The case in summary Vegard Riise Eikrem, day-to-day manager of Langevåg IL, criticizes the practice of topping teams in the Norway Cup. Eikrem believes that all players should have an equal offer and not sit on the substitutes’ bench. He calls on the district and federation to address the issue. Langevåg IL has 46 players for the Norway Cup, divided between three equally strong G16 teams. The players in the club support Eikrem and appreciated the social aspect of the tournament. Chairman of the Norway Cup, Øystein Sundelin, and general secretary of the Norwegian Football Association, Karl Petter Løken, express support for grassroots sports and enjoyment of sports. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – We are concerned that everyone should have an equal offer here on the plain. For us, it is extremely important that everyone should feel equally valued. That’s what Vegard Riise Eikrem says, who is the day-to-day manager of Langevåg IL. He believes that several people should top the team during one of the world’s biggest football tournaments, and that it is not right. Among other things, he points out that everyone at the Norway Cup pays the same amount to participate, and that everyone is part of the same group. – There is no point in the young people traveling to Oslo to sit on the substitutes’ bench. Then you can just as well send the suits in the post. Eikrem himself has previously been head of the youth committee in the Norwegian Football Association, and believes that the circuit and association must do more to address what he sees as a problem. One of Langevåg’s three G16 teams in action during the Norway Cup this week. Photo: Arne Flatin / news – Norway Cup is more than just football Even Langevåg IL has 46 players for the Norway Cup, distributed among three G16 teams, where all teams are equally strong, according to Eikrem. – I think it’s silly if players stay on the bench for large parts of the tournament here and get to play very little. In youth football, it must not be the case that players are sitting on the bench in search of results, he says. – It happens, and we all know that, he adds. Two of the players in the club give full support to the manager. – There is clearly an advantage for the social, and you don’t just join one group. Then we will be a group of 46. It’s really nice to do it like that, says Jonas Steinsvik Fjørtoft. Jonas Steinsvik Fjørtoft, Sander Solnørdal Bjørkavåg and Vegard Riise Eikrem in Langevåg IL Photo: Arne Flatin / news – The Norway Cup is about something more than just football. We play short matches and maybe 200 minutes of football in total, while the social activities continue throughout the week, says Sander Solnørdal Bjørkavåg. Do you think it’s okay to top teams? Yes, one wants to win! No, everyone should be allowed to play regardless of level Maybe in the final rounds Show result Top or not top The manager of Langevåg IL thinks this must be on the agenda. – The dropout rate in football is too great. It is obvious that if people are not allowed to play football, then one stops. The Norway Cup itself does not experience the topping of teams as a major or increasing problem, says chairman Øystein Sundelin. – We as organizers do not have an overview of who is good or bad on a team, so this becomes a subjective assessment between the teams – whether they are top or not, he says. Øystein Sundelin, chairman of the Norway Cup. Photo: Hallgeri Aunan / news He says you don’t have to top the team to win in the youngest age groups. They support the values of grassroots sports: that everyone should get time out on the field or in a match. – The whole Norway Cup is built on the fact that it should be sporting joy and fun to be here, no matter what level you are at. Too high ambitions among the coaching team or some of the players must not trump those types of values. Karl Petter Løken, general secretary of the Norwegian Football Association. Photo: Line Slotnes / Line Slotnes I think the guidelines are clear Secretary General of the Norwegian Football Association, Karl Petter Løken, says they can participate and discuss the topping of teams during cups. However, he believes they are clear in their guidelines. – There we are clear that everyone who turns up for a match must play at least one innings. This is an important principle, and a responsibility for coaches and team managers to follow. – We would like to join in a discussion about whether we need to be even more aggressive in communicating to the club about the guidelines we have, says Løken. Løken pays tribute to what Langevåg IL does during the Norway Cup, with its three equal teams. – I think it’s great that they share equal teams in a tournament like this. I am sure that both the club and the players will come out of the Norway Cup as an even more close-knit group. Riise Eikrem from Langevåg IL doesn’t think there are that many other clubs that do what they have done. – It is difficult to say for sure, but I have a feeling that we are going against the grain in this case, there is no doubt about that. Published 01.08.2024, at 10.51
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Vegard Riise Eikrem in Langevåg IL is against top teams at the football tournament – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
