Michalakis Michael, Lakis Chrysostomou and Michael Yiakoumi
The KOPA football league Annual General Meeting took place last Sunday 5th June 2016 at the Cypriot Community Centre in Wood Green where the clubs from the Cypriot Football League UK were able to put their thoughts and points forward for the coming season.
The meeting was formally opened by the General Secretary of KOPA Michael Yiakoumi who read out the register of the clubs and the minutes from last season which was approved by the Clubs.
Chairman of KOPA Lakis Chrysostomou then gave a report on last season and reported on the mishaps as well as the good things and how he hopes the league will progress next season. He then gave an analysis on the work done by each member of the KOPA management Committee and congratulated them. He also thanked Chris Athanasi for his services as he was giving up his post as Results Secretary that he has held for the last few years. The Chairman also stressed that the league requires a treasurer.
Laki also said that we must also be bringing new people into the committee as we are not getting any younger.
He also welcomed the press that attended the meeting and congratulated all the clubs on the high standard of football that they displayed throughout the season. He congratulated all the winners of trophies. A particular mention of New Salamis winning the FA Sunday Cup as a result they were also honouredm by the Cyprus FA.for this achievement.
It was then the turn of the General Secretary of KOPA Michael Yiakoumi who reflected on the season just ending saying that it ended up as one of the best he has had with a good attendance at the presentation the night before and for the first time no club had left the league at the end of the season and as the Chairman of the LFA previously said that our league is probably the best Sunday league in London.
This followed with a brief description of what teams achieved and the particular highlights of the season. He congratulated New Salamis on winning the FA Sunday Cup
Michael then read out the winners and runners up of all the League trophies.New Salamis Champions, Omonia Runners up. Relegated, Apoel, Cetinkaya Cinar and Maronites.
Second Division Champions St Panteleimon, Runners up Arachne
KOPA Cup winners: Challenge Cup Omonia, Finalists Anorthosis Division One Cup winners Omonia Finalists Livadia.
Division Two Cup in memory of Michael Tzouvanni winners St Panteleimon Finalists Pantel. Seven a side in memory of Nick Kyprianou was won by Omonia and runners up Arachne.
The financial accounts are to be discussed and auditors appointed at an extraordinary general meeting at a later date.
Then all the officials gave reports of their work for the season and also presented facts such as the results secretary Chris Athanasi giving a list of leading scorers in the league, top referees and the registration Secretary Jack Markou gave a report of the players statistics. The fines secretary Kyri Kyriacou gave a report also. Then the fixtures and referee’s secretary Andreas Anastasiou gave his report and emphasized it be good to have cup finals midweek. Clubs also questioned if a club does not turn up for a game what is the punishment which Andreas pointed out that a team’s non attendance would result in them losing 3 points and three points awarded to the opposition. All the officials then thanked all the clubs for their cooperation.
The AGM then decided on the structure of the league that will be nine teams in the first division and eight in the second with two up and two down for next season.
The first division will consist of Anorthosis, Arachne, Brotherhood, KLN, Livadia, Olympia, St Panteleimon, Omonia and New Salamis
The second division will be Achna, Apoel, Asha, Cetinkaya Cinar, Komi Kebir, Maronites, Pantel and Koma Tou Yialou (Provisionally).
The season will start with the Seven a side in memory of Nick Kyprianou on September the 4th 2016 and the season will end on 31st of May 2017.
Election
At the AGM only the Chairman and the General Secretary are elected the Chairman and General Secretary were unopposed so Lakis Chrysostomou remains Chairman and Michael Yiakoumi General Secretary.
From the existing committee remaining are Kyri Kyriacou, Jack Markou, Jon Pishiri Kokos Georgiou, Michalakis Michael, Peter Charalambous and Andreas Anastasiou.
A new club for season 2016/17 applied to join the league Koma Tou Yialou their Chairman Vas Vasilliou gave a speech which was followed by the AGM members accepting Koma Tou Yialou provisionally to play next season.
Vas Vasilliou and Nick Fili from Koma Tou Yialou
The meeting ended at 12.45pm and the club members from the AGM went on and enjoyed a buffet served by the Cypriot Community Centre.
Committee
Chairman Lakis Chrysostomou who has served the League in various positions.He was the Chief Executive of the Citizens Advice Bureau at Haringay Council. Was secretary of Dynamo FC
General Secretary Michael Yiakoumi is a founder member of the League. He is the publisher of several books notably Cypriots Worldwide a Who’s Who Directory and co publisher of the Greek Rich List. He is also a sports columnist and radio correspondent.
Other members are
Michalakis Michael a veteran of the League played for New Salamis and the Cyprus National team and Aekon in the KOPA League. He is the Chairman of New Salamis UK and is a partner in the family fish and chip shop business.
Kokos Georgiou who has been responsible for the Youth in recent years is a food distributor played for Aetos and Dynamo and was Chairman of Aris FC. Secretary of Anorthosis.
Jon Pishiri is a partner in Jon Christopher Chartered Surveyors and an assessor for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors for which he is their London residential spokesman. And an ardent Arsenal fan.
Jack Marcou is an accountant and manager of Pantel FC and was the registration secretary last year.he is proud to be part of the KOPA League.
Kyriacos Kyriacou is an employment law practitioner and General Secretary of Achna FC
Andreas Anastasiou. Andreas from Kontea in Cyprus has refereed since 1987 and is a level 3E referee and on the FA panel of referees and is an FA linesman on their contributory leagues such as the Conference and Rymans League and FA Cup games.
Peter Charalambous who has been involved with the KOPA League for several years with All Saints and Olympia will bring experience to our league.
