By: Haris Ioannides - Armida Publications
Yes people, it's absolutely true. APOEL has gone through to the next round and is now among the 8 top football (soccer to our American friends) clubs in Europe. The Champions League!When this team started down this long road a few months ago, nobody (and that is literal) expected us (you guessed it, devoted fan for over 30 years) to make a stand, let alone advance. Yet, this team's hard work, dedication and focus has brought them to the highest steps of what is considered the top soccer tournament in the world. Teams that have budgets higher than small countries have not gone through. Now we may have to face giants like Messi and Barcelona.
It's a shame you were not here last night after the game. The atmosphere in Nicosia was amazing. People were out in the streets. I happened to watch the game with some very close friends who though not fans of the team were are anxious and as supportive as I was. And there lays the beauty of sports. Sports, like literature, brings people together. They unite, they transcend borders and beliefs.
Kavafis said:
Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.
And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Ithacas mean.
Thank you APOEL, thank you all team members and especially Dionisis Chiotis for his brilliant penalty saves and thank you Ivan Jovanovic, the best coach a team can have. Thank you all for this amazing journey!
