HJK Helsinki travel to Torino on Thursday evening to take on the Granata in the Europa League, but without a goal in the competition so far this season, the newly crowned Veikkausliiga champions will be looking to Demba Savage to give them hope of qualification to the knockout stages.
After growing up in Gambia, the 26-year-old moved to Finland in 2006 to join KPV Kokkola and has spent almost nine years in the Nordic country, joining HJK in February 2012.
“I didn’t choose to come to Finland,” he exclusively told Forza Italian Football.
“It was something that happened so quick that I decide to take a chance, a first step.
“I didn’t know anything about Finland, but one of my friends was playing here, so I took a chance and went on trial at his club, KPV Kokkola, and then they offered me a two-and-a-half-year contract, so I signed it and it isn’t something I regret.
“I get the chance to play in the Europa League and I win trophies every season. HJK are like the Juventus of Finland if you like, or similar to Bayern Munich in Germany.”
Taking inspiration from his best friend’s father and Gambian football legend Biri Nije, who played for the Derby County, Sevilla and Danish side Herfølge Boldklub, Savage is forging a good career playing football in the Veikkausliiga.
“It was my dream to play football since I was young, My dad used to play football, not as a professional, and the area where I was born was football crazy, all everyone would talk about was football.
“The best player ever in Gambian football history, Biri Nije lived on the same street as me and I am best friends with his son.
“We used to run away from school to play football and my mum used to complain, but she doesn’t complain much anymore.
“The player I used to watch the most was Ronaldinho, when he was at the top, it was like watching a comedy movie, he was so good I was laughing.
“His movement was great and he always had fun while playing football. Everyone else looked so serious, but for him it was as if he was training.
“People talk about [Lionel] Messi and [Cristiano] Ronaldo, but for me he [Ronaldinho] will always be the best.”
Despite being HJK’s top scorer with 11 goals, Savage is under no illusions as to the difference in level between the Finnish league and European competition.
“The defenders are much more physical in Europe, and don’t give you as much space. They also have someone to cover them all the time, so it is very different and much more difficult.
“When you play against teams at the level of Serie A, we have to be compact, counter attack well and take out chances. Of course Torino are the favourites but we will see.
“I don’t feel pressure to get goals, when I miss a chance I get pissed off, because I want to score in every game.
“I am not Messi or Ronaldo, so it is impossible, and I am not a striker, I am a winger, so I don’t feel any pressure.
“I don’t have to score in every game as we have other players who can contribute.
“I don’t think about my opponents that much. I just got with the flow, I go on the field and enjoy myself.
“I don’t want to give myself the added pressure of worrying about the left-back or right-back. I just want to know how the defend and how they attack and that’s it.”
Finally, Savage reminisced about one special occasion in his career to date, a 2-1 defeat to Celtic in the Champions League qualification stage.
“In 2012 we played against Celtic in the Champions League, it was amazing. One of the best moments of my career so far.
“The fans and the stadium were amazing, plus we played well too.
“Football is all about the atmosphere, when you have fans singing for 90 minutes.
“We don’t often have those atmospheres in Finland, so to go to a stadium of 60,000 is completely different.
“I hope to move one day to a bigger league, maybe to play in the Bundesliga. It is a tough competition and the league I enjoy watching the most.”
