Get Real! wrote:Paphitis wrote:This part needs to be highlighted for GR's benefit:
So of course, Barcelona and Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea, Inter Milan and Fiorentina, were panting to see what the draw brings them. So, too, is Apoel Nicosia.
The Cypriot team is there on merit — more so than some of the English, Spanish, German, Italian clubs that are not even champions in their own lands. Apoel is a champion, 20 times over, on a divided island with a total population of less than 900,000.
How romantic... if only the author knew that half of APOEL players are foreigners!
Apoel has 14 Cypriot Players within its squad of 29, making the Cypriot Giant the biggest supporter of home grown talent on the island.
http://www.apoelfc.com.cy/nqcontent.cfm ... ic&lang=l1
I also believe that the NYT article was comparing Cyprus' success on the football pitch, to other football giants of Europe, whilst noting the obstacles such as the island being divided and the nation being so small with a population of some 900,000 compared to the other football nations of Europe. It is these obstacles which led them to say that Apoel (like Anothosis last year) have qualified on "merit" when compared to other big budget clubs from much larger nations of Europe...So this is something to be proud off...
