Readers mail……. We were delighted to receive news from St Andrews Church Kyrenia of an article they published which is taken from the September/October issue of INSPIRE Magazine, the UK’s biggest reach good news magazine telling stories of God at work, and we are also delighted to receive kind permission from INSPIRE Magazine for its […]
Speaking yesterday (16th August) during the ceremony to commemorate the liberation of Lefke as part of the Second Peace Operation, Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün said that Turkish Cypriots recognise the importance of the ‘Happy Peace Operation’. He said, “We celebrated our liberation with enthusiasm in the ceremonies organised in Serdarlı, Gazimağusa and Lefke. We […]
By Engin Dervişağa……. By popular demand, I am delighted together with my colleague Qossay Eleyan to bring you a repeat of an interesting report on “Discovering North Cyprus” about the Selimiye Mosque, historically known as Cathedral of Saint Sophia, which is a former Roman Catholic cathedral converted into a mosque and located within the ancient […]
Readers mail…….. We are the Mağusa Kale Lions one of the 12 Lions Clubs in Northern Cyprus together with 2 Leo Clubs. We have been an official member of the International Lions Clubs since 1997. We serve voluntary work to our community in many ways. We serve for the youth, old, health and environmental. From […]
Reader’s mail from Bibhas Neogi ……. Charges for water in Kyrenia area – As far as I am aware there was no consultation with the users about the likely charges that would be made once water from Turkey comes to the TRNC. It is good that now there will be no rationing during summer months […]
A list of events you can look forward to in North Cyprus. For those charity fund-raisers, venues etc. who would like to include an event in the Weekly Events Calendar, contact Chris or Margaret at cyprusscene.com. The Events Calendar is published every week on Thursday so please try to submit information to be included by […]
Ozankoy Sports Club, K-Pet First League Championship Cup was presented to Girne Mayor, Nidai Güngördü.
Girne Mayor Nidai Güngördü received Ali Piro, the President of Ozanköy Sports Club and his accompanying delegation, who rose to the Super League as champions in the K-Pet First League. Ozankoy Technical Director, Seran Kaşif, presented the championship cup to Girne Mayor, Nidai Güngördü, while President Ali Piro gave a plaque of thanks to the Mayor for his contributions.
Güngördü: We will continue to contribute to sports
Girne Mayor Nidai Güngördü made a speech at the reception and congratulated the Ozanköy managers who brought the championship cup to Girne during the 2016-2017 football season. Nidai Güngördü stated that they would continue to contribute to the clubs within the borders of Girne Municipality by drawing attention to encouraging young people to pursue worthwhile pastimes. Ozanköy President Ali Piro gave thanks to the Mayor of Girne, Nidai Güngördü, who gave financial and moral support to the club.
The players of the Mediterranean Sports Association presented the cups they won at table tennis to Girne Mayor, Nidai Güngördü.
Girne Mayor Nidai Güngördü, received the Mediterranean Sports Union Chairman, Serhat Deniz, and accompanying delegation, Akdeniz Sports Association, who presented the cups to the Girne Mayor.
Güngördü: We will continue to contribute to sports
Girne Mayor Nidai Güngördü congratulated the administrators, coaches and athletes of the team of the Mediterranean Sports Union table tennis team who won the league and federation cups in two categories. Nidai Güngördü stated that they would keep contributing to the clubs within the boundaries of Girne Municipality by drawing attention to the fact that the sports youth are encouraged to pursue worthwhile pastimes. Deniz Sports Union President, Serhat Deniz, thanked Girne Mayor, Nidai Güngördü, for giving financial and moral support to the club.
We may have not received the heatwave that the UK is suffering now, but our temperatures are slowly rising and Local Football is still being played!. The amateur BTM League continues and will continue into July, when at last it reaches its finale. Then in August the semi-professionals return to training and football begins again.
I have picked out 3 matches from the BTM League which are quite close to Expat populations, if anybody is missing their football and would like to see the Locals going at it hammer and tongs against each other, come along for the experience.
All matches will be played this Saturday 24th June and all kick offs are at 5.30pm.
BTM Group 1 : TATLISU SERACILAR SK v KUMYALI SK.
