Hibs and Dundee Utd served up a great game of football last Saturday ending up in a 2-2 draw.
The result was probably a fair outcome seeing as both teams went for the win from the start, even when Utd had a man sent off with 15 minutes remaining they continued to attack.
Hibs had the better of the first half and should have gone in at half time at least a goal to the good. Two terrific saves from the Utd goalkeeper and a bit of hard luck meant the half time score remained at 0-0.
Utd came into the game after the break and silenced the home fans on the hour mark when Robertson headed in a dangerous cross from the right.
An identical move eight minutes later meant His were two down and seemed out of the match.
Fortunately for Hibs, Benji was making his first appearance for a couple of months. Within five minutes of coming on he had pulled His back to within one goal. Quick feet left the Utd defence falling over each other and left Benji with just enough room to squeeze in a shot which the keeper had no chance.
A couple of minutes later and Hibs were level when Murphy was brought down in the box. Courier converted the penalty, Dillon the Utd defender was sent off and Hibs were set up for a grand stand finish.
As I mentioned earlier Utd came back from going a man down and continued to attack. Being honest either team could have won but all credit to Utd for making it an attractive match to watch.
At Easter Road these days teams generally come to defend and time waste. It can be frustrating but if more teams approached the games like Utd we would be in for more entertainment.
The Round Ball in Ankara! Dedicated to football lovers in Ankara (Except for those who follow Osmanlispor)
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Getting your priorities right
I saw an interesting story on the Milliyet website today concerning a suggested new way to deal with penalties for teams whose supporters run amok, instead of banning all spectators just ban males aged over 11 years of age.
The proposal has been suggested by Nationalist Movement Party parliamentarian Osman Cakir and has been submitted to parliament.
"When you look at the profile of spectators you can see that the ugly chantings are uttered by men and women tend to stay away from using bad and ugly words in public areas," said Cakir who clearly hasn't sat next to French Kanka Hande as Gencler stuff up yet another clear shot on goal.
But it is an interesting proposal, allowing in for free only women and kiddies to the matches . I wonder what sort of numbers would show up.
The proposed legislation is of course going to die a quick death as it is probably in conflict with recent proposed changes to the laws that govern the football federation, not to mention Article 10 of the constitution which prohibits discrimination based on "language, race, colour, sex, political opinion, football club affiliation, philosophical convictions or religious beliefs".
Anyway, the good thing is that our parliamentarians are at least addressing the pressing issues that face Turkey today. Next up on the to do list: create a special "state sports person" category... er ... bloody hell, they are actually thinking of doing this.
The proposal has been suggested by Nationalist Movement Party parliamentarian Osman Cakir and has been submitted to parliament.
"When you look at the profile of spectators you can see that the ugly chantings are uttered by men and women tend to stay away from using bad and ugly words in public areas," said Cakir who clearly hasn't sat next to French Kanka Hande as Gencler stuff up yet another clear shot on goal.
But it is an interesting proposal, allowing in for free only women and kiddies to the matches . I wonder what sort of numbers would show up.
The proposed legislation is of course going to die a quick death as it is probably in conflict with recent proposed changes to the laws that govern the football federation, not to mention Article 10 of the constitution which prohibits discrimination based on "language, race, colour, sex, political opinion, football club affiliation, philosophical convictions or religious beliefs".
Anyway, the good thing is that our parliamentarians are at least addressing the pressing issues that face Turkey today. Next up on the to do list: create a special "state sports person" category... er ... bloody hell, they are actually thinking of doing this.
Monday, November 26, 2007
No more rubbishing TDN
Monday afternoon and I thought I'd take a look at the Turkish Daily News to check out their take on Genclerbirligi Oftas' loss to Besiktas on Saturday.
I was slightly confused when I saw the headline: "A weekend all about relegation battles". I had to read the first few paragraphs before I realised they were reporting on Sunday's matches. I then checked to see that it was actually Monday.
But true... for the first time in my memory the TDN gave reports on matches a day after they happened, rather than two days later. Not only that, the story actually focused on Anatolian teams and not the usual diet of Istanbul giants.
Amazing stuff. Only hassle is that if they keep this up I will have to find another newspaper to rubbish.
So step forward our old mate Okan Udo Bassey at Today's Zaman.
Udo as usual concentrated on Saturday's games but at least the paper managed to get the scores in from yesterday's games.
