ANKARA FOOTIE - FOR YOUR DIARIES

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Upcoming fixtures for your diaries -

Galata....spit....saray V ANKARAGUCU - 14 October KO 8.30pm

Besik....spit...tas V Gencler - 15 October KO 8.30pm

As both matches will be on League TV I propose that we meet and watch the Ankara (1st City of Turkey) teams victories together.

We will need to decide on a venue. Chopin, Knight and Flight, or A N other. Look forward to hearing your thoughts and suggestions.

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU - ALMOST...................

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Almost means.............. Not quite.
Not quite means........... Not right.
Not right means........... Wrong.
Wrong means.................
The opportunity to start again and
GET IT RIGHT !!!!

Well....... we ALMOST won for the first time in the league this season.

ANKARAGUCU 2 Trabzon 2

Oz Kanka and I met up at The Chopin as usual but there was a sad absence of Ankara kankas, the reason of which is ably explained in the previous blog by Oz Kanka.

Having made it into Maraton in time for the Istiklal Marsi, the match started at a furious pace and before ANKARAGUCU had time to settle they were one down. A sweeping move out of defence by Trabzon and a cut back into the path of Marcelinho (a Yattara lookalike !!) and no argument about the quality of the goal.

The wake-up call was heeded and ANKARAGUCU took control of the match from this point until the half time whistle.

This was more like it from the ANKARAGUCU of old. Fighting for every ball and attacking in numbers. On the half hour mark some fine work by Ceyhun and Tita left Tita racing towards the left corner flag and a high cut-back was delivered to the back post. There was our full-back Emre running in to meet the ball and power his header in for the equaliser.

It was all ANKARAGUCU now and the fans were in full voice, including I may add, Oz Kanka. It was the 1st time I have ever heard him singing ANKARAGUCU songs with such gusto !!!

Approaching the half-time whistle and we were rewarded with the goal of the match. Ceyhun picked the ball up half way into the Trabzon half and beat one man, then another, and another (I was screaming for him to pass the bloody ball at this stage !!). However, he kept going, beat another man and then cut the ball back to Tita who was waiting unmarked on the penalty spot. It was a simple tap in for him and the Stadium errupted !

Going in at half-time ahead was probably a heady feeling for players and fans, but I was not going to allow myself to think of our first win at this stage of the game.

My fears were justified when Tita was replaced early in the 2nd half and at this stage Trabzon started to take control of the match. It was all Trabzon with ANKARAGUCU pinned back in their own half for the most part. Serkan was performing miracles in the ANKARAGUCU goal and some of his saves were top-drawer and some were pure reflex action. There was also a rebound off the post - I now really believe that God supports ANKARAGUCU !!!

Into the last 15 minutes and then Hikmet made (in my opinion) a grave technical blunder. Having lost Tita, he then withdrew the only 2 other outfield players who were playing above themselves. 1st, off went Ceyhun to be followed shortly after by Petkov.

It was no surprise therefore when Trabzon equalised shortly after the departure of Ceyhun. No complaint with Stepanov's goal which was probably justified with all the pressure by Trabzon. However, the balance of the ANKARAGUCU defence and mid-field was so clearly affected and there was no reason to change the team at that stage when they were coping with Trabzon's pressure.

So, we almost made it......... and still have the distinction of being the only team without a league win. 5 draws and 3 defeats is not an inspiring statistic !

Looking at the positive side of things. I am sure Hikmet will be happy with the 1st half performance and it should have helped the players confidence to have slotted in 2 goals. He will need to emphasise the 90 minutes factor in the training ground !!!

Putting footie aside for the moment. I can fully understand the fans frustration and anger directed at Cemal Aydin. Hiking the prices us for the Trabzon match is a kick in the nuts for the supporters who turn up every week. The Kombine ticket subject is also a sore point.

When our `brother team` Gencler can boast Kombine tickets then shame on Cemal Aydin for depriving the supporters the convenience of this ticket. Someone should have told him before now that loyalty works both ways !!

