By Richard Beale………
Even though the main 2 Football Leagues (K-Pet Super League, K-Pet League 1) are on their winters break, football in Northern Cyprus continues this weekend, for anybody suffering withdrawal symptoms !.
The new revamped “all singing and dancing” BTM League starts on the weekend 13/14 January. The League has been completely restructured and I think for the better, firstly the League starts in January as opposed to May. So for the players and spectators point of view no more watching or playing in the hot blazing sun of the summer months. There are now 2 Groups, the White Group contains 8 Clubs and the Red Group contains 10 Clubs. Winners of both Groups automatically gain promotion to the K-Pet League 1. Teams that finish second will be involved in promotion play offs to decide the 3rd team to get promoted.
The BTM League used to be “loosely amateur”, but the Football Federation aim is to increase the standard of football here, so the League will be very competitive. The League used to be an opportunity of spotting some ageing footballers, with greying hair and “beer bellies” but things have now changed for the better. There are some big Clubs in the Groups the White Group looks the more difficult group, with Düzkaya, Tatlisu HOSK, Karşiyaka and Denizli all having played in League 1 last season.
FIXTURES FOR RED GROUP Saturday 13th January. (kick off 2-30pm)
Gazıköy v Dörtyoll (Gazıköy Sahası)
Geçitkale v Valdılı (Akova Eray Vudalı Stadı)
Dipkarpaz Türk v Kumyalı (Dipkarpaz Stadı)
Serdarlı v Yıldrım (Serdarlı 14 Ağustos Sahası)
Tatlısu Seracılar v Mesarya ( Tatlısu Rauf Raıf Denktaş Stadı)
FIXTURES FOR WHITE GROUP Sunday 14th January (kick off 2-30pm)
Düzkaya v Aydınköy ( Catalköy Nihat Bağcier Stadı behind Tempo)
Ortaköy v Yılmazköy (Ortaköy Sahası)
Karaoğlanoğlu v Tatlısu HOSK (Karaoğlanoğlu Orhan Dural Stadı)
Karşiyaka v Denızlı (Karşiyaka Cemal Şahdur Stadı)
