What a feast of Youth football we had in Cyprus last week the KOPA Youth players all Cypriot origin from the age of fifteen and nineteen arrived in Cyprus Sunday October the 28th staying and training in Limassol and arrived back in the UK Monday night November the 5th . It was an initiative started by the Cypriot Sports Association (KOA) and the Cypriot Football League in the UK (KOPA).
The purpose of this project is to find players in Great Britain to represent the Cyprus National sides at different age groups. Judging by the response from clubs and National team representatives they were pleased with the quality and character of the KOPA players.
It all began last season with players sourced through English Youth Leagues, Cypriot Youth Clubs and of Course the KOPA League.
A sub committee was formed consisting of Tony Antoniou, Nick Demetriades, Kokos Georgiou, Kypros Kyprianou, Mario Michael, Michalakis Michael, Andy Savva and Michael Yiakoumi.
Their first job was to appoint a management team and it was decided that Tom Loizou a former Leyton Orient manager and UEFA A coach would be manager, the coaches selected were David Cumberbatch UEFA B Licensed coach and ex West Ham School of Excellence Coach. John Fitsiou who has a University degree in Sport and Science is also on board he was the Leyton Orient first Team fitness coach and also a sports scientist at the Leyton Orient Centre of Excellence. John is also the head of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation Educational Programme at Southgate College. Peter Theori a UEFA B licensed coach who works at Leyton Orient centre of excellence and who also works as Head of the Sports Dept of The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London.Jack Demetriou is a chartered physiotherapist with a wealth of experience in professional sport. He has worked with Arsenal, West Ham United, Chelsea, Leyton Orient, and AC Milan. He is presently working with the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, a lecturer in Anatomy and Physiology and owns a private practice. He is also the England U 23 Physiotherapist. Finally the goal keeping coach Nick Christofi who have all volunteered their services.
Three games were played an Under 16 game versus the Cyprus National side was arranged by the Cyprus Football Association KOP where there was an allowance for a couple of over aged players for both sides and two under 19 games versus AEL and New Salamis.
As well as the football the delegation and players paid a visit to the Presidential Palace
The support from the Cyprus Community was fantastic RIK TV filmed the games plus the KOPA Youth squad training and even interviewed players. The Cyprus newspapers covered the tour as well which was very pleasing in their immense interest.
At the first game which the Cyprus U16 National team defeated the KOPA U16 2-1 at the GSP stadium. The Chairman of KOA Bambos Stylianou welcomed KOPA Youth he was also presented a memento from the Vice Chairman of KOPA Michalakis Michael in appreciation of their support to the KOPA Youth initiative.
The Cyprus National team manager Costas Malekkos the former Cyprus International star who played for both Omonia and Apoel with one of his credits to his name is scoring a goal for Omonia versus Arsenal in the European Cup said that the KOPA side played very good football and did not realise that we had such good players in the UK.
Another big day for the young Cypriots from the UK this time was the KOPA under 19′s versus AEL under 19′s on the Wednesday in Limassol and the first game for the KOPA team under floodlights which ended 1-1.
AEL who started the game well are coached by Dionysius Dionysiou who was the assistant manager of last year’s AEL championship winning team.
KOPA’s Chris Elia had a good shot saved after some good build up work with Chris Antoniou then a fine free kick from Marino Hajisavva ended up landing with Phanos Chambi who chested just wide.
AEL broke through minutes later and a fine save by KOPA keeper Mario kept them at bay.
In the 25th minute George Pascoulis put a through ball to Kyri which the AEL keeper Georgiou pulled off an outstanding save.
AEL broke the deadlock in the 30th minute with their first goal a long distance shot coming from Christoforos Efthymiou. Minutes later Kyri just went wide after a free kick was fired into the area from Marino HajiSavva.
The KOPA team came back into the game when Ricky Sarno put through a neat ball into the area for Aris Savva to pounce on to score.
KOPA did not have to wait long for the goal of the match after George Pascoulis got pulled down as a result Adam Andreou pulled off a smashing 35 yard free kick straight into the back of the net giving the visitors a 2-1 lead.
The AEL team did not waste time in equalising when Andreas Christou scored from a free kick.
At the end of the game both team coaches agreed when Tom Loizou said on LGR that with the Cypriot team’s technical skill and KOPA’s power play you would have a great team.
AEL squad: Angelos Ioannou, Andreas Andreou, George Pourgouris, Constantinos Alexandrou, Vasilis Spyrides, Christoforos Efthymiou, Davids Neophytou,Andreas Christou, Soteris Christofi, Petros Christofi,Antonis Aeroporos. Manager Dionysius Dionysiou.
After the match AEL held a welcoming dinner for the KOPA players and management at a local Limassol restaurant.
