* The victory (2-1) against Panionios is the best shot of life Black Storm could possibly receive. One goal by Bahramis and Frantzeskos proved to be enough against the Athenian team. Kalamata played well and at times reminded us of a real storm, as Soares missed a great number of opportunities to finish the game earlier. Unfortunately, the negative face made its appearance once more. Kalamata gave space to Panionios and could have gotten punished for it (like in the games against Athinaikos and Panahaiki). Fate decided that Panionios would score only once and Mavri Thyella would get the three points of victory.

* It is worth mentioning that Kalamata played without its fans due to some "troublemakers" who caused "problems" after the game against Panahaiki. In a game where Kalamata has a chance to win, fans are a major factor. However, judging from the disappointing results in most of our games, I do not believe that a great number of fans would have been present or made any difference at all. I have to mention that there were about 70-80 fans gathered on the rooftops of surrounding homes and apartment buildings. They tried, from a distance, to encourage our players and help them win, so I assume they were in Heaven when the referee signaled the end of the game.

* There is much more work to be done, especially after the unexpected victory by O.F.I. in New Philadelphia, against A.E.K. (1-2). That felt almost like a death sentence for our team, which struggles to participate in the relegation games. The next four games will be critical for us, as we hope that we can pull enough points and the other "candidates" for A' Division will have difficulties winning. It is certainly sad to see Mavri Thyella fighting so hard and not being rewarded for its efforts (considering its current position). As has been posted in the past, more than just a few times, we got where we are because of our own mistakes and nothing else. Yes, referees don't like Kalamata and they have done their best to mess things up for us, but what about those games when referees were not an issue? Coach and management, along with the players (to a smaller degree), are responsible for what happened this year. We could have easily avoided all the agony we are going through right now had we been just a little more careful. Still, the hope is alive and we should stay by the side of the team in their fight for survival and dignity.

* One of the things that upset me, just a few days before the game against Panionios, was Kostas Frantzeskos' warning that he will take Kalamata to the courts if they do not pay him the 20 million drachmas they owe (???) him. I don't really know whether that money is part of his salary or bonuses, and I would expect the management to honor their agreements with the players. However, I have to say that Frantzeskos could have handled this issue much better. I have three points to emphasize: a) during this period the team needs peace and unity, b) Frantzeskos hasn't made any significant contributions throughout the season, playing more for himself and less for the team, and c) he was the one who said, early in the season, that he and the rest of the players would not expect any bonuses if the team falls to the A' Division... but they all received bonuses for their few good performances. Let that become a lesson to the management, as Frantzeskos will be the first to jump off the sinking ship. Being the team captain he should be the perfect example for the rest. His good performance against Panionios was certainly a positive thing and was a factor for winning, but we expected more from him throughout the whole season. I hope to be proven wrong, but Frantzeskos will demand to leave Kalamata before even the season ends.

* The new forum has been "stabilized", with more and more messages being posted almost on a daily basis. Unfortunately, there are several people who haven't posted for quite some time and that doesn't help us in our continuous efforts to bring more Kalamata fans together. If you happen to visit this page, but haven't yet posted a message to the forum, I encourage you to do so. The link is available at the left sidebar, along with Kalamata F.C.'s site. Come on in and join our conversation. If some of you have difficulties with the Greek language, fear not. Just post some greeting and information about you and we'll respond in English. So far, we haven't seen the need for a bi-lingual forum, but if our membership grows big we'll may have to consider doing so. For the moment we need your moral support.

04/11/2001

* Our team is going from bad to worse... I am not talking about our position, since we are already at the very bottom of the list, but the mentality of the coach and the management. As if they didn't mess enough with our minds throughout this season, now they are trying to undermine our intelligence as well. They had all these easy games (e.g. Athinaikos, Panahaiki, Giannena) to win and now they are finally trying to concentrate on winning each and every remaining game, in order to stay in the National League. Gentlemen, we are sick and tired of your kidding around. We had enough of your jokes and can't take it any more. Keep your mouths shut, once and for all, for you have failed to keep your promises to the fans who supported you from the beginning. Be responsible, do your best, commit suicide, but whatever you do... please SHUT UP. Do not feed us with false hopes and expectations. If you manage to perform a miracle and lead the team forward, it will all be fine, but don't try to full us once more. It will take a very long time to see the fans returning to the stands. In fact, it may never happen while you, gentlemen, manage the team.

* Since we couldn't manage to stay closer to the safety zone when we had the chances, a new plan to reduce the number of teams moving to the A' Division gave us hope. This is the result of the ongoing fight between Floridis and Mitropoulos (the scum of the earth). Floridis is trying to gain the trust of as many teams as possible, therefore he will push for this new plan. If implemented, the new law will provide relief to several teams which happen to be close to the safety zone, but haven't made it quite yet. Kalamata's management believes that the proposed law might give us the incentives to play well, collect enough points and get out of the last two positions. Dream on, gentlemen. If you can't go passing Athinaikos, you don't deserve any relief. We had more than a few chances and you guys blew it... Stop praying for new laws in order to save your asses. Be responsible and accept the consequences, like real men.

* You might have thought that I have forgotten about the coach and the players. Not really. Whatever I said about the management applies to the coach as well. Georgopoulos has messed up more than anyone else. Lack of strength, lack of experience, lack of vision, and many other lacking areas, have made him one of the most unsuccessful coaches Kalamata ever had. I have nothing personal against Georgopoulos, as I am sure he is a nice person and tries to be friend with the players. This is, however, his big mistake. He spent too much time experimenting with the team, and when the players messed up, Mr. Georgopoulos was supportive and too forgiving. A tough coach would have gotten something out of being strict, but Georgopoulos didn't have the balls to stand up and raise his voice.
As far as our players are concerned, I said it many times in the past, they have been sloppy and gutless. When they had a game under control, they would commit suicide by giving the opponent all the necessary ground to create scoring opportunities. What pisses me off the most is the promise they made to keep the team in the National League. Via their captain's (Kostas Frantzeskos') mouth, they promised not to accept any bonuses until the season ends and the team continues to be in the National League. Throughout the year we had a few instances (the most recent one was a week ago) when our players complained that they had not received the promised bonuses. Helloooooo! How about us, the fans, ask you to fulfill your end of the deal and keep the team where it truly belongs? How about the fans showing you how they really feel about the pathetic mentality of yours. Dear players, you can go screw yourselves because we don't need you in order to be at the bottom of the list... we don't have to pay anyone for this kind of (under)achievement. We supported you a lot and expected the decency of getting a few victories in return. We came to support you in your games against PAS Giannena, Paniliakos, Athinaikos and Panahaiki... games that you should have won, even if you had to spill your blood. You betrayed us... at least most of you. You betrayed the love and support of those people who have seen Kalamata struggling in the Amateur League and making it all the way to the salons of the former A' Division. You betrayed the trust everyone showed you, but most of all, you broke the promise you made early in this year. Many of you deserve to play in divisions below National League, and so will happen. It is a shame, however, for the few players who kept their end of the bargain and did their best, to go through this torture. Shame on you, and shame on us for letting this happen.

