Fener planning to ruin Kayserispor’s big night
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Hürriyet Daily News
OluÅŸturulma Tarihi: Mart 07, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - This weekend's highlight will be Fenerbahçe-Kayseri game. Not only because Fener wants to avenge a humiliating 4-1 loss in two teams' first game, but because it will be the premiere for Kayseri's brand-new Kadir Has Stadium.
Fenerbahçe faces Kayserispor this Sunday, hoping to spoil the parade of the opposition’s debut game in its new stadium.Â
The Yellow Canaries’ visit to Kayseri may look like an ordinary trip for just another away game in the Turkcell Super League, but for the home team, it is another story: Sunday will stage the premiere night of the Kadir Has Stadium, Kayserispor’s new home.
With its all-seating capacity of 32,000, at a cost of 68 million liras, the Kadir Has Stadium is one of the most modern football grounds in the country, and is believed to be one of the main assets in Turkey’s bid for hosting a European Championship in the future.
But in the short term, Kayserispor will want to make a good start on its new ground.Â
After months of playing its games away from home, the team will want to make that return and this new beginning worthwhile.
Since the last time it played in Kayseri, the Central Anatolian side beat Istanbul Municipality 2-0, but since then it has had to play its games outside of the city due to work on the new ground and form has been poor.Â
Kayserispor managed only one from its last six games and will be looking forward to returning home.
"We are happy to return to our home ground after seven games," said coach Tolunay Kafkas. "We want to win three points from the first game on our new stadium."
Some might prefer an easier game for such a premiere, but Kafkas is not one of them.
No pressure
"Great coaches and great players should do their job under pressure," he said. "If you can do it, then you are a great coach or a great player. I am here because I can handle pressure."
Fenerbahçe’s recent form is apparently adding to the pressure of the game. After a string of dismal results, Fenerbahçe found form again to beat this season’s surprising Sivasspor twice in four days.
The Yellow Canaries defeated the league leader 4-2 in the Turkcell Super League game last Saturday, closing in on the top spots. Then Wednesday, the Istanbul side won the first leg of the Fortis Turkish Cup semifinal tie 3-1 to prove that it was back as a serious contender.
Kafkas is aware that Alex De Souza is a key player for Fener and plans to give him special treatment. "We will not develop special tactics for Fener, but will have some defending tactics just for Alex."
The tickets for the game were sold out by Thursday afternoon, but when the prices were first announced, it caused a stir among the fans. Initially, the prices ranged from 30 to 200 liras, with the visitor fans’ places were worth 70. Fenerbahçe fans’ released a statement from their Web site www.antu.com with the title asking, "Will you make us pay for the stadium?" The reactions paid off, and the prices were cut, in two ticket categories the prices were as low as 10 and 20 liras.Sunday’s game, which promises a lot of excitement, kicks off at 7 p.m.
The Yellow Canaries’ visit to Kayseri may look like an ordinary trip for just another away game in the Turkcell Super League, but for the home team, it is another story: Sunday will stage the premiere night of the Kadir Has Stadium, Kayserispor’s new home.
With its all-seating capacity of 32,000, at a cost of 68 million liras, the Kadir Has Stadium is one of the most modern football grounds in the country, and is believed to be one of the main assets in Turkey’s bid for hosting a European Championship in the future.
But in the short term, Kayserispor will want to make a good start on its new ground.Â
After months of playing its games away from home, the team will want to make that return and this new beginning worthwhile.
Since the last time it played in Kayseri, the Central Anatolian side beat Istanbul Municipality 2-0, but since then it has had to play its games outside of the city due to work on the new ground and form has been poor.Â
Kayserispor managed only one from its last six games and will be looking forward to returning home.
"We are happy to return to our home ground after seven games," said coach Tolunay Kafkas. "We want to win three points from the first game on our new stadium."
Some might prefer an easier game for such a premiere, but Kafkas is not one of them.
No pressure
"Great coaches and great players should do their job under pressure," he said. "If you can do it, then you are a great coach or a great player. I am here because I can handle pressure."
Fenerbahçe’s recent form is apparently adding to the pressure of the game. After a string of dismal results, Fenerbahçe found form again to beat this season’s surprising Sivasspor twice in four days.
The Yellow Canaries defeated the league leader 4-2 in the Turkcell Super League game last Saturday, closing in on the top spots. Then Wednesday, the Istanbul side won the first leg of the Fortis Turkish Cup semifinal tie 3-1 to prove that it was back as a serious contender.
Kafkas is aware that Alex De Souza is a key player for Fener and plans to give him special treatment. "We will not develop special tactics for Fener, but will have some defending tactics just for Alex."
The tickets for the game were sold out by Thursday afternoon, but when the prices were first announced, it caused a stir among the fans. Initially, the prices ranged from 30 to 200 liras, with the visitor fans’ places were worth 70. Fenerbahçe fans’ released a statement from their Web site www.antu.com with the title asking, "Will you make us pay for the stadium?" The reactions paid off, and the prices were cut, in two ticket categories the prices were as low as 10 and 20 liras.Sunday’s game, which promises a lot of excitement, kicks off at 7 p.m.