The long anticipated return of the Turkish Super Lig is on Friday night as Ankaragucu play centre stage, hosting champions Galatasaray in what should be a great game and a typical hostile atmosphere at the Yenikent Stadium in Ankara. Season tickets are now on sale, and match day tickets also went on sale today starting at 30 Turkish Lira which is fantastic value for money for a top flight game of football.
It’s been 6 years since Ankaragucu last played in the Super Lig back in the 2011/12 season when they lost 5-0 at home against Kayserispor. Since then there has been so many ups and downs with the lows being the two successive relegations, fans having to take food and water to the training ground for the players, unpaid wages of the players, and missing out on promotion in Lig 2 after losing to Alanyaspor.
Mehmet Yiginer has had a pretty tough journey as Ankaragucu President. His apparent friendship with Melih Gokcek was always called into question especially when things went wrong. He had a fall out with one of the Ankaragucu tribune groups who boycotted a few matches and then there were the fights with other chairman during matches which has led to a legnthy ban.
Yiginer has however won over the majority of the Ankaragucu support due to the performances on the park. Two successive promotions which see the club back in the Super Lig and also the work he has done in lifting the transfer ban which has allowed the club to strengthen the squad. Yiginer is also prepared to take on the likes of Gokcek and other powerful businessmen and politicians when it comes to the future of Ankaragucu. He has managed to reduce the debt, close all the files that went to UEFA for unpaid wages, and has also brought outside investment which has been vital to the clubs promotions.
Ankaragucu haven’t had the best preparations when it has come to this pre season. The club were without a home up until 2 weeks ago with the 19 Mayis Stadium being demolished, and the temporary stadium Eryaman not ready until September. Ankaragucu will play the first few games at Yenikent until that is ready. The clubs pre season games in the TSYD Cup were cancelled due to issues with the stadium, and this has resulted in only two pre season games being played. A 2-2 draw with Erzerumspor and a fantastic 2-0 win at Bursaspor.
Up until Saturday most Ankaragucu fans would have said we don’t have much chance of getting anything from the game on Friday night. But after a stunning performance at Bursaspor where the front trio of Mostapha El Kabir, Younes Mokhtar and Thievy Bifouma started and played some of the best football the team has played in years, it’s given the fans a bit of hope.
In midfield Ricardo Faty looks to be the perfect defensive midfielder that will do all the dirty work that will allow the more creative players do all their work in the attacking area of the pitch. Bakary Kone and Yalcin Ayhan have already formed a solid partnership which will give the fans confidence that we have enough to stay up this season.
Galatasaray lost on penalties against Akhisar last night in the Super Cup and it should give Ankaragucu encouragement and an idea as to how they should play. Galatasaray are dangerous in the wide areas with Rodrigues in particular a danger with his pace, he links up well with Nagatomo, and then you have Bafetimbi Gomes who was top scorer last season. Ankaragucu will need to be at their best defensively and not give them any space in the wide areas and cut off the supply of the more creative players.
Where you can hurt Galatasaray is on the counter attack. With Nagatomo being very attacking and Linnes on the other side it leaves room for Ankaragucu wide players to attack on the counter. Elvis Manu and Miguel Lopes had joy numerous times in last nighs match and the likes of Bifouma and Mokhtar can do the same.
The game kicks off at 2145 Turkish Time, we recommend anyone that is going to get to the stadium early as we are expecting a big crowd.
In other news, Enes Kubat has agreed to have his contract terminated and we would like to wish him all the best in the future.
The team must do what Akhisar did last week, ie ........ don't be afraid of the name of our opponents. Attack from the off and don't give them time on the ball.
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping for a good start to our return to the Super League.
Bring it on !!!