Oz Kanka is right when he says I am angry at the chants against Cemal Aydin during the match. All chanting should be directed at the players for 90 minutes to encourage them and leave their grievances aside until after the match. The match is about 11 players in ANKARAGUCU shirts trying to win and we should channel all our energies in that direction !!

After the match we met-up with Maniac Kanka Harun and off we went to the Q Bar (it's the one opposite Desti which is being renovated at the moment) in Kizilay for some more liquid refreshments. According to Maniac Kanka, he doubts whether Cemal Aydin will be around for much longer. January is too far down the road !!!

Next league matches up are weekend 14/15 October. More details of those later.

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

Yonetim istifa

I don't want to steal Sir Eski Kanka's thunder about tonight's match but may I just say that I am 100 percent behind the drive to get Ankaragucu Chairman Cemal Aydin out of Ankaragucu.

Thanks to the chairman's total and utter disregard for the fans of the team that he is supposed to be chairman of this year he decided that we shouldn't have season tickets.

This was fine for the first few matches of the season as no one wanted to turn up anyway.

Tonight though was a complete disaster. We showed up, got in line, and tickets for gecekondu ran out. The tickets weren't cheap mind you: 15tl a pop. But while waiting for further tickets with just minutes before kick-off Sir Eski Kanka said "bugger it" and we got Maraton tickets at 25 tl a go.

We got in on time but hundreds of supporters didn't thanks to the absolutely stupid planning of the administration.

Sir Eski Kanka doesn't really like it when the fans call for the management to resign during a match but even he must realise that Cemal Aydin really has to go when the supporters call for his resignation not just before the match, but also during the match, and then after every time we score a goal and then for a good five minutes at the end of the match.

As I said before. I'll leave it up to Sir Eski Kanka to actually describe the match. But for me... "Yonetim istifa!"

St Mirren 1-0 Hibs

Another bad result for Hibs going down to a hard working St Mirren side. Scant consolation that the winning goal was a wonder strike from the St Mirren full back followed by a wonder save by the St Mirren goalkeeper in the second half.

By all accounts Hibs were far from their best, at least this week we have only ourselves to blame and not one of the refereeing fraternity. Hibs did have a few players out through injury and suspension but the players who came in should have been strong enough to collect at least a point. Congratulations to St Mirren though on collecting another three points and staying up at the top end of the table, so much for being favourites for relegation. During the past couple of weeks as Hibs were dropping points so were the other teams round about them so if we can pick up a couple of victorys in October we will still be in the hunt for the UEFA cup places.

The other SPL scores were as follows:

Hearts 4-0 Dundee Utd
Falkirk 0-1 Celtic
Motherwell 5-0 Kilmarnock
Inverness 1-0 Dunfermline
Rangers 1-0 Aberdeen

At the risk of offending Eski Kanka Jim, the referee from the Hibs Falkirk game was at it again this weekend. A red card brandished after 8 minutes saw Dundee down to ten men. I do not know any more details as I was on a course this weekend that stopped me collecting a lot of the football news. Another referee for the chop must be the one who tried to send off Mini Hibbee Kanka after a five goal show for his school. Sad day when scoring to many goals gets you in trouble, maybe I can get a completely unbiased view from Mini Hibbe Kanka on that one.

Hibbee Kanka

A TRIBUTE TO MUMMY KANKIE CARMEL

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

It is with sadness that we say..... Au Revoir ........ to Mummy Kankie Carmel today as she jets off to Austria, Hungary, The Chek Repupic and Germany before heading back Down Under to Oz Land.

Mummy Kankie was a breath of fresh air in Buyuk Baskent and I have never seen Oz Kanka so well behaved. Perhaps she should visit more often ??!!

I am sure there are few, if any, visiting parents who can boast that they have been to 19 Mayis Stadium to watch a Turkish Super League match after making it through the stringent Police checks (even with a Fisherman's Friend in your mouth !!!). Mummy Kankie did it and we are all proud of her.

