Österlen pulls at the top after 3-1 against Karlshamn

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At the same time as Österlen this weekend beat Asarum cod Syrianska against Räppe, which means that Österlen FF will play Division 1 football next season! But the club is not content with that. With the help of new sponsor Sagari Sport, the Superettan is the new goal. Österlensport had a chat with Filip Lidgren, one of the driving forces behind Österlen's success story, and Alexander Huhtinen who is behind Sagari Sport. But first a few words with the team's head coach Agim Sopi.

"Agim is a fucking hero"

Congratulations Agim!
- Thank you, it's nice that it's done now. The guys are worthy of this, it is a good group that listens and wants to learn. And who challenges himself. Some players have developed enormously just since last spring, says Agim Sopi, who emphasizes that Österlen is a group of football players who do not whine very much.

An example is 30-year-old midfielder Robin Jakobsson who in last weekend's match injured his left foot but who thanks to special treatment by physiotherapist Claes Javerud (Gröstorps Sjukgymnastik) and a will of steel played 85 minutes in this weekend's match against Asarum. With this foot!

Österlen's board wants to move forward and is not satisfied with division 1. A new financier, Sagari Sport AB (subsidiary of Victoria Invest), has become involved in the club and the idea is that Österlen will play in the Superettan 2022. If it is Agim Sopi who continues the journey with ÖFF remains to be seen. Discussions with the board are ongoing. A low odds is that Agim extends.

If you are the one who trains Österlen next season, what does it take to succeed in division 1 as well?
- Already during the first training sessions, I saw that several of the players have very high quality and that they would do well even in division 1. Then I know from experience that a couple of reinforcements will be needed, says Agim Sopi.

- It feels unreal, and almost a bit empty now that the goal has been achieved. I feel a great pride and I think that the whole of Österlen can do that. Agim is a fucking hero and look at Robin Jakobsson who played almost the entire match with that foot. Without making a single mistake - what an ambassador, says Österlen FF's vice chairman Filip Lidgren!

Division 1 - the economic gulf

Long journeys and relatively little contribution from the Swedish Football Association. Division 1 has become known as an expensive series to participate in. An economic sinkhole. In addition, the sports field in Skillinge must be partially rebuilt - safety needs to be improved and a new grandstand with room for 500 seated spectators along the eastern long side is planned to be built. In addition, the organization needs to be strengthened. And I guess also the player squad. Just like in so many other municipalities where successful elite associations are supported by the home municipality, Österlen FF of course also needs support from Simrishamn's municipality.

- There is already a plan for much of this. We have finished with Sagari Sport who believe in our investment and go in with money, says Filip Lidgren who is happy to list a whole lot of people who are behind Österlen's success and who he thinks should be highlighted.

- Many people in Brantevik, Rörum and Skillinge should be proud today, including Mattias Westberg, Tord Carlsson, Kjell Nilsson and Eskil Brantling, many non-profit forces and all the coaches before Agim, not least Jonas Stridsberg and Jonas Mårtensson who largely put together the successful team, continues Filip Lidgren.

Sagari Sport - trotting horses, e-sports and now football

Sagari Sport AB is a multi-sport company that has made investments in, among other things, e-sports and owns about 30 trotting horses. Now you also take the step into football.

- Sagari Sport is investing heavily in ÖFF by building a long-term value in the club both organizationally and financially. The goal of this investment is to establish ÖFF in the Superettan 2022 and Vision 2025 is an established team in the Allsvenskan. In a first step, Malik Sesay is appointed as sports manager in the club, Malik has, among other things, trained IFK Trelleborg, IFK Malmö and FC Rosengård, writes Sagari Sport on its website.

Do you have any connection to Österlen?
- My partner is from there and my mother has lived there. We want to be involved from the beginning of this new phase and believe that this is a win-win for both us and Österlen FF, says Alexander Huhtinen who is behind Sagari Sports' investment and who joins as club manager in ÖFF's new organization.

Jörgen "Sweden-Bomber" Pettersson into the coaching staff

Alexander Huhtinen also reveals that the former national team player Jörgen Pettersson will step into Österlen's coaching staff. Pettersson has since 2009 had coaching roles for various teams in Skåne, most recently in IF Lödde.

There is a lot that needs to be planned in the small clubhouse at Skillinge IP before the series premiere this spring. Rome was not built in a day but construction has begun.

- Everyone who has a passion for football at Österlen must end up in this, Filip Lidgren concludes.

IFK Simrishamn saved the first three points of the season on Saturday afternoon. But it looked like a long time to end in a draw against Kulladals FF at home at Korsavad's sports ground. Slitvargen Jonathan Karlsén in Simrishamn's midfield, however, wanted something different and in overtime he made sure that the hope for a renewed Division 3 contract remains at least until the next round.