Which brings us to The New Anatolian, the third English-language newspaper in Turkey, which didn't even bother to report on Saturday's matches, let alone yesterday's.
Well done TDN!
EDIT (Slightly later on Monday afternoon): I have just re-read the TDN piece and it sounded very familiar to stuff I used to write when I worked as Udo's lackey back in the mid-1990s.
Basically, Udo would hand me list of results, who scored when etc and ask me to make a story. So, lets deconstruct a bit of the TDN story.
Let's say that the only facts you know are the table positions, the results, the goal scorers and when they scored them. Do you think you could come up with the following paragraph?
"The Gaziantepspor-Gençlerbirliği match was dramatic, with Gençlerbirliği taking the lead twice, but only settling for a point after the final gasp strike by Ali Cansun. Gençlerbirliği, 16th with 10 points, missed the opportunity to close down on its opponent, who has 15 points."
Still as I said before, at least we got to read it on Monday and not tomorrow.
I was slightly confused when I saw the headline: "A weekend all about relegation battles". I had to read the first few paragraphs before I realised they were reporting on Sunday's matches. I then checked to see that it was actually Monday.
But true... for the first time in my memory the TDN gave reports on matches a day after they happened, rather than two days later. Not only that, the story actually focused on Anatolian teams and not the usual diet of Istanbul giants.
Amazing stuff. Only hassle is that if they keep this up I will have to find another newspaper to rubbish.
So step forward our old mate Okan Udo Bassey at Today's Zaman.
Udo as usual concentrated on Saturday's games but at least the paper managed to get the scores in from yesterday's games.
Which brings us to The New Anatolian, the third English-language newspaper in Turkey, which didn't even bother to report on Saturday's matches, let alone yesterday's.
Well done TDN!
EDIT (Slightly later on Monday afternoon): I have just re-read the TDN piece and it sounded very familiar to stuff I used to write when I worked as Udo's lackey back in the mid-1990s.
Basically, Udo would hand me list of results, who scored when etc and ask me to make a story. So, lets deconstruct a bit of the TDN story.
Let's say that the only facts you know are the table positions, the results, the goal scorers and when they scored them. Do you think you could come up with the following paragraph?
"The Gaziantepspor-Gençlerbirliği match was dramatic, with Gençlerbirliği taking the lead twice, but only settling for a point after the final gasp strike by Ali Cansun. Gençlerbirliği, 16th with 10 points, missed the opportunity to close down on its opponent, who has 15 points."
Still as I said before, at least we got to read it on Monday and not tomorrow.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
ANKARAGUCU - ANOTHER STEP FORWARD TO UEFA CUP QUALIFICATION PERCHANCE ??!!
Greetings Kankas and Kankies.
Another tentative step towards that elusive UEFA Cup slot by ANKARAGUCU today ??
ANKARAGUCU 1 Manisa 0
I was unable to attend the match today (again !!) due to work commitments, but at least I was able to meet the kankas after the match in the Cappadokia Bar for celebration drinkies for ANKARAGUCU's victoreeeee and to listen to Oz Kanka's frustrated raves about Gencler's current predicament !
Mountaineering Kanka and his promise of bringing lottsa Bilkent Babes didn't materialise....... boo hiss and boo hiss again (waiting for an explanation, and a hangover will NOT be accepted as an excuse !!!). However, loyal and devoted fan Battle Damaged Kanka was there, also, Maniac Kanka, Oz Kanka, Rip Off Kanka, Cherry Kanka Rob and his wee boy Steven (he has inherited his mother's good looks and his mother's extrovert character ...... and his father's love of ANKARAGUCU !!!). `New kanka on the Block` Gunners Fanatik Kanka Rory was also there for his first visit to 19 Mayis Stadium. Unfortunately he is only here for a few more weeks but he is a true footie fanatik having been all over the place supporting Arssssssssinal.
Back to the match, and Battle Damaged Kanka will produce a report tomorrow which will be added as an edit here. All I can say is that Bebbe (Eski Kanka's fav player) scored the goal, but that Battle Damaged wasn't impressed with his performance during the match. I find that difficult to believe !!!
The reasons and all the action from the match will be revealed tomorrow.
Let's leave on a high note....... Ankaraspor lost ..... again..... yessssssssss !!
All the best from Eski Kanka Jim
1st EDIT..... Got that one wrong didn't I !! Bebbe didn't score the goal. It was Kirita from a penalty. Must have been a wee bit under the influence last night me thinks ??!!
