Football talk with: Bilal Velija - A True Professional

This Macedonian, he came, he saw and he conquered. He took his place in the JJK defensive line to his own. After one-week trial at JJK in January he had returned to his home country to play and fight relegation in the Macedonian Premier League as the captain of FK Gostivar, but eventually moved to Finland as JJK offered him a 6-month contract.

"I already knew (head coach) Juha Pasoja, as I played in Norway against his Ham-Kam. He remembered me well, as I had scored one and assisted one goal in the game. He wanted me here for a test, I played two games, we won a third division team and then Jaro in Pietarsaari. I went back to Macedonia, but then later JJK offered me a contract and I wanted to come here to help the club."

April 2014: The journeyman has arrived

As Bilal Velija, "Billy", returned to Jyväskylä in April, the Finnish Ykkönen (second tier) season was just a few weeks away. Velija played two games before the season started, and settled into the team right away.

"When you are in good shape it is easy. Juha knew me and the guys knew my capacity. In the winter when they trained, I was always playing in the first 11 in the Macedonian Super League and was very fit - it was very easy."

Macedonian journeyman

His visit to Finland was not the first one, as he had already played for PoPa in Kakkonen (third tier) in the 2007 season. After the visit in Pori it was time to move on. And since then the player has been very much on the move. The now 31-year-old defender could easily be described a journeyman as he has played also in Azerbaijan, Norway, Albania and Macedonia in his career. And now, after the Finnish Ykkönen season is over, it seems again time to move on.

"I started my first professional contract when I was 17, played 7 years in the Macedonian first league, after that I came to Finland to Pori. After that I played in many European clubs."

Watched over by head coach Juha Pasoja

In Norway Velija played for Løv-Ham (Adeccoligaen, second tier) for two years in 2008-09, but since the club faced serious financial problems it had to let the professional players go (and later folded and merged with another club in 2011). It was again time to leave, and so Billy went back to Albania.

Bilal Velija is at home on the right side in the defence, but is ready to fill in wherever the coach needs him. "Yeah, right back is my natural position, but in Norway I have played as offensive right midfielder and scored goals, and in Macedonia I have also played as a left back."

"It is important to me that the coach likes me and I always play in the first team and first 11, that gives me more motivation for another season."

Delivering a cross against JIPPO

"I try always to play on the ground, playing long balls is difficult for me, it is not my style of playing, I cannot change my natural style."

At home in Jyväskylä and JJK

Before coming to play at JJK Velija went for trial at Veikkausliiga club VPS, where was man of the match in a League cup against Jaro, "but we did not find an economical solution. I didn’t sign there and JJK was waiting for me, so it was the best thing what happened to me. I was happy playing for JJK."

"Everything here was perfect, the city, the club, the people, I will never forget it. I want to say thanks to everybody here in Jyväskylä how they made me feel like it's my hometown. JJK and Jyväskylä is my family, it was really nice, so fantastic to me here."

According to the man he made a lot of friends in a short time, on and off the pitch. His partnership on the right flank with midfielder Mikko Manninen looked as if they had been playing together for a long time. 

Teamwork brings results

"We are both professionals, and have big experience in football. The best players don’t have to always talk, they can understand each other, it is the same language of football, it is the same moves with and without the ball. With Manu we always won in the area where we played. He is a great guy and a great player, so it was easy to play with him."

JJK started the season with a squad with numerous young players playing their first season at this level. As one of the more experienced players Bilal Velija also recognized his responsibility to support the young team.

"I wanted to teach the young guys with the capacity I have. JJK have here really talented players. I said many times they have to work hard to get to the top. Great guys, good players, I hope they continue to be great players."

The Ykkönen Season

Looking back at the season, Bilal Velija lifts a couple of games above the rest. The first win of the season, at home against FC Jazz in the fourth round, and away win at HIFK, the team eventually promoted to Veikkausliiga.

Giving strikers a hard time

"It was not our best game, but when we won against Jazz, I wanted to win for this city and for Harjun Pojat. Also my cousin was at the game, so it was important to win. Our best game was HIFK away, we played a fantastic game. We controlled the game, and it was not easy to play against them, they were the top team. I respect them, I think they played the best football in this league. That is why they are in the Veikkausliiga now."

The relatively inexperienced young JJK team had a rough start into the season and was fighting at the bottom of the table for quite some time. But eventually, the team got its game together and started winning. They fought their way to safety in good time, and finished seventh in the league table.

"Football is a team game. In situation like this, I felt sad, just wanted to play for my club, and after that we went nine games in a row without losing. We enjoyed that time, and are happy what we did this season, feeling very positive now."

"Football is a team game"

"I always believed we can be a good team, it was a very young team, but now they know how to fight. Like Juha (Pasoja) said, we lost many duels and many tight games, but in the summer we learned to win and believe in what we were doing. That is very important, believe until the end, strong mentality, like the Germans. We can do it, and we did it."

