Cyprus-Forum.com

[ARMENIAN CYPRIOT]

Cyprus beat Scotlands u-17 team in qualification play 1-0. Georgios Efrem scored the winning goal for us in the 43 minute. Cyprus will face Hungary who beat Albania 5-1 today. One win in are next to matches and we will qualify for the 2nd round.

Good Luck to our lads.

[Sotos]

ESPN is showing these games. Some days ago while I was doing zapping I saw 1 minute from the Turkey VS China Do you know if any of the Cyprus games will be shown on ESPN?

[saravakos]

well done to Efrem and cyprus...is this the world u-17 championships??

[Main_Source]

either Cyprus youth is gettin good or things are still looking bleak for the Scottish national side.

I've heard alot of good things about Efrem. I just hope the Cypriot community dont overhype him because we finally have a Cypriot Arsenal player.

[Sotos]

a Cypriot Arsenal player.

This guy plays in Arsenal?

[Main_Source]

Programme - Young Guns - Giorgos Efrem

Giorgos Efrem
By Lambros Lambrou

A good start to life in the Academy for Giorgos Efrem turned into a dream debut for the Reserves last Monday night when the young Cypriot midfielder scored one, and his mazy run earned a penalty for a vital equaliser.

His performance attracted rave reviews from Reserves Manager Neil Banfield, made more impressive by the fact that the youngster played the whole 90 minutes in a tough encounter with Cardiff City Under-18s a little over 48 hours earlier. "I think that has been my proudest footballing experience so far," declares the youngster.

"I think it was made more special by the fact that I didn’t expect to be starting the game. I knew that there was a chance of getting on to the bench and I was hopeful that I may get to play. The funny thing is," continues Giorgos, "Neil came up to me at lunch and said, ‘George, you’re playing in the Reserves,’ I replied, ‘I know, on the bench’. When Neil smiled and told me I was starting, I was in shock for a moment."

The youngster managed to keep from choking on his sandwich and showed no signs of nerves on the night: "I felt really good. We were told that Arsène Wenger was watching and of course I knew it was a good opportunity for me and the other members of the team to show Mr Wenger what we can do. The fact that we fell behind against Crystal Palace made us all more determined to get back into the game and thankfully I was in the right place to slide in to score from Nicklas Bendtner’s cross.

"That goal gave me a massive boost. I felt really confident and I expressed how I was feeling with the run into the box that won us the penalty." Giorgos is the penalty taker for the Cyprus Under-19s team, but the spot-kick was converted by Bendtner. "I suppose that was a way of a thank you for him setting me up with my goal," smiles Giorgos.



The Cypriot joined Arsenal as a schoolboy last year but had fate not lent its hand, the youngster could have been playing football in South London.

"Danny Bailey used to play football in Cyprus and has coaching schools in Cyprus quite regularly," Giorgos explains. "I was at one of the training sessions and Danny said I should come over to England and he would set up some trials for me. I was due for a trial in February last year with Charlton but Danny had arranged for me to go to Hale End for a trial session with Arsenal.

"At the end of the game Liam Brady came over and said that he wanted to sign me, and that was it. I was so happy, as were my parents who came with me."

Giorgos moved on his own to Walthamstow and attended Leytonstone School where he also took his GCSEs, achieving some good grades including an A*.

"My English was ok but I made friends with a couple of young Cypriot lads who went to the same school and they helped me get used to things. I missed Cyprus tremendously but they and their families helped me, as did playing and training for Arsenal in the schoolboys and Under-17s.

"I have now moved into digs in Barnet which makes getting to the training ground a lot easier and I feel that I am settling in well."

Giorgos’ father Andreas played football for Appollonas in Cyprus and also for the national side. His father’s influence has been immense: "We are both similar attacking players, playing on the right or in central midfield. I started playing quite young and I suppose I learnt a lot from my dad about good technique, diet, fitness and training, which I’m sure has given me this opportunity.

"I have a great chance to play for one of the best teams in the world and Arsenal are massive back home in Cyprus. The coaching and facilities are superb here and so all I need to do is try my best to make the most of it. I want to keep improving and learning, but I hope to get many more games in the Reserves and establish a regular place in the Under-18s where there is a lot of competition in the positions that I play. If I can contribute with more goals, I’ll be very happy," concludes Giorgos.

My hero...
Giorgos lists AC Milan and Brazil attacking midfielder Kaka as his role model, saying: "He's the most complete player," Giorgos says, adding: "He has everything, skill, pace, balance and the right attitude to succeed. I think that makes him the ultimate player."

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?arti ... os%20Efrem

Banfield: 'Efrem has done really well'


ARSENAL 2
CRYSTAL PALACE 2
Reserve League
Underhill
Monday, September 12
Kick-off: 7pm
Match Report




NEIL BANFIELD


on the performance...
"I was disappointed with the two goals we gave away. They were two even sides I thought. I thought we could have gone forward a little more with the possession we had in the first half and maybe had some more shots, made some more chances. In the second half I was disappointed with the goals we gave away but I'm pleased with the spirit and the two goals we scored, and then could have won it at the end. Overall, there were some good performances and I’m really pleased for Giorgos [Efrem] — he’s only 16, he’s just come in and he’s done really well."

on the two goals conceded...
"I think we switched off, maybe because they’re young, a lack of concentration and maybe not concentrating from the word go, which is a trait with young players, but they’ll learn from that and hopefully do it properly next time."

on Giorgis Efrem...
"It was his first start, he’s done well for Steve [Bould] in the youth team. With the Champions League we’ve had to give him a game and he’s done ever so well for us."

on the tactical switch...
"I thought we’d just change and push Ryan up front, put Stokes out on the left, just to try something a little different, maybe it came off, I don’t know but we seemed to respond to it and had something tactically different."

on Ryan Garry...
"He’s sustained a thigh strain but he’s only out for three or four days and should be back by the end of the week

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?arti ... ly%20well'