Thoughts of Kypros Kyprianou, one of the nearly boys (Spurs schoolboy) and KOPA player (Omonia, AEL, Salamina and captain of KOPA representative team). Previous Chairman Omonia Youth FC.

They just don’t have the mental strength was a common reason given by coaches for the lack of Cypriots breaking into the higher echelons of football in the UK. You will hear many stories from middle aged Cypriots in restaurants and bars claiming they should have gone further in the game. Not just the likes of George Georgiou, the current double cup winning Salamina manager who played for Fulham first team 1991/1992, or George Costa, an immense talent and a few others who at some point were on the senior books of professional clubs. There are many more who for one reason or another fell at the final or penultimate hurdle. The feeling has always been that talent alone, of which there was plenty, was not enough.

George Georgiou New Salamis manager and former Fulham first team player

We now hope that the next generation of Cypriots in the UK can go a step further. The emergence of well organised youth football clubs in the UK with a ‘Cypriot base’ is in no doubt helping with this. It can be claimed that Omonia Youth FC is leading the way here having been founded in 1994 and is consequently celebrating its 20th year. Omonia Youth’s current Chairman is Elia Constanti, a Salamina and KOPA representative player. Many of the club’s coaches and parents played in the KOPA league giving a kind of ‘Friends Reunited’ feel of Cypriot football in the UK.

Omonia Youth FC is very much a community club and provides coaching and competitive football to youth of all ages and ability. This includes teams competing at the highest level resulting in five county cup wins over the years. The number of league title and cup wins is too many too mention, although not entirely the club’s primary objective.

As well as serving the community (primary objective), perhaps another major claim the club can make is that it has set the foundations for developing future generations of professionals from a Cypriot background in the UK.

Anthony Georgiou of Spurs

Ex-Omonia Youth FC players of Cypriot origin include;

Anthony Georgiou, a second year scholar at Tottenham Hotspur. Anthony has been a regular for the Spurs U18 this season has attracted interest of Cyprus FA for international call up.

Harry Kyprianou, a second year scholar at Watford FC. Harry (my son) made the bench as a 16 year old for Watford in the FA Cup last season.

Harry Kyprianou of Watford

Andreas Komidikis, a second year scholar at QPR who got his chance later on in his ‘career’ but has quickly impressed with his pace and skill. Bad luck struck Andreas who broke his leg last season and it is hoped that he comes back stronger. A reminder that the game can challenge you in many ways.

Andreas Komodikis of QPR here seen representing the KOPA Youth Representative team in Cyprus in their game versus Cyprus U16 National team

There are several other Omonia Youth FC alumni making their mark at the highest level at professional club academies; including but not limited to Hector Kyprianou (Spurs) and Zenon Stylianides (also Spurs), the son of the KOPA, Omonia and Salamina rock, Tony Stylianides.

Zenon Stylianides the main man in the Spurs shirt on the ball

There is no doubt more second and third generation Cypriots throughout the UK are trying to go all the way. I believe it is only a matter of time and hopefully in our time we will have one who has the choice to make of whether to represent England or Cyprus as an international. Our approach as a community is improving and from what I can see the attitude, mental strength as well as the talent is coming through. There are names that I will have missed, of nearly stories from my generation and the current generation. The former can continue to make their noise with me at the bar, the others I hope to see you on a Saturday night not at a bar but on Match of the Day or the Football League show!