Trinidad and Tobago international midfielder Ataullah Guerra has joined Finnish Premier Division team Rovaniemen Palloseura (RoPS) on a reported six-month loan deal.
The talented midfielder has been on trial with the Club since February. Guerra, who played in a few matches while there did enough to impress the coaching staff that saw him secure a short-term contract with the European team.
Guerra will more that likely run into another T&T international in W Connection attacker Shahdon Winchester who is currently on loan at Finland Premier League club FF Jaro. Winchester, who by the way is reported to have sustained an injury that may require surgery and could be out for up to 6-weeks.
RoPS Meanwhile, were relegated in 2011 after some controversy involving nine of their players—seven of whom were from Zambian—convicted of match fixing. However, the team quickly bounced back and finished top in the 2012 Ykkönen season (First Division) that saw them won promotion again into the Premier level (Veikkausliiga) in 2013.
RoPS is now looking to maintain their current status as a Premier team and have signed Ataullah Guerra to help strengthen their hopes of survival. The league kicks-off in April.
The newly promoted side comfortably sits in first place in the 2013 Liigacup Group 3 table, while Shahdon Winchester's FF Jaro occupies 3rd. The Liigacup is the second-most prestigious cup football tournament in Finland.
RoPS play its home game at the 4,000 capacity Keskuskenttä ground in downtown Rovaniemi and is managed by Kari Virtanen.
Its most notable international achievement was reaching the quarterfinals of the European Cup-Winners' Cup in 1987–88.