BY ALAN TEMPLE in TÓRSHAVN – @CCP_Sport
Petur Knudsen is hoping for a case of like father, like son as NSI Runavik seek to restore their battered pride at the scene of one of Scottish football’s most chastening results.
Knudsen’s father is the former Faroe Islands goalkeeper Jens Martin, who became a cult hero due to his bobble-hat and unorthodox style – even being lampooned on an episode of Frank Skinner and David Baddiel’s Fantasy Football.
One of the colourful keeper’s most famous results was helping to hold Scotland to a 2-2 draw at the cliff-top Svangaskard Stadium in Toftir back in 2002, with the hosts racing into a two-goal lead as Berti Vogts’ reign descended into farce.
On Thursday, his 20-year-old boy Petur – who scored the consolation goal in Runavik’s 6-1 reverse at Easter Road seven days ago – will step onto the same pitch and, although he knows the tie is over, he is desperate to put a win on the board.
“I get asked a lot about my dad – he coaches NSI’s under-21 side,” smiled Knudsen Jr. “It’s nice that people remember him and his bobble-hat – but to me he’s just my dad.
“Our own stadium isn’t up to UEFA standard so the game is at Toftir, where my dad played against Scotland in the famous 2-2 game in 2002, so that will be nice.
“If we have a good day and some pressure, we can maybe win the game.”
Knudsen, 20, was NSI’s only bright-spark in Edinburgh but rather underlined the gulf between the sides, adding: “After the summer I’ll probably get a job in a fish factory, which is what most people in my town do.”
Knudsen, meanwhile, has backed Neil Lennon’s men to achieve their dream of reaching the Europa League group phase.
NSI have won just two of their 23 European competition games and have never qualified beyond the first round, losing to the likes of Dinamo Minsk, Shakhtyor Soligorsk and Linfield – however the winger is adamant Hibs were a cut above them all.
“Hibs were better than us in every position on the pitch,” he added. “They will have ambitions to get to the group stages and if they play as they did in Edinburgh, and have a little bit of luck along the way, why shouldn’t they?”
