HJK snaps up Demba Savage
- Wednesday, 15 February 2012
- Written by Modou Lamin Beyai
Gambia international Demba Savage has been signed up by Finnish Veikkausliiga side HJK Helsinki, Gambia Sports Online can reliably reveal.
The 23-year-old Gambia international signed a four-year contract with the Helsinki-based side. HJK, who had had in their books Dawda Bah, who left the club to joined German Bundesliga side FC Augsburg decided to sign Demba because according to them, they want to bolster the attacking side of their team for the upcoming season and in particular to compete in Europe.
Demba Savage started playing football on the streets of Banjul as a young boy and at Saint Mary’s school, thereby becoming a star player. After graduation from the secondary school, he played for Warriors FC and Rico FC.
In 2003, he signed for Gambia Ports Authority F.C in the Gambia top flight of football. In the 2003/2004 season, he became the leading goal scorer in the league with GPA F.C which prompted Finnish [Ykkönen] second tier club Kokkolan Palloveikot [KPV] to sign him in 2006.
In his first season, he mostly played with KPV’s reserve team, but in 2007, he took his place in the first team. In August 2008, he was loaned to the side FC Honka. Honka used its option for a permanent move after the season. He has a record 75 appearances for Honka and notched in 22 goals for them.
Savage’s contract was to run out after the 2013 season and he chose not to renew his contract that made him to sign for Dawda Bah’s former team Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi [HJK Helsinki] alongside his team mate at Honka Rasmus Schüller.
Who are HJK Helsinki?
Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi (or HJK), internationally known as HJK Helsinki is a Finnish football club, based in the capital Helsinki. HJK is the most successful Finnish football club with 24 Championship titles.
The club was founded as “Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi – Helsingfors Fotbollsklubb” in 1907 by Fredrik Wathen. Generally considered Finland’s biggest club, HJK is also the most successful Finnish club in terms of league championships with 22.
The club has also won ten Finnish Cups and four Finnish League Cups. Many of Finland’s internationally most successful players have played for HJK before moving abroad.HJK is the only Finnish club to have played in the UEFA Champions’ League group stage.
They did so in the 1998–1999 season, triumphing over FC Metz in the second qualifying round. The club also managed a respectable five points in their group, beating Benfica at home and earning draws at home to Kaiserslautern and away to Benfica.
They lost to PSV Eindhoven twice and to Kaiserslautern away. Their highest score in European competition came in the 2011–2012 season, with a 13–0 aggregate victory over Welsh champions Bangor City, which included a 10–0 win at home.
Formerly HJK had ice hockey, bowling, field hockey, handball, figure skating and bandy sections. In 1972 the hockey section separated to independent club Helsingin Jääkiekkoklubi.