By Can Gazi……. Joining me in the Bayrak studio this week is enigmatic psychotherapist D. U. Sivri. Sivri is back on A Cup Of Conversation to talk about his latest book “The Secrets Of Love And Attraction”.
By Engin Dervişağa…….. For this Vox Pop show, I went along to to the Girne home of Danish Afridi who came to Northern Cyprus in 2003 from Pakistan. He studied for a degree in Business Management at Girne American University where he graduated in 2006 and obtained a further degree in 2015 and currently works as the […]
By Engin Dervişağa……. By popular demand, I am delighted together with my colleague Qossay Eleyan to bring you a repeat of the interesting report on “Discovering North Cyprus” about the British Law Courts in Lefkosa.
Turkish Republic Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has said that the TRNC’s current international embargoes cannot continue forever, and there will be different processes after today.
For our sports fans we are bringing you a great rugby report from Ian Fell about the recent success of the Cyprus Mouflons Squad in Bucharest in which his son Seyhan Fell played a part in the team’s success.
Report from Ian Fell…….
After two days of hard fought matches against some very strong teams from all over Europe, the Cyprus Squad of twelve players, including TRNC’s Seyhan Fell, left Bucharest with the consolation of winning the “Trophy” competition.
Having gone into the weekend seeded in sixth place they were drawn on the Saturday with Croatia and Sweden, both considered very strong, as well as the less fancied team from the Czech Republic. The results went the way of the form book with the Mouflons losing to the first two whilst recording a good 31-7 win over the Czech Republic. A victory had also looked on the cards in the opening game against Croatia, with Cyprus leading 19-7 at half time, only to be pegged back to 19-19 on the hooter, but losing possession to Croatia on the last play and conceding a try to lose 19-24.
On the Sunday a semi-final win against Moldova set up the ‘Trophy’ final against the Czech Republic, who Cyprus had soundly beaten in the pool stage. The final was not quite so straight forward for the Mouflons, but eventually they came through to win comfortably enough 22-5.
Seyhan Fell
The tournament’s overall winners were Sweden, who beat Lithuania 15-5 in the Cup Final to win this second leg of the European 7s tournament, thereby securing promotion to the next tier of competition for next season.
Cyprus will remain in this section for the coming season. Seyhan Fell, drafted into the squad for the second leg matches, scored the only Cyprus try in the match versus Sweden and is not sure if he will compete in the tournament next year, stating “at my age it is quite a hard format and it is definitely much easier watching others!” Seyhan will however be looking forward to representing Cyprus in their full international season commencing in the autumn, fixtures for which should be known shortly.
Seyhan Puts In A Man Of The Match Performance In Scoring 17 Points In The Mouflons Narrow Defeat Against A Strong Croatian Team.
Rugby news from Ian Fell……..
The Moufflons (the Cyprus National Rugby Team) came within a whisker of retaining their place in Division 1 of the European Conference when in the dying minutes of the game and with four men down through exhaustion and injury, the Croatian visitors facing a defeat by 27-22 scored a converted try and left the field in Paphos winners by 27-29.
Cyprus’ last match of the 2016-17 season in the European Conference Division 1 South, saw them needing to beat Croatia to avoid relegation and send the minnows from Andorra down a division. A defeat, as it turned out, sees the Moufflons drop down to Division 2 and will see next season’s matches against Slovenia, Austria, Serbia and Turkey – some local derby (still to be confirmed)
Croatia had the benefit of a match last weekend where they managed a home draw against Malta, a game the hosts were hoping to win to allow them to challenge for promotion themselves. Arriving in Paphos on Thursday the team and management were hosted by the CRF at the Paphos Gardens Resort, an ideal venue for both teams to relax before the big match.