Tagged Simrishamn owned the first half

Already in the second minute, Jonathan Karlsén thundered in 1-0 to the home team. A tagged Simrishamn made an inspired and strong first half and should have scored more goals in three four good positions, including Ludwig Lloyd had a finish at the bottom of the bar.

Instead, Kulladal was awarded a penalty in the 36th minute which was managed until 1-1 which was also the half time result. The second half was smoother. Strong introduction of Kulladal. Many short attacks in both directions and two teams that defended well resulted in a boring and unlucky half. The redeeming 2-1 goal made Karlsén careful in the 93rd minute.

"I think we finish with two victories and manage to stay"

- In the first half, we create enough chances to kill the match. We have good control then. In the second half we do not find the game and get a little heavy behind but we continue to believe in it and fight on and this time it bounced with us. We have made many efforts this season without getting a dividend, says Jonathan Karlsén.

You were right on the hook today.
- Yes, you try to push on and take responsibility. Maybe not my best season but mentally I have been there anyway. Now there are two matches left, two top teams, and I am very much looking forward to it. One away, one at home, anything can happen. I think we will end with two victories and that we will manage to stay, Jonathan Karlsén concludes (picture below).

Lucas Olsson was the best on the field

This was a typical warrior victory where the collective attitude on the plane should be praised. Apart from Karlsén's two bowls, distinct breaks and many running meters, we can not help but mention the plan's giant - midfielder and team captain Lucas Olsson, who did most things right this sunny afternoon, something that also Simrishamn's head coach Tobias Eriksson agreed with.

- Finally, enormously nice! This means a lot to the boys' self-confidence. We have worked really hard to create energy and boost each other for the past two weeks. We have a small chance left and now we will ride this wave and try to clear the contract, says IFK Simrishamn's coach Tobias Eriksson who after the match got an emotional hug from Marcus Svensson who recently resigned as head coach and handed over the coaching responsibility to Tobias Eriksson.

It was a very gratifying home victory when the Swedish Golf Senior Tour H 60 was decided on Österlen Golf Club's course Djupadal. 113 players came to the start and at the top of the results list we find Markdalen who during the second day's game made an impressive 72-round containing a birdie, two boogies and 15 pairs! We cheer and congratulate! Here you read a report with pictures about the very successful two-day competition.

Of the 113 participants, no less than nine home players from Österlens GK lined up - Göran Höckert, Åke Appelgren, Gunnar Mueller, Anders Albäck, Dan Markdalen, Per Borg, Carl-Magnus Andersson, Jan Törner and Staffan Widerståhl. During the first day's round, we followed the balls where Markdalen and Mueller went.

Birdie on the second and pistol on the eighth

08.51 Jan Wedsberg (Ullna GK), Jan Burgaz (Kungliga Drottningholms GK) and Dan Markdalen (Österlens GK) pointed out. Already on the first tee it became clear that this was a socially competent trio that set out in the wonderful late summer weather. Two pairs and a boogie on the first hole for the trio. On hole 2, Jan Wedsberg's shot ended up in a tricky position in the bunker 50 meters from the green. After getting the ball out of the bunker, it stopped about 15 meters before the green. The perfectly balanced putt rolled all the way up to the stick and straight into the cup - birdie from maybe 20 meters!

After the decision on the eighth, Jan Wedsberg mentions that he will produce his pistol. Thankfully, it turned out that it was only a pistol-like massager that was picked out of the bag. After a short while of self-treatment of the neck and back, Wedsberg was ready for the second shot down to the fast green of the eight.

Fruit time with nestorn Gunnar Mueller

After nine holes, Dan Markdalen and Jan Wedsberg had hit 38 strokes each and Jan Burgaz 44. Here at nine we thanked Dan, Jan and Jan for the company and instead joined Per Möller (Ljunghusens GK, Matti Säyrä (Upsala GK) and Gunnar Mueller (Österlens GK) during their last nine holes day 1.

"Golf is a martial art"

A victory interview with Herr Markdalen is of course in place. Here he is seen in the middle together with the first day's playmates.

72-round the second day, what was it that worked so well?
- I know that golf is a martial art (which not many people know) and I always try to think away the bad and just try to hit fairways and greens, then the score is usually good. Djupadal is very "own" and if you give up a little, it will be 86 strokes immediately, says Dan Markdalen. I hit a lot of good irons, chipped decently and above all I lowered four five putts from two three meters which was crucial I would say. I missed almost nothing gross from the tee on 36 holes which was also good. The only double bogey came after I hit an iron 8 from 116 meters on the 12th on the first lap but I thought I kept the pitching wedge and ended up ten meters behind the green!

How did you celebrate the victory?
- The celebration was a pizza with a glass of wine in front of the Tour Champions on TV.

How are you overall on the H 60 tour?
- Advancement from 15th place to ninth in the ranking, concludes Dan Markdalen.

The first weekend in October, the H60 tour continues at Mauritsberg GK (Race to Mauritsberg) where the 70 best ranked players can participate.