The Pride and Joy of the KOPA League

The Cypriot Football League in UK held their Annual presentation dinner and dance on Saturday night at the Cypriot Community Centre in Wood Green.

The Presentation was introduced by George Michaelides Sports Journalist who spoke about the League generally and he spoke about how well the League had done highlighting Tripimeni winning the top London cup which 120 teams enter. Apoel bringing a breath of fresh air into the League by winning the League championship after two clubs New Salamis and Tripimeni have been dominating the League in recent years. New Salamis won the Challenge Cup and First Division Cup.

Also George mentioned that we in the UK are united as two Cypriot communities with Greek and Turkish Cypriots both playing in the League for several years and also have a club named after the renowned Cetinkaya who use to play in the Cypriot League in Cyprus. Whereas in Cyprus it is only recently that there has been talks between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot Leagues.

The Chairman Lakis Chrysostomou then continued with a review of the season of what the clubs had achieved and spoke about the future of the League.

He then went on and welcomed the special guests the Cyprus High Commissioner in the UK Euripides Evripiades, Andreas Papaevripides President of the World Federation of Overseas Cypriots (POMAK) , Peter Droussiotis President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK . Bambos Charalambous Managing Director Parikiaki Newspaper. Tasos Chrysostomou the sponsor of the sportsman Cup in memory of his brother Andy Chrysostomou who died tragically years ago. George Michaelides and Mikkos Chrysostomou from Parikiaki and Eleftheria Newspapers respectively. From RIK TV Doros Partasides and from Hellenic TV Michalakis and Vasilis Panayi. He also thanked the media the newspapers Parikiaki and Eleftheria, the radio station LGR and Cyprus TV RIK for the coverage they had given the League this season.

The Cyprus High Commissioner in the UK then spoke expressing the need for sport to provide unity within our community and he found it pleasing to see clubs named after clubs in Cyprus teams named after villages in Cyprus and of course the fact that the League has a Turkish Cypriot team Cetinkaya Cinar and the Maronites team. The High Commissioner then personally thanked the General Secretary Michael Yiakoumi for the invitation and praised him for the good work he is doing within the League.

The night continued with the presentation of the trophies, dancing to the band of Elias Maronitis and a rich raffle which included a bracelet and necklace donated by Cos of London, and many other prizes.

The awards were as follows:

League championship First Division Champions: Apoel, Runners Up Tripimeni. Second Division Champions: Brotherhood, Runners up Anorthosis Challenge Cup: New Salamis, Runners up Tripimeni

First Division Cup: New Salamis, Runners up Tripimeni

Second Division Cup In memory of Michael Tzouvanni: Brotherhood,

Seven a side in memory of Christos Petrides Cup Winners Arachne LFA Challenge Cup Winners: Tripimeni Sportsmans Cup In memory of Andy Chrysostomou Overall: Livadia, Top Goal scorers First Division: Ahmet Rifat , Tripimeni, Second Division Aaron Kennedy, Brotherhood