towards Kuismala were offensive, and a warning has been issued to the person responsible. The club wants to support their homegrown player and find him a new suitable team. Mäkelä states that there have not yet been any official offers for the player. However, there is significant interest in Kuismala due to his experience at a high level of Finnish football and in national teams, despite his young age.

Meanwhile, MP is keeping an eye out for potential new players to bring to Mikkeli. Mäkelä says that the club’s next player acquisition will be confirmed in the near future.

MP faces a very important home match ahead. On Thursday, they will play against Käpylän Pallo, a team that has also only won once in 14 matches. With a win, MP could move up from the bottom of the league table.