WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014 SPORTS North Cyprus stranded in football wilderness NICOSIA: Senegalese footballer Ibrahim Faye When he left Senegal seven years ago, Faye FOOTBALL REUNIFICATION headache for organisers as a top division could not moved to Europe dreaming of playing against the thought he was bound for Turkey. Instead, he Erol Cagaloglu, Cetinkaya’s coach, said international accommodate all Turkish- and Greek-speaking clubs. It best teams and ended up in a tiny league isolated arrived in north Cyprus and signed for Nicosia- competition would dramatically improve the Super would also increase competition for lucrative from the rest of the world. based Hamitkoy SK. He signed this year for League. “Our young players cannot progress because European qualification spots. The Super League in Turkish-occupied northern Cetinkaya, the most decorated club in north Cyprus the situation won’t open up in the future. We play only For Hasan Sertoglu, president of the Turkish Cypriot Cyprus is light years away from the Champions with 14 Super League titles. at an amateur level,” said Cagaloglu. Football Federation, the ball is in the south’s box. “We League fever which is sweeping the southern part Faye admits he did not know that there are two Instructing his players with a harsh voice, his back have done what has been asked of us. Now they have of the divided island. Cypruses when he travelled. “It’s not bad here for a straight and arms folded, Cagaloglu is a former star at to react. They must have pity for these poor young While Greek Cypriot clubs face off against start. But if you have a good agent you can go and Cetinkaya and once played for Turkey’s Besiktas. He people,” he said. But a footballing unification also Europe’s elite-with Nicosia’s APOEL playing at Paris look elsewhere,” said the 29-year-old who dreams of regrets that “young people in north (Cyprus) and the depends on a relative peace between Greek-Cypriot St Germain on Wednesday and hosting Barcelona moving on. His teammate Mehmet Simsek shares south cannot get together and meet up”. Such con- and Turkish-Cypriot supporters, which is far from later this month-the breakaway north is caught in a that dream. finement has pushed clubs in the north to seek reunifi- assured. At the end of September, Demetris Vassiliou, dead end. “I want to play against other teams,” said the 23- cation with the federation of Cyprus, which is affiliated 35, became the first Greek-Cypriot to play for a north- Since its creation in 1983, nine years after Turkish year-old defender. “I would like to gain experience with global governing body FIFA and Europe’s UEFA. ern club in nearly 60 years, provoking outrage in the troops occupied a third of the island, the Turkish and earn more money but it’s impossible.” In November 2013, there was a glimmer of hope in south. He claimed to have received death threats. Republic of Northern Cyprus has only been officially For Turkish-Cypriots like Simsek, the best salaries the form of a merger agreement signed under FIFA’s Sertoglu condemned the Vassiliou outcry but insisted recognised by Ankara. So no sporting associations are typically around 1500 Turkish lira (500 euros, auspices. But details of the deal have never been that football reunification is achievable. “Political prob- can join an international federation. And no team $625) a month, and all footballers have a job out- revealed and progress has since ground to a halt. The lems only interest politicians. We’re just footballers,” he can take part in international contests. side of the game. logistics of a single Cypriot federation would be a said. — AFP Bayern target Roma for quick qualification BERLIN: Bayern Munich are making short Robben said. “We won in Rome 7-1 and we work of the Champions League group beat Dortmund. stage, the German giants aware that a “But we always have to remain critical, home victory over Roma today will improve things, never let off and think that advance them to the knockout round with it will just happen by itself. It does not but two games to spare. we are on a good path.” The Bavarians, who recorded their biggest away win in the competition when TITLE DEFENCE they crushed Roma 7-1 in the Italian capital It is difficult to see how Bayern can last month, are in scintillating form and top improve on current form as they march Group E on a maximum nine points from towards their seventh straight knockout three games. stage in Europe’s premier club competition. The German champions have won 12 of In their three group games so far, they 15 games in the Bundesliga, German Cup have