THE GREEK WHO HAD BEEN APLAUDED BY TURKISH FANS

THE GREEK WHO HAD BEEN APLAUDED BY TURKISH FANS
By Niko Stelgia
Magazine “K” 14-8-2010

IMPORTANT STATEMENT: -THE TRANSLANTION IS BASED ON GOOGLE TRANSLATE. PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH POSSIBLE INACCURACIES. THANK YOU-

In early 1925 the former Constantinople, capital of a great empire, the city of cities, gave battle to adjust to the new times. A few months ago, in mid-1924 the new republican government had moved to abolish the institution of the caliph. The new republic of Turkey have made decisive steps to consolidate its sovereignty of the lands of Asia Minor and the East. During this time Istanbul said goodbye to the imperial glory. And in a poor district of Istanbul, came into the world a Greek children. Father of the baby was a Greek fisherman who is defying the social norms fervently falling in love with a Turkish woman. This love at first sight gave birth to ten children. One of these was Lefteris, who was born in 1925.

In the decade 30, the bachelor Lefteris grew and matured in Istanbul along with his favorite ball. Football was his favorite sport. The society observed with admiration the young talent.

Based on the great love of football at a very young age, the son of Greek and the Turkish fisherman, began to play in top clubs in Istanbul. The first important milestone was the Taksimspor. Then came the transfer to the famous group of the East, Diyarbekirspor. In 1947 came the big moment for Lefteris and Turkish football fans. A former Imperial Football Club, the pride of football in Asia Minor, Fenerbahce opened the gates and welcomed in the Greek Lefteris football team. This was followed by 615 glorious games. With 423 goals Lefteris disrupted for 17 years the stands of Fener and entire Turkey. For years the flags of Fener and Turkish flags waving in the stadium to welcome the great Greek football talent in Istanbul ...

What a talent! The Turks called it "the teacher of football." Hymns were written for the number 10. The successful and busy career goals in Fener followed with 46 appearances and 22 goals in the national team of Turkey. To the great disappointment of the Greek fans, one of them found the networks of the Greek national team. It is said that the Lefter tricked the players shouting "let the ball to me." The Greeks fooled. And Lefteris was the first and only ethnic Greek Turkish footballer who wowed the national networks in Greece ...

The legendary course and magical career in Fener, followed a successful path to teams like Fiorentina, Nice and AEK. The offensive talent paved the way for a successful trainer in the state and Egaleo Johanesburg South Africa ...

Today 85old Lefteris lives in Pringipo (Buyukada) and looks anxiously to fight of Fener, against PAOK Thessaloniki. This is a game of fate. A legend in Istanbul looks the anguish of a young child, the appointment of two European teams reign ... The soul is painted in blue and yellow colors, the colors of the Turkish football legend of Fener. But at the same time, one of the great football talents of the 20th century greets Thessaloniki ... Our whishes for the upcoming match Fener with PAOK, are one: The winner must be the nostalgia for other very different times ... After all, the words chauvinism and fanaticism find the son of the Greek fisherman indifferent...