Former Feyenoord talent reached Sweden via snowstorms and overnight ferry

Former Feyenoord midfielder Timo Zaal, 22, has signed with Swedish club GAIS Göteborg after spells in Finland where he endured harsh winters and overnight ferry journeys.

Timo Zaal, 22, spent three seasons at SC Heerenveen's first team before joining Feyenoord to recover from injury. When his contract was not renewed, he spent six months without a club before moving to Finland.

In Finland, Zaal experienced extreme conditions. He walked half an hour each way to training through snow, often caught in snowstorms with frozen feet. "Half frozen feet, that was a really terrible feeling," he said. "I didn't have a bike, so I walked every day for half an hour there and half an hour back. I regularly got caught in snowstorms. You're really cold then."

One of his most memorable experiences came during an away match at IFK Mariehamn, an island-based club. After the evening kick-off, the team had to wait five hours at the stadium before boarding a ferry at 3 a.m. The seven to eight-hour overnight journey was cramped and uncomfortable.

"You sleep with three teammates in a small room with two bunk beds, but you barely sleep a wink. It was an old boat and the room was like a sauna," Zaal recalled.

Zaal has now signed with Swedish top-flight side GAIS Göteborg, leaving his Finnish adventure behind.