President takes 1st kick in stars’ match
PRESIDENT Mustafa Akıncı took the first kick in a football match on Saturday that involved stars who had played for clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton.
The match at Lefkoşa’s Atatürk Sport Stadium last Saturday was held to mark May 19 Youth and Sports Day and to raise funds for the worthy causes. Victory went to Stars XI who beat the World XI 5-4.
Savaş Tilki, a former referee, took charge of the game which involved players such as Trésor Lomana LuaLua, Nwankwo Kanu, Alex Song, Michael Essien, Yakubu, Tanju Çolak, Tugay Kerimoğlu, Youla, Hasan Kabze and Hami Mandıları.
Speaking to Cyprus Today, Tekin Birinci, a Fifa licensed players’ agent, thanked all players for taking part in the match, saying that it had contributed to the promotion of football and of North Cyprus.
Mr Birinci, however, also expressed disappointment at the low turnout of spectators, saying: “We were expecting to attract some 15,000 people to the game . . . but we ended up with only 1,200 to 1,500.”
The match, in aid of the Kanu Heart Foundation which helps underprivileged African children and young adults suffering from heart ailments in Africa, and the LauLau Foundation, which cares for orphaned children in the Democratic Republic of Congo, coincided with Turkish League Championship matches.
‘‘Some 700 tickets were sold and we had around 500 tickets for sponsors,” said Mr Birinci. “We expected to see more people as our country hosted legendary players. We had to organise it in a very short time, some three weeks, and it coincided with games played in Turkey. Unfortunately, our people were not very interested in the matches played here.”
Mr Birinci thanked President Mustafa Akıncı for taking the first kick of the match and the spectators who did come to watch the match, but commented: “We failed to see either the head of the Cyprus Turkish Football Association, Hasan Seroğlu, or the acting head Orçun Kamalı at the event.
‘‘Even though it was not as crowded as we wished, we think we still made our contribution to the promotion of the country and its football. We also raised a modest sum for good causes.
‘‘This event is only a starting point, however, as we are planning to organise other similar events to continue to promote our country.
“The international football players expressed their happiness. Some came here for the first time and loved Cyprus, especially Girne. Micheal Essien and İbrahim Yattara even changed their return dates as they wanted to stay and enjoy the beauty of our country’.”
The amount raised by the match is to be announced later.