ISTANBUL, April 24 (Reuters) - Five weeks separate surprise Turkish league leaders Sivasspor from wresting the title from an Istanbul club for the first time in 25 years, a feat the team says would boost the league's status and delight most of Turkey.
Sivasspor, knocked out of the Turkish Cup this week, lead Istanbul's Besiktas by just one point with 57 points and face third-placed Trabzonspor on Saturday.
Mid or low-ranked opponents then follow but the final game of the season will take Sivasspor to Istanbul to meet titleholders Galatasaray at home, currently with 51 points.
"Most people in Turkey are going for us. Obviously we are not one of the big Istanbul teams...and it would be great for the league if a team besides the big three won," Sivasspor goalkeeper Michael Petkovic told Reuters by phone.
"We are going into each game like its our last. We are giving it all our best," added the Australian.
The last non-Istanbul team to win the league was Trabzonspor in the 1983-1984 season. Only four teams have ever won the title: Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, Besiktas and Trabzonspor.
Sivasspor, who have led the league since late December and could qualify for the Champions League, were holding their nerve, the goalkeeper said.
"All the players are quite relaxed, we're still enjoying training every day, enjoying going out and winning."
Turks have been puzzling over the team's unexpected success for months, putting Sivasspor's winning form down to the influence of coach Bulent Uygun.
"He was a very good player in his time, he is still a young coach and understands what footballers think and knows what to say. He doesn't put too much pressure on us," said Petkovic.
"He has drawn a strong group of players -- we are not all superstars but we fight for each other."
Uygun, 37, has joked that Sivas, located in conservative Central Anatolia, offers little distractions for players, and as he knows the bars he is told as soon as a player buys alcohol.
Nicknamed "the soldier", Uygun has a website (www.bulentuygun.com) which includes poems he has written to Turkey's founder Mustapha Kemal Ataturk and rousing folk music.
"Actually if you compare us to the rest of the clubs in Turkey we are one of the most relaxed clubs in the league... We haven't got that military thing about us," said Petkovic.
Petkovic has modest expectations of the team's Champions League chances: "Just getting there would be a great achievement for us. It doesn't mean we have to win a game or win a point."
By Alexandra Hudson
Reuters
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
UEFA CUP IS IN ISTANBUL!
(Photo Courtsy of TFF)
Last years UEFA Cup holders St Petersburg Zenit returned on Thursday the trophy to UEFA President Michel Platini at a ceremony held in Istanbul ahead of this year's final game.
"I have seen a great enthusiasm here and I believe it would be fantastic final," Platini told the ceremony.
Istanbul's Sukru Saracoglu Stadium is set to host the final match, which is scheduled for May 20.
Platini handed over to Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas the trophy which is set to stay in the city for display until the final game.
"I am very excited. This is the greatest chance that a mayor could ever get," Topbas told reporters.
Source: Turkish wires
UEFA PRESIDENT VISITS TURKISH STADIUM AHEAD OF UEFA CUP FINAL
Platinini in Sukru Saracoglu Stadium In Istanbul,Turkey with TFF President and Fenerbahce President(Picture courtesy of TFF)The head of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) visited on Thursday a Turkish stadium ahead of UEFA Cup final.
UEFA President Michel Platini visited the Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul, which will host the UEFA Cup final, in May.
Platini will later attend a ceremony at the Esma Sultan Mansion in which representatives of the Zenit team of Russia, which won the cup last year, will hand over the trophy to Turkish executives.
The UEFA Cup final will take place at the Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on May 20.
Michel Platini warns against match-fixing
UEFA resident Michel Platini reiterated Thursday that combatting match-fixing was his organization's top priority.
"The greatest danger to football is match-fixing," Platini said. "UEFA is investing a lot to combat match-fixing. Platini also defended a ruling that banned Macedonian club FK Pobeda from European competitions for eight years for rigging the outcome of a Champions League qualifier.
"It is a clear message that all those who are implicated in match-fixing and illegal betting will not be playing again," he said. "This was done to safeguard football."