Venue : Tatlısu Rauf Raıf Denktaş Stadium (the Stadium on the roundabout at Tatlısu on the main road)
This is the “match of the day” when League Leaders Kumyalı visit 2nd place Tatlısu, in a match that both teams cannot afford to lose. After this match there is only one round of matches to be played, Kumyalı are on 19 points and Tatlisu on 17 points. Tatlısu must win this match, if they do not they will miss out on the “play offs”. Earlier in the season both teams fought out a tense 0-0 draw. I expect another tight encounter, a draw will suit Kumyalı, but I think urged on by their partizan fans Tatlısu can produce a win. Expect fireworks and a great atmosphere.
BTM Group 3 : BAHÇELI SK v GÖNENDERE ŞHT SALIH KULLE SK.
Venue : Esentepe Erdal Barut Stadium.
A local “derby” between the bottom 2 clubs, so they are both playing for pride and for points to avoid the “wooden spoon”. Bahçeli have had a disappointing season, but we must remember this is their first season back in existence after having missed the previous 2 seasons, due to having no money to form a village team. It’s good to see them back, long may they continue.
BTM Group 5 : KARAOĞLANOĞLU SB v DAĞYOLU-ŞIRINEVLER SK.
Venue : Karaoğlanoğlu Orhan Dural Stadi.
Another vital and important match – this time league leaders Karaoğlanoğlu take on 3rd place Dağyolu. The leaders are 3 points in front of their opponents so it’s is a must win match for Dağyolu.
Last Saturday 10th June saw the West Ladies Cricket Team wrap up the inaugural Creditwest North Cyprus match with a comfortable win over their East rivals.
Val Maskell, East’s captain, won the toss and put the West into bat hoping for more luck than the previous week at the Pia Bella Stadium. She had said her team were determined to level the series by winning the second match.
Left to right: Left picture: Linda Hurley, Rannveig Ystaas, Steph Routledge…….. Left to right: Right picture: Rannveig Ystaas, Val Maskell, Gina Mapp, Nigel Holman
West’s Captain Gina Mapp opened with Iranian, Ayttis Lilianna putting on a very credible 46 runs in the first 6 overs. Norwegian, Rannveig Ystaas then came to the crease with Steph Routledge and hammered 65 runs, their only blemish when Routledge was too slow in regaining her ground after an aborted run which cost the pair 5 runs. The East’s bowlers plugged away but mostly found wickets elusive, only Filipino, Gloria Garcia having any success going for 23 from her 3 overs. The West scored a total of 111 runs, which cricket lovers will know is referred to as a ‘Nelson’. The term made famous by the legendary England Umpire David Sheppard always standing on one leg when this score was reached.
The East set about the required run rate of 9.33/overs with Linda Hurley and Gloria Garcia reaching 31 after 3 overs and the crowd sensed a dramatic fight to the winning line. However, for their 4th over, Mapp bowled a very tight line and they could only manage 1 run, Further low scoring overs followed, with Ystaas’s over again going for only 1. Despite the batsmen’s best efforts they had only scored 40 runs at the half way point of their side’s innings. In other games it would have been a decent total, but they were facing a massive task.
Left to right: Linda Hurley, Gloria Garcia, Ayttis Lilianna, Nigel Holman
Lynn Holman and Val Maskell now faced getting 12/overs, tough at any time, but against the strength of their opposition’s bowling it would require something special. They attacked from the first ball and in any other circumstances made good progress reaching 16 from their first two overs, but the required scoring rate continued to grow and with 24 balls remaining had become 2.33/balls. Their considerable experience told them they had nothing to lose, Holman led the charge throwing caution to the wind, looking for big shots off every ball, but each time she was out 5 runs were deducted and the task became harder, with 12 balls left the required rate had risen to 3.75/balls. A daunting figure in any form of cricket. In the final over bowled by Mapp 2 more wickets fell and the East finished losing by 42 runs.
Afterwards, TRNC captain Gina Mapp congratulated everyone on their outstanding season and looked forward to the return of Ladies cricket in September after the summer break.
For more information please call Gina on 0533 833 2069.
Back row: Kevin Mapp (umpire), Ayttis Lilianna, Rannveig Ystaas, Steph Routledge, Gina Mapp, Nigel Holman (umpire) Front row: Gloria Garcia, Val Maskell, Linda Hurley, Lynn Holman
Result : KKTC (TRNC)1PADANIA1(After 90 mins, Padania win 3-5 on penalties).
