Finland League
After Sivula played on the national team during summer 2006, all the teams at Finland's highest level wanted Sivula. Finally Sivula signed a contract with Pielaveden Sampo. The contract lasted two years, with a third optional year. The first season in the league Sivula was recognized as one of the best players in the league. He won with Sampo Finland Cup-Champion, and played himself CEV-Cup quarterfinal. In the Finland league Sampo lost its final division game against Rovaniemen Santasport. Finals were some of the best ever seen in the Finland league. After the season Sivula was chosen as the best newcomer in the league.
Sivula started his second league season in Finland with big expectations. The media expected that Sivula would be the ultimate discovery in the league. In the first game that season Sivula played amazing volleyball. The Finnish media described the game as the "Sivula show." In the international court Sivula also played well. Against the Italian A1-league team Roma Volley, Sivula was the best spiker of both teams on the court.
During the 2007-2008 season Sampo played in the Challenge Cup quarterfinal; there they had a narrow loss against Russian Superleague team Lokomotiv Ekaterinburg. Sampo won again in the Finland cup-championship, but in the league they lost again to Rovaniemen Santasport in finals. That was a big disappointment for Sivula and Sampo.
After the season Sivula received many prizes. Finland's biggest newspaper, Ilta-Sanomat recognized him as the best player in the league. Finland's favourite volleyball site, hotsport.info, also chose Sivula as the best player in the league, and in the all-stars team. Also Sport Channel chose him for the All-Star team. During the 2008-09 season Sivula started in Pielaveden Sampo. He led his team to the Finland Cup-finals. The final game was his last game in Finland. He was named the best player of the game. After the game he signed a contract with the Galatasaray volleyball club of Turkey.
Sivula changed Turkey league after his first season to Italian volleyball league. There his coach was Mauro Berruto, who coached also in Finnish volleyball national team.
Read more about this topic: Urpo Sivula
Famous quotes containing the word league:
“We’re the victims of a disease called social prejudice, my child. These dear ladies of the law and order league are scouring out the dregs of the town. C’mon be a glorified wreck like me.”
—Dudley Nichols (1895–1960)