Platini was speaking at a news conference following a ceremony in which last season's champion Zenit St. Petersburg handed over the UEFA Cup trophy ahead of the May 20 final to be played in Istanbul.
Two teams from Ukraine - Dynamo Kyiv and Shakhtar Donestsk - and two German teams - Werder Bremen and Hamburg - are in the running for the title.
It is the last time the competition is held under the UEFA Cup name and format. Next season the tournament will be renamed the Europa League.
Platini also restated that he favours a system whereby a referee can stop a game completely if fans chant racial slurs toward a player.
Platini said a referee would suspend the game for 10 minutes as a warning and end the game if racial abuse continues.
"A match is nothing compared to the seriousness of racism," Platini said.
Source: Turkish and other news wires
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
DESPITE THE LOSS BESIKTAS IN THE FORTIS TURKISH CUP FINALS
WATCH BESIKTAS V ANKARASPOR HIGHLIGHTS HERE.....
BESIKTAS 1 -2 ANKARASPOR
After winning the first match 3-1 in Ankara Besiktas qualified for the finals in Fortis Turkish Cup despite a 2-1 defeat at home . Ankaraspor went for the victory from the start.In the twenty-two minutes of the match, they went ahead on the scoreboard with Gabonese Roguy Meye goal, But the Slovak Filip Holosko tied to the half hour.
Ankaraspor's Omer Aysan Baris scored the 1-2 in the absence of nine minutes for the closure. And despite their final thrust failed to mark the third. Besiktas, which accumulates seven Cup titles, the last two years ago and has six other disputed final will face Fenerbahce in the finals. Besiktas and Fenerbahce will face in the final game on May 7th in Bursa, Turkey.
In the 47-year history of Turkey Cup final, Besiktas played 13 times, 7 times the cup was taken to a museum. the most recent one was at 2006-2007 season.
AHMET TURGUT
BESIKTAS 1 -2 ANKARASPOR
After winning the first match 3-1 in Ankara Besiktas qualified for the finals in Fortis Turkish Cup despite a 2-1 defeat at home . Ankaraspor went for the victory from the start.In the twenty-two minutes of the match, they went ahead on the scoreboard with Gabonese Roguy Meye goal, But the Slovak Filip Holosko tied to the half hour.
Ankaraspor's Omer Aysan Baris scored the 1-2 in the absence of nine minutes for the closure. And despite their final thrust failed to mark the third. Besiktas, which accumulates seven Cup titles, the last two years ago and has six other disputed final will face Fenerbahce in the finals. Besiktas and Fenerbahce will face in the final game on May 7th in Bursa, Turkey.
In the 47-year history of Turkey Cup final, Besiktas played 13 times, 7 times the cup was taken to a museum. the most recent one was at 2006-2007 season.
AHMET TURGUT
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Fenerbahce Reaches The Fortis Turkish Cup Finals
After having disaster year in the Turkcell Super League, Fenerbahce fans finally have something good to talk about their team.
Fenerbahce just advanced to the Fortis Turkish Cup Finals after going scoreless in Sivas against League's top team Sivasspor in the second leg match.
In the First leg match in Istanbul, Fenerbahce beat Sivasspor with a huge score 3-1.
A draw was good for them to advance to the finals.
Fenerbahce, seeking their fifth Cup title, a tournament that they reluctant to win since 1983. Fenerbahce will face the winner of the other semifinal, between Besiktas and Ankaraspor , most likely it will be Besiktas.
Besiktas accumulate seven Cup trophies, most recently two years ago, Furthermore, They played in six other finals.
AHMET TURGUT
Fenerbahce just advanced to the Fortis Turkish Cup Finals after going scoreless in Sivas against League's top team Sivasspor in the second leg match.
In the First leg match in Istanbul, Fenerbahce beat Sivasspor with a huge score 3-1.
A draw was good for them to advance to the finals.
