Trabzon, Eagles lock horns in league game

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Trabzonzon raises hopes over attacker Gustavo Colman in a home game against derby-proud Beşiktaş. AA photo

Trabzonspor and Beşiktaş will go all out for a victory when they clash this weekend in the Spor Toto Super League in week 25 action.

Both aides desperately need a victory in the March 9 game in Trabzon, as Beşiktaş wants to keep its pace with league leader, while the Black Sea side is seeking a way out of troubled times.

Trabzonspor has won only two of its last 10 league games and sits in the 10th spot, three points above 17th placed Elazığspor in the relegation zone. While the club’s supporters are calling for the resignation of chairman Sadri Şener, coach Tolunay Kafkas, who replaced Şenol Güneş late January, is also under fire for the team’s dismal form.

The former Trabzonspor player believes that the club community should come together at this time of crisis.

“We very much need our fans’ support, we need our fans to turn the Avni Aker Stadium into a carnival place in Beşiktaş game,” Kafkas told reporters mid-week. The coach said Trabzonspor would get out of trouble with the help of its supporters, but stressed it would not be easy.

“At this point, it does not matter if we play at home or away, each of our 10 remaining games is a final for us and we want to win them all.”

While Trabzonspor is seeking to leave its troubles behind, second-placed Beşiktaş wants to continue its unbeaten run. The Istanbul club has not lost in its five league games, and last week’s last-minute 3-2 victory against city rival Fenerbahçe helped boost morale.

Beşiktaş coach: Difficult game

“It was good to be on the winning side in a last-minute victory,” Beşiktaş coach Samet Aybaba told reporters in Istanbul. “We sure know how it feels to lose.”

Aybaba noted that the Trabzonspor game would also not be easy. “Trabzon is a very good team with quality players. They will not be in poor form in every game,” he said.

The coach has also warned players to focus on the difficult game, “Leave the Fenerbahçe game behind,” he told the team. “It was a great game and everyone was happy with the three points. But a defeat against Trabzonspor may overshadow this.”

In other Super League games March 9, Istanbul BB hosts Kayserispor at the Atatürk Stadium and Gaziantepspor seeks victory at home against minnow Akhisar Municipality.

Four games will be played March 10, including Bursaspor’s visit to Fenerbahçe. The Istanbul club beat Viktoria Plzen in the Czech Republic 1-0 on March 7 and hopes to reflect the morale boost in the league competition.

In other games March 10, Karabükspor plays Eskişehirspor, Antalyaspor visits Sivasspor, and Elazığspor will take on Orduspor at home.

Cellar-dweller Mersin İdman Yurdu, which parted ways with coach Giray Bulak midweek, will host Kasımpaşa March 11 in the last game of week 25.