04/09/2001

* Yesterday's game against PAS Giannena put an end to our nightmare that lasted throughout the entire season 2000-2001. Our local team lost 2-0, at Giannena, in a fair and square game. While the score was 1-0 several opportunities were presented to tie the game and renew our hopes, but our players didn't seem to have the strength and/or the energy to make it happen. Now we are doomed, with no realistic expectations, as we have remained at the bottom of the list, with OFI having gained some safe distance from us. Congratulations to Giannena for their fair and significant - to them - victory.

* Besides congratulating Giannena, I would like to say that they should be ashamed for their behavior throughout the week. Just like in the first round, the management got everyone up in arms about the referee. They made it look as if the referee was out there to get them, thus creating an atmosphere not-so-comfortable for us to play. Luckily, referee Nikou didn't make the big mistake, and Giannena won. I don't remember Kalamata acting like this during any period of its history, with the exception of the game against Aigaleo, many years ago. It was beyond doubt that the referee assisted Aigaleo to capture that victory, which cost us an entire season. Yesterday, we showed PAS Giannena that we are not poor losers. We lost because they were better and we are not afraid to admit it.

* What do we do now? This is the question that every fan of Mavri Thyella has in his mind. We have to prepare ourselves (most fans already have) for the inevitable, that is, going down to A' Division. The whole season was nothing but a big shame and a dark page in our team's history. Mismanagement was on the top of the list, with the coach being a part of it as well. The only thing that we can wish for is cleaning up the mess... nothing else. There is a long period that Kalamata has in order to prepare for next season. Any selling of our talented and reliable players will be unacceptable, at this point. No one should be sold until they bring Kalamata back to the National League. If Papadopoulos did something right, that was it. Georgopoulos needs a major kick in his behind... not for mismanaging the team, but for remaining as a head coach when the team needed a change. He failed miserably, yet he dared to play games with our minds, as if we were stupid and blind. I have serious doubts that Gmoh will stay with Kalamata. I do not see him as someone who jumps the ship, but I am pretty certain that his aspirations go beyond A' Division. His not-so-good record with Kalamata won't help him go far, but I am sure there are teams, such as Ionikos and Xanthi, that might benefit from his expertise. Not to mention several other teams that will survive the relegation games this year. If Gmoh is smart, he will be the first to pack up and leave, otherwise he'd better be determined to work hard, just like he did during his years with Larissa and PAO.

* My apologies to all of you who have been visiting my site, hoping for some news and updates. The bad season had an effect on my mood, as well. I really tried to sit down and write a few lines, but my fingers didn't move. My morale has been very low, as I am afraid that Kalamata will lose most of its fans because of this season's bad performance. The Internet Fan Club is making tremendous efforts to maintain a strong bond among its existing members, but all the work we put will be for nothing if major, positive changes won't happen any time soon. Anthony and Danny are working on a new Kalamata F.C. site, but their efforts need to be supported by all of us, fans and friends of Mavri Thyella. The site can be found in the following address: www.kalamatafc.com.

* I have started working on a new addition to this site. Soon I will be able to provide some analyses on past, present and future matters, in Greek language. I will start by providing a PDF file, which everyone should be able to view, regardless platform. The PDF file may not be an exact representation of the current form of information, but somewhat close to it. Later on I will try to provide both English and Greek sections, thus attracting readers whose level of English makes it uncomfortable to follow the existing format. Many thanks to all of you who have shown patience and kept visiting my site since its creation.

* Another big disappointment for Kalamata, as Olympiakos managed to leave the field with the three points and the title of the big winner. No, Olympiakos wasn't the great team we expected to see, but they had the winning attitude. Mavri Thyella's players did what they could to get at least one point, and they could have done the unexpected if they were a little more careful (and lucky). Nevertheless, Kalamata missed one more chance to collect the much-needed points and that is all that counts.

* I got really upset as I was listening the stupid speakers discussing the game. They made a million excuses why Giovanni didn't play well. It was the heavy terrain, it was the way the game was played, and so many other cheap reasons to explain the fact that Kalamata was doing a pretty good job eliminating the "danger". Did they say anything good about Kalamata? Hell, no! Giovanni this, Lucciano that, Alexandris this, Eleftheropoulos that... How about Mavri Thyella? Didn't our players deserve a few good words? I did not expect or wanted anyone to praise them, but Kalamata played against Olympiakos without fear of hesitation. Not to mention that we did not have available many of our major players, mainly because of cards and injuries. "So what?" someone could say. Kalamata is at the bottom of the list and that's all that matters. "Who is Kalamata to demand a few good words?" My answer is: "One of the very historic teams, followed by thousands of fans. The kind of team that deserves a lot more than struggling in the last position."

* The only positive thing, other than the good appearance, was Sentementes' return. After his long absence (due to injury), he had an opportunity to play for one half, proving that he is almost ready. On behalf of all the fans I'd like to wish him the best, and we hope that he'll be able to make a great deal of contribution during the remaining games.

03/28/2001

* I would like to remind everyone that our new forum has been moved (for the second time in a short period, to a new location. Follow the link below and start posting your messages:

* The demand for the upcoming game against Olympiakos, this coming Saturday, is pretty high. The worst news is that the game will be shown live on the T.V., thus giving all viewers the opportunity to see how much we suck. I bet most fans will be there to watch Olympiakos winning, as our team has managed to lose the confidence and trust of its fan base. Quite honestly, I fear that the spectators (mostly Messinians I hope) will be fighting among each other... those who like Olympiakos against the rest. I do not want to make predictions, but I fear a pretty high score, if Olympiakos plays as good as in the last 5-6 games. I pray to the Gods (yes, with an 's' at the end - plural number) for the best result we can get. I do not think we'll be able to repeat last year's good performance, when the young blood of Kalamata tought the expensive team of Olympiakos a good lesson (regardless of the result - we lost 0-1). May the Gods be with us.

* I am still in the process of downloading information to my new home (here), so please bear with me. It appears that accessing this page is [sometimes] a slower process, and the page itself doesn't look exactly like the previous one. I had to make several modifications, and still doesn't display information as well as before. Please accept my apologies for the slow updates, but it's almost inevitable. Although I have complains about not being able to login successfully most of the times, I am grateful to Fortunecity.com for hosting my page, for FREE. A big "thanks" to all those who make it possible.