2nd EDIT......
The following report is courtesay of Battle Damaged Kanka Damon.....
Thanks to Jimbo those of you who were not lucky enough to make it to the match at least know that we won one-nil against Manisaspor picking up three very valuable points which launch us into sixth place pretty much neck and neck with fifth place Denizli and only three points away from the eight ball (Besiktas). Admittedly, we will have a bit more of a challenge ahead of us next week as we will be playing an away match in Konya while Besiktas will be playing a homematch against Rize, but who knows where the winds of football fortune will carry us--I know where Jim is hoping for: The UEFA Cup.
While my last match report from Bursa was a saga of Brobdingnagian proportions, this one regarding the match between Ankaragücü and Manisaspor will be--relatively speaking--a parable of Lilliputian dimensions--although not quite as short as the report in the newspaper Hurriyet, which was so generous as to devote two whole sentences to the match.
Our story begins with Montaineering Kanka Robbie who, after weeks of promising not only to come to the match but to also bring along a bunch of other supporters, did not show up (although I have to say that he did call and apologize before hand).
Then there is the lack of co-operation between Jim and Harun. Harun insists on going to Cappadokia bar and Jim insists on keeping the pre-game meeting place Chopin bar. As a result we wind up divided. (Note from Jim..... Harun MUST obey our Kanka rules !!!).
And yesterday we were even divided inside the Chopin. I was sitting there waiting for Rory and Rob only to find that at some point they had arrived and been ushered to a corner table. So, apparently, we were all sitting in there unaware of each other's presence until I called them to find our where they were just as I was leaving the bar.
And then we have the rest of the Bilkent contingent that cannot seem to wake up early enough to make it to the Chopin at the time specified in the e-mails. After Rory, Rob, little Steven and I had already made it to the Stadium, I received a few phone calls from a couple of Bilkenters. Judging from the voices, I would say that I heard Ananda and Alexandra. Unfortunately, reception was bad and I kept losing them. Hopefully they were able to make it to the match. One Kanka who I did run into by chance was Bad Hat Kanka Ian (although I should mention that he wants his moniker changed to Good Hat Kanka). Unfortunately, we lost each other amidst the throng of Gücü supporters soon after I showed him where to get tickets. Eventually Rory, Rob, Steven, and myself were able to get in and find Maniac Kanka Harun and Rip Off Kanka Erman.
The lesson of this parable is that we fans displayed in life the same flaws that Gücü did on the pitch: a lack of unity and organization. Gücü won but they got lucky. Here's more or less how it went down.
We dominated the first half of the match but both teams played pretty sloppy with occasional flashes of class. Standouts I would say were Kirita and Murat Erdogan, and in defense Emre and Serkan. The biggest disappointment was Bebbe who, no matter how hard he tried, just couldn't pull it together. The match went into half-time scoreless.
Things continued as in the first half until the 54th minute when Yasin who was trying to enter the penalty area was knocked down by Ferhat of Manisa. The ref Bülent Yildirim called for a penalty shot (there was some discussion amongst us kankas as to whether or not Yasin was pushed or whether he slipped on what must be the worst pitch in a Süper Lig level stadium; Harun, however, maintains that Yasin was definitely fouled). In any case, Kirita took the penalty shot; the Manisa goalie Bülent lept in the right direction but lept too far and missed blocking it. We were ahead 1-0.
From this point on, things started looking bad for Gücü. Manisa understandably became more aggressive and took four shots on goal which were all too close for comfort. Luckily none hit the mark. Bebbe also had a one on one face off with the Manisa goalie which should have put us up 2-0, but somehow Bebbe sent it flying out. It was just not his match.
And that was it. Watching this match was like watching a long volley in a tennis match as the two players keep hitting the ball back and forth. Both teams were having that much trouble maintaining possession. Rob, who hadn't been to a match in awhile, turned to me at one point and said "I forgot how lame it was." Rory, who is obviously a see the glass half full kind of guy, however, did say that he did see some flashes of good football. And little Steven captured the essence of the matter when he said, "We won."
After the match it was off to Cappadokia were we were later joined by Eski Kanka Jim who made up--in part--for having missed the match by sporting one hell of a spiffy tie--blue and gold of course!
So, in closing, I make an appeal to all the Gücü supporters in the Kanka group: let's get our act together. If we can't, how can we ask it of our boys on the pitch.
