A Farewell to Moutaineering Kanka and Kankie (Robby and Judy)

I’m not sure if there has every been a formal farewell written for any departing kankas. If not, this will be a first.

Robbie and Judy arrived in Ankara just about the same time I did: in August of 2004. And it wasn’t long after that Kircaldy Kanka Martyn discovered Ankaragucu. I’ll quote Martyn’s post of April 19,2006 to explain how Robbie got involved.

We beat Gaziantepspor 2-1 in the next match with a last minute goal. I tried the maraton in that game. My friend Robbie went. It was his first game as he is an American born into baseball. He was hooked too. We both went together after that.

We sometimes went to the maraton, sometimes the kale. Then we went hunting for Ankaragucu tops. We couldn't find them anywhere. I was wearing a Fife Flyers Ice Hockey scarf. The Kirkcaldy based Scottish champions play in yellow and blue. In Sakarya, by the fountain without water, I saw some Gecekondu lads with scarfs on. I went to ask where to buy a top. I spoke no Turkish and before I knew it had exchanged my new Flyers' scarf for an old dirty Ankaragucu rag. I was then directed to a shop. Harun's shop. We bought tops there. Mine was number 7 Iskoc, and Rab's was Kral Maymun. Harun took our picture and we were front page news on the Anti-x web-site.

The two of them did their best to entice other members of the teaching staff to come along, and a number of us did. Eventually, Kirkaldy Kanka and his wife Sinead had to leave Ankara (much to the chagrin of those of us who knew them). But Robbie and Judy did a great job of taking the baton and carrying it forward.

Enticing people to go to the matches was a practice that Robbie and Judy continued for the rest of their time in Ankara. They made it a point to invite new teachers to matches each academic year and the groups they managed to bring out to the stadium were truly impressive numbering somewhere in the range of 20-30. And while few of these people had the fortitude to become regulars, many of those in the Kanka group today (launched by Eski Kanka Jim) went to their first matches in the company of the mountaineering couple.

(one of the groups they brought along Judy can be seen sitting in the lower left hand corner eating sunflower seeds)

I should mention that the two mountaineering kankas earned their kanka names by scaling some truly impressive peaks. And never did they do so without bringing the Ankaragucu standard along with them. I lost track of exactly how many mountains they claimed in the name of Ankaragucu.

(Robbie in the Atlas Mountains)

Not to let them go off without a celebration. We had a farewell bash during Ankaragucu’s first match of this Gucu’s centennial year. A great time was had by all, and the fact that we came away with a 2-2 tie with Diyarbakirspor did not dampen our spirits a bit.

All those in the Kanka group would like to wish Mountaineering Kanka and Kankie a most excellent adventure in Africa and Bali not to mention a speedy return to cheer on Ankaragucu once again. We’ll miss you guys.

Let's not use up all our goals so fast

Having to listen to the "around the grounds" radio coverage of tonight's matches I can't really say very much. Well I can say one thing.... Hoooooooorrrrrayyyyyyyyy.

Kasimpasa 0 - 4 Genclerbirligi

As the radio coverage concentrates on the the so-called big games, nothing much was reported about the Gencler match. The first goal at about the 20th minute sounded pretty good though. The ball was sent from right-wing to the left, back again and after going through almost all of our forwards new signing Harbuzi sent it in.

It too a while before the next came, this time from Mustafa Pektemek. Then with not long to go Kahe scored. And then just at the death we scored again. I think it was Hursit Meric.

Not much of a report, but hey, I don't care. We got the three points.

I'll be away for next week's home game (have to go and represent Turkey in the cricket). So I'll be handing all the season tickets over to Carlo. Fingers crossed both Gencler and the Turkish cricket team are in the money.

ANKARAGUCU - LADY LUCK POSTED ABSENT

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

It was one of those nights in the 1st half when Ankaragucu did everything right, except score what should have been certain goals. I lost count of the times we were up on our feet screaming ........ goaaaaaaal .... only to see the ball whizz past the post or over the top or an Ankaragucu player mistiming his shot with the goal at his mercy. Lady Luck was most defo posted absent last night !

ANKARAGUCU 2 Istanbul BBS 2

Six stalwarts met up at the Chopin for pre-match 'refreshments'. Battle Damaged Kanka Damon, Keleci Kanka Tansu, Connect Kanka Steve, Phillie Kanka Jamie, Maine Kankie Emma and yours truly.

Off to the Stadium then where we met up with Yankee Kanka and his brother Husso. Maraton was full and Kapali and Gecikondu were almost full, so lots of noise and a great atmosphere.