Fenerbahce, seeking their fifth Cup title, a tournament that they reluctant to win since 1983. Fenerbahce will face the winner of the other semifinal, between Besiktas and Ankaraspor , most likely it will be Besiktas.
Besiktas accumulate seven Cup trophies, most recently two years ago, Furthermore, They played in six other finals.
AHMET TURGUT
TURKISH FORTIS CUP SEMI-FINAL SECOND LEG MATCHES
The Fortis Turkish Cup , starts with the Sivasspor-Fenerbahce match on Tuesday. Sivas will try to overcome a 3-1 deficit from the first leg math when they host Fenerbahce in Sivas, Fenerbahce's only hope is now, Turkish Fortis Cup.
On Wednesday, Besiktas will host Ankaraspor in Istanbul.
On Wednesday, Besiktas will host Ankaraspor in Istanbul.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Besiktas Missed The Chance To Move On Top
Ten man Besiktas team just could not pass Bursaspor on Sunday night in Istanbul.
The scene was all there, with their 12th man , who did not stop chanting, until last minutes of th match.
In the last game of the week 28 in Turkish Turkcell Super League, Besiktas was hopeful of taking over the lead position. After all, Sivasspor, had lost 2 points on Saturday.
Besiktas was troubled by the dismissal of Ibrahim Toraman. With their defensive star red carded, Besiktas had to play the second half with 10 players.
The scoreless draw kept Besiktas at the second position.
GALATASARAY ON THE MOVE!
Well, although they won the match againstIstanbul B.B, with one goal, Galatasaray did not play good football!..
But, Galatasaray had their hopes of a championship title is on the line again by a 1-0 victory against İstanbul BB. Galatasaray's only goal came at 66th minute when Nonda passed the ball to Milan Baros who was left all along by him self in the far corner,did the easy thing, score the Galatasaray's only goal.
Galatasaray player,Lincoln, played full ninety minutes of this match.
Also on Sunday ,Denizlispor beat Kocaelispor 2-1 and pretty much killed Kocaelispor's hope to stay in the league.
Antalyaspor after beating league's though team Kayserispor at home 2-1 , took a deep breath.....
Ankaragucu after winning against Eskisehirspor 3-2. still fighting for their life in the league .
League's last place team draw Gaziantep in Gaziantep, 0-0.
So, At the end of the 28th week, in the Turkish Super League, we know two things, for sure.
Kocaelispor and Hacettepe will go down to lower division......
And we know, Fenerbahce team who was in the quarter finals of the Champions League last year, will not be in the race, for the Turkish Championship, this season!
Those are pretty much facts, now....
What is unknown, is, who will be the third team,that will bite the dust, in the league.
Is it going to be, Ankaragucu,Istanbul B.B,Konyaspor,Denizlispor or Genclerbirligi!..
And finally, after both of the top team losing points this weekend, it is very difficult to say who will be the Champions of Turkey this season..
We know one thing , Sivasspor on top 57 points and Besiktas is breading on their shoulder with 56 points on second place.
After Trabzon winning this weekend , they are only 4 points behind Sivasspor and 3 points away from Besiktas.
And Hopeful Galatasaray, is on fourth with 51 points...
Although, Galatasaray, might seem a far away from top but, they still have games against Sivasspor and Trabzonspor.
So, If Galatasaray shapes up, and The rookie coach Bulent Korkmaz, start thinking like a champion coach, they might have a sure shot at the top!.....
Lastly, next two weekends will be very crutual for Turkish Super League Leader Sivasspor.
This weekend They will face Trabzonspor at their home field and following weekend they will travel to Gaziantepspor .
And let's not the last match of the season against Galatasaray in Istanbul.
So, Sivasspor will face some hurdles, on the way!...
