Derby, big scores, wood (and) parents. A weekend full of unbearable heat in the world of Superleague academies.
In development football, there are many children who move between PAEs. They may not fit in one and seek their fortune in another. When they score against their old team, it’s always a special feeling. This happened several times over the weekend and even decided on some important games, such as the first one we watched
What did we see?
K19 Panathinaikos-AEK 1-1
AEK took the lead with their regular scorer, Tasos Kontorouha in the 15th minute, but the one who “signed” the match was Anastasis Klapsas, who equalized in the 55th minute for the “greens” in Koropi. A member of AEK’s academies for many years, Klapsas left in 2022 and took the risk at Panathinaikos, although in his position (winger) there are several children who are considered projects. Nevertheless, in the first match of his career as a starter at the U19 level, he proved to be pivotal, drawing the team of his former coach, Gennaios Karahalios.
Many individual mistakes of the home team, the image of AEK is mediocre, and the result in “Giorgos Kalafatis” is generally fair. Kamaros and Nalitzis returned after some time for Panathinaikos, Notas had a positive presence and was called up in the second half to fill the gap at left back when Diamantis was injured. Panathinaikos lined up an eleven made entirely of players from 2005 (plus goalkeeper Panagakos from 2004), while AEK again had a small average age with one player from 2007 ( Stavros Psyropoulos ) and five from 2006, among them the top scorer Andreas Hadjinikolaos.
The entire “square” of agents were present, although watching the match is particularly difficult in the middle field (without a stand) of the “green” facilities. Close to the “little ones” of PAO was also Yiannis Papadimitriou who watched the match together with the director of the academies Vangelis Samios and the head of scouting of PAE, Makis Livathinos.
The previous matchday, in the K17 premiere, OFI sent a message in all directions, when they took a 2-1 lead over AEK in the 89th minute, even if they eventually lost 2-3 due to circumstances. The day before yesterday (Saturday) at the stadium of Alimos, the message arrived, and… the recipient was Panionios, an excellent team – as we have mentioned many times – but succumbed to the Cretans of Theodoris Eleftheriadis. Amazing match from both sides, 15 and 16-year-olds who if they are careful can offer a lot, teams with a plan, proper development, worked systems, placements, and pace.
The “blue and red” led with their captain, Hectors Othonaios, but the guests managed to reverse with Patramani and Krasta. A 15-year-old (2008) stopper, Kostas Lagoudakis, who was called up to the U15 national team last year, the right-back Ninirakis, who came on as a substitute and had some impressive moments and assist on his team’s first goal, and captain Daya shone.
Very nice facility in Alimos and welcoming for spectators and children. The match was watched by the federal K17 Angelos Hatzopoulos together with Grigoris Georgatos, coordinator of “small” national teams. It was a match in which Nikos Spyropoulos, Panioni’s former international ace, made his first appearance in his new role. Just 24 hours earlier, it was announced that he would be the new general captain of the U15 and U17 divisions of the “Blue Reds”.
It is worth noting that Panionia’s home matches are broadcast live by the Panionia Idea channel on Youtube
Wood (and) of the parents in Agrinio
Sad scenes with protagonists – as usual – disaffected parents, took place at Emileon, in the K17 match, Panaitolikos-Atromitos 2-1. Towards the end of the game, two players came to blows, a small scuffle ensued on the pitch, and one ejection for each team. This is all normal. But the tension was transferred to the stand, where the thermometer “hit red”, the rebuttals led to insults and the insults to… wood. As eyewitnesses tell us, for 3-4 minutes, situations prevailed… rock, with parents holding hands and falling crumbs, the cooler ones tried to separate them and the women and children left one by one to get away from his zone fire.
And all this because the Greek football parent considers that the football duels in which his footballer-son is involved, is… a family affair. All these parents should understand that the child on the field does not represent his family, but only himself and his team. Whether he succeeds, whether he fails, whether he hugs opponents, or… swears at them, it’s purely up to him, the coach, and the referee. “Dad” is not involved anywhere.
