Turkey is hoping Wednesday's UEFA Cup final in Istanbul can be the latest step in a transformation from one of football's backwaters into a major power.
The match between Werder Bremen and Shakhtar Donetsk, the last before the 38-year-old tournament is rebranded as the Europa League, will be the second European final to be staged in the Turkish metropolis in four years.
The prestige is huge, but even more important is the chance to convince officials and fans that the country is a realistic contender to host the 2016 European Championship.
The 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul was beset by logistical problems but enough of a success for UEFA to now let it host the second-tier tournament, albeit at a different, more central stadium on the Asian side of the Bosporus Strait dividing the city.
A trouble-free event at Fenerbahce's 53,586-seat Sukru Saracoglu Stadium could be a trump card when European football's governing body decides in May 2010 where to stage Euro 2016, which will be the first European Championship to be expanded from 16 nations to 24.
"I sincerely believe that Istanbul, as a city that connects Europe and Asia, is an excellent choice for the last final of the UEFA Cup," Turkish Football Association president Mahmut Ozgener said. "The Turkish Football Association gained a lot of experience from organizing the 2005 UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul.
"We consider holding the UEFA Cup final as another important milestone for Turkey and the Turkish FA, who are eager to host Euro 2016."
Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu spent four years coaching in Istanbul with city rivals Galatasaray and Besiktas and appears to have no qualms about the city's suitability for hosting major events.
"It is a very beautiful and interesting city," Lucescu said. "Those years brought me a lot of happiness. Those years were very good years in my career. I established good relations with all fans, no matter which club they were fans of.
"Turkish fans are incredible supporters who understand the game in all its aspects, which is why Istanbul well deserved to host the UEFA Cup final."
A city of almost 13 million people, Istanbul hosts four professional football clubs, with Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce the most well known.
Famed for the intimidating atmospheres created by those fanatical supporters -- who have sometimes overstepped the mark with "Welcome to Hell" banners and instances of throat-slitting gestures -- Istanbul is a city passionate about sport, and football in particular.
"I cannot think of a more exciting, vibrant setting for this year's UEFA Cup final than Istanbul, where football is woven into the tapestry of everyday life," UEFA president Michel Platini said. "Istanbul is a remarkable city."
There have been more serious problems, though.
Violence erupted most notoriously when two Leeds fans were stabbed to death in the city in April 2000 ahead of a UEFA Cup semifinal against Galatasaray, while Liverpool's famous Champions League final win over AC Milan was blighted by traffic jams that prevented many supporters from making it to the Ataturk Stadium in time to see the English club rally from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 and win a penalty shootout.
Such instances make it even more crucial for Istanbul to host a trouble-free event Wednesday to have any chance of winning the rights to Euro 2016 in the face of competition from Italy, France and a joint Norway-Sweden bid.
All are more established football nations with, Norway aside, experience of hosting major tournaments.
Source: : USA TODAY and AP
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Last UEFA CUP Final Will Be In Istanbul,Turkey.
Germany's Werder Bremen will face Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine in the last UEFA Cup final in Istanbul,Turkey.
Werder Bremen will hope to make up for a disappointing league campaign by beating Shakhtar Donetsk to capture the UEFA Cup on Wednesday and then use that success as a springboard to also capture the German Cup.
But while Thomas Schaaf's team chases a cup double it has slipped to 10th in the 18-team Bundesliga and is out of contention for qualification for the Europa League, which replaces the UEFA Cup next season.
"We have experienced a lot of downs but we are through to two finals," Bremen striker Markus Rosenberg said. "It's been a strange season. We are used to challenging for the Bundesliga title but that did not happen. Instead we did really well in the cups."
The Sweden striker hopes to rediscover his goal-scoring touch in Istanbul's Sukru Saracoglu stadium.
"It has been a really strange season for me too. I started really well and scored quite a few goals. I don't know what happened," he said. "I am saving my goals for the UEFA Cup final.
"It will be the biggest game I have ever played for a club. It's second only to a Champions League final. So far I have only won a Dutch Cup with Ajax so I would love to add another title to my collection."
Rosenberg is set to replace the suspended Hugo Almeida and, like Peru international Claudio Pizarro, is fit again after missing Saturday's match against Karlsruhe.
But captain Frank Baumann is struggling to shake off a thigh muscle injury and central defender Per Mertesacker is out with a right-foot injury.
