The KOPA football League teams are currently riding high in the National and London Cups. There is New Salamis in the last 16 of the All England FA Sunday Cup and in the last eight of the LFA Sunday Cup alongside Tripimeni.
In the LFA Sunday Trophy we have Anorthosis , Brotherhood, KLN and Omonia in the last eight so overall the KOPA football League is having a tremendous season.
First Division
New Salamis League leaders
New Salamis surely must now be favourites to win the League title they are still unbeaten and looking very strong, they are in the last 16 of the FA Sunday Cup and last eight of the LFA Sunday Cup. They are very formidable and play attractive soccer under their manager George Georgiou and their new coach Robbie Pattwell. I expect I can’t really mention any star players as they all stand out but I give 17 year old Harrison Georgiou a special mention as he is brilliant.
Verdict Champions
Omonia are comfortably second placed it shows what a tremendous job Dino Ippocratous and Tony Ponnou have done there. They have a great squad of players and can only get better. Adem Ali, Erbil and Stephanos are great additions and now all they have to do is be more consistent.
Verdict Runners Up
Anorthosis in third place are a surprise package, they have just been promoted from the second division and have been shocking the teams in the top division maybe it’s the Anorthosis drums motivating them. Their star strikers Vas, Alex Roussis and Danny Coolridge are still a force for them making them second highest goal scorers in the top division.
Verdict Third place
Brotherhood last year’s second division champions are really enjoying the top division and pulling off some good results, the addition of star striker Nikos Salapatas up front with Aaron Kennedy has given them more fire power.
Verdict Fourth place
Tripimeni are not the team they usually are this season but their manager Steve Cinotti has promised a massive improvement for the New Year. Their star striker Ahmet Rifat has missed several games through injury and his much needed firepower up front is badly missed.
Verdict fifth place
Livadia started the season badly but under the guidance of their manager Nick Demetriades they have had some good wins coming up to Christmas and I can see them upsetting some of the big teams in the new year. Star players for them are Elias Katsoloudi and Andreas Kyprianou.
Verdict sixth place
Apoel last years champions have had an indifferent season with their new manager Chris Zacharia but recently they have started picking up some points. Key players for them are Vincent Lwanga and Michael Spencer.
Verdict Seventh place
Aradippou on their day can beat anybody they have a good solid team with work ethics and play well together under their manager Marcel and all he needs to do now is to get them to play like this every week. I have been very impressed with their goal keeper Andreas Martides.
Verdict Eighth place.
Arachne who are experiencing their first season in the top division started off really well but have seriously faded away and will be looking in the New Year to recover their early season form. They have really good players but when they are a goal down they actually drop their heads and really need somebody to pick them up and give them confidence because on their day they can beat anybody and maybe we will see a new Arachne next year.
Verdict Ninth place
Olympia have really had an uphill battle from day one when they were left without a manager and several players left too and so basically they started from scratch and have done very well considering their circumstances and with new signings and the good players they already have hopefully they will be on the up.
Verdict Tenth place
First Division League Table
Second Division
Cetinkaya Cinar Second Division Leaders
Cetinkaya Cinar relegated from the first division last season I expect them to return at their first attempt. They are a very good and inspired team with a good manager in Ahmet Sade with tremendous players in Cem Cemal and Salih Karakis who is always banging in the goals.
Verdict Second Division Champions
Maronites are having a tremendous time this season they are going into the new year in second place and they will be fighting for the top spot right to the final minute. They are the side that can fight back from the brink of defeat and win the game. They always bank on the Barclay Brothers for goals and in midfield they now have new signing Joseph Franciskou who has given them stability.
Verdict Third place and promotion
KLN who are currently in third place are one of the most entertaining teams in the league they play very attractive football and have one of the best managers in the league in ex New Salamis (Cyprus and London) player Kenny Dyer who has transformed the team. They have good players in the Papacosta Brothers and Portuguese stars Luis and Ricardo.
Verdict Runners Up and promotion
Pantel have been a revelation under their manager Jack Markou and pulled off some good results but inconsistency has set in which needs to be addressed. Star players for Pantel are Yiannis Yianni and Marios Charalambides.
Verdict Fourth place
Asha are a funny team that always start the season well and then wither away they have a good manager in Mario Kyriakides and have inspiring youngsters so I am sure we are still to see them at their best. Greg Timotheou and Andreas Vazanias have been very influential at the club.
Verdict fifth place
Achna have surprisingly done well with their limited resources and have managed to pull off some shock wins. They have a star striker in Theoklis Charalambous he’s always banging in the goals.
Verdict sixth place
Komi Kebir what can we say alot was expected from them it seems they leave their best form for when they play the top teams. They are defensively sound and now need to improve their goal scoring rate.
Verdict Seventh place
Second Division League Table
Other Predictions
KOPA Challenge Cup
Winner
New Salamis
Division One Cup
Winner
Tripimeni
Michael Tzouvanni Division Two Cup
Winner
Cetinkaya Cinar