03/26/2001

* Before we catch our breath and start getting enthusiastic about Kalamata's two major victories (1-3 against Athinaikos, and 2-1 against Ionikos), fate decided to ground us really good. The two great appearances were followed by one big loss (3-0) from AEK, in Rhodes, and the final blow (3-3) with Panahaiki, in Kalamata. The last two games have pretty much given us an overview of what is coming and which direction we are heading to. Unless we win the remaining 7 games (yeah, right!!!) there is no hope to save what's left of our dignity and pride. The next step is to go down, to the A' League (former B' Division). I have already kissed the Major League goodbye and any dream of "salvation" is just an illusion.

* Raul Vallian, one of our favorite players from the good old Kalamata of the early 70's, has finally decided to open his heart and speak out loud. In his letter to Eleftheria, one of Kalamata's major daily newspaper, Vallian talks about everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. I kept promising to dedicate a small section where I will express my opinion about the whole mess, based, of course, on facts as well as personal evaluation of the situation. That promise will certainly be fulfilled, sooner than later, since the team doesn't seem to get their acts together.

* The only person I feel sorry about is Gmoh. He came to Kalamata with goals and aspirations, and I feel that, by now, he has regretted every moment of it. How could anyone sit there, observe the downfall and not do anything at all. I bet Gmoh is about to explode, seeing the whole mess. The true reason behind our latest failure to capture the three points of victory was Georgopoulos, and only he. His decision to change the game to defensive, while the score was still 3-1, was downright stupid, to say the least. There is no way I can accept that with about 20 minutes to go a team can so carelessly let the opponent score twice, and finally lose the lead. It is criminal... Gmoh emphasized, from the very beginning, that in order for Kalamata to remain in the Major League everybody must want it. Judging from the appearance of the team, neither the players, nor the coach want such thing. The players were too careless and the coach was too dumb to see the possible outcome of his actions. The Hell with all of them.

* The question remains: What do we, the fans, do? The answer is simple... Nothing at all. The way things are going for Mavri Thyella, there isn't anything in our powers, or anyone else's, to bring the team back from the dead. However, our love for the team has grown bigger than ever. We want justice and demand immediate action to clean up the dirt. Get rid of all those people who ruined the team and start all over again. While we are nearing the edge of the cliff, we should reflect on the things that went wrong and evaluate our current position. Let's try to remember how the bottom feels like (second time in a few years) and establish guidelines for the future team of Kalamata. As is, Mavri Thyella (Black Storm) is nothing but a little rain that passed us by and nothing really mattered. The only ones that will miss us will be the teams that gathered points during our in-between games, throughout this season... that's most of the teams in the Major League. We, the fans, are the only part of Kalamata that remained pure and strong. As disappointed as we were, we showed willingness to populate the stands and help the team... slowly but steadily. The number one action will be to change the coach. Georgopoulos should have quitted as soon as Gmoh was hired, yet he stayed at the helm as if he knew what he was doing. The games against Ethnikos Asteras (in Athens) and Ionikos (in Kalamata) could have had a completely different outcome, worse than the last game against Panahaiki (3-3), if those teams were just a little more careful. Kalamata has played more than just a handful of good games, but the ability to win is what's missing.

* Given the lastest, sad news on the team's finances, and taking in consideration the commitment of our players (via Frantzeskos' mouth), our players should not receive any bonuses if we do not remain in the Major League (more like an illusion at this point in time). For those who have not heard about it, Frantzeskos (speaking as team captain) announced, early in the season, that he and the rest of the players decided that they will not accept any bonuses if the team doesn't stay in the Major League. I would assume that the management will go back and ask for any bonuses paid throughout the year, some time around the end of the season, when there will be no more hope, and promises will no longer work... Enough humiliation and kidding around from both players and management. Papadopoulos once did something that I applauded a lot. When we went down to B' Division (now A' League), he said that he will not sell any players until we go back to the A' Division (now Major League). He stuck to his guns and maintained order, as much as some people hated that. If he only had a clue about running the team we could have been somewhere in the top 5 positions. Now, we have Netmed and the owner of Igloo (Grigoropoulos) trying to play management. Gentlemen, this is not like taking high school test... Every mistake you make cost us a lot, not only in money but in morale as well. The best for the team will be a serious individual to get behind the helm and manage the team. My vote goes to Gaitanaros, the person who proved, more than 20 years ago, his true love for Kalamata. He is the one who could do a lot more with much less. As for the coach, let Gmoh do his job and make Georgopoulos step down from a position that is way above his head and powers. I am not suggesting that Georgopoulos doesn't care, but let's face it, he is not the one to lead the team forward. Unless major changes happen, we'll never even get close to the Major League. Does anyone remember Doxa Dramas, Panserraikos, Larissa, Korinthos and Kastoria? Their example should be more than enough to us. To go down is easy, to move up is tough and the road is an uphill battle. We can choose between Heaven and Hell, but it's all relative. We the fans have chosen the uphill battle, and we'll win. Until then we have to continue fighting the enemy within.

03/24/2001

* All right Kalamata fans, it appears like I found a new home for this page. FortuneCity.com is providing me with the space I need to continue publishing news for Black Storm fans. Right now I am only experimenting, but you can expect more to come... really soon.

03/03/2001

* In a global economy where many companies consolidate their operations, it is not a surprise to me that the host of this page has decided to terminate this [free] service, thus leaving me/us homeless. Just when I had started getting pumped up and started working on new material, Homepage.com made a decision to cease any free web page offers. This is sad news, but I need to recognize that I saw it coming when Alta-Vista took over this operation. Anyway, many thanks to all those who gave me the opportunity to host this page, free of charge. The good news are: 1) there are already some alternatives, although it will take me some time to complete the migration, and 2) this page will be active until March 31st. For any updates visit Kalamata Unofficial Forum (there is a link at the left sidebar), as I will post any updates on the new location in both English and Greek.

* The game against Ionikos is definitely at the top of our priority list, as we are anxious to see whether Mavri Thyella is determined to make us proud, and take another step closer towards its goals. Ionikos will show a completely different face, since its manager, Kanellakis, made it clear that if players don't show the proper interest for winning outside Nikaia, there will be no money. This kind of behavior, usually, leads towards great performances, therefore we should not underestimate Ionikos. Regardless the absence of great players, such as Mikes and Brooster, Ionikos will fight hard to win this game. Besides Ionikos, I fear the referees, who give yellow cards to Kalamata players very easily. This is the biggest worry Gmoh and Georgopoulos have, and most of Kalamata's fans as well. It has been clear to me that the powers-to-be have decided to eliminate Kalamata, and push it down to lower divisions. Not that we don't do this to ourselves, anyway, but those who hate Kalamata are preparing for the last attack... the closer we get to the end, the more impossible they will make it for us to survive. A victory against Ionikos will show them that we are determined to fight back and win, no matter how dirty their war is. All we need to do is win.

