January
The KOPA league began with New Salamis unbeaten at the top of the First Division and Olympia topping the Second Division. Lowly
Maronites from the second division defeated top team Tripimeni in the KOPA Challenge Cup. Apoel led the league in Cyprus and Olympiakos in the Greece Super league. There was aan Arsenal Premier League debut for Nico Yennaris (photo right).
Marcos Baghdatis partnered Andy Murray for the first time in the doubles at the ATP world tour competition in Brisbane.
February
Panathinaikos lead the table in Greece even after a shock defeat at the hands of lowly Leviadiakos and Omonia lead the table in Cyprus. Marcos wins his first doubles tournament in Zagreb partnering Mikhail Youzhny.
March
KOPA announce that the KOPA Challenge Cup final sponsored by Buzz Sweets will be played for the first time at a League stadium in this case Barnet FC. Yiannakis Okkas Cyprus’s most capped player retires from International Football. Apoel (Below) stun Europe and become the first Cypriot team to make the last eight of any European competition when after knocking out Olympique Lyonaisse they went through to the UEFA Champions League quarter finals.
April
New Salamis are KOPA League Champions and Apoel are second division Champions. Olympia and Maronites are promoted to the first division.
May
Seventeen year old Harry Panayiotou makes his debut for Leicester City and scoring too. RIK TV of Cyprus filmed the KOPA Challenge Cup Final at Barnet FC between Rizokarpasso and Cetinkaya Cinar which ended 0-0 at full time and extra time and Rizokarpasso won on penalties.
AEL clinch their first Cyprus League title in forty four years.
Cyprus trounce Greece at Rugby 72-5. Tripimeni win the KOPA division one Cup beating Brotherhood 2-0 and Apoel defeated Pantel in the second divison cup final 5-2 after extra time.
June
KOPA League hold their annual dinner and dance at the Cypriot Community Centre, Wood Green with Nico Yennaris of Arsenal being a star guest. The event was filmed for Cyprus RIK TV.
The week later at the KOPA General Elections Chairman Lakis Chrysostomou and General Secretary Michael Yiakoumi were reelected.
July
London Cypriot Gary Karsa appointed head of football at Aston Villa. Marcos Baghdatis weds Karolina Sprem in a intimate wedding in Croatia. Tony Kleanthous and Barnet Fc decide to move from Underhill to the Hive for season 2013-14.
August
Olympics take London by storm and Pavlos Kontides secures Cyprus’ first ever Olympic medal when he won the silver medal in the Mens’ sailing laser event.
Cypriot Arsenal chief Ivan Gazidis for English FA roles.
Sad news for the KOPA League when founder member and player of Maronites FC Michael Tzouvanni died tragically in Phuket , Thailand.
World international football star Edgar Davids plays for KOPA league club Tripimeni v Komi Kebir .
September
Silver for Karolina Pelendritou in the London Paralympics in the 100 metre breaststroke.
Michael Thalasitis scores his first League goal for Stevenage FC . Tripimeni win the KOPA Costas Petrides 7 a side tournament.
Boxer Chris Evangelou suffers injustice in his first title fight bid when he lost on a poor refereeing decision versus Connor for the vacant Southern Area Light Welterweight title.
Cypriot Formula One hope Tio Ellinas stormed to victory in the final GP3 series.
October
Edgar Davids joins Barnet FC as player coach. Barnet Football Club were also proud to introduce Cypriot solicitors YVA as back of the shirt sponsor and official club partners.
November
A feast of Youth football in Cyprus when the KOPA Youth representative team(Photo below) visited Cyprus and played the Cyprus National Side and narrowly lost 2-1, AEL Youth who they drew 2-2 and New Salamis Youth who they defeated 4-0. A great achievement for our community to produce such good performances in Cyprus.
Cyprus and Turkey put aside their decades long conflict to focus on soccer when AEL played Turkish team Fenerbahce in the Europa League. First ever Cypriot selected for Full England squad when Turkish Cypriot Leon Osman of Everton played for England versus Sweden.
Cyprus Under 19 Youth team qualify for European Championship 2012/13.
December
Olympic medalist Pavlos Kontides switches on Christmas lights at Southampton University.
KOPA league finished the year with Apoel (Below) leading the first division and Cyprus Youth(KLN) the second division.In Cyprus Anorthosis are top with Apoel second. In Greece Olympiakos are first with PAOK second. In England Manchester United are leading the Premiership with Manchester City second.
Happy new year to you all
