ANKARAGUCU AND THE BATTLE OF SAKARYA CADDESI MARK 2

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

It started off so well and then it degenerated into the Battle of Sakarya Caddesi Mark 2, which thankfully wasn’t as violent as the Battle of Sakarya Caddesi Mark 1 which took place many moons ago. But first .....................……………… the footie.

Fenerbahce 2 ANKARAGUCU 0

Eski Kanka was first into The Chopin Bar to commandeer 3 tables, which would in the end prove insufficient for the Gathering of the Kanka Clan ! Next up came Mountaineering Kanka Robbie with his entourage of beautiful `Bilkent Babes`, Kasha, Jennifer, Alix and Julie. Also Iain, Phillip, Andrew and then Oz Kanka Chris. Followed by Rip Off Kanka Erman, Maniac Kanka Harun (who would later take `centre stage` in the Battle of Sakarya Caddesi Mark 2), Yankee Kanka, Battle Damaged Kanka Damon, another beautiful `Bilkent Babe` Abby, Ted, Ian, Tansu and Omur. 19 kankas and surely a World Record attendance by the Kanka Group for a match ?!

Expectations were fairly high, but tempered with the knowledge that Fener have shown this season that they can play a bit, ie, the Inter Milan match !

The match got underway with ANKARAGUCU in their customary 4-4-2 formation and trying to attack Fener by playing their passing game through midfield. However, it was Serkan who was the busier keeper with ANKARAGUCU’s attacks breaking down near the penalty area and Volkan only having to deal with long shots.

Win 10 minutes of the 1st half remaining, I was contemplating going in at 0-0 and perhaps a frustrated Fener lining up for the 2nd half. Wrong !!

A corner from Alex swung in to the near post was met by Aurelio who scored with a glancing header with Serkan rooted to the spot. Herr Briegel will be asking why he was allowed a free header unchallenged !! A classic goal though and all credit to Aurelio for taking his chance.

ANKARAGUCU kept pressing forward until the half time whistle but the Fener defence were in control and Volkan never in danger of having to make a save.

Into the 2nd half then and more of the same. ANKARAGUCU getting bogged down in midfield with some long range shots, mostly off target. In all honesty it was probably the easiest match Volkan has had this season !

At the other end it was `all hands to the pumps` ! Serkan was performing miracles with Emre and Co mopping up the now frequent Fener attacks.

It was at this point when Maniac Kanka showed all the new kankas why he was well named by Kirkcaldy Kanka a few seasons ago ! Our singing of ANKARAGUCU songs gradually turned to slagging off the Fener `supporters` in front of us in the Chopin Bar.

I put parenthesis around `supporters` on purpose because they are what I call `armchair supporters`, ie, they probably have never been to Kadikoy and only `support` Fener in the comfort of their own homes or pubs in Ankara. If any of them read this Blog (which I doubt) they should try and realise that Sakarya Caddesi belongs to ANKARAGUCU supporters and my advice to them is….. don’t wave a red flag at a Bull !!!

I have to confess that I didn’t see the last goal scored by one of the Fener substitutes (not important who !!) in time added on because I was trying to keep Maniac Kanka under control, ably assisted by Yankee Kanka.

Unfortunately, my efforts proved fruitless when Maniac Kanka proceeded to question the parentage of the Fener `supporters` !! Also, I doubt that those `supporters` mothers were female dogs, although Maniace Kanka was convinced that they were !!!

All hell broke loose at the final whistle with the Fener `supporters` baying for Maniac Kanka’s blood ! They were being restrained by Yankee Kanka and the bar staff, while yours truly was trying to restrain Maniac Kanka !

It was then that Maniac Kanka phoned for `The Cavalry` ! Almost immediately about 60 ANKARAGUCU supporters turned up and most of the Fener `supporters` scarpered. Those few who remained `broke into silence` and a war was averted !

What to do to take Maniac Kanka out of the `danger zone` ? We bundled him into a taxi and took him to the less dangerous venue called The Red Lion Club where there were lots of Ingallish hooligans watching the funny shaped ball world cup match.

I thought………….. if that doesn’t sober him up, nothing will !!!!

Back to footie again, and it was quite clear that Fener deserved to win the match. The ANKARAGUCU midfield spent most of the match protecting and supporting the back 4 rather than supporting the strikers. Once again, Bebbe was `The Lone Ranger` for most of the match.

Herr Briegel has some serious thinking to do before next weekend. ANKARAGUCU will be at home against Sivasspor. More details nearer the time.

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim the Pacifier