CYPRIOT U.E.F.A. Cup hopefuls Anorthosis Famagusta were yesterday pitted against Premier League side Tottenham Hotspurs in the first round of the UEFA Cup.
It is only the third meeting between an English and a Cypriot club in an official European competition, with all ties ending in resounding aggregate victories for the English clubs.
Temur Ketsbaia’s side – who knocked out FYR Macedonian side FK Vardar and Romanian outfits 1907 Cluj in the two previous qualifying rounds – will be playing an English side for the first time in their history with their only previous British encounter being against the Rangers in 1994 and 2005.
“The only good thing that we can say is that we will be going to England,” chuckled Ketsbaia – a veteran of the Premier League himself following his days at Newcastle United.
“You can’t really say that the draw was good for us because we got the hardest team in the pot. It’s a bittersweet draw but it will be a great experience to play against a Premier League side at such a magnificent stadium as is White Hart Lane.
“Our chances are obviously minimal because they are such a strong team but we have nothing to lose. We will give it our all and hope for the best. In football, it is not always the favourites that advance.”
Anorthosis are sure to reap in royalties from the television rights especially if they manage to get a good result in the first game at White Hart Lane on September 20.
The second leg will be played at the 10,000 seater Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca on October 4.
Ketsbaia is not the only former Premier League player at the club with ex-Southampton front-man Marian Pahaars expected to bounce back from his small injury to line-up in the two crucial encounters.
Martin Jol’s Tottenham, themselves, need little introduction – a side with a rich history and a team that had aimed at targeting a top four finish in this season’s English Premier League.
They also boast a wealthy squad with players such as Bulgarian star Dmitar Berbatov, England goalkeeper Paul Robinson and Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane but are not without problems.
A bumpy start to their new season has already stirred media reports suggesting that Jol could be out of the job should his side not pick up form in their next few matches.
It will be the third time in the history of European competitions that a Cypriot side will face off with a team from England.
In 1992, Apollon Limassol were paired with Liverpool in the UEFA Cup Winners Cup.
The first game at Anfield was a formality as Ian Rush hit four goals to give Liverpool a more than healthy 6-1 lead. Apollon’s legendary playmaker Milenko Spoljaric had given his side consolation goal from the penalty spot.
The second game in Limassol finished with Liverpool winning 2-1 with Spoljaric again on target for the Limassol side.
The only other meeting came two years later when Tottenham’s bitter rivals Arsenal were drawn with Omonia in the same competition.
Omonia lost the first game 3-1 at the Makarios Athletic Centre in Nicosia with Costas Malekkos scoring a brace for the hosts. The second game at Highbury finished 3-0 to give Arsenal an overall 6-1 aggregate win.
