ANKARAGUCU - PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

As most of you know, Ankaragucu is currently in Austria at their summer camp.

Their pre-season friendlies programme was announced today, and here are the details -

11 July - Axams of Austria
13 July - Slovan Liberec
16 July - Slavia Prague
18 July - Freiburg
24 July - AEK Athens
26 July - Brescia

Hopefully the financial wrangle between the Club and Ceyhun, Santos and Iglesias has (or can be) been resolved. There is also a contractual problem with Vassel's transfer which will hopefully be resolved. We obviously need those 4 key players available to play !!

Also, if our two Austrian Kankas, Wolfgang and Christoph, are on holiday in Austria perhaps they can give us a report if they hear any news in the Austrian press.

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

A KANKA AND KANKIE ANNOUNCEMENT

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

I'm sure you will all be delighted to hear that Braaat Kankie Laura and Paddy Kanka Paul announced their engagement last week in Bodrum on the steps of Bodrum Castle.

For those of you who know the lovely couple, this will not be a surprising announcement but from the look in Laura's eyes I can see she likes diamonds ! Something for Paddy to be wary of me thinks !!

Braaat Kankie arrives in Ankara next Thursday for a couple of weeks. Ample opportunity for kankas to admire her diamond and wish them happiness for the future.

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim who is going to lose a daughter soon, but ...... gain a fine son !!

THE ANKARA SPORTSWRITERS CUP - 2009

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Details of the Ankara Sportswriters Cup matches were released in the press this morning.

The bad news is that all the matches, with the exception of the final, will be played in The Stadium from Hell in Yenikent. After 3 then ............ 1 ....... 2 ......... 3 ............

SHIT !

OK, so the final will be held in the 19 Mayis Stadium, but it will not be an Ankaragucu v Genclerbirligi final !

Here are the details -

Friday 31 July KO 6pm - Ankaraspor v Eskisehirspor
Friday 31 July KO 8pm - Ankaragucu v Genclerbirligi

Saturday 1 August KO 6pm - 3rd/4th Place Playoff

Saturday 1 August KO 10pm - Final

We will work out the logistics for Friday nearer the time. Getting into Yenikent for an 8pm KO is no prob, but getting out of there late at night will be a nightmare scenario, especially if there is a penalty shoot out at the end of the match. A subject for discussion in the coming weeks me thinks !

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU - LEAGUE FIXTURES 2009/2010

Greetings Kankas and Kankies

For your diaries, here are the Ankaragucu fixtures for the first half of the 2009/2010 season.

7/9 August Diyarbakır Away

14/16 August Manisa Home

21/23 August Bursa Away

28/30 August Istanbul BBS Home

11/13 September Antalya Away

18/20 September Gencler Home

25/27 September Gaziantep Away

2/4 October Galatasaray Home

16/18 October Kayseri Away

23/25 October Ankaraspor Home

30/1 November Besiktas Away

6/8 November Kasımpasa Home

20/22 November Eskisehir Away

27/29 November Denizli Home

4/6 December Trabzon Away

11/13 December Fenerbahce Away

18/20 December Sivas Home

Points of note ….. unfortunately, The Mountaineering Kankas will be unable to watch their beloved team on weekend of 7/9 August when they pay us a visit. I somehow doubt that a trip to Diyarbakır is on their itinerary !!

Also, it is interesting to note that we are travelling to Bursa on 21/23 August ! Are we up for another trip to this great city ?? To be discussed.

There is another interesting fixture in Antalya 11/13 September, however, with it being right in the middle of Ramadan that may not be an option. To be discussed.

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

ANOTHER FIRST FOR ANKARAGUCU !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

As promised, here are the photos of Fife Kanka Mike and Eski Kanka strutting their stuff on the Aegean Sea around Bodrum in their Ankaragucu gear.

In the background you can see Kara Ada (The Dark Island), and the long-term guardian of the caves on the island told me that it was the first time he had ever seen an Ankaragucu top on his island.

Okay, so not quite in the Mountaineering Kankas league, but a first nevertheless !

