Sakari Pietilä named new Estonia coach

04 Apr 2014 | Davide Tuniz

Finnish coach signed for three years

Estonian Federation announced 59-years-old Sakari Pietila was named new national team headcoach replacing Lithuanian Dmitrij Medvedev. The contract is for next three years.

"Pietila is a very experienced professional. He coached some leading clubs in Finland and participated in the Olympics and World Championship with national team" - said Federation President Jan Melder. About the fact Pietila didn't coach from 2008-09 season apart a short stint with Austria U18 in 2012, Melder said: "Coaching it's like riding a bike. If you know how to ride, even if you didn't get behind the wheel for some years, then you sit down again and begin to turn the wheel without problems "

Melder said also that Sakari Pietilä will not receive a salary from the Federation: "We have agreed that we will pay his expenses for travel and accommodation"

In early April, Estonia team will play two preparation games in Tallinn against Lithuania before to travel on April 9 to Belgrade, Serbia to play at World Championship Division II Group A.

"Our goal in the championship in Serbia is obvious: winning the group to go to the first division" - assured Jan Melder.

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