Nõmme Kalju improves the reputation of Estonian football.

The new head coach of JK Nõmme Kalju – a football club that managed to reach the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League within just a few seasons – is Igor Prins, who previously led FC Levadia to victory in Estonia’s top division – the Premiership – twice.
In an interview given to Soccernet, the new head coach of Nõmme Kalju said: “We will make Kalju just as good as FC Levadia”! Igor Prins, who entered into a three-year contract with Nõmme Kalju before the last quarter of the 2010 season is setting higher goals for the years to come. Prins has led FC Levadia Tallinn to victory in the Estonian Premiership, for two consecutive years, and the club has also performed well in the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League qualification rounds.

“Eesmärk on midagi korda saata. Kalju eesotsas on inimesed, kes tahavad midagi ära teha, kui entusiasmi ja toetajaid jagub, siis usun, et suudan oma pagasiga klubi aidata,” lausus Levadias võitmisega harjunud Prins pressikonverentsil. “Nõmme Kalju tahab oma toetajate abiga muuta Eesti jalgpalli atraktiivseks nii sportlikus, kui turunduslikus mõttes. Tahame olla jalgpalli edendajad, lähtudes ausa mängu printsiibist.

However, this summer, he left FC Levadia, somewhat unexpectedly, and seized the opportunity offered by Kalju. Prins, who has become accustomed to winning, said at a press conference: “My objective is to achieve something. Kalju is led by people who want to do great things, and if there is enough enthusiasm and supporters, I believe that my knowledge and skills will prove helpful for the club“. With the help of its supporters, Nõmme Kalju wants to make Estonian football attractive in an athletic as well as marketing sense. We want to promote football, proceeding from the principle of Fair. We want to become champions as an independent club and be successful in the UEFA Europa League, as well as in the Baltic League. We want to lead the way for other independent clubs and improve the reputation of football, thereby attempting to raise the awareness investors in regards to football as a means of expression. Since football is the most popular ball game in Estonia, we believe that we are doing the right thing by contributing our time as well as money towards the development of this sport” added Kuno Tehva, the President of Nõmme Kalju.