I'm sure Fife Kanka will wear his Ankaragucu top with pride around Edinburgh and ..... Inshallah ..... pay a visit to The 19 Mayis Stadium in Ankara in the future to support his new team ??!!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

NEW KANKAS ON THE BLOCK

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

It is my pleasure to welcome two new kankas to the Kanka Group (albeit that they are residents from afar, ie, Edinburgh !).

Brat Kankie's two friends are in Bodrum and have been encouraged (brainwashed ?!) to support Ankaragucu !

Mike Freeman is another kanka from Kirkcaldy (no surprises for guessing he supports The Mighty Raith Rovers !!). I ran the name Martyn Maguire past him, but ...... suprise surprise ... he doesn't know him. Must be a first me thinks !!

His luvvlie girlfriend Lisa Black comes from Pitfukinlochry ..... a quaint wee toon in Scotland. She knows something about football because she has heard of Hibs and she lives near Easter Road Stadium. That's a plus me thinks !!

Mike's kanka name is Fife Kanka - there is only ONE Kirkcaldy Kanka !! Lisa is stuck with Pitfukinlochry Kankie I'm afraid !!!

Watch out for a photo of Fife Kanka and Eski Kanka in the next week or so sailing the seas around Bodrum with their Ankaragucu tops on. Great attention getters and we had lottsa freebie Efes when the barman realised they were not Fener tops !!!

All the best from Eski Kanka in Bodrum

ANKARAGUCU - SPECULATION PERHAPS ?!

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

I've just received the following from Kaleci Kanka Tansu which you will no doubt be interested in. Dare we hope that it is true ??? Mmmmmm let's wait and see .....


HABERİN ETİKETLERİ
· takım teklif Türkiye İngiltere Ankaragücü Kayserispor
· Sen de etiket ekle!
gönder
Ankaragücü'ne dünya yıldızı
ERCAN ATA - ANKARA / DHA
Yıldız oyuncu başkent ekibinin teklifini kabul etti, görüşmeler için haftaya Türkiye'ye gelmesi bekleniyor
Yeni sezon da iddialı bir takım kurmak isteyen Ankaragücü, dünyaca ünlü bir yıldızın transferi için harekete geçti. Başkent ekibi daha önce Kayserispor'un da transferi için çaba sarf ettiği, Manchebter City ve İngiltere Milli Takımı'nın yıldız ismi Darius Vassell'i kadrosuna dahil etmek için harekete geçti. Sarı lacivertli kulübün 29 yaşındaki golcü futbolcuya yaptığı 1 yıllık teklif yıldız oyuncu tarafından da prensipte kabul edilirken, Vassell'in Ankaragücü ile görüşmek için gelecek hafta Türkiye geleceği öğrenildi.

The ex-Man City and (Spurs ?) striker Darius Vassell coming to Ankaragucu ??

Bring it on I say, but ....... wait a minute ........... what about my post about Messrs Santos and Iglesias ? Won't they kinda wonder where the dosh is coming from ??!!

Let's see where this goes in the next few days. Keep us informed Tansu.

All the best from Sceptical Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU - ANOTHER RAINY DAY

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

It was reported in The Hurriyet this morning that there has been mutterings of discontent from our two Latin players, Santos and Iglesias.

Apparently they are both owed transfer money and outstanding salaries from the Club. Iglesias is now a 'free agent', his contract having expired, but Santos has another year to run on his contract.

Hikmet Bey wants them both to stay at the Club next season but there appears to be a financial impasse which must be resolved by the Club PDQ !

Obviously I'm not privy to the financial status of the Club, but now that this news has hit the National Press it must be resolved one way or another. More news on this as it unfolds.

To close on a happier note, Ankaragucu have signed 29 year old midfielder Cihan Haspolatli from Konya on a one year contract. Some of you may remember that he played for Galatasaray some time ago. Some 'steel' to add to the midfield area - his disciplinary record speaks volumes about his style of play !!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU - SUNNY DAYS AND RAINY DAYS !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Well, today is definitely a .............. Rainy Day ! The news I didn't want to hear, appeared in The Hurriyet today.