KOPA under 19 team also made a fleeting visit to Larnaca pulling off their best performance of this tour defeating the New Salamis under 19 team 4-0 at the New Salamis stadium.
New Salamis under their manager Stelios Antoniou started really well, and pressured the KOPA team in fact the KOPA keeper Nicholas Kyriacou had to make a last gasp save to keep the home team at bay. KOPA quickly settled playing some very good football with the midfield probing and creating chances.
The four defenders were commanding at the back. In the 30th minute a Marino corner landed at Aris Savva,s feet who shot making the New Salamis keeper Marios Tsoukkas pull off a brilliant save that landed at the feet of George Pascoulis to bang it into the back of the net giving the KOPA team the lead.
Minutes later New Salamis had a free kick taken by Chrysostomos Kyriakou just go over the bar leaving the score 1-0 half time.
The second half the KOPA team just went out powerfully within minutes after the break a Marino corner landed in the midst of players which Ricky Sarno headed into the back of the net.
In the 70th minute a left foot shot from Kyri was saved by the New Salamis keeper who pushed it into the path of Marino Hadjisavva to bang it into the back of the net.
Another Marinos corner zoomed straight into the Red’s penalty area for Phanos Chambi to powerfully head into the back of the net making it four nil to the KOPA team.
After the game cups were presented to both teams by the Chairman of New Salamis George Yiannakrides and mementos of the game were presented by the head of the New Salamis Academy Vasos Mavro former New Salamis and Cyprus International star. In appreciation the KOPA Vice Chairman Michalakis Michael himself a former New Salamis player and Cyprus National player presented a trophy to the New Salamis Chairman. The evening concluded with food being served to both sets of team players.
New Salamis Squad: Christos Tsoukkas, Kyriakos Hava, Iacovos Papadopoulos, Michalis Philippou, Christoforos Michael, George Dania, Chrysostomos Andreas, Stephanos Christodoulou, Kyriacos Michael, Marcos Haris, Prodromos Pieris, Kyriacos Vasilis, Charalambos Anastasiou, Andreas Kasapi, Andreas Michael. Manager Stelios Antoniou
KOPA Squad for the tour : Nicholas Kyriacou, Chris Antoniou, Anas Manoli, Matthew Agapiou, Phanos Chambi, Jack Christodoulou, Andreas Komodikis, Luke Prokopiou, George Pascoulis, Stephan Stephanides, Stavros Demetri – Brown, Marino Hadjisavva, Kyriakos Tiritanou, Chris Elia, Kyriaco Georgiou, Mario Aristides, Aris Savva, Adam Andreou, Amerigo Sarno,andAlex Anderson. Manager Tom Loizou. Coaches: Dave Cumberbatch, JohnFitsiou, Peter Theori and Nick Christofi.
There is a big thank you from the KOPA League to the support from KOA, Cyprus Airways, Cyprus High Commission, Cyprus Tourist Organisation, Dino Ippocratous, Lighthouse Claims, Brunswick Garage, Selco, YVA Solicitors, Haringey Borough, Buzz Sweets and of course all media in the UK both newspapers Parikiaki, Eleftheria and the radio station LGR.
Comment from the coaches Manager Tom Loizou. Coaches: Dave Cumberbatch, JohnFitsiou, Peter Theori and Nick Christofi.
Overall it has been a great worthwhile experience for all players concerned many of them had never experienced playing (3) games in a week – entailing different types of training sessions and also having to rehydrate and refuel correctly. Even though we had known most of the players through the previous sessions and matches played we did not really know their characteristics and this week with the squad coaching we were able to get to know the players with the assistance of Nick Christofi in particular leading the way! Judging by the amount of goals scored on set pieces it was valuable that the players were able to take on board this type of information onto the field of play. It was also pleasing that several players were identified as “talented” by the opposition coaches eg Stavros Demetri -Brown, Alex Anderson and Adam Andreou. We on the coaching team believe the best gift we have given the squad are good examples and the young players have improved immensely through this experience.
I believe the investment in time and money made by everyone involved in the arrangements for this trip, achieved its aims.
Chairman of KOPA Lakis Chrysostomou said
We have received recognition and established good relations with KOA, KOP, AEL and New Salamis in Cyprus and involved young coaches and sub committee members in KOPA’s work. Above all we have shown that we are keen to involve young players in KOPA and promote their interest in football and sport generally. We hope that for one or two of the players who went on the trip this may be the start of a career in football, and who knows, we may even see one of them representing the national team in years to come.
It’s great to have everyone back and say well done for a good job.
This Youth football initiative between Cyprus and the Cypriot Community in the UK will be ongoing if there are any football players of Cypriot origin between the ages of fifteen and eighteen who like to attend the next trial please contact the
General Secretary of the Cypriot Football League UK (KOPA) Michael Yiakoumi Tel: 07958 207412 or email: yiakoumi@aol.com.