"We have enough classy players, no matter who plays," sporting director Klaus Allofs said.
Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese insists that the team should not be disheartened by its failure to mount a credible league challenge.
"There is not much difference between winning a championship or a cup," the 27-year-old Wiese said. "But this is the last UEFA Cup so it is very special to have made it to the final."
For Shakhtar Donetsk, Istanbul will be the culmination of a journey to reinvigorate Ukrainian football as the state has a team in a European final for the first time since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1990.
The team has goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov to thank for reaching the final after he let in just five goals in eight UEFA Cup matches on the way to Istanbul. Although Pyatov deflected praise to his defenders.
"All in all, it's more thanks to the defenders - my role is as a leader," the goalkeeper said. "The better I can lead the team - the defence, that is - the easier it is for me."
The 24-year-old Ukraine international said he is trying to forget the significance of the occasion.
"I'm calm," he said. "I've had other games and other finals before. This one is the final of the UEFA Cup and of course I think it means a lot to everyone. But life will go on ...
"Our goal was to win each individual match. We've stuck by this goal, gradually moving step by step, preparing ourselves psychologically to win each game and it's been successful."
Source: Wires
Werder Bremen will hope to make up for a disappointing league campaign by beating Shakhtar Donetsk to capture the UEFA Cup on Wednesday and then use that success as a springboard to also capture the German Cup.
But while Thomas Schaaf's team chases a cup double it has slipped to 10th in the 18-team Bundesliga and is out of contention for qualification for the Europa League, which replaces the UEFA Cup next season.
"We have experienced a lot of downs but we are through to two finals," Bremen striker Markus Rosenberg said. "It's been a strange season. We are used to challenging for the Bundesliga title but that did not happen. Instead we did really well in the cups."
The Sweden striker hopes to rediscover his goal-scoring touch in Istanbul's Sukru Saracoglu stadium.
"It has been a really strange season for me too. I started really well and scored quite a few goals. I don't know what happened," he said. "I am saving my goals for the UEFA Cup final.
"It will be the biggest game I have ever played for a club. It's second only to a Champions League final. So far I have only won a Dutch Cup with Ajax so I would love to add another title to my collection."
Rosenberg is set to replace the suspended Hugo Almeida and, like Peru international Claudio Pizarro, is fit again after missing Saturday's match against Karlsruhe.
But captain Frank Baumann is struggling to shake off a thigh muscle injury and central defender Per Mertesacker is out with a right-foot injury.
"We have enough classy players, no matter who plays," sporting director Klaus Allofs said.
Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese insists that the team should not be disheartened by its failure to mount a credible league challenge.
"There is not much difference between winning a championship or a cup," the 27-year-old Wiese said. "But this is the last UEFA Cup so it is very special to have made it to the final."
For Shakhtar Donetsk, Istanbul will be the culmination of a journey to reinvigorate Ukrainian football as the state has a team in a European final for the first time since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1990.
The team has goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov to thank for reaching the final after he let in just five goals in eight UEFA Cup matches on the way to Istanbul. Although Pyatov deflected praise to his defenders.
"All in all, it's more thanks to the defenders - my role is as a leader," the goalkeeper said. "The better I can lead the team - the defence, that is - the easier it is for me."
The 24-year-old Ukraine international said he is trying to forget the significance of the occasion.
"I'm calm," he said. "I've had other games and other finals before. This one is the final of the UEFA Cup and of course I think it means a lot to everyone. But life will go on ...
"Our goal was to win each individual match. We've stuck by this goal, gradually moving step by step, preparing ourselves psychologically to win each game and it's been successful."
Source: Wires
Konyaspor Coach Giray Bulak Sacked!
Konyaspor coach Giray Bulak was sacked on Tuesday by Team officials on Tuesday before the do or die match against just five days before Fenerbahce.
After going down against Eskisehirspor at home Konyaspor fans and Team officials publicly criticized coach Giray Bulak.
Even after Eskisehirspor match, bunch of lunatic Konyaspor fans rushed in to the press conference room, before the press conference and shout absurd things about coach Giray Bulak.
Konyasspor without good players and money has been struggling in the league.
This weekend they will play do or die match against Fenerbahce in Istanbul.
A loss will definitely make them the third team that will relegate from the Turkish Turkcell Super League.
Sacking a ,weeks to end the league is a big mistake in my opinion..