02/27/2001

* The guys from Kalamatafc.com have found a new home for our Unofficial Forum, a place where Kalamata fans and friends can go and voice their opinion. The new link is:

* I am sure I am not the only one who has been excited about Kalamata's performance last Sunday. That, by no means, guarantees a secure position, as we only have 10 more games ahead, four of them with big teams. It will be extremely hard to make the dream come true, but mathematically there is hope. The coming of Gmoh brought Mavri Thyella the kind of expertise we needed. While his job is extremely difficult, Gmoh is a person who likes the challenge. If he could do something similar to what he did with Larissa, many years ago, we can talk about Kalamata becoming a powerful team within Greece. However, saving it is Gmoh's primary concern, and so is ours. It is time for the fans to show their support by attending the remaining games. If we all work together we can save the team...

02/25/2001

* In an ongoing effort to save the dream of remaining alive, Mavri Thyella showed its good old self and won the hearts of many fans. The game against Ethnikos Asteras was something like life or death, and victory was an one-way road. Despite Kalamata's continuous attacks, the score was 1-0 for Ethnikos Asteras until the 75th minute, when the real dance of goals started with Nastos, resurrecting our hopes. After Nastos tied the score for Kalamata, Bahramis and Kappos managed to give us a comfortable lead (1-3), thus offering Mavri Thyella its first, for this season, victory away from home, and its second, overall. While this victory may call for celebration, we are far from the safety zone and we know how ugly the last position is. For that reason, we should get our acts together and maintain a serious attitude. It is far from over, therefore we need to stay focused.

* I read that Ethnikos Asteras' coach, Livathinos, had some complains from the referee. Now that's a joke!!! Come on people, Kalamata is the last team to be helped by any referee. In fact, we have been slaughtered in quite a few games, and continuously receive yellow cards. That is the way they have fought against Kalamata since the beginning, by eliminating some of its best players with unjustified cards.. Let's get serious now.

* There isn't much we can say about this entire season. With only two victories I am amazed we can even discuss the survival of our team. The truth is that nothing has been lost since there are ten games ahead of us, and the opportunity may be presented for Kalamata to come back strong. Each game will be yet another battle for us and hopefully we'll make it. Time for our fans to go back and show their support for the team. This doesn't mean that we should forgive the wrongdoers, but let's save the team first and then clean up the "dirt". Unless we do not care.

02/19/2001

* With yet-another negative outcome for Kalamata, Gmoh made his first official appearance as the main coach. Certainly not his fault, but at the end of the game he had a pretty good taste of what is going on with our team. The defense betrayed us, once more, allowing Athinaikos to tie the game in about 5 minutes. While the score was 2-0 for Kalamata, our players dropped their guard, thus allowing Athinaikos to pick up a point in Kalamata.

* It is too late to look for scapegoats... Our team has been playing like this before even the new season started. Early signs of decay scared most of us. That was then, when Mavri Thyella still had some hopes (and the necessary time) for recovery. After today's game we can pretty much erase the word "Hope" from our dictionary. Even better, replace it with the word "Miracle". Because this is exactly what will take to save the team from its certain death. This time, our players betrayed us. We had many expectations, and believed that we would be the ones to walk out the stadium with our heads up. Contrary to those expectations, Athinaikos is the one who can cheer for the outcome.

* Tsagarakis did his absolute best to bury Kalamata, but in vain. Athinaikos tried, along with Tsagarakis and his crew, to bring Kalamata down, but it was our own players that provided the "solution". Tsagarakis' negative presence didn't alter, to my best knowledge, the score, although he saved Athinaikos a few times. Unlike the first game, he didn't make the "big" mistakes, but he certainly assisted Athinaikos. If it wasn't for our careless players...

* With my head down, and my heart filled with negative feelings, I want to state my disappointment, and pretty much declare the fall of my favorite team. As per today's result, my hopes for saving what's left are no longer in place. Honestly, I do not see a way out of this mess, and any excitement following Gmoh's arrival is long gone. No, it is not Gmoh's fault, I didn't expect him to make a difference right away, but our players proved to be unworthy of our support... at least some of them. Their lack of professionalism left its mark and removed the smile from my face. Those players are useless, and completely ungrateful to the fans, who returned to the stands and did their best to support the team. Shame to those players!!!

02/17/2001

* Apotheosis for Yatzek Gmoh in his first appearance in Kalamata. Mavri Thyella fans seem to be on the side of our new coach/technical advisor and wish to help saving the team from its doom. Gmoh has been very honest about the difficulty of his mission... which is now OUR mission too. Picking up the pieces is not an easy task, but we all have faith in the new coach. Vasillis Georgopoulos will continue to be in the coaching team, but so far I haven't understood who will be assisting whom. It is every Mavri Thyella fan's wish to see our team resurrected, and this should be done ONLY under the condition Gmoh put: cooperation. Every person who is involved with Kalamata has to want the team to survive.

* It is beyond doubt that Kalamata's fans MUST be there, next Monday, in order to support this new effort and help the team. Let's not forget that many of our players were in the team last year, when a completely different Kalamata surprised everyone during the second round. They can do it again, but only if we help them. There is no doubt that among those players some need to go, but not now. Let's give the team the support they need, and then make the decision of who needs to stay and who needs to leave.

* That said, I need to emphasize that the ONLY outcome of the game against Athinaikos is VICTORY... Death or Victory.

Death Before Dishonor

02/16/2001

* Our hopes have been revived after Mavri Thyella's management came to an agreement with the very well known coach Yatzek Gmoh. After an unsuccessful earlier attempt to make Gmoh part of the coaching team, Grigoropoulos realized that we have little hope to survive without the guidance of a more experienced coach. Georgopoulos will remain in Kalamata (that's fine for me) but he will split the position with Gmoh.

* There should be little doubt that things will improve, but let's not forget that the soccer ball is round, and victories are nothing less than the result of hard work. Gmoh stated [perfectly] that for Kalamata to remain in the National League, everyone must want it. He suggested that all forces withing the team should unite and not assign responsibilities to, or blame others for what is happening. According to Gmoh, our goal should be to participate in the relegation games, and nothing less than that.

* Kalamata has hurt its fans, especially the most dedicated ones, but this is the time to put all that aside and help the team in its sincere efforts to remain in the big league. We, the fans, should stay close to the team and support every effort to make it a great team, once more. Gmoh is not a little man... He brings value and experience to a team that, according to its current position and performance, does not deserve him. I am not suggesting that we should bend over and let him do whatever he wants, but we should stand behind him and support his efforts to save the dignity of Mavri Thyella.

