They were the best team and went all the way! NEP’s third promotion to the A1 National Men’s National Championship was combined with the well-deserved victory of the A2 National Championship, with the “dolphins” of Patras beating NO Larissa 13-12 in the grand final in Ioannina.
Spyros Lykoudis scored decisive goals at crucial points, as did Angelos Karaiskos, with the “dolphins” always ahead with a 1-2 goal difference, while Christos Mavriopoulos’ contribution under the posts was once again key. especially in the crucial finale, when NO Larisas threatened to overturn.
Referees: Karoulis-Angelidis. The 8 minutes: 2-3, 3-4, 0-1, 7-5.
NO LARISA (Dimitris Blanas): Beziliotis, Chrysostomos 1, Ganatsios 3, Stergiou 1, Daniel A., Nikiforidis 1, Papadopoulos 2, Paraschos, Patsikas 1, Mercouriadis 2, Patounas, Hatzis, Tsoutsas X., Motsias 1, Kokkinos.
NE PATRON (Makis Lykoudis): Mavriopoulos, Sp. Lykoudis 4, Harrison 1, Valuxis, Tsipis, Karaiskos 3, Trasai 2, Konstantakopoulos, Papageorgiou 1, Karras, Antiochos 1, Pitsikas Island, Dragonas, Avagianos 1, Giannakopoulos.
Immediately after the end of the final, the president of KOE Kyriakos Giannopoulos made the following statement to the newspaper “Peloponnisos”: “Congratulations to NEP for winning the championship. Personally, I am very happy that two teams from the region were promoted to A1 National. This shows the good work being done in both clubs, but also in general. It is very hopeful and encouraging that many young children are developing every day and showing that polo has a future. It is up to them, and up to them alone, to prove that they justly got where they are and that the best is yet to come. I am sure that the children will work even better both individually and as a team and celebrate more successes. I wish them that with all my heart. We in the National teams and as a Federation will be there and we will continue to give the supplies and attention that is due to all the talented players of our country”.
Makis Lykoudis became the third coach to raise NEP to A1 as champion, as Giorgos Kakoulidis in the 2006-2007 season and Lambros Anastasopoulos preceded him 10 years ago. The face of the day is undoubtedly Giorgos Karras, who has been “present” at all three promotions of the NEP (!). A special mention must, however, also be made to Philip Antiochos, who follows in the footsteps of his late father, Konstantinos Antiochos, who had celebrated the two previous ascents of the dolphins” on A1.
The award to the NEP was made by the president of the Greek Swimming Federation, Kyriakos Yiannopoulos, with the players diving into the pool with the Cup amid wild celebrations. Of course, the champagnes also had their due!
It is worth noting, in fact, that NEP had its people on its side, as many of its supporters traveled to the capital of Epirus on the bus chartered by the club. It was a fantastic stand that painted the Ioannina swimming pool blue!
For the record, Aris Thessaloniki prevailed 18-16 over NAO Corfu in the short final of the A2 National Men’s Polo Championship, at the National Swimming Pool of Ioannina and took 3rd place.
It’s up to the NEP kids, now, to capitalize on this sword-earned success by playing big-time polo with their hometown team and turning a deaf ear to the… sirens.
“It was the best finale to a long season. Congratulations to the players and technical leadership for what they have achieved”, said the obviously happy president of NEP, Manolis Tsouramanis.
The coach of NEP Makis Lykoudis, who has every reason to feel the absolute vindication for his team’s progress this year, said the following immediately after the end of the match: “First of all, congratulations to NO Larisa, who did not reach the final by chance . Our opponent deserves unlimited respect. We also made it to the final. It was the icing on the cake of an incredible effort. The next day matters. I thank the administration of NEP and personally the president Manolis Tsouramanis, my partner Christos Argyropoulos who was the… mother of the team, Anna Lykoudis for the incredible work in the preparation, the coach of Palaio Faliro Kostas Vamvakaris who tolerated us all year with friendly midweek games and not to be unfair to anyone else, everyone who supported our endeavour. We are moved and proud because we also got credit from the president of KOE, Mr. Yiannopoulos, who pointed out the progress our children have made. We showed roads, we carved roads, the message to everyone is one: Trust our children!”.
NEP assistant coach Christos Argyropoulos could not hide his joy, because this was his second promotion to A1 as he was a member of the team’s staff (manager) in the 2006-2007 season as well. “When we got up, Makis told me happy and relieved that we finished. I told him that I want it all. And that’s what we did. We are deservedly first, nothing was given to us, we have worked very, very hard to get this championship. Many congratulations to all the children.”
See here again the whole final
The head of the main opposition of the Municipality of Patreon, Kostas Svolis, was the first to congratulate the local team on winning the championship: “Well done to NEP! Well done to the players, coaches and management! They move up to A1 as A2 national champions, as they defeated NO Larissas a little while ago in the grand final in Ioannina. We are all happy and proud! Well done to the natives who traveled alongside the dolphins.”
Instant update with all the news now and via WhatsApp – See here
#champion #great #stand #NEP #Larisa