Our Super Goalkeeper, Serkan Kirintili, wants to join Ankara.....spit.....spor ! Yet another good reason for hating this Club even more !

It is not clear from the report just why he want to take 'a step down' , but probably for financial reasons me thinks ?!

Since the 'proposed' merger of Ankaragucu and Ankaraspor drifted into oblivion, we now see the power of I. M. Gokcek's cheque book !!

So, despite the Ankaragucu management's efforts to keep Serkan, he will sadly be on his way soon. However, if Ankaragucu refuse to release him, he will be free to move in January 2010 under the Bosman Rule.

I have to say that if he was going to Bursa or Eskisehir I would wish him well. After all, he has served Ankaragucu well in his time with the Club.

However, I just can't bring myself to wish anyone well who leaves our great Club for Ankara....spit.....spor !!

All the best from a disappointed and disillusioned Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU - AS YOU WERE !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

You will recall in the previous post last week that Kaleci Kanka Tansu reported on El Yasa's transfer to Malaga. Well, I'm pleased to report that it didn't happen. He's staying put and has signed a contract today !

It's not often I have good news to report, so here's the icing on the cake ...........

Captain Ceyhun and Ilker are also staying put !

That seems to sew-up my 'wish list' for next season regarding our Back 5 and midfield (with Semavi also included).

All we need now is a YOUNG 'class striker' up front with Jaaaaaabaaaaaa Jaba Jaba and we can start preparing for UEFA Cup footie the following season yessssssssssssssss !!!

Here he goes ............ dreaming again I can hear you all saying !!!

All the best from an upbeat Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU – THE PRICE OF SUCCESS

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

As I have mentioned several times recently in match posts, the stars of the team on the run-in to the end of the season were the Back 5.

So, it was unsurprising to learn this morning that Ilkem is on Manisaspor's 'wish-list'.

They have sold Ferhat Oztorun to Trabzon and are looking for a replacement.

Ilkem and 3 other players from Sivas, Bursa and Konya are in their frame.

Let's hope they take the 'preferred option' and go for Cihan of Konya !

I am also hoping that Hikmet Karaman has been given the power of saying …... NO ! ….. to transfers OUT, or …........ am I dreaming again ?!

I have said before during matches that Ilkem reminds me of the character of a Scottish Terrier, ie, he never knows when to quit. Therefore, this is the type of player we need to keep.

Let's say ….. altogether now …......... Inshallah !!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

All problems solved at Genclerbirligi

After their worst season in many a year Genclerbirligi have taken drastic measures to turn the club around sacking 12 people who experts consider to have been responsible for the disaster that was 2008/09.

Those sacked on Tuesday included cleaners, waiters and what was described by the Dogan news agency as "provision suppliers". "The round ball in Ankara" on Tuesday night discovered that one other person fired was the club's dietician Aylin.

"With this sort of radical clean out we are certain to be champions next season," Oz Kanka said after Aylin told him at darts last that she had been sacked.

Meanwhile, the club has decided to stick with General Manager Cem Onuk who since his appointment around four years ago has seen Gencler only going in one direction - down.

The search is now on for a new coach and it is expected that a number of players will also be released. Media reports have said Aussie Bruce and keeper Bojan are expected to be sold.

It is not yet clear who will be cleaning the players' boots next season, nor who will be advising the players on performance enhancing dr... er sorry, healthy nutritional habits.

Ankaragucu claim The Kop

According to Vikipedi, today is the anniversary of when Ankaragucu were promoted to the top flight in 1981 on the order of Kenan Evren and the TFF (you can read our account of the controversy here).

Which is as good excuse as any to post a photo of Kirkaldy Kanka's nephew Nikki outside of Liverpool's stadium with the kiddies unfortunately unseen in the pram.

Is it possible to get any closer to relegation?

My God. That was one hell of a scary evening.

Everything started perfectly. Met up at the Chopin with a Scotsman called James (no, not Sir Eski) who was in town from the fair city of Cork with his Turkish wife and a friend of their's called Valerie. Sort of watched the FA Cup and then Rebecca, Spine, Battle Damaged Kanka Damon and Orcan showed up.

