ANKARAGUCU - A FLAIR (FLARE) FOR THE DRAMATIC !!

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Headline courtesy of Battle Damaged Kanka Damon !

It all went wrong for Ankaragucu tonight and we can standby for another Stadium Ban (not just for one match in my opinion, but for perhaps two).     In the 6th minute Right Kapali started to throw lit flares to Protokol (VIP Section), and then towards the end, flares were thrown onto to playing surface which held the match up for a few minutes till they were extinguished.   So, Nadeem's visit one week earlier was just in time !!!

Anyway, this will be a quick report because it is all doom and gloom again.

Ankaragucu  1    Bucaspor   5

We met up in The Chopin as usual - Battle Damaged Kanka Damon, Maniac Kanka and friend Elif, Apple Kanka Erman (back for his first match of the season !), Muco Kanka and yours truly.

We decided to go to Maraton and ........ surprise surprise ...... it was almost full !   Gecikondu was three quarters full (as usual) and L Kapali was full, so a larger crowd than last week.

We only had to wait until the 7th minute before Bucu made their intentions clear.   A cross came in from the left over the heads of the Ankaragucu defence and it was an easy tap-in for the unmarked attacker to open the scoring.

16th minute and the Bursa Song was sung by ALL tribunes - at last !

20 minutes in and Buca was arrogantly keeping possession with ease and really taking the piss out of Ankaragucu.   The writing was on the wall !

However, against the run of play, Ankaragucu hit back from a free kick on the right.  The ball came over and Timur was first to it to head in for the equaliser.   All up cheering like mad and thinking ........... could this be a come-back ???  

Half time came and although Ankaragucu pressed hard after the equaliser, it was still Buca looking the stronger team.

It only took 4 minutes into the 2nd half for Buca to hit the post.    2 minutes later, Gokhan saved bravely at a forward's feet to prevent a certain goal.

However, one minute later he had to look smart to do the same but brought the attacker down in the process.   Penalty and a yellow.   Penalty well taken and Buca were on a roll.

Further goals came in the 60th, 66th and 81st minutes, all from sloppy defending, and for the most part, leaving their No7 free to run riot down the right wing with lots of inviting assists.

I should point out that in between time, Gokhan made some great saves and in the process saved Ankaragucu from an even more embarrassing result !

I also reserve criticism for the referee who was quite blatant in his one-sided decisions against Ankaragucu.  However, having said that, Buca was too hot for Ankaragucu to handle tonight and ran out well deserved winners.

Back to the drawing board for Yilmaz and he will have to fire his young team up for the next trip into enemy territory !

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

FURTHER MUSINGS ON THE PTT LEAGUE

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Having watched Rizespor on two occasions this season I have to make them one of my favourites for promotion to the Super League.

Ankaragucu's win last Sunday against Kartalspor puts their narrow victory into perspective after today's result and all credit to Kartal for keeping the score 'respectable' !

Kartalspor  0    Rizespor   1

Rize is a well organised and powerful team who play fast, one-touch footie.   Also, in the tall and speedy African striker, Jallow, and the African winger, Kalu, they have two players who are predators capable of scoring and also making assists.   I should also mention the impressive burly defender Sezer who brings the ball out of defence with good distribution instead of hoofing it out.  

I'm sure Yilmaz will have Ankaragucu well prepared for the Rize match - it will certainly not be a picnic for Ankaragucu against formidable opponents.

Rize's goal today came in the 83rd minute from Kalu.  After a great run down the left, he slipped the defender and struck the ball with the outside of his right foot to deceive the goalkeeper.  

However, first up is the Ankaragucu v Buca match tomorrow KO 7pm.   Meeting in The Chopin as usual and going to the Stadium at about 6pm.

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

The Kankas are having a party !!

Some videos from the Ankaragucu vs Kartalspor match. We see Jim staring at the front with Bugra showing their Turkish Dance moves !

ANKARAGUCU REPAYS BELLSHILL KANKA NADEEM'S LOYALTY

The Kankas off to the Stadium sporting Nadeem's Scottish Saltire !

The Kankas in Gecikondu making their precence felt !

The Kankas all fired up (with Sutas Ayran !!) and ready to take off to the Stadium !

The Kankas celebrating Timur's winning goal yesssssssssssssssssssss !!!!


Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

What a weekend !!

