HAKAN SUKUR GETS AWARD FROM UEFA

Hakan Sukur was chosen the most outstanding player of the past 50 years for UEFA's Jubilee awards.

Here is the article from UEFA.COM

"Hakan Sukur (a prominent Turkish soccer player in Galatasaray) has enjoyed unprecedented success in domestic and international competitions and become Turkey's most recognisable player," stated UEFA under a news titled "Hakan Sukur still towering in Turkey" in its web-site.

"It is no accident that the rise of Turkish football in the early 1990s coincided with the emergence of the country's newest football star. Hakan Sukur has amply fulfilled that early promise, enjoying unprecedented success in domestic and international football and becoming Turkey's most recognisable player," UEFA noted.

"His country's top scorer in international football, Hakan Sukur holds Turkey's record for the most goals in European club competitions with 38 strikes, and has been a prolific scorer in the Turkish league," UEFA stated.

UEFA noted that Sukur also had the honor of scoring the fastest goal in FIFA World Cup finals history when he struck after just 11 seconds of Turkey's third-place play-off match against Korea in the 2002

TUNCAY SCORES AGAIN!......

Portsmouth's Sol Campbell(R) tackles Middlesbrough's Tuncay Sanli during their Premiership match at Fratton Parkin Portsmouth. Sanli's goal was good enough to give Middlesbrough a 1-0 win away to Portsmouth as the home side failed to score at Fratton Park for the sixth straight Premier League match.
(Photo by AFP)

Tuncay scored his fourth goal in six games.....

Portsmouth’s amazing home drought continued as Turkish striker Tuncay Sanli pounced on a David James fumble to hand Middlesbrough three points at Fratton Park.

It was Pompey’s sixth consecutive scoreless home outing in the Premier League and the cheers from Wednesday’s goalless draw with Arsenal soon faded away in a shot-shy display.

Papa Bouba Diop was outstanding for Pompey, running the show from midfield and filling the holes left by the injured Sean Davis, flu-victim Pedro Mendes and surprisingly-dropped Sulley Muntari.

But the Senegal international could not convert his dominance into goals and, after Tuncay had struck for his fourth goal in six games in the 20th minute, he fired over a golden chance to equalise just before half-time.

Diop’s enormous figure was seemingly everywhere as he tried to rouse Pompey but the home fans probably wished it was anyone but him on the end of Benjani’s cutback in first-half stoppage time. Diop has yet to score since his £3m move from Fulham in August.

Tuncay, however, was the first to show some purpose in a scruffy start to a frenetic encounter, shooting wide on the turn with James confidently looking on.

John Utaka’s mazy run on the right eventually took him into the Boro area and, although he was challenged as he attempted to shoot, the ball ran loose for Niko Kranjcar to fire a low drive which Mark Schwarzer smartly held.

Sol Campbell had to time his tackle just right to deny Tuncay when Boro broke back and from the resultant corner Kanu was back defending, at the expense of another flag kick.

Neither side showed much creativity in the opening 20 minutes. Kranjcar had a goalbound free-kick blocked by an efficient Boro wall after Mohamed Shawky manhandled Kanu off the ball and Stewart Downing’s set-piece was also blocked after a clumsy foul by Diop on Tuncay.

But then Boro gratefully collected a soft goal and a surprise lead as Pompey dithered at the back.

Tuncay started the move, seizing on the loose ball after Campbell and Lee Dong-Gook contested Luke Young’s long punt forward.

He switched it right, from where Stewart Downing’s cross sailed beyond the far post and O’Neil volleyed what looked like a shot of little power. James should have dealt with it but fumbled and Tuncay – despite looking suspiciously offside - followed up to knock into an empty net.

Tuncay wore an almost embarrassed smile as he ran to celebrate with former Pompey hero O’Neil, who had recovered from a hamstring injury to come in as one of four changes in the Boro line-up.

Strike partner Lee would have added another soon afterwards but for Hermann Hreidarsson’s intervention but Pompey’s reprisals were all stoutly resisted, even though battling Boro picked up four bookings in the second half when they pulled everybody back behind the ball.

The introduction of substitutes Matt Taylor and David Nugent gave Pompey an edge at last but when Richard Hughes made a rare attacking move from midfield and knocked down Taylor’s free-kick in the 65th minute, Kanu shot against the post from six yards.

Pompey seemed destined not to score after that. Defeat was their first by Boro since 1994 and they have now gone 540 minutes without scoring at home.

Source: wires and edited by Ahmet Turgut

BESIKTAS TRANSFER FILIP HOLOSKO !.....

The deal finally is done according to Turkish Daily Hurriyet and other Turkish news papers!....

Vestel Manisaspor got they wanted and let go under stress Filip Holosko!..

I just hope Besiktas is not getting a head case!...

After what he said and did to his coach Giray Bulak in the last match of the first half against his new team Besiktas, he really put a question marked on my mine about his character.

I wonder how he is going to treat a young coach Ertugrul Saglam when he gets there?!..

Vestel Manisspor will get five million Euro and two other players on loan. Those players are Koray and Burak.

The deal will seal this weekend according to Turkish media.

Again, I just hope we wont see ugly side of Holosko in Besiktas team....

That is my wish!...

Fenerbahce's coach Zico Hosts Charity Match in Rio

Fenerbahce's soccer team coach Brazilian Zico kicks the ball during a friendly soccer game called the Game of the Stars, in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007.
(Photo by AP )

Fenerbahce coach Zico returned to his native country this week to organize a charity football match between his former club Flamengo and a team assembled from stars from around the world.