AHMET TURGUT
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Fatih Terim almost lost his finger in Bodrum,Turkey
Turkish National team coach Fatih Terim while vacationing in BOdrum as he was getting ready to get on his private boat his midle finger got stuck between the rope and cut his finger immediately.
After this weird accident Fatih Terim was taken with private plane to Istanbul and was operated on his finger .
It look like they found the other piece that fell to the water and his finger once again was saved by Acibadem Hospital Hand specialist Dr Ufuk Nalbantoğlu.
"The important thing in the veins of blood circulation was, which took place. The found piece was erected in place," he said.
Fatih Terim will be resting about 15 days in the hospital.
AHMET TURGUT
Friday, May 15, 2009
Turkish Turkcell Super League Preview
CLUTCH WEEKEND WILL BRING OUT THE CLUTCH TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE..
As we get closer to the end of the rope, things are getting hotter in the Turkish Turkcell Super league.
In the 32th week, Top two team Besiktas and Sivasspor will put a fight against the lower teams in the league.
There will be only one match in Ankara on Saturday and rest of the seven matches will play on Sunday at same time (20:00 Turkish Local Time)
Once again, Sivaspor will play before Besiktas ..
Sivasspor will face last place team Hacettepe in Ankara on Saturday at 20:00 Turkish Time
This could be last chance for Sivaspor...
They have to win this match if they want to pressure league leader Besiktas.
A loss of points will end Sivasspor dreams in Ankara.....
On the other hand Leagues top team Besiktas, won't have easy night in Ankara on Sunday night.
They will play against the team who is desperate for points in the league.
Ankaragucu is feeling the heat from the bottom of the league...
That is why they will put up a bight fight against Besiktas , in my opinion.
Besikstas who thrashed Fenerbahce in the Fortis Turkish Cup, if they play like that again they will easily beat Ankaragucu..
Bobo and Holosko is very hot as far as scoring goals...
Holosko scored four goal in the last four matches and Bobo score two of the goal against Fenerbahce in the Turkish Cup match.
If Mustafa Denizli does not play with his line-up Besiktas will win this match..
Any good news from Sivasspor match will give them morale boost before this match too
If Sivasspor and Besiktas wins their matches the margin will stay at two points.
That is why both of these teams can't afford to lose points!...
The third place team Trabzonspor could move up if they win their home match against Bursaspor, in this case...
So, Besiktas at 62 Sivasspor at 60 and Trabzonspor at 59 ......
The thrill of the victory will go on in the league...
The Agony of defeat will be felted by a lot of teams in the mid bracket and the bottom too..
We all know,Hacettepe and Kocaelispor said good-by to the league....
We still don't know who will be the third team that will go down, yet!...
Just take a look at the standings....
A team who is on 10th place with 40 points Ankaraspor, if they lose all their three matches they could well go down too.
Ankaraspor will face all the teams who are in danger zone and desperate for points.
There a lot of team at 35 points and 36 and 38 points....
The clutch and cool and calm teams will win their matches..
In the last three weekends these team will have games against each other too..
If Konyaspor wins their two home matches they reach too 41 points and most likely will survive !..
We know one thing, out of these teams one of them will go down...
But, just now we don't know who is that team going to be yet...
So, after Super Saturday last week will call this Super Sunday in the Turkish League.
And good luck trying to watch all of the matches at the same time....
Here is the 32th weekend matches....
SATURDAY
Hacettepe V Sivasspor
SUNDAY
Antalyaspor V Fenerbahce
Denizlispor V Ankaraspor
Galatasaray V Gençlerbirlii
Gaziantepspor V Kocaelispor
İstanbul BB V Kayserispor
Konyaspor V Eskişehirspor
Ankaragücü V Besiktas
Trabzonspor V Bursaspor
AHMET TURGUT
As we get closer to the end of the rope, things are getting hotter in the Turkish Turkcell Super league.
In the 32th week, Top two team Besiktas and Sivasspor will put a fight against the lower teams in the league.
There will be only one match in Ankara on Saturday and rest of the seven matches will play on Sunday at same time (20:00 Turkish Local Time)
Once again, Sivaspor will play before Besiktas ..
Sivasspor will face last place team Hacettepe in Ankara on Saturday at 20:00 Turkish Time
This could be last chance for Sivaspor...
They have to win this match if they want to pressure league leader Besiktas.
A loss of points will end Sivasspor dreams in Ankara.....
