There are few clubs, if any, in football that can boast such a massive turnaround in 2 weeks. Decimated by the vast departure of players led by the exit of their manager a week before a transfer deadline and no funding Omonia London FC was in a perilous state.
Tragic for a founder member of KOPA in 1975. Fortunately for Omonia London many have loved and been touched by the club over the years. A group of ex-players and Omonia people felt that it wasn’t quite time for the sun to set on this giant of Cypriot football and a new committee was formed. Ex-KOPA players Chris Andreou and Petro Petrou also stepped up to take charge of the team.
Sunday Omonia London proudly fulfilled their fixture v Arachne with a team comprising of many late signings as well as a handful of players from the previous squad who remained to serve the club when it may have been easier for them to also slope away. Omonia got off to a romantic start with an early goal but were hit with a cruel late winner for Arachne; winners by 3-2. The winner ironically scored by an ex-Omonia Youth FC player but perhaps this is something that will be common given the vast number of ex-Omonia Youth FC players in the KOPA league.
Omonia London had eight ex-Omonia Youth players in their squad today. Arachne had at least three. The game was played with good spirit, excellently refereed by James Keane and his assistants. It is likely that Omonia London will strengthen over time and the current committee are keen to build the club on firm foundations and principles.
Success on the pitch may follow but for them today felt like their first victory. Pitch side saw many turn out; ex-players, senior committee members from the past, a plethora of Omonia Youth FC players, wives, mums and nieces to support their friends and family. The new Omonia London is very much going to be at the heart of the community and increase the interest in KOPA.
Tony Philippou, Chairman said ‘I’d like to thank everyone that rallied around to keep Omonia London going. Its end was not something that I or some of my closest friends and family would allow to happen. It is too big a part of our community and KOPA for that to have happened.
In no time we have put a committee, management and squad together and even had to deal with matters like organising training facilities and a kit. Today made it worthwhile and I’m looking forward to spending time with my new family.
To players new and old, we are all grateful for your commitment to Omonia London. The new committee’s aim is to lay the foundations so that Omonia London is never put in the position that it found itself in again’.