P.S. For those of you who want some great action shots of this match, go to the official Ankaragücü web page:
http://www.ankaragucu.org.tr/news.php?id=1166
Even if Bebbe didn't have the best of matches, look at the heart the man displays.
Great report. Thanks Damon. You are fast becoming a legend in Ankara, and should you wish to leave teaching and take up journalism, I'm sure Oz Kanka can point you in the right direction !!!
All the best from Eski Kanka Jim
Another tentative step towards that elusive UEFA Cup slot by ANKARAGUCU today ??
ANKARAGUCU 1 Manisa 0
I was unable to attend the match today (again !!) due to work commitments, but at least I was able to meet the kankas after the match in the Cappadokia Bar for celebration drinkies for ANKARAGUCU's victoreeeee and to listen to Oz Kanka's frustrated raves about Gencler's current predicament !
Mountaineering Kanka and his promise of bringing lottsa Bilkent Babes didn't materialise....... boo hiss and boo hiss again (waiting for an explanation, and a hangover will NOT be accepted as an excuse !!!). However, loyal and devoted fan Battle Damaged Kanka was there, also, Maniac Kanka, Oz Kanka, Rip Off Kanka, Cherry Kanka Rob and his wee boy Steven (he has inherited his mother's good looks and his mother's extrovert character ...... and his father's love of ANKARAGUCU !!!). `New kanka on the Block` Gunners Fanatik Kanka Rory was also there for his first visit to 19 Mayis Stadium. Unfortunately he is only here for a few more weeks but he is a true footie fanatik having been all over the place supporting Arssssssssinal.
Back to the match, and Battle Damaged Kanka will produce a report tomorrow which will be added as an edit here. All I can say is that Bebbe (Eski Kanka's fav player) scored the goal, but that Battle Damaged wasn't impressed with his performance during the match. I find that difficult to believe !!!
The reasons and all the action from the match will be revealed tomorrow.
Let's leave on a high note....... Ankaraspor lost ..... again..... yessssssssss !!
All the best from Eski Kanka Jim
1st EDIT..... Got that one wrong didn't I !! Bebbe didn't score the goal. It was Kirita from a penalty. Must have been a wee bit under the influence last night me thinks ??!!
2nd EDIT......
The following report is courtesay of Battle Damaged Kanka Damon.....
Thanks to Jimbo those of you who were not lucky enough to make it to the match at least know that we won one-nil against Manisaspor picking up three very valuable points which launch us into sixth place pretty much neck and neck with fifth place Denizli and only three points away from the eight ball (Besiktas). Admittedly, we will have a bit more of a challenge ahead of us next week as we will be playing an away match in Konya while Besiktas will be playing a homematch against Rize, but who knows where the winds of football fortune will carry us--I know where Jim is hoping for: The UEFA Cup.
While my last match report from Bursa was a saga of Brobdingnagian proportions, this one regarding the match between Ankaragücü and Manisaspor will be--relatively speaking--a parable of Lilliputian dimensions--although not quite as short as the report in the newspaper Hurriyet, which was so generous as to devote two whole sentences to the match.
Our story begins with Montaineering Kanka Robbie who, after weeks of promising not only to come to the match but to also bring along a bunch of other supporters, did not show up (although I have to say that he did call and apologize before hand).
Then there is the lack of co-operation between Jim and Harun. Harun insists on going to Cappadokia bar and Jim insists on keeping the pre-game meeting place Chopin bar. As a result we wind up divided. (Note from Jim..... Harun MUST obey our Kanka rules !!!).
And yesterday we were even divided inside the Chopin. I was sitting there waiting for Rory and Rob only to find that at some point they had arrived and been ushered to a corner table. So, apparently, we were all sitting in there unaware of each other's presence until I called them to find our where they were just as I was leaving the bar.
And then we have the rest of the Bilkent contingent that cannot seem to wake up early enough to make it to the Chopin at the time specified in the e-mails. After Rory, Rob, little Steven and I had already made it to the Stadium, I received a few phone calls from a couple of Bilkenters. Judging from the voices, I would say that I heard Ananda and Alexandra. Unfortunately, reception was bad and I kept losing them. Hopefully they were able to make it to the match. One Kanka who I did run into by chance was Bad Hat Kanka Ian (although I should mention that he wants his moniker changed to Good Hat Kanka). Unfortunately, we lost each other amidst the throng of Gücü supporters soon after I showed him where to get tickets. Eventually Rory, Rob, Steven, and myself were able to get in and find Maniac Kanka Harun and Rip Off Kanka Erman.