* The game against Athinaikos, this coming Monday, will be the sign we all need. The outcome should be nothing less than a comfortable victory against the Athenean team. Outside our bad luck, referee Tsagarakis will be Athinaikos' 12th player and we'll have to watch him closely. He is a scumbag... plain and simple. Given the revived hopes, due to Gmoh's presence, and the support of its fans, Kalamata should resist any attempt, by its enemies, to slaughter it. No Tsagarakis, or any other scum of the earth, should be able to eliminate our momentum and will to survive. We are all looking forward to Monday's game.

02/15/2001

* The new defeat from Iraklis sank our team way below the desired position. While Mavri Thyella played well and carefully, the loss was nothing of a surprise. Quite frankly, I was surprised that we limited Iraklis to one goal. Although very late, Kalamata might have seen the light. The next game, against Athinaikos, in Kalamata, will either resurrect our hopes for remaining in the big league, or send us all a clear message about what we should expect.

* Bad news for our team, as Tsagarakis will be [again] the referee that will "whistle" the game between us and Athinaikos. The same bastard who litterally gave Athinaikos the victory in our first round, in-between game will be present at Messiniakos stadium. His calls will be questionable, considering his past "performance" against Kalamata. We'll have to keep an eye on him.

* Mavri Thyella managed to tie the [friendly] game against Pamisos, in Messini. We were losing 2-0 until the 70-something minute and managed to score twice after that. Although Georgopoulos tried many new/young players, it provides no excuse for such poor performance. I am happy for Pamissos, but our appearances since the beginning of this season are far from acceptable. If we cannot win against Pamissos, how do we expect to win against National League teams? Maybe this was a diversion of Georgopoulos...He wanted to fool Athinaikos (do you see the sarcasm here?).

* The rumors of Gmoh's return to Kalamata were true, only to fail due to Gmoh's "financial terms", or so we heard. Quite frankly, our management doesn't have much room for negotiations, at this point, and the team needs a real coach, NOW. Georgopoulos failed miserably to lead Kalamata, although I have to recognize that injuries, cards and bad referees, at critical games, led our team to the position where it is right now. Without good leadership, in any sector, Mavri Thyella seems to be doomed, and every hope for recovery sounds more like a dream. May the Gods be on our side from this point on...

* Please accept my apologies for not having updated my page. I tried to log into my account one thousand times, but in vain. Hopefully Alta-Vista will complete the transition and Homepage.com will become available for logging into my account more often than not.

02/04/2001

Kalamata-Xanthi (0-1): The Betrayal

* There hasn't been a moment this year when I didn't wish I was a fan of another team. With the exception of the big victory against AEK, Kalamata has not made me proud... not at all. Those punks that hold Mavri Thyella's reputation in their hands have forced it to the lowest position in the National League. Loss after loss, tie after tie, shame after shame, have taken away all of our hopes for a place under the sun, or better, securing our position in the National League... even under the shadow of the so-called big teams.

* During the period of my absence (I was in Greece) Kalamata managed a tie against Paniliakos (1-1, in Kalamata), one loss to PAO (1-0, in Leoforos), and a humiliation from PAOK (7-1, in Toumpa). Today we failed, once more, to capture the three points against Xanthi, thus sinking deeper into the abyss. Not only we didn't win, but we suffered a loss (0-1) in our own stadium. This is the last nail in the coffin that has Mavri Thyella written all over it. There isn't much to say about our team. We are merely observing the sinking of an once glorious ship, which sailed the deep seas without fear. Who is responsible for today's humiliation? Everybody is: management, coach, and players. Even we, the fans, are responsible for the downfall. Had we raised Hell (and I mean HELL) early enough in the season, most of our troubles would have been over, long time ago. Now, it is simply too late.

* It would take me pages to analyze the current situation, but I will spare you most of the details. During my most recent visit to Greece (from January 18 thru 31) I had the opportunity to talk with all sorts of Kalamata fans, thus getting a more spherical understanding of what is happening. I will reserve a special section where I will state the different case scenarios and what is going wrong. Stay tuned because the "truth is out there."

* Before I close today's update I would like to share some news. Yatzek Gmoh is rumored to return to Kalamata as the new coach of our team. While this is still a rumor, the probability is very high. I certainly like to have Gmoh at the helm, but I have to say that if this happens Georgopoulos will serve as the scapegoat and nothing less. I don't think that Georgopoulos is capable of getting the team out of its difficult position, but I am more than convinced that we need a lot more cleaning up than just replacing the coach. More on this issue in a few days.

01/08/2001

* Far from being the unorganized team we have been used to seeing lately, Kalamata managed to leave Crete with one point. Kalamata tied the game on the 10th minute, after OFI's only goal 5 minutes earlier. Either team could have won or lost, but destiny decided otherwise. Am I happy with the outcome? Considering the fact that OFI is a tough team and they are fighting for survival, I am satisfied. On the other hand, Mavri Thyella needs points desperately and we cannot afford not winning against the other teams that fight for similar goals.

* The game against Paniliakos will definitely be a push towards [temporary] salvation, or the one-way ticket to Hell. Paniliakos may be facing the same challenges with us, but they are still very competent and can prove to be a nightmare. Hopefully, we won't underestimate them. We need a difference of 2 goals in the first half, in order to play without much stress. Tying games (or getting close to it) in the second half has been our specialty, but it is time to change this attitude. We have the advantage of playing in Kalamata and we should use it.

* Boateng was the golden scorer in the game against OFI. He is certainly a player we should not have lost so early, and the last game proved it. There are discussions about an Argentinean player and a couple of others, but we should keep a more conservative attitude towards rumors of a possible resurrection. Teams do not wake up so quickly, as a result of 2-3 players being added. Our team has been hybernating for quite some time and I do not see signs of waking up any time soon.

* I may be strict on him, but Frantzeskos seems to have a love affair with the goal posts. I have yet to see his contribution to the team and he seems to be out of shape when it comes to scoring. He is supposed to score some times and he is far from that point. Missing chances is something anyone can do, but scoring needs a lot more talent. That kind of talent is what Kalamata needs. If we can't defend ourselves, we might as well learn how to attack and score.

I may or may not be able to update my site for quite some time. I will be travelling to Greece on January 13th, for my wedding and to see my family. I hope to have a chance to attend at least a game. I will be back on January 31st, so I expect to update my page around that time.

01/05/2001

My apologies to those of you who tried to access this page for the last 2 weeks. Unfortunately, I did not have access to my site and could not do anything at all. I even considered moving it to another location, but everything seems to be working fine again.