After a long season for all players, it was probably not surprising that at least two of the Cyprus squad had to pull out at the last minute due to injuries sustained in the training sessions on Friday and in the pre-match warm up on the day. However, both of the TRNC’s representatives – Seyhan Fell and Turgut Burhan – were selected for the starting fifteen with Seyhan on the wing at No 14 and Turgut in the key scrum half No 9 position; his last outing for the Mouflons before retiring from International Rugby to concentrate on coaching in Scotland at the tender age of 26! Another surprise in the warm up came with the news that Seyhan Fell was asked by the coaching team to perform the place kicking duties during the match.
Seyhan Fell and Turgut Burhan
With a large crowd of spectators, some of whom had flown over specifically from Folkestone RFC to support Seyhan in his fifth International, the game got underway with Cyprus kicking off. A high kick, which travelled just over the ten metre line, gave the Cyprus forwards the early opportunity of putting their visitors under pressure and, in surely what must have been one of the quickest penalties awarded to the Moufflons in any of their matches, ‘hands in the ruck’ saw Seyhan Fell stepping forward to attempt his first International kick from a distance of some 40 metres, just off to the right of centre, after just 15 seconds of play. With people still arriving to take their seats the ball sailed high over the crossbar and the home team had registered their first three points inside the first minute.
The game then settled down to see the visitors playing running rugby, throwing the ball across the park without really causing the Moufflons defence any serious problems. A penalty awarded for not releasing the tackled player allowed Croatia to level the scores after about 15 minutes and the game continued in this vein until the half hour mark. A further long range penalty was converted by Seyhan Fell together with two tries, one a glorious interception wide out to the right which allowed Seyhan Fell to run from nearly half way to register his second international try, duly converted. The Moufflons other try of the half was scored by Sam Burns and again converted by Fell.
Cyprus v Croatia – Pictures courtesy of Berislav Rožman and Cyprus Rugby
Half time arrived with Cyprus well in front at 20 – 3, but there was always that thought amongst the large crowd of spectators that the visitors would definitely score tries as the match wore on, it was vital that Cyprus defended well but also added to the points tally in the second half.
The second half played out with the much heavier and stronger Croatian team putting the home side under pressure, Cyprus were definitely the more mobile, but eventually the tries came for the visitors.. First one, then two, three – here Cyprus responded with another converted try of their own – and finally a bonus point fourth for the visitors.
A heart-breaking result for the home side that had seemed so comfortable in the first half, it became evident that while the Moufflons continued to stay ahead, the visitors were dominating the set pieces and the home side was weakening. This followed a similar pattern witnessed in the Andorran game when the Cypriots managed to lose by one point in the fading minutes because they couldn’t control the scrums and lineouts.
Cyprus v Croatia – Pictures courtesy of Berislav Rožman and Cyprus Rugby
However, given the enormous difficulties that always confronts the Moufflon management – player availability – this was an heroic endeavour. When will the Cyprus Sports Organisation finally reward the tremendous efforts made by the Moufflons over the last ten years or so and give them the financial support that they heap upon their underperforming football teams?
So, for the third match in a row The Moufflons managed to lose a match which they deserved to win, this time not on the last play of the game but losing the lead with about three or four minutes of play remaining.
Some of the players now go forward to represent Cyprus in 7s tournaments in Prague next month, the rest will have a well-earned break until the autumn schedule is revealed for both their home domestic competitions and the dates the Moufflons will be performing again in Division 2 of the European Conference.
See you for the 2017-18 season?
To read more of Cyprus Rugby on their Facebook page and see more pictures please click here
With Seyhan Fell and Burhan Torgut (back from injury) representing the TRNC in the Moufflons team in Andorra, Cyprus were hoping to put their run of four straight losses behind them and secure a much needed European 2nd Division league win.
With the match not kicking off until 6pm local time, therefore being played under lights, and with the pitch being a 3G artificial surface it was a lot for the visitors to get used to. Cyprus however got off to a good start and despite numerous handling errors and a relatively high penalty count by both teams the game did flow. Cyprus managed to disrupt the initial Andorran line outs and the home team wasted some good chances with too many kicks over the top when in good positions.