The famous Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro played host to the end of year fundraising football(soccer) match.

Player-organized fixtures like these are becoming a familiar feature with Brazilian crowds these days, but this one was different - the star of the show was a returning hero who still holds the record for goals scored at the 57-year-old ground.

Arthur Antunes Coimbra - better known the world over as Zico - called in a few favors and set up a match between the 1987 Flamengo team and a side made up from rest of the world - the 'Friends of Zico'.

During a 12-year career with Flamengo, Zico was a key player in a golden era.

He led the team to victory in both the 1981 Copa Libertadores and the 1981 Intercontinental Cup, and four national titles came his way either side of a two-year spell in Italy.

Now 54 and coach of Turkish champions Fenerbahce, Zico turned out in the colors of his former club, with current stars such as former Inter Milan striker Adriano, FC Barcelona midfielder Deco and Japanese international Hidetoshi Nakata on show for the Friends.

Flamengo 1987, a side made up of players from one of the club's most successful eras, beat a 'Friends of Zico' XI by eight goals to five, but the real winners were a series of charitable institutions, which received the gate receipts from a crowd of more than 35-thousand.

The Fenerbahce coach who scored twice for Flamengo was all smiles and thanked everybody for making this match possible.

Source:Turkey football editor Ahmet Turgut and wires

EMRE'S TEAMMATE Joey Barton ARRESTED

Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton is tonight in police custody in connection with an allegation of assault.

The 25-year-old was one of three people arrested in Liverpool in the early hours of today.

According to reports in tomorrow's Daily Mail, a complaint was made by two men who said they had been attacked by Barton and his companions.

The footballer, who grew up in Huyton, Merseyside, signed for Newcastle from Manchester City this summer in a £5.8 million deal.

UGLY SIDE OF FILIP HOLOSKO!...F-BOMB FROM HOLOSKO TO HIS COACH...

Every one thought, he was going to be a star in the European Football(soccer)..
He was young and he made a name for him self in Vestel Manisaspor, Turkish team.
Lately, He was the talk of the town in Turkish Soccer media....

There were a lot of rumors that he was going to go Besiktas at the winter brake...

On Friday, Vestel Manisaspor and Filip Holosko hosted the team that wanted him....

While he was playing against the team that wanted him , there were more teams on the stands were watching Holosko....like England team Charlton Representative!...

Everything started good!... He was playing good in the first half and his team Vestel Manisspor was playing good too...

But, His coach Giray Bulak, gave him a different duty in the beginning of the second half....... after a couple of mistakes and not paying attation to his duty ,his coach Giray Bulak, substituted Holosko in the 57th minute of the match.

He was mad!.......

As he was coming off the field he said F.....You to his coach Giray Bulak than he kicked the pole near the bench.

With this absurd act Flip Holosko came to end in Turkey.....

Shame on you !...You ruined your own career.......after that scene, the teams that wanted you will think twice about getting you on their team!....

It is your loss...

Lastly, Turkish Hurriyet Daily wrote "Holosko Tussle with Bulak" Now, can some one tell me how a player fight with a coach!.....I wonder, if that was Fatih Terim ,coach of the Turkish National team they would put the heading Holosko Tussle with Terim?!....I don't think so....This is double standard by Hurriyet and some other soccer media!...

Watch the Video Clip here by LIGTV

AHMET TURGUT
www.turkishsoccer.com/ Editor

Galatasaray, Leverkusen meet in UEFA Cup

Former UEFA Cup winners Galatasaray and Bayer Leverkusen will meet in the first knockout round of the UEFA Cup with a possible clash with Hamburg SV awaiting the winners.
Leverkusen, who lifted the trophy 20 seasons ago, start as favourites to advance after winning their UEFA Cup qualifying group.

Galatasaray, the first and only Turkish club to win a European trophy when they won the UEFA Cup in 2000, qualified from their group despite winning only one of their four matches.

If Leverkusen come through they could face German rivals Hamburg, who qualified as UEFA group stage winners.

Hamburg beat Leverkusen 1-0 in the Bundesliga in August and there is a big German presence in the competition with the top four teams in the Bundesliga still involved.

Leaders Bayern Munich will play Aberdeen in the first knockout round while Werder Bremen, runners-up in this competition last season and lying second to Bayern on goal difference in the Bundesliga, face Braga of Portugal.

The draws for the first and second rounds of the competition were made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon on Friday with some intriguing ties in prospect.


FIRST CLUB

Former winners Tottenham Hotspur, the first club to lift the UEFA Cup in 1972 and triumphant again in 1984, and PSV Eindhoven, the 1978 winners, could also face each other in the round of 16 if they both come through their first round ties.

Spurs will play Slavia Prague, who were beaten 7-0 by Arsenal when they visited London for a Champions League Group H match in October.

PSV, who, like Slavia, dropped down from the Champions League, face Helsingborg of Sweden in the round of 32 and will meet the winners of the Spurs-Slavia tie if they qualify.

With this year's final scheduled for the City of Manchester Stadium on May 14, English clubs will be even more focused than usual on reaching it.

Bolton Wanderers though will have to negotiate their way past Atletico Madrid and then either Sporting Lisbon or Basel if they are to reach the later stages.

Everton, who won all four of their group matches to qualify for the last 32, face Brann Bergen of Norway in the first knockout round, then either Rosenborg Trondheim or Fiorentina. A rare all-Norwegian European tie is also possible if Brann and Rosenborg qualify.

Source: Wires