The lesson of this parable is that we fans displayed in life the same flaws that Gücü did on the pitch: a lack of unity and organization. Gücü won but they got lucky. Here's more or less how it went down.
We dominated the first half of the match but both teams played pretty sloppy with occasional flashes of class. Standouts I would say were Kirita and Murat Erdogan, and in defense Emre and Serkan. The biggest disappointment was Bebbe who, no matter how hard he tried, just couldn't pull it together. The match went into half-time scoreless.
Things continued as in the first half until the 54th minute when Yasin who was trying to enter the penalty area was knocked down by Ferhat of Manisa. The ref Bülent Yildirim called for a penalty shot (there was some discussion amongst us kankas as to whether or not Yasin was pushed or whether he slipped on what must be the worst pitch in a Süper Lig level stadium; Harun, however, maintains that Yasin was definitely fouled). In any case, Kirita took the penalty shot; the Manisa goalie Bülent lept in the right direction but lept too far and missed blocking it. We were ahead 1-0.
From this point on, things started looking bad for Gücü. Manisa understandably became more aggressive and took four shots on goal which were all too close for comfort. Luckily none hit the mark. Bebbe also had a one on one face off with the Manisa goalie which should have put us up 2-0, but somehow Bebbe sent it flying out. It was just not his match.
And that was it. Watching this match was like watching a long volley in a tennis match as the two players keep hitting the ball back and forth. Both teams were having that much trouble maintaining possession. Rob, who hadn't been to a match in awhile, turned to me at one point and said "I forgot how lame it was." Rory, who is obviously a see the glass half full kind of guy, however, did say that he did see some flashes of good football. And little Steven captured the essence of the matter when he said, "We won."
After the match it was off to Cappadokia were we were later joined by Eski Kanka Jim who made up--in part--for having missed the match by sporting one hell of a spiffy tie--blue and gold of course!
So, in closing, I make an appeal to all the Gücü supporters in the Kanka group: let's get our act together. If we can't, how can we ask it of our boys on the pitch.
P.S. For those of you who want some great action shots of this match, go to the official Ankaragücü web page:
http://www.ankaragucu.org.tr/news.php?id=1166
Even if Bebbe didn't have the best of matches, look at the heart the man displays.
Great report. Thanks Damon. You are fast becoming a legend in Ankara, and should you wish to leave teaching and take up journalism, I'm sure Oz Kanka can point you in the right direction !!!
All the best from Eski Kanka Jim
90th minute misery
Supporting Genclerbirligi this season is a akin to going for a tandem skydive and hoping that at some stage before you hit the ground the instructor will find where the hell the cord for the parachute is. A tortured metaphor, sure, but not as torturing as it has been for us Gencler fans in the past few months.
Gaziantep 2 - 2 Genclerbirligi
With the match being in Antep I had to make do with the fun of the Lig TV radio today. Half the time I have no idea what is going on but at least you get a general idea.
Gencler went ahead early on thanks to a Mehmet Cakir goal on six minutes. From then on it seems like Gaziantep were the team with the most chances, especially towards the end of the first half with Jesus in goal having to make a few saves.
Still, after all the crap we have seen this season it was nice to go into the break one up.
At half-time Lig TV radio gave out the results of lower division games in exactly to same way as the BBC does ie nice and slow, no emotion, perfect pronunciation. Apparently it is normal, well that is what Mrs. Oz Kanka told me but then somehow I doubt I can trust her on football reporting matters.
It was all quite nostalgic for me though and I was half expecting the announcer to start giving out results of teams I'd never heard of before: "Orduspor sifir - Malatyaspor iki, Stenhousemuir dort - Forfar sifir".
Second half and Aussie Nick Carle comes on for Isaac Promise. An attacking move? Not sure really. Anyway our man managed to get into a one-on-one with the keeper, left foot shot and out... the announcer saying it was a sitter.
Then Gaziantep up the tempo, shots everywhere, including a few off the posts.
Then disaster on the 76th... Antep 1 - 1 Gencler. No idea what happened.
As seems to happen quite a bit recently, Gencler come out flying after a goal is scored against us. A few good runs and shots but nothing to show for it.