* During the last two weeks I was looking for the big news coming from Mavri Thyella but I found only disappointment. I read that 3 players are coming in order to support the weak defense line, but we have not seen anything yet. The truth is that we must grant the management some time to prove that the 3 new players will solve the existing problem, but I would not wait beyond the end of February.

* Another disappointing game for Kalamata was the one with Aris. The final score (1-1) shows how poorly we did. Nothing on the front, nothing on the back. Either team could have won this game, but I am sure both coaches were satisfied at the end. We are running out of time and options, while other teams pick up points and move on. The game against OFI will be the most critical since they are also fighting to get out of the danger zone. Any positive score is good for Kalamata, while losing the game will send us way below Hell level. We are capable of winning, but we must try hard.

* Some of our players seem to be undisciplined. Boateng did not show up for the game against Aris, like he was supposed to do. Now that he has become part of PAO, Kalamata is not of any concern to him. His services would have been appreciated during the game against Aris, but he didn't care at all. There are rumors that Boateng will play against OFI, and that he may not move to Paiania until the end of the season. I am sure that the management is doing their best to keep him in Kalamata until summer, but judging from the way he behaves lately I wouldn't hold my breath. He is a very talented player, however, and Kalamata will be deprived of his services. Let's hope that there are alternatives to him.

* Speaking of players, I have yet to see Frantzeskos doing something of essence. We cheered for his coming to Kalamata (I wasn't too excited) but so far he has not proven to be worthy of the money we spent for him. Thomas Troupkos proved, once more, to be a great asset. His appearances last year showed that he plays for the team and provides solutions. I think that Georgopoulos should continue giving Troupkos the opportunity to prove his great talent.

12/20/2000

I am back!!!

* After all those unsuccessful attempts to login and update my page, I am finally getting through... Please believe me, I did my best.

* Kalamata managed to screw up two more opportunities to get out of the difficult position. During the first game PAS Giannena won (3-4) leaving us with the bitter feeling of humiliation. The second game (this past Sunday) against Panionios was just a little better than loss since we tied the game (1-1). We managed to collect 1 point, but the question remains: Will we ever win? We could have won both games and left many teams behind us, but we failed in a big way. If you believe in God and know any prayers, this is the time to pray.

* As usual, I find it hard not to criticize all those responsible for the big mess. Players, coach and managers are all responsible for the downfall of Mavri Thyella. Everyone claims they want the best for the team, but I do not see that. Our players seem to be lost in the field, Georgopoulos claims to be happy and remains too soft, and the management is looking into selling some of our best players, Boateng and Soares. How the Hell are we to believe that the team will remain in the National League? The management is full of shit and we don't have to take this.

* Speaking of management, I remember several years ago, when Kalamata was in the B' Division (back then it was C' Division). I recall the struggle to keep the team competitive, and some similar situations we went through. The fans took the team in their hands and while they could not do much, they kept it alive and well. Yes, it is nice to have a centralized management and some wealthy owners, but bringing the team back to its roots won't hurt. I am not suggesting a coup/take over by the fans, but I do believe that it is time for the organized fans to act and push for results. There is no way I can believe that after last year's very successful 2nd round we changed so much that we can't even reach 50% of that period's performance. It is hard for me to shut up and not complain about the crappy season we had so far. Something needs to change and very soon.

* We all have realized that victory is the *ONLY* acceptable result in the next game, against ARIS. This is not a joke... this is our fight for survival and we need only victories. No more ties, no more losses... just victories. I don't care if our players spill their blood in the field. All I care about is the victory. As far as Frantzeskos is concerned, it is time for him to shape up, or slip out. He has made promises to play better and it is about time to start doing his job... that is, to score. Except for the game against AEK, he hasn't shown anything close to his good old self. If the management wants to sell some players, they should get rid of Frantzeskos first. I am sure we have players that can do better than him, with much less money, and lots of future ahead of them. For those who wonder why I brought up Frantzeskos' name, I am referring to his recent statements about being sorry he couldn't give Kalamata the 3 points against PAS Giannena. His inability to score must have puzzled Georgopoulos, but as usual our coach does not have the balls to keep Mr. Frantzeskos at the bench for a few games. Best of luck... we are going to need lots of it this year.

12/5/2000

Same old, same old!!!

* So much for the new beginning I was hoping for. Kalamata proved to be unworthy of my trust, two more times. During the last two games, Kalamata lost to Panahaiki (2-3) in Patras, and to Olympiakos (2-5) in the island of Rhodes. Whose fault it is, I don't care. My team lost two opportunities to show that the victory against AEK was not coincidental, and play good. It's not only about victory, it's also about performance. Yes, we offered the spectators the opportunity to see good soccer, but the end result was not satisfactory.

* Several times, in the past, I talked in a harsh way about Georgopoulos. As much as I like him, I can't say he has impressed me, so far. He has made lots of wrong decisions, especially during the first halves of each game. During the second halves, Kalamata appears stronger, but it is normally too late. Strategy is part of the game, but a game has two parts, and slightly more than 90 minutes. On the other hand, I have to admit that Georgopoulos did not have many options. Without good substitutes, our defense "betrays" us. Think about it, Kalamata scored twice against both Panahaiki and Olympiakos (in the second half, as you might have guessed). Two goals is usually enough for a team to get at least a point. Unfortunately, the other teams know how to explore our weaknesses and make no mistakes.

* When the team does not do well we tend to look for scapegoats, and this time is no exception. I blame the management, for the most part. They sold out some of our hard-to-replace players, while they provided no substitutes. Georgopoulos was always aware and took his time before admitting to the big mistakes made after the end of last season. Georgopoulos is responsible for not making noise and for patting our players in the back. When he finally expressed his disappointment, we won against AEK (3-1). Last, but not least, our players haven't done their best, yet. I must admit that sometimes they play in positions they are not accustomed to, but this is the time to see a player's real value. What happens when a team is left with 10 players (due to a red card)? You guessed it, players need to play in different positions. Everyone is responsible for the mess and they all need to get their acts together. The management needs to listen and act more, Georgopoulos should be tougher in his expectations, and our players need to try harder.

* All of you guys who breathe and live for Black Storm need to be very patient. Most of us have seen Kalamata when it was in the Amateur League, four levels below. I cannot blame anyone for not going to the stadium. Our team needs to prove themselves and so far they haven't even tried. Hang in there, though... When things get better, they'll get better for good. We have the skills and the fan-base we need to maintain a strong presence in the National League. Let's wait a little more before we abandon all the remaining hopes.

11/21/2000

A new beginning?

11/5/2000

Traitors!!!

* Traitors is the only word that could best describe coach and management of Kalamata. I couldn't believe my ears when I heard the score (0-2) as soon as I tuned in. About 15 minutes into the second half, Kalamata managed to score and give us some hope. The very last minute we tied the game and saved the day.