What did we learn?
* Behind closed doors, the match U19 Olympiacos-Kifisia 4-2 in Rentis, but “made an issue”! Both goals for the visitors were scored by Antonis Flokos (2004), a kid who played for five years at Olympiakos, from K13 to K17, coming from the “Niketis” academy. After his departure, he found a safe haven in Kifissia, with which he has already scored four goals in two matches this year! Exactly, that is, what Giorgos Charalamboglou (also 2004) of Olympiakos has, who was the MVP of the match with two goals, one assist, and a beam. “Boglu” has scored in all three matches played by title-holder Olympiacos this year. “Little” (2007) Christos Darviras also made a “football” in the goals at the U19 level, who closed the score.
* However, the top scorer after three matches in the Superleague K19 is Angelos Papadopoulos of Astera Tripoli, who reached five goals with the hat-trick he achieved in the 3-3 away draw with Volos, a game-advertisement. We mentioned this particular footballer at the premiere of this year’s championship. He comes from PAS Florina and is in his 4th season in Tripoli, which believed in him and promoted him. Just 1.5 years ago he signed a professional contract.
* PAOK suffered its first defeat by an “own” kid, Giorgos Ganopoulos who was the scorer in the 1-0 victory of PAS Ioannina. The short left-footed winger belonged to the “Biceps of the North”, and was crowned U17 champion in 2022, but left last year for OFI, while this year he belongs to PAS. It was the third consecutive year in which PAOK’s U19 experienced defeat in Ioannina. On the positive side for the Thessalonians, the return of Brigadier Philon after 7.5 months and after an operation on the cruciate.
* The corresponding “calvary” now begins for Panos Chantilas of Atromitos. The international forward also suffered a cruciate ligament tear, will undergo surgery, and will miss this season. We wish him a speedy recovery. Spyros Ambartzidis dedicated the goal to him in the match against OFI in Crete. It was the first goal for the Peristeri team this season, but the downhill continues after the Cretans won 2-1 with an upset, despite struggling with several absences.
* Match-thriller in the village of Mesimeri, with Ari winning 2-1 in the 90+5 minutes of Panaitolikos and achieving its first victory in the championship. Almyras scored the winning goal with a penalty kick won by stopper Yiannis Hatzopoulos, who was acquired this year from Levadiakos. “Cleaned up” for the “yellows” was a very good bunch of those born in 2005, with Almyra, Crania, Stavropoulos, Karipidis, and Kaltsa. The Mesimerio Municipal Stadium is very nice, and large, with natural grass. Nothing to do with the “Karabourniotis” that plagued the hosts and guests.
* Things are not going well in Panathinaikos K17. A 0-0 draw in Larissa and now the qualification is not in the hands of Tolis Papavasileiou’s team but of AEL and Volos. The coach supports some projects with vigor, but for now, he is not justified in his choices. It’s still the beginning and he has this potential, but at some point, his team will have to “roll”.
We will deal thoroughly with the first phase of the U17 championship next week when things will have cleared up to a very large extent.
The heat is a major problem
On the weekend of September 23/24, the heat was unbearable. The games of the development championships were held under tragic climatic conditions. In Koropi, the scorer of Panathinaikos, Klapsas, felt strong discomfort and was replaced, in the match of K17 AEK-Ionikos 2-0, Andriotis of the home team fainted from the heat and left the field. Even the testimonies from Agrinio (for the episodes we referred to) speak of an unprecedented heat that intensified the irritation of the people. 32-33 degrees on the grass becomes 40 and a cooling brake is not enough to protect the players, not even in the least. The children are suffering and a solution must be found at least for this particular period of the year, since every September the same phenomenon is recorded. Let the games be held in the evening, if necessary, even after 9 when all the fields are empty. A good mood from everyone is needed and solutions will be found.
