ANKARAGUCU AND THE END OF AN ERA ........ INSHALLAH !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

It has been a long and painful journey for Ankaragucu and their thousands of supporters during the last 5 years, 4 of which have been in the 2^nd League, and it falls to me to hopefully write the last ever report of an Ankaragucu match in the 2^nd league !!!

Ankaragucu’s last match in the Super League was against Kayserispor on the 7^th of April 2012, and as we all know, they were unprepared for life in the PTT League and perhaps foolishly under-estimated the standard of football in that league.   This time there will be no such mistake and hopefully they will be pressing for another promotion rather than settleing for consolidation.

So, it should be an interesting summer as Mehmet Yigner and the management team strive to strengthen the squad in preparation for next season.   Details here as they unfold.

However, back to the present and the last match of the season against Hatay.

ANKARAGUCU    2        Hatay     0

All the kankas were dressed for the occasion when we met-up at The Bira Park (as can be seen from the photo) and it was a party atmosphere in the full ‘bulging at the seams’ Stadium in a warm Spring Day.    Maniac Kanka Harun, Battle Damaged Kanka Damon, Cider Kanka John, Kaleci Kanka Tansu, Apple Kanka Erman, New Kanka Nuer, Posh Kanka Ahmet and Scouse Kanka Marcus who just flew in from the UK for the match !

There was only one hiccup pre-match and that was the issue with acquiring tickets and we had to split up between Maraton and Sol Kapali.    When Damon, John and I came to the Sol Kapali Outer Gate we were told to go to the Gecikondu Gate at the opposite side of the Stadium.    This entailed a hike around the perimeter past the Gar and standing in a long queue of punters.   Anyway, we made it in with 30 minutes to spare which was quite an achievement considering the length of the queue !

The match was only 2 minutes old when it had to be halted for 2 minutes when some idiots in Maraton started to throw flares onto the pitch.    With smoke flares also going, it took the stewards efforts to clear the lit flares from the pitch and we were underway again.

It took until the 14^th minute for Ankaragucu to make their first serious attempt at goal when Enes put Hursit through on goal but his weak shot went past the post.    Then, as usual, we had the Bursa song on the 16^th minute mark.

Although the Hatay players had given the Ankaragucu players a guard of honour on entering the pitch at the beginning of the match, they were not there to ‘lie down’.    They almost opened the scoring on 23 minutes when their striker shot into the side netting from a dangerous move down the right.

However, the moment we had been waiting for arrived 3 minutes later.   Hursit received an excellent pass on the left wing and crossed an inch perfect ball to Enes who’s shot was sent into the top right with the goalkeeper helpless.

Hatay almost equalised 2 minutes later, but an acrobatic save by Altay prevented a header going in.

On the half hour mark and Enes almost made it 2 when his intelligent running off the ball left him one on one with the goalkeeper, but all credit to the goalkeeper who anticipated the move and he beat Enes to the ball to clear.

10 minutes to go to half time and time for a Mexican Wave around the Stadium which lasted for 3 minutes !!

3 minutes to go and Kenan showed some skill in evading 3 tackles before his shot was blocked.   From the resulting corner, Cenk headed just over.

The half time entertainment was provided by The Ankara Club who gave us a demonstration of the Misket Dance and they were joined by Mehment Yigner on the centre circle and he gave us an impromptu showing of his dance skills.    Well done Mehment Bey !

Into the 2^nd half and the match was’nt a done deal with Hatay again showing attacking instincts.   Their No9 in particular was a constant threat and he had 2 excellent efforts which on any other day might have gone in.    However, our young goalkeeper Altay was having a good match and looked the part.

Kenan, Enes and Hursit all had efforts on goal before the 2^nd goal arrived on the 73^rd minute mark.    It was pure class from Kenan and he attacked down the left wing, cut inside, dummied the goalkeeper and stroked the ball into an empty net.

That was it in a football sense, but we had to endure smoke for the last 10 minutes of the match !!!     First it was the turn of Sol Kapali where we were standing to be covered in orange smoke, then 5 minutes later it was the turn of Gecikondu and then 5 minutes after that Sag Kapali.    It was mental !!!!

Then with the clock on 90 minutes one punter from the scoreboard end decided to invade the pitch and then the ‘sheep’ responded with all the tribunes flooding onto the pitch.    I don’t think the referee had blown for the end of the match, so no doubt we will hear more about that in the next few days, ie, will there be a stadium ban at the beginning of next season ??!!!

Back to the Bira Park we went to celebrate and then to Tandogan to join the main celebrations.

Well done Ankaragucu.    We can now enjoy the summer break and look forward to a new challenge in the PTT League next season.    

Bring it on !!!!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim