By Richard Beale………..
Saturday 5 November: k,o 2-30pm : K-Pet League 1 Beyaz Group
Venue : Girne 20 Temmuz Mete Adanir Stadi :
GIRNE HALK EVI -v- ESENTEPE KKSK
Esentepe travel to Girne on Saturday to face League leaders Girne Halk Evi (GHE), who lead on goal difference ahead of Esentepe, Lapta and Ozanköy all of which have 4 points after 2 matches played.
GHE won their opening game 4-1 against Karşıyaka and last week were held 0-0 away at Gönyeli. Esentepe also won their opening match 2-0 away to Bostancı and shared a 1-1 draw at home to Ozanköy last weekend.
Their is a local connection between GHE and Esentepe in that they are managed by Esentepe resident Mehmet Cemal Kemancioğlu (nicknamed Metcha) and he has also coached Esentepe recently.
GHE have made wholesale changes to their personnel during the summer shifting out a number of players and bringing at least 13 new players.
GHE and Esentepe have already met this season in a friendly match for the Erdal Barut Memorial Trophy with GHE coming out winners 3-2. This match had 5 penalties given, 3 scored and 2 missed though it wasn’t a dirty game.
Esentepe will have to make at least one change to their starting line up as defender Mahmut Izoğlu will be out for at least 3 weeks after sustaining an injury following two heavy challenges in quick succession. Coach Davut Kansu has various options available, maybe he can slot in strongman Mehmet Bebek at left back for his Esentepe League debut. Alternatively he may switch utility player Uğurcan to left back and bring in İlyas into midfield to partner Hüseyin or there are some other options he can use.
DOWN MEMORY LANE (March 13th 2016)
The last time these two met in Girne was last season, when the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Esentepe took the lead following a dubious penalty in the 71st minute, after Umar had been tripped the penalty was duly dispatched by Emek. GHE equalised in the 79th minute through striker Hüseyin Sarro.
Esentepe team (4-4-1-1): Tuğrul (gk) : Mahmut, Nersin, Berkan, Emek : Umar, İlyas, Muhammed, Mehmet (Emre Mutlu 85) : Başak : Emrah (Emre Soytürk 70) :
Looking at the 2 teams played just over six months ago GHE have only 4 players left who played in that match where Esentepe have 11.
PREDICTION : My crystal ball is a little cloudy, the Girne 20 Temmuz Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for Esentepe. In around 10 visits to this stadium I have never seen Esentepe win either against GHE or other teams in League/promotion/relegation play offs played there. Indeed last seasons draw was the first point earned for many a season. I don’t know what it is about the stadium it is big and has a large playing area which never seems to suit Esentepe. There is something about the place that makes us freeze on the day, a jinx . However with the team playing well and together with the speed of Tacettin up front we are this season better equipped. However I am sitting on the fence again, I think a 1-1 draw.
DIRECTIONS TO STADIUM :
Go passed Mr Pound on your right, and up to the mini roundabout (Near HSBC), turn left and the Stadium is a few 100 yards on the left. Plenty of car parking outside, reasonable refreshment Cabin and toilet facilities. Admission 20tl,
Children and ladies no admission charge.
Richard Beale is to be congratulated on this detailed posting. Although I have been a resident in North Cyprus for 15 years and before which I was a regular visitor for another 15 years, this is the first English language detailed article on North Cyprus football that I have seen. As a former vice president of a football league club and later a director of another, I would have become a regular spectator, if only I could get some information on the game here. When I came to live in Ozankoy, it was a real struggle to discover when the local team was playing, where and who against. Even now, I have never seen a list of last week’s results or a league table. I have no idea how many British residents would want to watch local football here but with more information, it is likely to be more than watch it now.
Thankyou Ray for your comments. I have been following Esentepe since we moved here 10years ago, and i was probably the only Ex-pat that attended matches. Since then Esentepe get at least 10 ex-pats going regularly both home and away. It has opened many doors for us we and have visited many stadiums and places all over the island. The players and locals appreciate our coverage. I will be writing a match report of the GHE match and there will bevideo highlights of the match which will be posted on Cyprusscene. A useful website, which gives you information of local football, results, fixtures is the Kibris Turkish Football Federation (www.ktff.org).
By the way Ozankoy are home this Saturday against Denizli, k.o. 2-30pm.
Thanks once again for your comments.
There are also a group of English fans who follow Larnaka Gencler Birligi (Iskele) every week, and some who go to Magusa Turk Gucu. Perhaps some of us fans could do a divisional round up weekly or fortnightly?
Thanks Steve,
A lot of readers like football and even small reviews about other football clubs matches from whoever will draw more people from all communities to the game to enjoy it together.