Janakkala stipend to Leevi-Eelis Lindberg
The Janakkala stipend 2026 has been awarded to futsal player Leevi-Eelis Lindberg. The stipend recipient will be announced at Turenki Spring Fest on May 23, 2026.
Leevi-Eelis Lindberg helped create a futsal craze in spring 2023, when Tervakosken Pato’s P17 team won the Finnish championship in their age group. Lindberg, raised by Pato, played on the team’s left wing at that time.
Currently Lindberg plays for Akaa Futsal, which won a Finnish Championship silver medal in the men’s Futsal League last season. The silver medal is the club’s third; in addition, the trophy cabinet contains two golds and three bronzes.
Lindberg started at Pato’s football school at the age of 5 and has played futsal for about 10 years in total. Although Lindberg has only devoted himself fully to futsal since 2021, he has managed to represent Finland as the captain of the U19 national futsal team. With the team, Lindberg got to play in the European Championship qualifiers.
The success surprised Lindberg’s father and coach Janne Lindberg, although Leevi-Eelis does put a lot of work into futsal.
– Leevi-Eelis always attends training, and in addition he practices and plays with friends in his free time. Leevi-Eelis is a humble and fair teammate, but he also has the desire to succeed and his goals are set high.
Many residents also nominated Leevi-Eelis for the stipend, praising him as a persistent and goal-oriented young person.
“Reached Finland’s top futsal league through extremely persistent work and relentless training.”
“An archetype of what the Tervakoski futsal boom and strong personal determination can produce at their best.”
In the photo, Leevi-Eelis Lindberg attacks and Sae Mehinen defends at the U19 boys’ futsal national team’s camp in Eerikkilä. Photo: Kirsi Nummela.
The Janakkala Stipend, established in 2016 during Janakkala’s 150th anniversary year, is awarded annually to a young person from Janakkala aged 18–30 who has succeeded in sports, culture, the arts or science. Each stipend recipient is also photographed and the pictures are displayed at Janakkala’s main library. Recipients of the Janakkala Stipend include rower Robert Ven, judoka Luukas Saha, violinist Linda Suolahti, powerlifter Emmi Viljanen, javelin thrower Onni Ruokangas, lighting and sound designer Tommi Tiitta, para-athlete Nea Tilli and floorball player Ilmo Leino.
More information:
Chair of the Municipal council Marko Ahtiainen, tel. 050 301 9009