Daily News of Life and times in North Cyprus goes around the world
By Richard Beale……………
On Monday July 16th Esentepe Football team started training in preparation for the new season. A much depleted and a very young group of players were put through their paces by the Esentepe Coach, Davut Kansu. The Coach I am glad to say has agreed to return for another season after guiding Esentepe to the “play off” finals last season.
By Richard Beale…….
Last weekend 15/16th July in scorching hot conditions the final matches of the BTM league were played. With all of the Supa League Clubs and most of League 1 clubs now returning to training as football in Cyprus despite the heat is now an all round year game.
By Richard Beale…….
Last weekend the BTM play offs were held with results as follows :
Kumyalı 0 Yıldrım 5
Çanakkale 4 Ortaköy 1
Akıncılar/Vadılı 4 Açay 0
Görneç 2 Yılmanköy 1
Photographs : Kani Aldağ-Eren şışık-Burhan Gürkan- Yenidüzen and Kıbrıs Gazetesi
PLAY OFF FINAL DRAW.
Akıncılar/Vadılı v Görneç
Yıldrım v Çanakkale
Matches to be played on Saturday July 15th.
The winners of both matches will be automatically promoted to the K-Pet League 1 (The League that Esentepe play ).
On a lighter note the “pride of the West Country” Bristol Rovers produced a world class performance winning away 6-1 against the “mighty “ Melksham Town in their first friendly match of the season. Come on you the Gas. UTG !.
BTM League Last Round Of League Matches Played.
Despite the scorching heat and soaring temperatures our local footballers continue to try to entertain us. The last round of League matches have been played and the “play offs” for the lucky teams will be held over the next two weekends. And thus in the middle of July the local football season will eventually finish !.
Our 2 teams in the Esentepe area, Bahçeli and Tatlısu had mixed fortunes.
BTM Group 1 :
Result : YEDIKONUK SK 1 TATLISU SERACILLAR SK 4
Match played on Sunday 4th July at Neutral venue Maraş Stadi.
This match was switched to a neutral venue at the last minute, due to the riot that took place between these 2 teams a month ago. Tatlısu needed to win and hoped that leaders Kumyalı would slip up at home against Yeni Erenköy/Yesilköy.
In the end a much changed Tatlısu did the business , but unfortunately for them Kumyali won their final match 1-0 to go through to the quarter finals.
Scorers : TATLISU : Ümit (43) and (88), Turgay (65), Hakan (90). YEDIKONUK : Doyuhan (85).
BTM Group 3 :
Result : GORNEÇ SK 6 BAHÇELI SK 1.
Group winners Gorneç hammered Bahçeli to go through to the quarter finals. Gorneç’s burly striker ARDA scored all 6 goals for the home team. Cemre scored a consolation goal for Bahçeli.
THANK YOU TO ALL PLAYERS OF BOTH TATLISU AND BAHÇELI FOR PROVIDING US WITH EXCELLENT ENTERTAINMENT DURING THE SUMMER.
The seven group winners will now go through to the quarter finals (Kumyalı, Çanakale, Ortaköy, Akincilar/Vadili, Akçay, Gorneç and Yilmanköy. The 8th team is Yildirim being the highest 2nd place team based on points
QUARTER FINAL DRAW :
Kumyalı v Yildirim (Maraş Stadi, Famagüsta.)
Çanakale v Ortaköy ( Değirmenlik Sadik Cemil Stadi).
Akincilar/Vadili v Akçay (Karaoğlanoğlu Orhan Dural Stadi)..
Gorneç v Yilmanköy (Ortaköy Stadi).
All matches will be played on Saturday July 8th kick off 5.30pm.
Result : TATLISU SERACILAR SK 1 KUMYALI SK 1
Saturday 24th June : BTM League Group 1 : Venue : Tatlısu Rauf Raıf Denktaş Stadium.
By Richard Beale………..
The meeting of League leaders Kumyalı and second place Tatlısu predictably ended in a draw, which suited Kumyalı who continue to lead the table by 2 points. With the last round of matches to be played next week, the advantage remains with Kumyalı.
Tatlısu needed to win this match, they took a first half lead but gave away a sloppy goal just before the interval and were unable to breach the leaders defence again in the second half.A large crowd filled the only stand on a hot sunny afternoon with the visitors bringing with them decent support.