On the other hand Leagues top team Besiktas, won't have easy night in Ankara on Sunday night.
They will play against the team who is desperate for points in the league.
Ankaragucu is feeling the heat from the bottom of the league...
That is why they will put up a bight fight against Besiktas , in my opinion.
Besikstas who thrashed Fenerbahce in the Fortis Turkish Cup, if they play like that again they will easily beat Ankaragucu..
Bobo and Holosko is very hot as far as scoring goals...
Holosko scored four goal in the last four matches and Bobo score two of the goal against Fenerbahce in the Turkish Cup match.
If Mustafa Denizli does not play with his line-up Besiktas will win this match..
Any good news from Sivasspor match will give them morale boost before this match too
If Sivasspor and Besiktas wins their matches the margin will stay at two points.
That is why both of these teams can't afford to lose points!...
The third place team Trabzonspor could move up if they win their home match against Bursaspor, in this case...
So, Besiktas at 62 Sivasspor at 60 and Trabzonspor at 59 ......
The thrill of the victory will go on in the league...
The Agony of defeat will be felted by a lot of teams in the mid bracket and the bottom too..
We all know,Hacettepe and Kocaelispor said good-by to the league....
We still don't know who will be the third team that will go down, yet!...
Just take a look at the standings....
A team who is on 10th place with 40 points Ankaraspor, if they lose all their three matches they could well go down too.
Ankaraspor will face all the teams who are in danger zone and desperate for points.
There a lot of team at 35 points and 36 and 38 points....
The clutch and cool and calm teams will win their matches..
In the last three weekends these team will have games against each other too..
If Konyaspor wins their two home matches they reach too 41 points and most likely will survive !..
We know one thing, out of these teams one of them will go down...
But, just now we don't know who is that team going to be yet...
So, after Super Saturday last week will call this Super Sunday in the Turkish League.
And good luck trying to watch all of the matches at the same time....
Here is the 32th weekend matches....
SATURDAY
Hacettepe V Sivasspor
SUNDAY
Antalyaspor V Fenerbahce
Denizlispor V Ankaraspor
Galatasaray V Gençlerbirlii
Gaziantepspor V Kocaelispor
İstanbul BB V Kayserispor
Konyaspor V Eskişehirspor
Ankaragücü V Besiktas
Trabzonspor V Bursaspor
AHMET TURGUT
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Tuncay Sanli, Boro's Player of the Year!
Tuncay Sanli, received "Player of the Year" award at the annual dinner a of the Middlesbrough Official Supporters Club at the Riverside Stadium last night, according to reports from England.
Tuncay Sanli , currently Boro’s joint top scorer, said: “I am happy because it is important that the supporters love me.
“I am here to be a good player and to make the supporters as happy as I possibly can.
“I have been here for two years. All the players have helped me and made it an easy path for me.
“Playing football is my job. I have to do that to the best of my ability.”
The awards night was attended by manager Gareth Southgate and a virtual full first team squad.
The evening arrived with Boro still not knowing which division they will be playing in next season, but Tuncay insisted to the fans that the battle would go on.
He said: “We have to fight as much as we can. We have to forget the past and look at the future. We want to get the club in a position it deserves.
“We still have a chance so we must win the last two games and get the points.”
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Besiktas Wins the Turkish Fortis Cup
Players of Besiktas lift the trophy at the end of the Turkish Cup Final at the Ataturk stadium in Izmir, western Turkey May 13, 2009. Besiktas won the Turkish Cup after defeating Fenerbahce.REUTERS/Murad Sezer
Besiktas won the Turkish Cup for the third time in four years on Wednesday, beating Fenerbahce 4-2 in Izmir with Brazilian Bobo scoring twice.
League leaders Besiktas went ahead against their Istanbul rivals after six minutes when Yusuf Simsek beat keeper Volkan Babacan with a shot from the edge of the area at the Ataturk Stadium.
Daniel Guiza equalised in the 27th, sidefooting home from close range after Deivid de Souza slid the ball across the penalty area.
Striker Bobo put Besiktas back in front with a powerful long-range shot before making it 3-1 with a header.
Filip Holosko added the fourth goal with 10 minutes left, firing in after a one-two with Bobo.
Alex scored Fenerbahce's second with a penalty in injury time. Fenerbahce, who have not won the Turkish Cup since 1983, are fifth in the league with three matches remaining.
Source: Reuters
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