The KOPA Annual General Meeting took place last Sunday at the Cypriot Community Centre in Wood Green. As well as all the teams attending they also had the privilege of the Honorary Chairmen of KOPA attending Hambis Prodromou and Paul Yiannakas , the former Vice Chair and treasurer Eugenios Stylianides, Kyriacos Georgiou former registration secretary and Costas Kaounides again Former member of KOPA management committee and a founder of Omonia FC in Cyprus. Eugenios gave a quick thank you to the clubs for the donation and attendance at his late wifes funeral and also spoke about the good work of KOPA. The AGM minutes from last year was then read by the KOPA General Secretary Michael Yiakoumi. Lakis Chrysotomou the Chairman of KOPA then gave a report of last season. Congratulating the KOPA management committee one by one for the work they had done over the season. He also thanked the League sponsors YVA solicitors and the Cup sponsors TIUTA PLC for their support. He spoke about the successes of all the teams, plus that New Salamis won the LFA Sunday Cup . Lakis also congratulated the KOPA representative team who won the LFA Interleague Cup a special thanks to the players and to Tom Loizou the manager and Chris Kalli the assistant manager and is confident of more progress in KOPA next season .
It was then the turn of the General Secretary Michael Yiakoumi to make a report on last season , it was his first year and said he thoroughly enjoyed it. He mentioned that the League had increased their revenue and had created closer ties with Cyprus through RIK TV and the Cyprus Sports Association. He also mentioned they were forming representative teams for U16’s and U18’s and Kypros Kyprianou, Tony Antoniou and Marios Michael have come on board the three’s experience with Youth will enhance this project. Michael conclude by saying the KOPA League has over the years given football to several thousand boys and will continue doing so. Every Cypriot has had a connection with KOPA league over these 35 glorious years.
The new management committee is as follows Chairman, Lakis Chrysostomou, General Secretary, Michael Yiakoumi, Michalakis Michael, Soteris Chaklides, Andy Neofitou, Kokos Georgiou, Leon Georgiou, Suzanne Huseyin, Nick Demetriades, Michael Pieri, Nicholas Georgiou and Andreas Aristotelous.
The new faces are Nick Demetriades, Michael Pieri, Nick Georgiou and Andreas Aristotelous.
One of the Honorary Chairmen Paul Yiannakas then spoke about the League that it is a foundation of the community and was very upset that he had heard whispers of Clubs trying to form a new League and said that these clubs should not even contemplate doing so. He finished by wishing the KOPA League further success and continue giving sport to our youngsters.
The KOPA other Honorary Chairman Hambis Prodromou then spoke saying work of the KOPA management committee should have room to improve. That KOPA should come closer to Youth Football via the U9’s and upwards. He concluded by congratulating the KOPA committee and Clubs and to keep up the good work.
The General meeting was followed by a buffet served by the Cypriot Community Centre.
Brief profiles of the new committee
Lakis Chrysostomou Chairman of KOPA has served the League as a General secretary as well as Chairman. He is currently the Director of the Citizens Advice Bureau at Haringay Council.
Michael Yiakoumi , General secretary of KOPA. He is also a founder member of the League. He is the compiler of the book Greek Cypriots Worldwide and co publisher of the Greek Rich List. Also a sports columnist for the Parikiaki newspaper.
Michalis Michael played for New Salamis and the Cyprus National Team and AEKON in the UK he is the treasurer and former Chairman of New Salamis UK and is a partner in the family fish and chip shop business.
Soteris Chaklides is an accountant and served as treasurer of the League. He was the chairman of Ermis football Club
Andy Neophytou is the Manager of AEL FC was a player in Cyprus with AEL. In the UK he played for Venus, Eleftheria and AEL. Andy has a dry cleaning business.
Leon Georgiou is a website designer and was secretary and player for Spartans FC eight years.
Suzanne Huseyin has a fish and chips business and has vast experience in football and has been secretary of Cetinkaya Cinar for several years.
Kokos Georgiou is a food distributor played for Aetos and Dynamo and was chairman of Aris FC and is involved in Youth football.
Nicholas Georgiou is a Chartered Accountant who studied History at Reading University, Nicholas has been connected with Arachne Football Club in recent years.
Nick Demetriades is player and secretary of Maronites FC and Accounts manager at Venus PLC
Andreas Aristotelous is an electrician. He is the former secretary of Apoel FC and has been involved with several other KOPA clubs over the years.
Michael Pieri is a secondary school teacher teaching Maths and Economics. He is also an Eleftheria newspaper sports columnist and a former manager of Omonia and Brotherhood.