Tatlısu almost opened the scoring in the first minute when a cross from the right found Hakan who got in a header which saw the Kumyalı keeper Edim dive and push the ball behind for a corner. From the corner a shot came in from outside the area which clipped the Kumyalı cross bar.
Tatlısu deservedly took the lead in the 26th minute when Hakan on the left got in a shot which was parried by keeper Edim straight into the path of Tatlısu’s leading goalscorer IBRAHIM ÇELIK who had the simple task to prod the ball over the line.1-0
Tatlısu were much the better team with midfielders Kubılay and Turgay battling away in midfield.Out of the blue a minute before the break Tatlısu gave away a silly goal. From a Emre free kick Tatlısu keeper Hasan made a “pigs ear” of catching the tame kick, the ball squirmed out of his grasp hit the crossbar and rebounded back into play. An almighty goalmouth scramble resulted in Tatlısu giving away a penalty which was converted by UGUR. Half -Time 1-1.
Tatlısu came close to scoring early in the second half following a Tansu free kick, which just went past the post, with both Ibrahim and keeper Edim trying to get to the ball.
73 minutes Tatlısu had a good shout for a penalty turned down, when Ibrahim did well to create room for himself and put in a shot which keeper Edim palmed away . The ball came to Kubılay who appeared to have his legs taken away from him, just when he was preparing to shoot, but the referee waved aside Tatlısu appeals for a penalty.
In the final 10 minutes the game really opened up with Kumyalı having 2 goals disallowed for offside . In between that Tatlısu played out the final 5 minutes with 10 men when striker Ibrahim completely lost his head, climbing over the fence to confront someone who was shouting abuse at him and sadly letting his teammates down and getting himself sent off. Full Time: 1-1
SUMMING UP : Tatlısu only have themselves to blame in a match they needed to win, they were strangely reluctant to push players forward to support Ibrahim. The Tatlısu striker had often 3 defenders around him and was quickly closed down. Tatlısu defence were tight and gave little opportunity to the Kumyalı forwards. The midfield powerhouses Kubılay and Turgay were outstanding despite the heat. Both players would make useful acquisitions to higher League teams. (ie Esentepe)
TATLISU TEAM : Hasan (gk) : Tansu, Mustafa, Barış, Koray (Özal 65) : Ümit, KUBILAY, Turgay, Talha (Serkan 60) : Hakan (Soner 80), Ibrahim :
Man of the Match : Tatlisu’s Kubilay– was everywhere trying to prompt his teammates.
BTM GROUP 3 TABLE (top 3).
1/ Kumyalı 20 points + 3 goal advantage.
2/ Tatlısu 18 points + 8 goal advantage,
3/ Karadeniz 17 points +13 goal advantage.
With one match to play Kumyalı are at home to lowly Yeni Erenköy/ Yesilköy all they need to do is avoid defeat.
Tatlısu must win away to Yedikonuk and hope Kumyalı lose to have any chance of reaching the “play offs”.
Karadeniz will finish on 20 points, as their final match against Ergazı will be awarded 3-0 too Karadeniz as Ergazi have withdrawn from the League. So again Karadeniz will be hoping for a Kumyalı slip up in their last match.
OTHER FEATURED RESULTS IN BTM LEAGUE :
Group 3 : BAHÇELI 3 GÖNENDERE ŞHT SALIH KULLE SK 1
The bottom of the table clash ended in a comfortable Bahçeli win and they are now 4th in their group. Bahceli scorers : Emrah (20), Cemre (67), Soner (74) with Ridvan (89) netting for the visitors.
Group 5 : KARAOĞLANOĞLU 0 DAĞYOLU-SIRINVELER SK 5
The then League leaders Karaoğlanoğlu messed it up for themselves in this hammering dished out by Dağyolu. There are now 3 teams on 16 points with one match lef to play.
BTM GROUP 5 TABLE. (top 3)
1/ Yilmanköy 16 points + 14 goal advantage.
2/ Dağyolu- Sir 16 points + 6 goal advantage.
3/ Karaoğlan’lu 16 points + 5 goal advantage.
Next Sunday Dağyolu-Sirinveler clash with Yilmanköy in the “ match of the day’while Karaoğlanoğlu are away to lowly Ağırdağ . So it this group there is all to play for as the football season continues to go on in the searing heat.
SUPPORT LOCAL FOOTBALL.