“A man can leave Korihait, but Korihait never leave the man.”

For the first time, the still brand-new Uusikaupunki Arena at Wintteri will be Aamos Nikula’s home court this season.

– Of course, Pohari will always be Pohari. I’ve probably spent more time there than at home, he laughs. But now we’ve got amazing facilities here, and even the hoops are great. I really like the new arena.

At the start of last season, the Korihait-grown guard transferred to the then-reigning champion, BC Nokia, donning the club’s yellow-and-black colors. After years marked by injuries, the chance to change scenery and test himself in a new organization felt like a fantastic opportunity.

– I had only just started training again in January after knee surgery, so it felt really good when Nokia’s coach reached out already in the spring to ask if I’d be interested in a spot on the team.

The move seemed like the right step in his career, but the season proved difficult both personally and for the team. The familiar knee acted up again, and by season’s end, Nokia was forced to give up its spot in the top league altogether.

Even though there had been whispers about problems throughout the year, the finality of the situation stung.

– Of course, on a personal level it felt bad that my time in Nokia ended so quickly. And for Finnish basketball as a whole, it was just really unfortunate. You wouldn’t wish that on anyone, Aamos says.

For a moment, he even wondered if it was time to hang up his sneakers for good. If his knee was going to keep causing trouble and setbacks kept piling up, maybe it would be better to focus on something else.

But thoughts of quitting gradually faded during the summer, when his old home club reached out. Aamos had returned to Uusikaupunki for summer work, and the idea of a longer stay didn’t seem so far-fetched.

In the end, the decision was easy.

– I’ve always liked living in Ugi, and I’ve never felt stressed about moving to a bigger city, he explains. And of course, it feels good to return to the Korihait organization, which has taken real steps forward in recent years.

Once the contract was signed, the rest of life quickly fell into place as well. His days now include basketball, substitute teaching, shifts at his familiar summer workplace Yara, and industrial engineering studies at a university of applied sciences. The fully online program makes it possible to combine professional sports with living in Uusikaupunki.

– I also agreed to help coach a junior team. Even though everyday life here is a bit of a puzzle, it works really well, Aamos says.

Living in the city center makes things even easier.

– My home is in the perfect spot – just a short walk to Wintteri for practices and to Captain’s Makasiini for lunch. Though honestly, nothing here is far away.

Aamos admits that his biggest basketball dreams are already behind him. Right now, his hope is simply to get through the season as healthy as possible.

– I’m taking it year by year now, just hoping to stay healthy and earn more responsibility on the court, he reflects.

But I have to stay realistic too. I’m genuinely grateful just to still have the chance to play at this level after all the injuries.

On the eve of the new season, Aamos feels excited. He believes the team has a strong balance of experience and youthful energy.

– We’ve only been together for a short time, but already the atmosphere and team spirit are really good. That’s probably the most important thing of all.

Aamos is no stranger to passionate fans – the rattling metal bleachers of Pohitulli became familiar during his youth, and Nokia’s supporters weren’t exactly quiet either.

Now he hopes for the same kind of electricity in the stands of the new Uusikaupunki Arena.

– From a player’s perspective, it makes an unbelievable difference when the crowd shows up and keeps cheering, whether things are going well or not. We’ll give our best on the court, he promises.

Uusikaupunki and Korihait will always hold a special place in the young man’s heart.

– It’s been great to see a real fan base grow here and to have so many people come to the games. Even last season, I watched Korihait’s games whenever I could. I guess it really is like they say: a man can leave Korihait, but Korihait never leave the man, Aamos Nikula grins as he heads off to practice.

^{Korihait – home games at Wintteri (in Finnish)}

Text and images: Päivi Sappinen.