By Amaechi Agbo

In two consecutive seasons in Europe, Samuel Friday James has been given impressive statistics for SJK Aketemia of Finland.

The former Flying Eagles goalkeeper was a class act last season when he was rated among the best players in the league, and he eventually ended as second best player, but won the best goalkeeper in the league award.

The same scenario is being witnessed again this season, as Samuel is in second position with a rating of 7.61 among the selected best 11 players of the season in Finland.

Interestingly, the product of Mavlon FC of Lagos is not the only goalkeeper in the best 11 performers. Jonne Uronen of MP Mikkeli rated 7.31 and Besart Mustafa of JaPs rated 7.29 are two other goalkeepers cruising on the 10th and 11th positions respectively.

He has been a reliable safe hands in goal for SJK with a strong commanding presence in the current Ykkõsliiga 2026 season, where he had recorded four clean sheets in 15 games and calmed the anxiety of SJK fans with three saves from the penalty soft.

At just 20 years old, James saved 44 out of 64 shots faced, which gives him 68.75% save percentage, a very impressive rating for a goalkeeper that joined the club in February, last year.

Unfortunately, SJK has suffered poor run of results in late August and early September making the club to lie at the bottom of the table, but the great form of James has been one of the positive talking points in Finland.