He also feels empathy KTP Kotka, who failed to keep their pole position until the end of season. "That is how football is, it is important to finish, play until the end. I have been in the same situation so I know how the guys are now feeling, I feel very sorry for them."

Having a go at KTP

Bilal Velija's hard work and dedication for the team made a big impression. He was going forward and tracking back tirelessly. Velija was an almost ever-present, only missed two games this season.

"I am very happy, it is thanks to God first and after that Lude, and the other guys. Juha, Lude (Antti Luhta) and masseur Antto (Haapalahti) - they did a great job, I was always fit and played almost every game, except when I was suspended. Lude is not just the physical coach, he does many things besides that, he is very positive, psychologically also very good."

Velija rates Ykkönen highly for its qualities, Macedonian league does not stand in comparison.

"No, this league is much better. It was very hard to play, very strong clubs like Ilves, Haka, Kotka, Oulu - big names in Finnish football and big clubs to respect. I was playing in test games for Veikkausliiga, there it was easier, because everybody waited and respected you - here if you dribbled one, another came to tackle you, so it was very hard to play in this league. Ykkönen is a league to respect, more physical, hard to play, believe me."

Love and be loved

Suddenly Billy starts singing the praises of the JJK supporters.

"The fans here are the best fans in the world. For me, there is a big culture here. It is very positive, because Harjun Pojat, they are everywhere where we play. It does not matter if they work or not, they find the time no matter what. It was very surprising to me and very big motivation when they are there. They have very big place in my heart."

Harjun Pojat on the road again

JJK's supporters group, Harjun Pojat, voted Billy Velija Player of the season. Upon hearing this, his emotions take over, and a few tears roll down from the corner of his eye. After a few deep breaths he continues his to praise JJK, Jyväskylä, and the local people.

Harjun Pojat JJK Player of the Season 2014

"I never feel like this, this feels like winning the world. I never cry, but… "

Even if there may be more fans and more noise in the stands in other countries, like his native Macedonia, Billy prefers the fan culture in Finland.

"Hands up, baby, hands up"

"True, there are more people, but it is a bit different. In Macedonia I played for Shkëndija, it was normal to have 5000, and in derby games 10 000, but actually, they can be bad too, not so positive. The fans here enjoy and know how to make the players happy. I wanted so much to score this season and share that with Harjun Pojat, but did not manage, but I am still happy with many assists."

Bitter memories - and good ones

Bilal Velija says he can easily relate to the feelings of disappointed KTP Kotka players who let the promotion slip through their fingers in the final round(s) of Ykkönen as he has been in similar situations before.

"I have two very negative memories. First we didn’t win the cup with my team Shkëndija Tetovo (in 2006) who have fantastic fans and for me is the best team in Macedonia. We lost that game and I felt very sad." Shkëndija managed to lose their lead as the opponents scored two goals in the last ten minutes of the final.

"And one time in Azerbaijan I had a last second chance, but did not score, and I lost a bonus and the club would have wanted me for the next two years. With the bonus it would have been like half a million dollars. I was only 25, and at that moment I thought I would not enjoy football anymore."

That missed opportunity cost the club, Olimpik Baku, the championship as a local rival beat them to the title only by goal difference.

Among his best memories are the times at Renova, when the team took home the Macedonian Cup and played in Europa League qualification rounds (2012).

"We were close to play against Liverpool, but we lost in the second round by one goal to Gomel (of Belarus). If we had won, we would have played Liverpool, just one goal."

"I also had good moments when I played in Norway, and the best moments I have had were here. I liked it here in Jyväskylä where I could feel like a big player, I enjoyed every second of this six months here."

What now, Billy boy?

With his contract with JJK running to its end just now, Bilal Velija is heading back to meet friends and family. And to consider his next steps.

A true professional - looking for new challenges now

"I have some offers, but I don’t want to run for those, I need to think a little bit about it. Because if I sign somewhere early and something economically better and a better team comes, so I have to be a little careful what I do. I am 32 now, and I love football. It is not everything about money, but if you come 3000 kilometers - nobody has to lie - money too is important."

"If I wanted to stay here at JJK... You never know, maybe I come back, but the economic problems was maybe I didn’t sign again. I have to be careful and now I am in fantastic shape thanks to God and thanks to JJK for what they did for me."

"I hope I will come back to Jyväskylä some day"

So, at almost 32 now, how many years are there still ahead as a footballer for Bilal Velija?

"I thank JJK for helping me to be in this good shape. I am also very professional and try to always do my best to stay in shape. If I continue like that I don’t think I will have a problem to play until I am like 40. I hope I will come back to Jyväskylä soon or some day. I really hope that."