The line up included new signing Ediz Bahtiyaroglu from Ankaraspor who incidentally had a very good match slotting in as a stopper beside Santos as a replacement for the departed Bouzid. Also, on the subject of transfers, information is out that Faruk Bayer, a left winger, is coming soon from Sivasspor.

Last night's line up -
Serkan
El-Yasa, Ediz, Santos and Ilkem
Ceyhun, Barbaros, Semavi and Emre
Vassell and Bebbe
Substitutes used in the 2nd half - Iglesias, Murat Duruer and Metin.

The match kicked-off and we were just getting settled when Istanbul opened the scoring through Iskender. Whaaaaaaaaat ? The goal is still a blur because none of us were expecting it and it happened so quickly.

Ankaragucu then took control of the match and laid seige to the Istanbul goal, and as I said in the opening paragraph there were too many misses to count. Ceyhun, Bebbe and especially Vassell all missed golden oppotunities to put the match way out of Istanbul's reach.

However, as half time approached the breakthrough came, and a really fantastic goal it was too. Semavi broke away on the left, looked up and crossed an inch perfect ball for the incoming Emre to bullet a header past a helpless Oguzhan in goal.

Cue....... give us another one before the half time whistle. Grrrrrrr .... straight from the kick-off Istanbul attacked and with the Ankaragucu players still celebrating and dreaming of their win bonus, Herve slotted in No2. What a miscarriage of justice if ever there was one. Another classic example of not concentrating by the inconsistent Ankaragucu defence.

Istanbul came out for the 2nd half a different team and started to come more into the match and cause the Ankaragucu defence some problems. It has to be said that Santos was not having such a good match, especially with his clearances and distribution. This is the first time I've ever criticised him, so hopefully he was just having an 'off night'.

Bebbe was having a reasonably good game, and typical of him, chasing everything with that never-say-die spirit of his. Vassell was also looking good, except when he should have been putting clear cut chances away ! However, Vassell made up for his extravagance by scoring the equaliser 10 minutes after the re-start with a typical predatory strike. We were then forgiving him for his earlier misses !!

With Ankaragucu is full attack mode it was only a matter of time for the third goal to materialise....... or so we thought, especially after Herve was sent off for bringing Barbaros down with a nasty tackle.

Mmmmmm...... Istanbul pulled out some extra energy from somewhere and I have to hand it to them, they began to look really dangerous and looking the more likelier to score !

Then, bloody hell, what was Ceyhun up to ? The referee (and the less said about Mr Kamil Abitoglu the better !!!) waved the red card at him for something none of us could understand. Perhaps he said something ? Anyway, with our midfield general out of the action the team was rocking a bit and Istanbul siezed the initiative.

It was backs against the wall stuff now and all these misses from the 1st half were coming back to haunt Ankaragucu now !

5 minutes to go and more bad luck. Santos went down after making a clearance tackle and it looked serious. Out came the stretcher and off he went with what looked like a knee injury.

Down to 9 men and the last few minutes was nail biting stuff. However, Ankaragucu made it to the final whistle before any more disasters stuck, and how they must have rued their missed 1st half chances.

So, still waiting for that first win, but it is coming. We have to put last night's match down to .......... a bad day at the office !! Goals are coming, and with Ediz slotting in nicely at the back, we can look forward with optimism to the away match in Antalya in two weeks time. I am planning to be at that match and will give a full report.

All the best from 'still optimistic' Eski Kanka Jim

CONGRATULATIONS

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

I think congratulations are in order to Serkan Kirintili for making it into the Turkish Squad for the upcoming World Cup matches.

He is No2 to Volkan Demirel, but at least this is a stepping stone for him in his career. Who knows, he might get a chance to play if Volkan is injured ?!

Turkey plays Estonia in Kayseri on 5 September and then they travel to Bosnia on 9 September.

True, he has had his ups and downs with some of the Ankaragucu tribunes, but he has always been a popular figure with the Kanka Group. Good luck to him !

On the back of this news, it will surely mean that he keeps a clean sheet tonight. We already know from Bellshill Kanka Nadeem's prediction that Vassell and Bebbe will score, so that means the 3 points are in the bag. Right ??!!

All the best from optimistic Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU - THREE NEW TRIALISTS

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

As reported in Hurriyet today, Ankaragucu is giving trials to three players.

1. Scott Sealy, a Trinidad and Tobago International forward who has played in the American League before playing recently for Macabbi Tel Aviv.

2. Adnan Mravac, a Bosnian defender who was playing for Doncaster Rovers in England last season. He was a trialist for Wolverhampton Wanderers recently but obviously that didn't work out for him.

3. Cenk (don't have his surname) is a Turkish player who has been playing overseas (probably Germany).

So, if they impress Hikmet Bey there is time to sign them before the summer transfer window closes.

