Terveisiä Romaniasta ja hyviä muistoja Turusta

Åbo IFK:ssa viime kaudella opiskelijavaihdon kautta tolppien väliin tullut Alexandru "Alex" Pașca sai opintonsa Turun yliopistossa valmiiksi ja jatkaa niitä nyt kotimaassaan Romaniassa. Alex pelasi koko kauden ÅIFK:ssa – tultuaan Turkuun syksyllä hän sai nopeasti opinnot käyntiin ja pääsi joukkueeseen sisälle sekä debytoi liiga-avauksessa. Alex teki lähes kaiken mitä voi ensimmäisessä ottelussa tehdä – hän torjui 10 kertaa, heitti yhden maalin ja kahmi vielä ottelun päätteeksi yhden tähden. Sittemmin otteluita kertyi 26 liigassa, maaleja tuli vielä toinenkin ja tähtiä kokonaiset seitsemän lisää.

Haastattelimme Alexia kauden päätteeksi ja tässä englanniksi kivoja muistoja, tuntemuksia ja kokemuksia Turusta:

Name: Alexandru Iulian Pașca
Born: 2004 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Position: Goalkeeper

Q: Why Turku?

First, the reason I came to Turku was the Cyber Security programme offered by UTU. Then, after I got admitted, something just clicked and I immediately remembered that Finland must have a handball league, as Cocks played in the EHF CL a couple of years ago.

So, things were pretty casual: I just googled for a handball team in Turku, and I found Åbo and Aku's email address.

I sent him my background in handball and told him why I would come to Turku, and then things went pretty smoothly until I arrived. Aku was really nice to me and let me stay at his apartment until my accommodation was sorted out.

Why do I like Turku? It is a pleasant city to live in and really well organized. The first months were really nice, the weather was still warm and the days were bright, and I enjoyed it.

Q: What are you studying here?

I'm studying Cyber Security at UTU, which is also my major, while my minor is Business and Management. I'm enrolled in a double-degree Master's programme, where the first academic year was in Turku, and the second will be back home in Romania, more precisely in Cluj.

Q: For how long have you played handball and where?

Guided by my father, I started playing handball when I was 10, in my hometown, Baia Mare, where I finished my junior level and got two bronze medals in eight years of competing in the junior national championship. I also got some matches for the U17 and U15 indoor and beach handball national teams.

I would say that my peak until now was when I got trials for Sporting CP, but as nothing concluded, I decided to focus more on my studies. I got admitted to Computer Science in Cluj and played one season there for "U" Cluj-Napoca in the second division and won it.

After that, I wanted to focus more on the academic side and left the desire to play handball aside for a period of two years, until I came to Turku and played for Åbo.

The first sport that I tried was football, where I also played as a goalie. I have enjoyed being a goalie since I was a kid. I think it's an important position, in which the team has to trust you, even if we talk about handball or football. Nevertheless, playing in that position, with some good saves, you can catch the eyes of any spectator, and I love it. I feed off that energy (haha).

Now, I'm back in Romania and I don't really have a plan about handball. If I get the chance to play again while my studies can be completed without any disturbance, I will probably say yes. For now, I'm just enjoying the summer, going to the gym and playing a lot of football and tennis (haha).

Q: What do you think about ÅIFK?

For Åbo, it was something special. I mean, coming from nowhere and getting the chance to play and be treated nicely by everyone was extraordinary. Since I arrived in Turku, everyone around the club was warm and kind to me, and I can only be grateful for that. Thank you, Åbo! ❤️

At the very beginning, Aku supported me with any problem that I had and was more than just a coach. Moving to a new city, in a different country, with a different culture, was not easy, but as time went by, I got much closer with my teammates and started enjoying the city and the activities around it.

I would like to mention Telmo and Kärppa, who were very kind to me, and I think we got a special bond. Despite the fact that we compete in the same position, they were always supportive, and I hope they can say the same about me.

Bredis, Nisse, Tiger, Aymen, Martin, Jeti, and all the others were really nice to me, and we enjoyed the time spent together, whether it was training, matches, or outside of it. Also, I cannot forget to mention Sirpa, Timo, Krisse and James, who were always able to put a smile on my face.

I will always remember the home matches in Sampalinna, really nice and enjoyable matches. I was very excited for the first one and at the same time very nervous, but the crowd was incredible and cheered for all my successes, as they did in every match.

Q: Would you recommend others to come to Turku to study and play?

What I liked the most was that Turku gave me the chance to combine my studies with handball in a very nice environment.

My advice would be to be open, to ask for help when needed, and to enjoy every moment, because people there are really willing to help you.

If someone asked me, "Would you do it again?", I would not hesitate. For me, it was a special experience, meeting new people and enjoying playing handball, of course! Thank you, Åbo ❤️!