Some sort of handbags incident in the 80-something minute with a bunch of yellow cards shown.
Then a scary moment as the Gaziantep players all go up and appeal for a penalty. Ref turns it down. Phew. If it had have been given it would also have resulted in Zoric bent sent off for a second yellow card... but as the radio guy said... "we will only be able to decide whether it was the right decision after watching the TV replays"
A miracle! Mehmet Nas scores in the 86th minute. We are going to win this one aren't we? Antep 1 - 2 Gencler.
And then the stake through the heart. 90th minute and Antep score. Final result 2-2.
A point away from home isn't so bad, but boy-oh-boy, we need some wins!
Next week at home against Trabzonspor. Friday 8pm KO. Hope to see some of you lot there.
PS: I think I got most of the details right but I may have made some mistakes. Unfortunately I can't check as the Anatolian news agency have yet to get their report out.
Gaziantep 2 - 2 Genclerbirligi
With the match being in Antep I had to make do with the fun of the Lig TV radio today. Half the time I have no idea what is going on but at least you get a general idea.
Gencler went ahead early on thanks to a Mehmet Cakir goal on six minutes. From then on it seems like Gaziantep were the team with the most chances, especially towards the end of the first half with Jesus in goal having to make a few saves.
Still, after all the crap we have seen this season it was nice to go into the break one up.
At half-time Lig TV radio gave out the results of lower division games in exactly to same way as the BBC does ie nice and slow, no emotion, perfect pronunciation. Apparently it is normal, well that is what Mrs. Oz Kanka told me but then somehow I doubt I can trust her on football reporting matters.
It was all quite nostalgic for me though and I was half expecting the announcer to start giving out results of teams I'd never heard of before: "Orduspor sifir - Malatyaspor iki, Stenhousemuir dort - Forfar sifir".
Second half and Aussie Nick Carle comes on for Isaac Promise. An attacking move? Not sure really. Anyway our man managed to get into a one-on-one with the keeper, left foot shot and out... the announcer saying it was a sitter.
Then Gaziantep up the tempo, shots everywhere, including a few off the posts.
Then disaster on the 76th... Antep 1 - 1 Gencler. No idea what happened.
As seems to happen quite a bit recently, Gencler come out flying after a goal is scored against us. A few good runs and shots but nothing to show for it.
Some sort of handbags incident in the 80-something minute with a bunch of yellow cards shown.
Then a scary moment as the Gaziantep players all go up and appeal for a penalty. Ref turns it down. Phew. If it had have been given it would also have resulted in Zoric bent sent off for a second yellow card... but as the radio guy said... "we will only be able to decide whether it was the right decision after watching the TV replays"
A miracle! Mehmet Nas scores in the 86th minute. We are going to win this one aren't we? Antep 1 - 2 Gencler.
And then the stake through the heart. 90th minute and Antep score. Final result 2-2.
A point away from home isn't so bad, but boy-oh-boy, we need some wins!
Next week at home against Trabzonspor. Friday 8pm KO. Hope to see some of you lot there.
PS: I think I got most of the details right but I may have made some mistakes. Unfortunately I can't check as the Anatolian news agency have yet to get their report out.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
A FIRST FOR THE TURKISH FOOTBALL FEDERATION (TFF)
Greetings Kankas and Kankies.
Difficult to believe, but I have to praise the TFF - this is an all time first on this blog !!!
Imagine my surprise when the fixtures for this month AND next month have been released to the press so far ahead of schedule. Absolutely amazing, and I have to say that reluctantly they have my appreciation.
So, diaries out and make a note of these upcoming fixtures.....
Sunday 25 November - KO 2pm - ANKARAGUCU v Manisa
Gaziantep v Gencler
Friday 30 November - KO 8pm - Gencler v Trabzon
Saturday 1 December - KO 2pm - Konya v ANKARAGUCU
Saturday 8 December - KO 2pm - ANKARAGUCU v Kasimpasa
Sunday 9 December - KO 2pm - Istanbul BSB v Gencler
Sunday 16 December - KO 3.30pm - Gencler v Fenerbahce
KO 7pm - Besiktas v ANKARAGUCU
Saturday 22 December - KO 2pm - ANKARAGUCU v Kayseri
Sunday 23 December - KO 3.30pm - Sivas v Gencler
Hope to see some of you on Sunday for ANKARAGUCU's victoreeeee against Manisa.