Winners Padania lifting the Cup – Photograhs : Courtesy of Mustafa Evliya/ Ferah Barışsev Kıbrıs and Diyalog Newspapers.
Hosts Northern Cyprus suffered heartache as they were beaten in a penalty shoot out against Italian regional Club Padania.
By Richard Beale………..
CONIFA (The Confederation of Independent Football Association) is the governing body of Non FIFA Affiliated Associations. The TRNC (KKTC) has played host to this competition which has been played over the past week. Unfortunately due to a family illness I have been in England and have missed the qualification stages, however friends who attended some of the games were impressed by the matches, preparations and atmosphere.
Opening ceremony of CONIFA EURO 2017 – Photos: Richard Beale.
The final was held at the giant Ataturk Stadium which has a capacity of 25,000. Disappointingly even though the hosts were in the final, around 3 sides of the ground remained virtually empty. I estimated maybe a crowd of around 5000 were present but they generated a good atmosphere for this match played under floodlights.
Padania were much the sharper team in the first half playing some slick football with some delightful inter passing they looked like a team that had played together for a number of years. The home side were indebted to their goalkeeper Hasan Piro who pulled off a number of fine saves. Padania took the lead in the 24th minute following a quick break which ended with a cross from the left which was headed into the net at the near post by Ersid Pllumbaj. Score 0-1.
Action Photos of match by Richard Beale.
KKTC were mainly restricted to long shots as the classy Italians continued to dictate play. The home side were unlucky not to equalise in injury time in the first half when Mustafa crashed a shot from the right onto the top of the crossbar. Half Time : 0-1.
During the break the KKTC Head Coach made 3 substitutions as he was clearly unhappy with his team’s first half performance.
They immediately looked dangerous and had a number of chances at the start of the second half as they took the game to the Italians.
The KKTC deservedly equalised in the 52nd minute when the tall HALILTURAN headed a perfect Mustafa cross low down past the Padania keeper Murriero. Score: 1-1.
KKTC on the attack and right celebrating after equalising. – Photos by Richard Beale.
Their momentum was halted however when in the 63rd minute they were reduced to 10 men when Kenan Oshan who had come on as a half time substitute was sent off after a heavy challenge on Danny Magne. Some of the Italian players surrounded the referee imploring him to send off the KKTC player, which was not very sporting.
Despite being reduced to 10 men the home side continued to press forward and push players up-field.The Italians seemed content to hold on for a draw and maybe win the match in a penalty shoot out as the match proceeded into the final 10 minutes. Bravely 10 man KKTC continued and looked like the team most likely to score.
In the 82nd minute following a cross from Mustafa, substitute Firat hit the post with his shot which rebounded to safety for a goal kick.
Then in the 87th minute Halil Turan’s close range effort was brilliantly pushed away for a corner by Murriero. FULL TIME score 1-1.
Penalty shoot out left a KKTC goal and right, a KKTC miss ! – Photos by Richard Beale
The Italian Goalkeeper continued playing the hero as in the penalty shoot out he saved 2 of the home side’s penalties whereas Padania did not miss any of theirs.
Padania celebrations after a KKTC penalty miss – Photo by Richard Beale.
SUMMING UP : After a poor first half, the KKTC probably deserved to win the match based on their second half performance. Having a player sent off rather harshly they bravely took the fight to the Italian team, and they did not let their country down. All of the squad were players taken from the domestic “Supa League”. On the night there were a number of good performances from certain players, striker Halil was always a handful for the Italian defenders, Mustafa on the right hit the bar, and provided some telling crosses. Man of the Match and the Player of the Tournament, Serhan Önet was outstanding in his defending and leadership.
KKTC Team and Player of the Tournament, KKTC Captain Serhan Önet Photos : Courtesy of Mustafa Evliya and Ferah Barışev Kibris and Diyalog newspapers.
The TRNC (KKTC) Government, Tourist Board and Football Federation have done a great job in organising, preparing and hosting this tournament. One small criticism I would like to make was that there was no Tournament Programme to list player squads, numbers and history of teams etc. Also no flags, scarves T.Shirts etc, a huge marketing opportunity missed but overall this Tournament has done the TRNC no harm at all.