At one stage a fellow in the pub asked whether we were really Gencler fans. "Why of course", we replied and he then identified himself as the brother of former Gencler attacking midfielder Mehmet Cakir's brother. Damon and myself went... "ah, I knew he looked like somebody we knew".

Plenty of beers and left for the stadium about 20 minutes before kick-off. Bugger all people at the match as most were watching the "big games" for the league title on the telly.

We started out okay but our defence was pretty rubbish, we were missing Traore and Koray.. and it showed. Kayseri went one up after about 12 minutes but we weren't too worried as we looked the better team. A few chances snuffed out by the Kayseri keeper and then Kayseri scored again, and then again. Three attacks, three goals.

Half-time cup of tea and we were depressed but still not desperate as the other games were both 0-0, meaning that we were safe.

A few minutes into the second-half though and news went through the crowd, quite a few people had radios, that Konya had won a penalty. The vast majority of the crowd ignored the game in front of us and instead sat hoping. "Blast," said I, or perhaps it was a slightly harsher word than that, as Konya scored. I can't remember what minute this was in but it was fairly early in the second half. As things stood, Gencler was to be relegated.

At this point the crowd stopped any cheering for the team and instead directed its ire at the team management. Some of the slogans included, "Cavcav istifa", "Samet istifa" "yeter artik Cavcav, yeter artik" and "El Saka gelsin, Samet gitsin". My attempt to get the crowd screaming "deiyetisyen istifa" failed to get much traction.

There was a damn lot of anger out there and I completely lost track of what was happening on the field. At one stage Orcan said that we only had 10 players on the field. I had completely missed the fact that we had a player sent off.

Then Recep, our keeper for the day, seemed to take offence at something or other us in the crowd had done and then the crowd turned on him with a general "watch the game you idiot".

It was all quite surreal. We were standing for most of the second half but I don't have a clue what happened on the pitch, well, except for the fact that Kayseri scored another to make it 4-0.

The anti-Cavcav chants continued and then news came through with about 15 minutes left that Antalya had scored. A huge cheer went up, Gencler weren't going down!, and after a few pro-Ankaragucu chants we went back to the "yonetim istifa" chants.

By this time our coach Samet Aybaba, the famous lover of Arabs everywhere, had already left the stadium. Good riddance I say.

The referee blew the full time whistle but we stayed in the stands waiting for those in the crowd who were listening to the radio to give us the all clear. A few minutes later and it was confirmed that Antalya had beaten Ankaragucu. Bloody close.

Into the taxi and off to the James Cook bar where we were taunted by all the Besiktas fans. A few beers in and Muzo, one of our Scribblers darts team players shows up with his fiancee Aylin, who just happens to be the dietitian at Gencler. Not long later Gencler's normal goalkeeper Bojan, and his lovely wife Anna, joined us.

It was a lovely end to what I can only describe as one crap night. Thank god Ankaragucu lost.

ANKARAGUCU - THE 'FRIENDSHIP' TEAM !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

I never thought I would ever say this ............. but ........... well done Ankaragucu .............. for losing !!!

Antalyaspor 1 ANKARAGUCU 0

With 15 minutes to go in the matches last night, the unthinkable was going to happen, ie, Gencler were relegated because it was 0-0 in Antalya, Gencler was losing to Kayseri and Konya was winning 3-0.

Then, Serge of Antalya pops one in and ............ phew, you could hear Oz Kanka's sigh of relief all the way from the Stadium to the Red Lion Club !!

So, Ankaragucu saved the blushes of Gencler and Antalya and gave a farewell present to Mountaineering Kanka Robbie ....... the hated Konya is down ........ yesssssssssssssssss !!

If the Gencler Kankas are so inclined, they may reward the Ankaragucu Kankas in the bar on the next occasion we are together ??!!

Thank you God (and Ankaragucu) for keeping Gencler in the Super League. Can you imagine a local derby without Gencler ?? No !!

All the best from 'friendly' Eski Kanka Jim