With 38 minutes gone of the half and with the score on 0 – 0, Cyprus managed to open the scoring with a superb run by Luke Peters to touch down just before the break, converted by Renno Ioannou, giving the Moufflons a 7 point lead at half time.
Two minutes into the second half and the visitors doubled their lead when a kick out of defence was allowed to bounce by the Andorran back three, allowing Sam Burns – brother of the England and Gloucester player – to gather and score in the corner, presenting Renno Ioannou with a difficult conversion, which he nevertheless slotted between the posts, taking the score to 0- 14. The rest of the second half witnessed a change of tactics by the home side, where they took advantage of their height and weight to bullock the Moufflons in the scrums and lines.
On 45 minutes a penalty kick to the corner allowed them to catch and drive from the resulting line out, which enabled them to carry the ball among the forwards and force their opponents over the goal line, touching down for their first points, 5 – 14
The Moufflons in Andorra – Picture courtesy of Cyprus Rugby Facebook page
This became the preferred method of attack by the Andorrans, it was apparent that when the ball was in open play the Moufflons were triumphing. On 68 minutes another penalty resulted in Andorra working the ball through the forwards and again scoring, 10-14 with ten minutes or so to play.
All through the second half the feeling was there that unless Cyprus could score another try to get a relatively safe lead, the Andorrans always looked like they had the strength to perhaps turn the game around. With only a few minutes remaining another penalty, resulting in a yellow card for Cyprus, led to a period of strong attacking from Andorra, but stern defence kept the visitors’ line safe. With the clock ticking down the award of a scrum, five metres from the Moufflon line, was always going to be difficult to defend. The home side wasted no time in gaining a strong hold in the scrum, resulting in a push-over try with basically the last play of the game. 15-14 to Andorra.
“Devastated” was the response of veteran manager, Theo Lenos, “we came within a minute of a really deserved victory, but couldn’t quite get there!”
Lenos, who has managed the Moufflons through the glory days added, “The match started with some ferocious hits. We defended valiantly and would not let them through which obviously frustrated them; they are a very big powerful side and used to having their own way. This eventually led to a confrontation in the pack that resulted in Marco (Mladanovic), our captain, and their captain being sin-binned; people on the side-line were baffled by the decision.
We only had two days to prepare for this game and it is such a long time since we have played together, I’m not making excuses, but as you know we pull in players from the diaspora, some of whom have never met each other before, and it takes time to blend and bind a team. The Andorrans have the luxury of playing together in the French and Spanish leagues on a weekly basis, unfortunately we don’t have that situation. But, regardless of that, we played out of our skins and should have come away with a win, but it was not to be.’
“It was a long way to go for such a narrow defeat. It could easily have gone the other way” said Laurence Vassiliades, the Cyprus Rugby Federation President, “our defence was terrific; we just didn’t have enough beef to counteract the set piece tactics. This is an area our coaches will be trying to address in the coming weeks.”
He continued, “As you know, I said this game was crucial, we are without a win and have little time to rectify it. This is a one season league and this was a game between the two bottom teams, now we are holding up the others. I am very proud of our players, they always give 100 percent and never fail to give of their best in very difficult circumstances.’
With the next game for Cyprus being a must win home match against Croatia in Paphos on May 6th, it is hoped that both Seyhan and Burhan will remain fit whilst playing the final matches of their season in the UK, before again turning out for Cyprus rugby. If anyone is interested in making the journey to Paphos to support the national team please contact me, Ian Fell, in connection with possible match ticket, hotel, post-match dinner and transport arrangements – ianfell@hotmail.co.uk
With thanks to the Parikiaki Weekly for part of the above report.
To read more of Cyprus Rugby on their Facebook page and see more pictures please click here
men down through exhaustion and injury, the Croatian visitors facing a defeat by 27-22 scored a converted try and left the field in Paphos winners by 27-29.
were hoping to put their run of four straight losses behind them and secure a much needed European 2nd Division league win.
