FOOTBALL aside, many people are already saying that Anorthosis Famagusta FC’s 3-1 victory over Turkish side Trabzonspor in the first leg of the Champions League qualifying round is one of the greatest national triumphs in the island’s history. And that’s saying something, bearing in mind the rich history of Cyprus.
But it wasn’t just football at work on this magical night for refugee side Anorthosis. After what has been a turbulent week for Cypriot police, the last thing anyone, and especially Justice Minister Doros Theodorou, would have wanted was a stadium disaster between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
Fortunately that wasn’t the case and the security and the result almost went hand-in-hand down the road of success.
Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said the game was a shining example of how Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots could live together.
“I would like to thank Anorthosis for their victory over Trabzonspor. The game was a tribute to Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots who gave a shining example of our culture. I would also like to thank Trabzonspor for the good football that they played.”
Justice Minister Theodorou took the opportunity to congratulate the tough security measures undertaken by police at a time when the police’s image has been taking a battering.
“Cyprus has met the challenge both at football and in the image portrayed yesterday at the GSP Stadium to the rest of the world. There was great organisation from all sectors involved in the security of the stadium while spectators of both sides were well-disciplined. Although the atmosphere was electric during the game, there were no incidents recorded.”
As for the result, he added, “The 3-1 score makes us all very proud and it shows that football on our little island is making progress.”
Congratulations for security at the game was also given by UEFA security expert William McDougal, who stated that “security officials and police officers did an outstanding job.”
Also proud was the Greek Cypriot press, with all the papers noting how the result was a national triumph.
Politis newspaper said Anorthosis had “done Famagusta proud” and that their victory was “something historic that shall forever live on in the memories of all Cypriots.”
Simerini splashed the victory as their top story under the headline “thank you” with a picture of Anorthosis striker Nicos Froussos celebrating his side’s second goal, while Phileleftheros said the result had put Anorthosis in a firm position to seal a place in the next round of the competition.
The reaction was mixed in the north, with some papers describing the result as catastrophic and others preferring to focus on the fact that no incidents were recorded in the high risk match.
Making reference to the Greek Cypriot ‘no’ in the April 2004 referendum, Kibris’ front page headline read, “Anorthosis’ ‘OXI’ to Trabzonspor”, adding that the Cypriot side had the upper hand in the return leg in Turkey. Also glum about the result was Kibrisli, going under the headline, “Disappointment at the 3-1 loss”. The article said: “The big words have come to nothing. After politics, the Greek Cypriots are now beating us at football.”
Others were more upbeat about the game, with Yeni D?zen saying that “despite the mixture of Greek, Turkish and Cypriot flags there were no incidents at the stadium. In fact, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots were sitting side-by-side in some areas of the stadium.”
Editorial, page 13
