Renewed teams clash for the Fortis Cup
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Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Ocak 07, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Busy trying to land new players, Fenerbahçe returns to football with a Fortis Cup group stage clash tonight. Spanish coach Luis Aragones' Yellow Canaries welcome Bursaspor, who will play its first game with under the helm of coach Ertuğrul Sağlam
Fenerbahçe looks set to start the new year with a win when it takes on Bursaspor in the Fortis Turkish Cup clash, an encounter between two teams boasting some fresh faces.
Despite its recent climbing form of 10 undefeated league games, Fenerbahçe’s league performance this season was far from convincing. The club was thought to be hyperactive during the January transfer window to try and sort things out by splurging on the purchase of a couple of new players. Recent reports have proved the presumption true.
The Istanbul club declared signings of two players from struggling Ankaragücü yesterday.
Ankaragücü captain and Turkish international, Gökhan Emreciksin, and young midfielder Abdülkadir Kayalı were both signed in four-and-a-half-year deals by Fenerbahçe.
The 25-year-old Ankaragücü captain Gökhan Emreciksin, who can play on the wing or in an attacking midfield position, is one of the rising players of the year and found a place in Fatih Terim’s Turkish national football team recently. Known for his killer long shots as well as his assists, Emreciksin was the top scorer of his team with four goals.
Emreciksin was Fenerbahçe’s main target, so it was somewhat of a surprise to see a second young player added to the Istanbul team’s basket. Captaining the Turkish U18 national team, Kayalı is seen as a player of great potential and was briefly invited to a couple of training sessions at English club Manchester City. Fener won the race for the young midfielder, but it may be difficult for the youngster to find a place in an over-crowded Fenerbahçe midfield. However, he may be a surprising star in the remainder of the season if his new teammates Claudio Maldonado, Josico and Emre Belözoğlu keep failing to impress.
Changing waves also hit Bursaspor during the winter break. Former Beşiktaş coach Ertuğrul Sağlam was appointed as the new Crocs manager following the resignation of Güvenç Kurtar.
Sağlam resigned from Beşiktaş in the seventh week of the season after reports Chairman Yıldırım Demirören was trying to find a replacement for him. Sağlam will try to install his hardworking and tough defense mentality in Bursaspor, which has worked with Samet Aybaba and Kurtar this season.
Aybaba left Bursa to coach Gençlerbirliği and Kurtar left the team due to problems with fans.
Topping Group C of the Cup, Bursa will win a berth in the quarterfinal if it manages to remain unbeaten after tonight’s game at Fenerbahçe.
Despite its recent climbing form of 10 undefeated league games, Fenerbahçe’s league performance this season was far from convincing. The club was thought to be hyperactive during the January transfer window to try and sort things out by splurging on the purchase of a couple of new players. Recent reports have proved the presumption true.
The Istanbul club declared signings of two players from struggling Ankaragücü yesterday.
Ankaragücü captain and Turkish international, Gökhan Emreciksin, and young midfielder Abdülkadir Kayalı were both signed in four-and-a-half-year deals by Fenerbahçe.
The 25-year-old Ankaragücü captain Gökhan Emreciksin, who can play on the wing or in an attacking midfield position, is one of the rising players of the year and found a place in Fatih Terim’s Turkish national football team recently. Known for his killer long shots as well as his assists, Emreciksin was the top scorer of his team with four goals.
Emreciksin was Fenerbahçe’s main target, so it was somewhat of a surprise to see a second young player added to the Istanbul team’s basket. Captaining the Turkish U18 national team, Kayalı is seen as a player of great potential and was briefly invited to a couple of training sessions at English club Manchester City. Fener won the race for the young midfielder, but it may be difficult for the youngster to find a place in an over-crowded Fenerbahçe midfield. However, he may be a surprising star in the remainder of the season if his new teammates Claudio Maldonado, Josico and Emre Belözoğlu keep failing to impress.
Changing waves also hit Bursaspor during the winter break. Former Beşiktaş coach Ertuğrul Sağlam was appointed as the new Crocs manager following the resignation of Güvenç Kurtar.
Sağlam resigned from Beşiktaş in the seventh week of the season after reports Chairman Yıldırım Demirören was trying to find a replacement for him. Sağlam will try to install his hardworking and tough defense mentality in Bursaspor, which has worked with Samet Aybaba and Kurtar this season.
Aybaba left Bursa to coach Gençlerbirliği and Kurtar left the team due to problems with fans.
Topping Group C of the Cup, Bursa will win a berth in the quarterfinal if it manages to remain unbeaten after tonight’s game at Fenerbahçe.