The only down-side is that she didn't make it to a match where the Stadium was full, ie, an ANKARAGUCU match !!! However, she promised me that she would rectify that situation on her next visit. Always assuming that ANKARAGUCU are still in the Super League of course !!!

On behalf of everyone who met you this time Carmel, I would like to say that it was a pleasure for all of us to have been in your company. You are a great lady and we look forward to your next visit.

Happy landings down-under. All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

Good times in the capital

Our new found mate Dirk managed to find the pub, as did Mummy Oz Kankie. Not long later we were joined by Oguz, he of darts fame, Flying Dutchman Kanka Carlos and then Spine and French Kanka Hande. All up a very respectable attendence for a match which no one else in Ankara gave a damn about.

After beers at the Chopin we went off to the stadium where my Mum was given the third degree by a couple of female cops who wouldn't have been out of place in the presidential guard after the 1980s Argentinian junta but we still all got in in one piece.

Then the fun and games began. As usual, I've had much too much to drink to give a proper account of the match. Let me say though, finally Gencler were playing well. Admittedly this was against Denizilispor, but still.

The midfield work was good. There were plenty of passes in to edges of the box and while we didn't get many shots on goal we were all over the opposition.

The first goal though seemed almost flukey. Somehow or other Isaac Promise got up headed a ball, it stayed it the air for ages and somehow went into the back of the net.

Gencler 1: Denizli 0 (a video of us celebrating)

There was more good attacking football from Gencler but nothing much happened until the first half was almost over.

On the 44th, Haminiu sent it in to Isaac who had the keeper completely lost.

Gencler 2: Denizli 0

Half time and I was jumping up and down. The really amazing thing was not that we were winning but the fact that for the first time this season we were playing well. The midfield were getting their passes together and there were shots on goal. Admittedly there were a few scary moments when our defence went to sleep but at least Denizli were not able to capitalise.

Second half and I don't have a clue what happened. Denizli came out strong and then our keeper Gokhan made what was one of the most stupid mistakes I've ever seen.

He was one-on-one with someone, didn't have a bloody clue, he should have whacked the ball but instead missed it completely, the Denizli player kept going but was held back by Gokhan holding onto his shirt. No surprises that a penalty was awarded. The biggest surprise was that Gohhan din't get an automatic red card. Penalty converted.

Gencler 2: Denizli 1

It was tight at this stage but Gencler were still up for it. There was a chance for Risp, and no doubt others but nothing came of our attacks. Until....

Mehmet Nas had a good run into the box and with no one around him fell over. The referee therefore quite rightly gave us a penalty.

Okan stood up. Took the shot. Scored. Took off his shirt and was given a second yellow card. Outragous!!!!

Down to 10 men for the last 25 minutes but still it was Gencler who were going for it.

All up a great victory. If we can play this sort of football for the rest of the season we might have a chance. Admittedly though, Denizli were pretty rubbish.

So, Jim has asked me to point out, next up we have Ankaragucu on Monday night. We are meeting at the Chopin at about 6 p.m. Come and join us.

Photocaption: Backrow: French Kanka, Spine, Flying Dutchman, Dirk, Oguz. Frontrow: Oz Kanka, Mummie Oz Kankie

ANKARAGUCU - THE POWER OF THE TRIBUNES

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Surprisingly (for me anyway) the ANKARAGUCU supporters tribunes seem to have forced some action after all their recent demonstrations against the Chairman, Cemal Aydin.

Cemal Aydin is quoted in Hurriyet this morning saying he will not be Chairman after January 2007. Whether these are hollow words to pacify the fans, or whether he is serious remains to be seen. I have been in this country long enough to still be sceptical about utterances made in the press !!!

Perhaps Oz Kanka has further information from his journalistic contacts ?

What is more important now is for the team to put some points on the board and start climbing out of the relegation zone !!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim