CYPRIOT GOLDEN CODGERS 13-ENGL.LANG.and FRIENDS 12

There is something poetic in watching 6 people (some of whom are fathers or husbands or marines-to-be [right Matthew?]) hanging on the fences of a football pitch desperately trying to avoid the flood bordering the field all around. Rain was pouring, but nothing could keep them away from the ball waiting for them at the center of the field...and there they were, the Codgers at their finest: another match...another victory! The surface was slippery and the adversaries hostile and ready for the battle; and a battle indeed was, but with our heroes always in control, although the team of the terrible twins Ersoy and Ersan managed to come from behind and fill a two-goals-gap for four times. But Ravi was again unstoppable: 5 goals, 2 assists and his return ticket to the US canceled (too good to be given back to San Jose' Earthquakes) always on the move and on his toes like a young Cassius Clay; Amin was a machine made for football, starting as full-back but ending as relentless adjunct forward: 4 goals (two of them with killer shots from distance) for the iron man from Iran; Will again the indestructible midfielder with license to steal balls as thieves could smoothly pickpocket wallets: his legs are swirling like windmill's arms, a real nightmare for any opposition; Matthew was solid as a rock in defense and cool as a cucumber in front of the goal when in one of its rare Custer's cavalry runs he asked for a return pass from Ravi and killed the goalkeeper with a stunning flick of his left foot: first goal for the Codgers and hurrah for the charismatic archaeologist from Iowa; Luca added to Codgers' glory 3 goals, one of which the result of a terrific volley from 25 meters that lobbied the astonished keeper; eventually, the youngest of the Codgers, Can, guaranteed calm and tranquility in goal by saving his net at least twice with remarkable interventions combining pure bravery with instinct.

So the Codgers did it again and cannot wait for the re-match scheduled for next Friday at 17 o'clock: let's hope for a better weather and a little bit of supporters: the Codgers are, indeed, a true joy to behold!

The Blogger is also a reporter and an historian...and a gentleman and an objective fan of good football "in its sun and shadow"; so, since we have just received the first complain in the history of Codgers, it is my intention to rectify parts of the previous posts. Indeed, Amin requested public recognition for his efforts in the first match: 3 goals scored, although all during the first half of the game (i.e. before being sold to the opposition due to an unforeseen injury of one of the adversaries).
Amin had also he capability of amazing the female (and portion of the male....) part of the supporting crowd. We must admit that his pace and stamina really impressed the impartial observers and guaranteed to him a place in all next Codgers' games.
Speaking of which, the match scheduled for today, has been postponed to tomorrow (Friday 26 February at 17 at Sakarya football pitch). The Codgers will be without Michael and Erdal but can count on the presence of Matthew and Will(who miraculously recovered from his injury)and Can as a goalkeeper. Things being so he starting lineup for the Codgers will be: Can, Amin, Matthew, Will, Ravi, Luca. The opposition ("English Language and Literature and Friends") will count players of the caliber of Fatih and the terrible twins Ersen and Ersoy.

Good football to everybody and see you tomorrow at 17 at Sakarya or later on this blog for the match commentary!!

CYPRIOT GOLDEN CODGERS 18-CAN’S SEVEN 17

Amazing performance of the Codgers who stunned the youngster and fitter Can’s eleven, winning what will be known from now on as “the battle of Sakarya” by one goal. Remarkably, the lethal touch was mainly shown by the new kid in town, Ravi (Visiting Professor from University of Connecticut, USA), who scored 9 goals. Also, apart from the usual solid performance of Matthew (better than Lalas in defence, but still missing his first goal with the Codgers) and Will (totally restless and a real everywhere man), the reporter should highlight the super comeback of Michael (whose Irish shirt was a joy to behold): what a player, rusty but such a fighter who could be also as cool as a cucumber. A mention of honour for Erdal- who became a real nightmare for the adversaries when he literally shut down Codgers' goal, miraculously diverting three shots fired from close distance- and Ahmet (solid as ever and with the female crowd always chanting his name…).Eventually, a brief note for Luca, scoring six goals and providing an amazing assist for Ravi.

Next match of the Codgers is scheduled for next Friday 26 February at 17 o’clock in Sakarya against a team of ELH graduate and undergraduate students.

"We lost,, we won... either way we had fun" [E.Galeano]

Friday 19.02.2010 at 17.00 o'clock, at Sakarya Football pitch close to the wonderful old city of Famagusta (Northern Cyprus), there has been the first match of the Cypriot Golden Codgers, the local spin-off of the glorious Birmingham Golden Codgers [http://goldencodgers.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/hello-world/#comment-2].

The Codgers are a selection of some of the best instructors and MA students of the Departments of History, Archeology, and English Language and Literature of the Eastern Mediterranean University of Famagusta (T.R.N.C.)

The Team:
Ravi Shankar (U.S.A.-India), Michael Walsh (Northern Ireland), Erdal Barkay (Cyprus), Ahmet Usta (Turkey), Luca Zavagno (Italy), Matthew Harpster (U.S.A), Amin Momeni (Iran) and William Spates(U.S.A.)