STANDINGS
Position Team Wins Points
1 Sivasspor 16 57
2 Beşiktaş 16 56
3 Trabzonspor 15 53
4 Galatasaray 15 51
5 Fenerbahçe 14 48
6 Bursaspor 12 45
7 Kayserispor 10 40
8 Ankaraspor 11 39
9 Gaziantepspor 10 39
10 Antalyaspor 9 35
11 Eskişehirspor 8 33
12 Gençlerbirliği 8 32
13 Denizlispor 9 32
14 Konyaspor 8 31
15 MKE Ankaragücü 8 30
16 Büyükş Bld.Spor 8 30
17 Kocaelispor 6 23
18 Hacettepe 3 16
AHMET TURGUT
The scene was all there, with their 12th man , who did not stop chanting, until last minutes of th match.
In the last game of the week 28 in Turkish Turkcell Super League, Besiktas was hopeful of taking over the lead position. After all, Sivasspor, had lost 2 points on Saturday.
Besiktas was troubled by the dismissal of Ibrahim Toraman. With their defensive star red carded, Besiktas had to play the second half with 10 players.
The scoreless draw kept Besiktas at the second position.
GALATASARAY ON THE MOVE!
Well, although they won the match againstIstanbul B.B, with one goal, Galatasaray did not play good football!..
But, Galatasaray had their hopes of a championship title is on the line again by a 1-0 victory against İstanbul BB. Galatasaray's only goal came at 66th minute when Nonda passed the ball to Milan Baros who was left all along by him self in the far corner,did the easy thing, score the Galatasaray's only goal.
Galatasaray player,Lincoln, played full ninety minutes of this match.
Also on Sunday ,Denizlispor beat Kocaelispor 2-1 and pretty much killed Kocaelispor's hope to stay in the league.
Antalyaspor after beating league's though team Kayserispor at home 2-1 , took a deep breath.....
Ankaragucu after winning against Eskisehirspor 3-2. still fighting for their life in the league .
League's last place team draw Gaziantep in Gaziantep, 0-0.
So, At the end of the 28th week, in the Turkish Super League, we know two things, for sure.
Kocaelispor and Hacettepe will go down to lower division......
And we know, Fenerbahce team who was in the quarter finals of the Champions League last year, will not be in the race, for the Turkish Championship, this season!
Those are pretty much facts, now....
What is unknown, is, who will be the third team,that will bite the dust, in the league.
Is it going to be, Ankaragucu,Istanbul B.B,Konyaspor,Denizlispor or Genclerbirligi!..
And finally, after both of the top team losing points this weekend, it is very difficult to say who will be the Champions of Turkey this season..
We know one thing , Sivasspor on top 57 points and Besiktas is breading on their shoulder with 56 points on second place.
After Trabzon winning this weekend , they are only 4 points behind Sivasspor and 3 points away from Besiktas.
And Hopeful Galatasaray, is on fourth with 51 points...
Although, Galatasaray, might seem a far away from top but, they still have games against Sivasspor and Trabzonspor.
So, If Galatasaray shapes up, and The rookie coach Bulent Korkmaz, start thinking like a champion coach, they might have a sure shot at the top!.....
Lastly, next two weekends will be very crutual for Turkish Super League Leader Sivasspor.
This weekend They will face Trabzonspor at their home field and following weekend they will travel to Gaziantepspor .
And let's not the last match of the season against Galatasaray in Istanbul.
So, Sivasspor will face some hurdles, on the way!...
STANDINGS
Position Team Wins Points
1 Sivasspor 16 57
2 Beşiktaş 16 56
3 Trabzonspor 15 53
4 Galatasaray 15 51
5 Fenerbahçe 14 48
6 Bursaspor 12 45
7 Kayserispor 10 40
8 Ankaraspor 11 39
9 Gaziantepspor 10 39
10 Antalyaspor 9 35
11 Eskişehirspor 8 33
12 Gençlerbirliği 8 32
13 Denizlispor 9 32
14 Konyaspor 8 31
15 MKE Ankaragücü 8 30
16 Büyükş Bld.Spor 8 30
17 Kocaelispor 6 23
18 Hacettepe 3 16
AHMET TURGUT
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