* There should be no question about how ineffective Georgopoulos has been so far at the helm of the team. No words could describe how disappointed I am for the outcome of the game against Ethnikos Asteras (final score 2-2). My hopes for a great victory were pretty high as there was almost no other choice. We failed to capture the 3 much-needed points and get out of the mud at the bottom of the standings list. Yet, the entire team, lead by incompetent management, coach and players (at least most of them) failed to recognize the significance of this game and send us further down the bottom, and much closer to Hell. The solution is one: get rid of Georgopoulos. Do it NOW, before the team loses ALL hopes. We can ill-afford another pathetic first round, where points are lost to small teams (such as Athinaikos, Xanthi and Ethnikos Asteras). Georgopoulos has to step down, like the gentleman that I believe he is, and allow someone of greater abilities and vision to take over. I am sick and tired seeing Mavri Thyella turning into a Mavri Vrohoula.

* I haven't said much about the management of the team, and quite frankly, they may be more responsible than anyone else about the whole mess. They allowed key players to leave the team (some of them can go to Hell for not loving the team that made them big) without replacing them properly. I am waiting for getting all my facts before I open my mouth and talk about our "great" management. Stay tuned, though, I will certainly be back for more.

11/3/2000

* The team is going full-speed ahead... in directions unknown to me. We complained about the scumbag referees, who literally slaughtered our team in the game against Athinaikos, until we got sick and tired of our own voice. The referees are still active, instead of being put through trial. Whatever happened last Sunday, Georgopoulos and our team's management have an obligation to shut up and do something immediately. We are all sick and tired of the promises we've heard in the past. Do something, you idiots!!! The team needs strong management and we seem to act like wimps.

* Speaking of wimps, Athinaikos' coach couldn't keep his big mouth shut last Sunday. He kept talking about Athinaikos deserving a bigger victory, and all sort of crap that he pulled out of his open-wide behind. Instead of shutting his mouth and praying Kalamata didn't finish the game early, when we had the chances, he kept talking about how well they did. Any team that plays with the 3 referees behind them has increased opportunities to win against a team that plays with 9. Not to mention that Kalamata deserved the victory much more than Athinaikos.

* On the other hand, I must give credit where credit is due. Athinaikos' coach punished two of his players (one of them, Papandreou, scored during our in-between game) for playing dirty (at least a few times). What did Georgopoulos do to make sure our players don't lose their temper in critical moments? He probably expressed how satisfied he was with the way they played. I wonder if he ever heard the famous phrase "the operation was successful, but the patient died." It is the result that counts Mr. Georgopoule, not the patting in the back. We certainly want you to be friends with the players, but if you haven't learned much from last Sunday's game, you and the whole team will be in trouble.

10/31/2000

Shame! Shame! Shame! - Part II

* After the loss Georgopoulos and the rest of the crew found something to complain about: the referees. Make no mistake, the referees literally slaughtered Kalamata and gave Athinaikos the victory, but I wonder for how long will we be complaining about it. We had the chance to win the game before the end of the first half, but we were arrogant and obnoxious. There is *no* way Mr. Georgopoulos and some of our players will convince me about who is truly responsible for the loss. Let me refresh their memory: Leonidio, Akratitos, Xanthi, etc. If those games haven't taught our team a few lessons, then they should keep their mouth shut. If we had done our part then we could complain about the referee, but I hate to admit that we fell asleep after the 0-1. We thought that the game ended there.

* The coach of Athinaikos said that they deserve to score more goals. My suggestion is that he keeps his big mouth SHUT. He should be happy Kalamata didn't humiliate Athinaikos when they had the chance. The referees were the additional 3 players Athinaikos needed to win this game... and this is exactly what happened. I do not foresee Athinaikos having a beautiful afternoon in Kalamata when the second round comes.

* Georgopoulos should receive the first prize in butt-kissing. In his interview with the media he mentioned something about Mitropoulos' efforts to clean up the mess in the Greek soccer. Couple that with our team's offical position in favor of Mitropoulos and we shouldn't be surprised. Kalamata's management rooted for that piece of sh*t, Mitropoulos, the man who used every Mafia-like tactic and his connections to help Aigaleo win the game against Kalamata, several years ago, while serving as the preseident of that most hated team (Aigaleo). So what if Mitropoulos is Messinian? I don't care if he is my own father. He deserves to go down, and he will!!!

10/30/2000

Shame! Shame! Shame!

* The last game against Athinaikos brought nothing less than shame to Kalamata's entire fan base. Our players did nothing to maintain the lead against Athinaikos and finally lost 3-2. Some of them seemed to have forgotten what discipline is all about and how much the team can be hurt by their own stupidity. The unacceptable referee did much less damage than we did to ourselves. It is time for management and coach to consider some serious punishment for those players who think they can act like school kids.

* Speaking of the coach, allow me to express my deep concern about Georgopoulos' effectiveness. I don't know what he has done right, but I can certainly see what he hasn't done. That is, get tough with some of our players whose mouth is bigger than the ball they kick in every game. They have promised to do their best and save the team from going down. We have yet to see their "best" and the only thing they have done is push the team closer and closer to the bottom. Georgopoulos has given them lots of pats in the back and this has to end. Whether we have a coach or not makes no difference right now, so please Mr. Georgopoulos, either shape up the team or get the h*ll out of it. Yes, you are a good person (no doubt), but Kalamata needs more than just a good person. It needs someone who will keep the big "names" out of the game, until they prove their concern and love for the team. Let's maintain some order to the team that truly did its best during most of the second round, last year.

9/17/2000

* After almost 2 months of inactivity I decided to [finally] make some time and update this page. For the last few months, I have been watching the team carefully, making one bad appearance after another. Last season left us with mixed feelings, since we had a very bad first round, started the second round with lots of downs, only to come back stronger than EVER and surprise everyone, including myself. Well, with the loss of some key players the team appeared worse than ever before. What is wrong is yet to be explored...

* What I was afraid of came true. After a very bad appearance, Kalamata managed to leave the field with the embarassing 0-0. PAOK couldn't penetrate the defense of Mavri Thyella, but our offense didn't do much, with the exception of Soares' shot on the goal-post. The worst part was our performance, which left us wondering how the hell will the management bring the fans back? Or even worse, how difficult will it be to remain in the National Division (former A' Division)? The final score (0-0) reflects how bad both teams were, and worst of all, how unable we are to start a new season with a victory. This was another stressful season opening for Kalamata and its thousands of fans, who expect a lot more this year.

7/19/2000

* I have noticed a little traffic to my site so I need to apologize for not having updated this page, for a very long time. I was not planning on deglecting it, but there are several changes in my life that left me no time for anything. I will try to rectify this situation soon.