A fantastic night out at The Beyzade Restaurant on Friday night was the prelude to what was to come.

Last night we all met up at The Chopin Bar for the 'main event' and we weren't disappointed.   It was 3rd time lucky for Nadeem with Ankaragucu deservedly securing their 1st league win of the season, although having said that, it was not a 'walk in the park'.   It was a hard fought win against a useful Kartal team who threatened throughout the match (especially in the 1st half) to spoil our party !

Ankaragucu  1     Kartal   0

We all arrived at the Stadium and entered Gecikondu for the first time in a long while.   Bellshill Kanka Nadeem, Gecikondu Kanka Bugra, Maniac Kanka Harun, Basak Kankie, Battle Damaged Kanka Damon, Muco Kanka and his wife Natalie, Cider Kanka John, Lila Kankie and yours truly.

As I predicted on facebook, Nadeem was whisked straight away to the Platform used by The Leader of Gecikondu where he unfurled his Scottish Saltire Flag and then he was 'serenaded' by the Gecikondu Chorus.   I've never seen him looking so bewildered, but he was given a rowsing VIP welcome by all the Gecikondu Boyz.

Gecikondu was three quarters full, Maraton a poor quarter full and Right Kapali half full, so a disappointing attendance, but the noise level coming out of Gecikondu compensated for the empty spaces in the Stadium.

Bugra did his best to teach us the 'Ey Valla' song which we sang along with the Gecikondu (some of us better than others !!).   A great atmosphere and great occasion for Nadeem.

The match began with both teams feeling each other out and it took until the 20th minute for the first real goal scoring opportunity.   Kartal's No52 received a long ball pass, which eluded the Ankaragucu defence, to fire in a goalbound shot but Gokhan got down well to smother and save his effort.

2 minutes later and Gokhan was called into action again to punch a goalbound shot out which was then cleared.

Half and hour gone and it was Kartal looking the likelier team to score with Ankaragucu failing to make any headway in the final quarter against a strong and resolute Kartal defence.   Kartal was playing long balls over the Ankaragucu defence for their speedy wingers to chase but Ankaragucu's defence had settled by this time and Gokhan was showing safe hands in goal.

Some heavy challenges were coming in from the Kartal defence and from one such challenge Ankaragucu had a free kick just outside the box but failed to cause any damage.

Then, just on the half time whistle came the best chance of the match when a Kartal free kick came in which was going in at the corner, but somehow Gokhan made the save of the match to dive to his right and push the ball around the post for a corner.

Half time and Ankaragucu was perhaps fortunate to be going in all square, but kicking into Gecikondu in the 2nd half we were all still full of optimism.

Ankaragucu came out for the 2nd half and started to trouble Kartal.   10 minutes in and we were all on our feet, but the Ankaragucu free kick whizzed past the post.

However, 3 minutes later and we were all up high-fiving and celebrating.   A corner from Mert was met on the near post and the backheader reached Timur who was lurking on the back post.   Great header from him with the goalkeeper helpless.

Ankaragucu was fired-up now and beginning to look dangerous for the first time in the match.   Mert and Serkan went close, and then with 15 minutes left the 2nd goal almost arrived.

Timur was put through on the right and off he went like a whippet, but he was blatantly brought down by the last Kartal defender.   Red card was the obvious decision but the inconsistent referee brought out the yellow.   Chicken Shit referee !!

It was all Ankaragucu in the last 10 minutes with shots coming in but going past the post or being saved.   Ankaragucu was still attacking during the 4 minutes added on and the final whistle saw us dancing around in wild celebration.,

The players came over to Gecikondu to receive the well deserved plaudits and Nadeem was able to give his Scottish Saltire Flag to Umit who wrapped it around himself.   Hopefully it will end up in a place of honour ?!

So, 3 valuable points for Ankaragucu to keep the show on the road.   Another victory at home next Sunday against Buca could see them move out of the relegation zone and into mid-table.

As I said at the beginning, a truly memorable weekend and as Nadeem flies out of Ankara tonight he will take lots of happy memories of a great Kanka and Ankaragucu weekend.

No doubt he will soon be planning his next visit ??!!   Bring it on !!!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

Gencler go third after defeating Istanbul BBS

Istanbul BBS 0 - 2 Genclerbirligi

I was playing and then umpiring out at Kecioren on Saturday afternoon, so I didn't get to see the match. Spine thankfully kept me informed by text messages.