Watch this space for further on the subject.

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

PS..... Meeting in The Chopin Bar on Saturday from 6.30pm for the Ankaragucu v Istanbul BBS match KO 9pm.

GENCLERBIRLIGI SURPRISE THE CHAMPIONS

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

With Oz Kanka Chris down on the south coast visiting his dear sweet mummy, he has probably other things on his mind other than footie, ie, swimming, drinking, sun bathing, drinking, building sand castles for Little Oz Kanka, drinking and not forgetting more drinking !!

So, just to keep you up to date with Saturday night's result ....

Gencler 0 Besiktas 0

Gencler's line up was -

Serdar
Orhan, Ilhan, Radeljic and Aykut
Burhan,Cem, Harbuzi and Tozo
Mustafa and Kahe

Bilal came on as a sub in the 2nd half to replace Harbuzi.

I'm sure some of the kankas attended the match. So, calling Spine Kanka and Flying Dutchman Kanka to put some meat on the bones either in the comments section or in an email to me for a post edit.

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim



EDIT - 24 August...........

Ahhhhh..... that explains it ! Oz Kanka couldn't access the Blog. So, here is his report of the match. All the best from Eski Kanka Jim


Quote ..... Eeek. Almost got 'em

I write this from the Aegean resort town of Kusadasi having driven from Ankara straight after Saturday night's big match at the 19 Mayis Stadium.

It was the first day of Ramazan so the Chopin was far from full but the kankas made up for that with Flying Dutchman Kanka Carlo - later to be joined by his good wife Legal Kanka Saadet and a friend of their's from Adana - Spine, French Kanka Hande, ring-in Ilker all downed a pre-match Efes and good Gencler supporter Oguz joined us at the stadium.

There wasn't much enthusiasm, or should I say hope, from us Gencler supporters. Most of us were just hoping league champions Besiktas weren't gone to humiliate us.

Genclerbirligi 0 - 0 Besiktas

The Sunday papers may have said that "Ankara once again left Gencler alone" but considering what a crap couple of seasons we have had, the fact that iftar wasn't that long before kick-off and simply compared to our normal crowds, we had good numbers. Not only that but almost all were in good voice.

Kicj-off and things weren't too bad. New signing Harbuzi clearly impressed and he was the first to have a shot on goal. Burhan was also looking good and even the new slimmed-down Kahe was getting shots. None were too dangerous though but half-time and we were pretty happy. After all, last time we played Besiktas at home we lost 0-3 and in fact we haven't beaten them in a league match since the year 2000.

A repeat of the mass civil disobediance of two weeks ago happened at half-time as all the smokers defied new laws and congregated near the entrance and the toilets to get their nicotine fix. One particular fellow I noticed had three chevrons on his arm and clearly wasn't going to bother to obey the new anti-smoking laws, let alone enforce them.

Second half and we sang our hearts out as Gencler launched attack after attack. One that really should have gone in was from Tozo who was pretty much free but failed to connect properly.

All up it was an encouraging performance from the Gencler boys and as I said before, new signing Harbuzi was particularly good. A point's a point, even if we really deserved to get all three.

Now, back to the Efes on this wonderful evening looking out over the Aegean Sea. Unquote.

From Oz Kanka Chris no doubt now making up for being sober last Saturday night !!!

ANKARAGUCU - TAKING BROTHERLY LOVE TOO FAR !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

I for one have always been amazed at the 'love-ins' between Ankaragucu and Bursa supporters, but I feel that the team take this 'brotherly love' thing too far. I can't remember the last time Ankaragucu beat Bursaspor and I'm getting a wee bit pissed off with us seemingly giving them 3 points on a regular basis. Last night ........

Bursaspor 1 ANKARAGUCU 0

The details I have are sketchy and unless Venezuelan Kanka Rom was at the match this is the best I can do. The team line up was -

Serkan
Santos, El-Yasa, Ilkem and Cihan
Ceyhun, Barbaros, Semavi and Sosibo
Vassell and Henderson

Bebbe came on as a sub in the 1st half. Iglesias and Ufuk came on in the 2nd half.

Hurriyet mentioned that there was trouble at the match with the Teksas Group fighting (presumably with Ankaragucu supporters). If that was the case then ..... shock horror ! What happened to all those 'love-ins' and kisses ??!! It was also reported that some supporters were injured but it doesn't give details.

So, yes, I'm very disappointed with this result, especially as there was a full squad available and lots of attacking options which resulted in zero goals.

This MUST be rectified next weekend for the Istanbul BBS match otherwise the natives will begin to be restless ! Three matches in without a win is unacceptable !

All the best from a disappointed Eski Kanka Jim