* I don't know how everyone feels about the new players Kalamata bought, but I am still unhappy about the ones we lost. Franzeskos was definitely the major addition to the team, but the other new players aren't bad either. What worries me the most is the over-optimistic behavior (not attitude) about the new season. To be fair, though, many of the new players made comments on the tough preparation, as well the ecxellent facilities where everything takes place. Maybe the infrastructure is going to give us the kind of lead that most teams in Greece do not have... We are not far from the day when we'll discover whether it is time to cheer or not.

* Finally, I managed to start on a new section for this page, which will include pictures of Black Devils and friends. I have already scanned a few old photos, but I am not nearly close to completing this task. Please bear with me and feel free to give me feedback on my work. The expected date for implementing the changes is going to be closer to the end of August, or beginning of summer.

5/30/2000

* The dream became a nightmare last Saturday. Our team had nothing that resembled the Black Storm we all knew. The shadow of a great team went to Athens and finally lost with the heavy 6-1. The game was clean and the victory for AEK came naturally. I only have one word to say (three times):

* It is a custom to look for "scapegoats", but in our case the answer is obvious... The coach made a huge mistake to underestimate AEK (who I strongly believe we could beat) and use younger, inexperienced players, as if we were playing against AEK Kalamatas. I hope to see no more of this sh*t in the future. A few years ago we were doing the same thing, and we all know how much the team was hurt. Please Mr. Coach, no more experiments.

* My dream to see Black Devils back together might come true. I spoke with Ilia (Ozzy) and we agreed on throwing a reunion party in honor of the good ol' Black Devils. I have to wait for a few months, but hopefully things will work out just fine. Not that I expect to see all my good buddies together, but luckily, the closest ones.

* Kalamata's fans around the world are united, once more, in order to promote our favorite team. There are two virtual clubs (look at the sidebar with the links, at the left of my page) and the list of participants seems to grow. I applaud for their efforts to provide information about our team, and encourage all of you to visit their sites as often as you can, as well as post in their forums. Good luck to both Danny and "boldie".

5/22/2000

* The dream team of Kalamata had another victory. The new victim was Aris. The final score was 5-2 for our favorite team (Kalamata, in case someone hasn't realized that this page is dedicated to Black Storm). The game was exciting, with Kalamata winning 2-0, Aris tying to 2-2, and finally 5-2. Our coach wanted to give the young players the great opportunity to show what they got, and they, in return, gave Aris something to remember. The index of the score could have been even higher, as Aris' coach admitted.

* Much ado about the chance of playing against PAOK for a position that leads to UEFA Cup. Even if we win against AEK (difficult, but not impossible) some other teams need to lose as well. Too many factors involved, but miracles always happen.

* Kalamata's fans must have had a wonderful afternoon for themselves. Five goals is something we had not seen in Kalamata, for a very long time. The young players of Kalamata showed that they are capable of creating the opportunities, as well as taking full advantage of them by scoring big.

5/16/2000

* Another great victory came for Kalamata, this time against Trikala (0-2). We were better, and more determined, so the victory came naturally. The final score (0-2) could have received much larger dimensions if our players were a little more careful or lucky. I am very pleased with the outcome, regardless.

* Very important is the fact that Kalamata has secured its participation in the A' Division during the next season. This doesn't mean that we have to drop our guards and lose the next 2 games against Aris (in Kalamata) and AEK (in Athens). I would like to see two victories, or at least a victory against Aris, and a tie against AEK. Of course, it is hard to make predictions and I shouldn't.

* I read that Kalamata's management is preparing the team for the next season. They renewed the contract of our two coaches, and I also heard that they are looking for some new players to strengthen our team. I consider this a good planning strategy, because it's never too early to start preparations.

* Finally, I encourage you all to vote for Kalamata in the following poll. Let's bring our team to the 3rd position.

5/9/2000

* Another great victory for Kalamata. This time Ionikos had to bow down and pay their respects. Without reaching their maximum, Kalamata's players had a victorious Sunday with the score 2-0 over the team that took away all of our hopes for participating in the final cup. This time the referee was neutral, so no fancy stuff against us. Life sucks when you don't have a referee to help you, right gentlemen of Ionikos? In the photo below, Troupkos (right) and Sampson (left) celebrate Kalamata's second goal.

* This victory was a major step forward to avoiding the relegation games. Yes, we have a great team, but I wouldn't rely upon that when we all know how corrupted the Greek soccer world is. We need 2 victories against Trikala (away) and Aris (home). It can be done, and I am very optimistic about it. I hope we won't be arrogant, like we were against Iraklis, several games ago. We need victories to reach an all time high in our history (even though we have already improved over previous years in the A' Division). If only the cup games against Ionikos were victorious! Never mind, I am very pleased with the team, and I am sure next year will be a great year for us... provided we don't screw up again.

* To my disappointment, as I was listening to the game on the radio (via Internet), no loud voices were heard, no drums, no fans singing... nothing. Of course, I was not present to see for myself, but our fans should have been singing non-stop. The official number of spectators was 3000, but I am sure there were more than that. Come on fans, the team has been doing better than ever. I don't remember Kalamata being so effective and "productive" before. What else do we need in order to populate the stands? The game against Aris should be a huge celebration and no seat should be empty. Provided we get a positive result out of the game against Trikala, we should make it as difficult as possible for Aris players to even breathe. Now is the time to show the rest of Greece that we are aiming high and we have the numbers to support our demands.

5/4/2000

* Hello friends, I am back!!! I haven't talked much since the loss from Ionikos, but I can't hide my excitement for the last great appearances of Kalamata.

* The latest victory against Kavala (0-1) showed that we have what it takes to stay in the A' Division. We played smart and passionately, and won a very important game. Kavala played very well, but Kalamata's players were well instructed. There is a chance we will avoid the relegation games. I hope so...

* Although we lost to Olympiakos, I have to emphasize a couple of things: 1) Almost all of our regular players did not play because they were either injured of had red cards. 2) Our young players literally kicked ass, teaching the multi-million dollar team how soccer should be played. The final score (0-1) does not reflect reality and I dare to say Olympiakos was lucky. The referee gave them a penalty, which they missed.

* I feel kind of tired lately, so I take more time to update this page. Nevertheless, all those memories with the Black Devils keep me company when I need it the most. As I mentioned in the past, it is hard to cope with the reality of not being around that group of friends. The dream still remains the same... to get together with all those other guys, some day, and watch a game together, singing the old hymns and songs, just like we did 15 years ago. Who knows, some day it might happen.

For any comments, hate mail, etc., you can email me at:

This page will be dedicated to all the fans of Kalamata F.C. (football/soccer club).