netted nine times and let in just one and Champions League this season, draw- goal. In the league they are equally as ing the other three matches to remain effective, scoring a staggering 23 goals and unbeaten in all competitions. conceding three in 10 matches as they plot They received a further boost to their a smooth course towards a successful confidence on Saturday when they came Bundesliga title defence. from a goal down to edge past fellow Roma had a far less successful weekend, Champions League club and main domes- slumping to a 2-0 defeat at Napoli to slip tic rivals Borussia Dortmund 2-1. three points behind rivals Juventus at the More pleasing for Bayern coach Pep top of Serie A. Coach Rudi Garcia knows his Guardiola was the performances of Arjen team have a mountain to climb at the Robben, back from a minor knock, and fel- Allianz Arena on Wednesday if they are to low winger Franck Ribery, who is gradually maintain their challenge for second place returning to his best form after a long ahead of Manchester City, who are two LONDON: Manchester City’s James Milner in action in this file photo. — AP injury break. Dutchman Robben was a con- points behind them after three matches. stant source of danger and also converted Roma have managed at least one away win an 85th minute spot kick, awarded after in each of their last four Champions League Man City have no margin Frenchman Ribery was brought down fol- group stage appearances and there would lowing a surging run, for the winner. be no better time for a victory on the road “We are playing good football at times to restore some pride after their thrashing but there is still room for improvement,” at the hands of the Germans. — Reuters for errors against CSKA LONDON: Everyone at Manchester City is flying CSKA on one. Anything less than a home win will Zenit’s winner at CSKA on Saturday. Injuries and high after the 1-0 derby win over Manchester put a huge dent in the home team’s hopes of suspensions have hit CSKA hard in Europe this United at the weekend but they could all come advancing to the last 16. A CSKA victory would season but coach Leonid Slutsky welcomes back crashing back to earth after today’s meeting put the Russians back in the hunt if Bayern, who Alan Dzagoev and Pontus Wernbloom on with CSKA Moscow in the Champions League. handed City a lifeline when they thrashed Roma Wednesday after both served three-match bans. The English top-flight champions, with striker 7-1 two weeks ago, beat the Italian outfit again The Russians will still be without young for- Sergio Aguero in outstanding form, should in today. Despite a surprise recent defeat by West ward Kirill Panchenko and Swedish midfielder theory be too strong for their Russian counter- Ham United, City are third in the Premier League, Rasmus Elm who has yet to feature this season parts at the Etihad Stadium, a year to the day six points behind leaders Chelsea, and their form because of a serious stomach problem. since City won the corresponding fixture 5-2. domestically is far superior to their results in “We are treating Elm in Sweden and in The omens are on the side of the home team Europe. Russia,” said club president Evgeny Giner. “I was too. CSKA have never won in England in five told that 10 footballers in the world suffer from appearances while Aguero has scored seven SCHIZOPHRENIC CITY this condition and nine aren’t playing football. goals against Russian clubs in four outings for Midfielders David Silva and Frank Lampard “If Rasmus is allowed to play the minimum he City and previous club Atletico Madrid. are sidelined against CSKA through injury while is risking is to become an invalid...the maximum However, City’s performances in Europe this Aleksandar Kolarov is a doubt after being hurt in risk is he could die.” Seydou Doumbia, who season have produced two draws and a defeat the warm-up against United on Sunday. scored a second-half goal and earned the penal- from three Group E matches and they are now While City are showing somewhat schizo- ty that Bebras Natcho converted in the 2-2 draw battling to stay in the competition. phrenic form in the two biggest competitions with City two weeks ago, is still looking to get MUNICH: Bayern’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer catches a ball during a training session The second of those draws came in Moscow they play in, CSKA travel to Manchester seeking back to full fitness. The Ivorian has been restrict- prior to the Champions League Group E soccer match against AS Roma today. — AP two weeks ago when they let a 2-0 lead slip in to salvage a season that is beginning to slide.