All the best from Eski Kanka Jim
Difficult to believe, but I have to praise the TFF - this is an all time first on this blog !!!
Imagine my surprise when the fixtures for this month AND next month have been released to the press so far ahead of schedule. Absolutely amazing, and I have to say that reluctantly they have my appreciation.
So, diaries out and make a note of these upcoming fixtures.....
Sunday 25 November - KO 2pm - ANKARAGUCU v Manisa
Gaziantep v Gencler
Friday 30 November - KO 8pm - Gencler v Trabzon
Saturday 1 December - KO 2pm - Konya v ANKARAGUCU
Saturday 8 December - KO 2pm - ANKARAGUCU v Kasimpasa
Sunday 9 December - KO 2pm - Istanbul BSB v Gencler
Sunday 16 December - KO 3.30pm - Gencler v Fenerbahce
KO 7pm - Besiktas v ANKARAGUCU
Saturday 22 December - KO 2pm - ANKARAGUCU v Kayseri
Sunday 23 December - KO 3.30pm - Sivas v Gencler
Hope to see some of you on Sunday for ANKARAGUCU's victoreeeee against Manisa.
All the best from Eski Kanka Jim
Monday, November 19, 2007
Turkish national team going great guns
The writers here at "The round ball in Ankara" steer well clear of reports about the Turkish national team. Whenever asked I say that it is because as yabancilar we would rather not get involved in arguments about the Milli Takim. The real truth is that we don't know anything about the national side and are too lazy to find out.
But I'd like to point out that the Amputee World Championships are being held in Antalya at the moment. Turkey is doing very well. They qualified second from their group after victories over the English, French and Liberians, losing only to the Russians, before defeating Iran 1-0 in the quarter-finals.
Today they take on Uzbekistan with the winner up against either Russia or Brazil in the final.
NTV had a pretty good report after the victory over England but since then I've seen bugger all news about the championships. The Turkish Football Federation have a page of results, but that's it... no photos, no reports.
So I was happy to see that today's Hurriyet had quite a large story titled "Our warriors in the semi-final dance".
It was a typical Hurriyet football piece, i.e. rubbish, but at least it was actually in there, although what the hell it was doing in the main part of the paper and not on the sports pages I have no idea.
The tournament has been very poorly promoted by the host country. Crowds numbers are terrible. Why not go to the local schools, hand out tickets, get the kiddies to bring along their Turkish flags and sing away.
After all, the football on display is bloody good, the highlights I saw on the telly were certainly better than the crap we have been served up by Genclerbirligi recently, and with Turkey playing so well there is plenty for a local crowd to enjoy.
What is the point of this post? I'm not sure. But I wish the Turkish team the very best of luck today.
EDIT: Seems as if I put the mockers on the Turkish team as they went down 2-1 this morning. Still, a good tournament performance and well done to all involved.
EDIT: Tuesday morning. Turkey defeated Brazil 1-0 in the third place play-off.
But I'd like to point out that the Amputee World Championships are being held in Antalya at the moment. Turkey is doing very well. They qualified second from their group after victories over the English, French and Liberians, losing only to the Russians, before defeating Iran 1-0 in the quarter-finals.
Today they take on Uzbekistan with the winner up against either Russia or Brazil in the final.
NTV had a pretty good report after the victory over England but since then I've seen bugger all news about the championships. The Turkish Football Federation have a page of results, but that's it... no photos, no reports.
So I was happy to see that today's Hurriyet had quite a large story titled "Our warriors in the semi-final dance".
It was a typical Hurriyet football piece, i.e. rubbish, but at least it was actually in there, although what the hell it was doing in the main part of the paper and not on the sports pages I have no idea.
The tournament has been very poorly promoted by the host country. Crowds numbers are terrible. Why not go to the local schools, hand out tickets, get the kiddies to bring along their Turkish flags and sing away.
After all, the football on display is bloody good, the highlights I saw on the telly were certainly better than the crap we have been served up by Genclerbirligi recently, and with Turkey playing so well there is plenty for a local crowd to enjoy.
What is the point of this post? I'm not sure. But I wish the Turkish team the very best of luck today.
EDIT: Seems as if I put the mockers on the Turkish team as they went down 2-1 this morning. Still, a good tournament performance and well done to all involved.
EDIT: Tuesday morning. Turkey defeated Brazil 1-0 in the third place play-off.
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