The stream:

Ht 0-0

One nil up now 54th

Two nil. LOVELY goal from hursut

Two nil win ft

Two matches six scored none conceded.

Indeed. I can't say much about the match but you can check out Hursut's brilliant goal at the Lig TV website.

Going along nicely now and good to hit some decent form ahead of Friday night's match against Galatasaray. We certainly aren't favourites for that one... but you never know.

THE VIP VISITOR ARRIVETH !!!

The Kankas with Ankaragucu Goalkeeper, Bayram, outside Beyzade on Friday night 5 October.

The VIP Table in Beyzade reserved for The Kanka Group.   Food aplenty, now ..... let the fun begin !!

Eski Kanka receiving Misket Dancing Lessons from the Dancing Queen, Basak Kankie !!


Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

I'm sure that everyone in Ankara knows that Nadeem in arriving in Ankara tomorrow, ie, Thursday, and no doubt there will be a VIP vehicle to meet the aircraft and whisk him off to the VIP Lounge !

Us mere mortals who have to work for a living will be unable to meet and greet him, but we will do that in our own Ankaragucu Style on Friday night.

We are meeting him in The Beer Station in Tunali at about 7pm.   Coming down Tunalihilmi from the direction of Karum, take a right at the first set of traffic lights (where the old McDonald's used to be situated) and it's the 2nd pub on the right.

From there, we will go to The Beyzade Restaurant on Esat Caddesi at about 8pm (it is left at the top of Tunalihimli and down to the first set of traffic lights).

The Main Event will be on Sunday when Nadeem is holding court in The Chopin Bar on Sakarya Caddesi at about 4pm and then going to the Stadium at about 5pm to watch Ankaragucu stuff Kartal.    For a change, and at Nadeem's request, we will be watching the match with the Gecikondu Boyz.

This is going to be one 'elluva weekend.  So, an event not to be missed !

Look forward to seeing you all for some fun and games ....... and ........ an Ankaragucu Victoreeeeeeeee !!!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

Gencler smash Kayseri

Ooohhh. That was nice. Hursut has gone up, and back down. The arc was brilliant and Hursut stays down. And what! The referee has been fooled! Yes! That was possibly the most obvious dive since (insert Tom Daley joke). Genclerbirligi have been given an extremely dodgy penalty. Zec stands up. Into the left corner. Toooooo easy. Gencler go 2-0 ahead. Kayseri are done and dusted 33 minutes in.

Genclerbirligi 4 - 0 Kayserispor

It was great to see a whole heap of new Kankas join us at the Beer Bus before this evening's match. In addition to myself and Spine we had Mini-Hursut Kanka and his mate Terry. At least we had met those blokes beforehand but it was also great to meet Bilkent teachers Michael and his English mates as well as @pspicerward and @PritchDan and their Dutch friend. I love the internets!

It was a half decent crowd at the stadium and thus we had quite big queues.

Right. So now for my first rant.

Thank you Mr. Policeman for already changing the time of our match. Many people had organised to go to the match at 4pm and I know of one father who had tried to arrange a football birthday party for his 7 year-old son, but, well, fuck them hey. I understand that you didn't want to annoy all the good AKP people who were having their annual jamboree next door. What I don't understand is why you decided to not sell tickets where you normally sell tickets. Or for that matter why you wouldn't let taxis in to the main gate. After all, you had changed the time of kick-off so it wouldn't coincide with the AKP talkfest.

Instead we got out of our taxis at the end of the road, walked to the main entrance and were then told that the tickets were at the other side of the stadium. Thanks policeman!

So we walked back. Me leading a group of Gencler virgins and then into another queue. I had my season ticket but of course I waited around to make sure they were fine.

Ultimately they were.

As was Genclerbirligi.

We smashed them. 4-0. It was nice.

Post match and the bloody cops had closed the gate to get onto Istanbul yolu!

We turned around and after saying goodbye to some of my new friends such as Michael from Bilkent I failed to say goodbye to @pspicerward and @PritchDan . So we lost them too. Not to worry, Spie, Mini-Hursut, his mate then went off to the pub.

PS: Hope you weren't expecting a report on the actual match.

PPS: Those blokes we met today.... do comment, send us your contact details etc!!!!