‘Greek god’ Gekas returns for new miracles in Konya

ISTANBUL

Theofanis Gekas became the first Greek player to play in Turkey when he signed with promoted Samsunspor at the beginning of 2012. During the winter transfer window in 2013, Gekas joined Super League minnows Akhisar Belediye, where he was nicknamed 'Greek god' by supporters. AA photo

Newly promoted Konyaspor will be looking for more miracles from master marksman Theofanis Gekas in its bid to remain in the Spor Toto Super League this year after signing the prolific striker to a one-year deal on Sept. 5.
 
Gekas, who was lauded as a “Greek god” in the Aegean district of Akhisar last season thanks to 12 goals in 15 games that were instrumental in keeping the provincial team up, signed with the Central Anatolians with just one day left in the transfer window.
 
Now joining his third promoted Turkish team in three years, Gekas might soon need to exchange the “Greek god” moniker for something more Anatolian, such as Hızır (Khidr), the legendary “green man” who comes to those in need – including, apparently, even hard-on-their-luck Turkish football clubs.
 
“Gekas is a footballer who can end our scoring woes,” Konyaspor spokesman Güven Öten was quoted as saying by daily Milliyet. “He’s a player who’s proven himself in every facet in the Super League, and we’re delighted that he’s opted for us. We’ll see what happens now on the pitch.”
 
Gekas, who became the first Greek player to play in Turkey when he signed with promoted Samsunspor at the beginning of 2012, said he would be ready to play by next week. The player scored eight goals after the winter break in the 2011-12 season for Samsun, but ultimately failed to save the Black Sea team from the drop.
 
The player was dubbed a Greek god by supporters of Akhisar Belediye Gençlik, becoming so popular that fans wrote a song devoted to the striker, declaring him “better than Zeus.”
 
Akhisar, however, expressed their frustration with Gekas’ subsequent wage demands, saying he was effectively “demanding the key to the club” in exchange for staying with the Manisa-based team. “Every time we meet with Gekas, he comes with new demands. These privileged demands are not on a level that can be accepted,” club president Hüseyin Eryüksel said last month.