The "New" Fenerbahce Worldwide!!!

The "New" Fenerbahce Worldwide!!!
By Nathan L. Redd

You may have noticed lately that we've been a little slower to post news and articles around here. Although none of us claim to be "workaholics" we haven't become too lazy either. We've been working on the brand new Fenerbahce Worldwide site. Finally, after nearly eight months of planning and four months of development, it's almost ready! The new site, www.fenerbahceworldwide.org, will launch on Monday, January 28th.

The new site will be all of the things you have enjoyed about the blog, but lots more information and content. There will be more pictures, more news, more articles, more commentaries, etc. We'll be introducing interviews, expanded coverage and content, and more!

There will be some big changes with the new site, and we think you will like them. From taking a look at our visitors, we know that many Turk and non-Turk fans visit our site. We are thrilled to see so many visitors from Brasil, Spain, and so many other countries. In order to serve as many fans as possible, we knew we needed to expand our accessibility also. So, we are proud to announce that the new Fenerbahce Worldwide will feature full-length, complete sections in English, Turkish, and Portugese with plans to add Spanish later. We're also happy to announce the addition of Cristina Prado to our team. Cristina is a native of Sao Paolo, Brasil and like so many others, became a Fenerbahce fan through the team's Brasilian connections. Cristina and I will be providing content in Spanish and English, while she will also be writing in Portugese. Our other team member, Ozgur, will continue to provide content for us in English and now Turkish as well.

Another exciting change about the website is that you will be able to create your own free, personalized account. This feature will allow you to leave comments and converse with other Fenerbahce fans, while also providing exclusive access in the future to more content. While the new website is going to be a huge step up from the blog, it's only the beginning of what we hope to add in the future. Another feature that we'll be adding is guest contributors to the site. While Ozgur, Cristina, and myself all love Fenerbahce, we know that we don't have expertise in every area of the club and Turk futbol. Therefore, we will occasionally feature articles, commentaries, and features from experts on the club, Turk futbol, and even experts within the club itself.

We have one goal with Fenerbahce Worldwide, which is to take the club to as many people as possible using every outlet available. Our team now consists of two Turks, a Brasilian, and an American, indicating how global Fenerbahce has truly become. However, with both Fenerbahce and our website, we know the best is yet to come. We want you to be a part of it, and we hope you'll like the new site!

Turkcell Süper Lig Weekend Scores

Turkcell Süper Lig Weekend Scores
By Nathan L. Redd

Saturday, January 26:

Genclerbirligi OFTASSpor 3 - 2 Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor
Besiktas 3 -1 Gaziantepspor

Sunday, January 27:

Vestel Manisaspor 3 - 2 Denizlispor
Kasimpasa 0 - 2 Kayserispor
Konyaspor 1 - 3 Ankaraspor
Sivasspor 1 - 4 Fenerbahce
Ankaragucu 0 - 4 Galatasaray

Monday, January 28:

Bursaspor v. Genclerbirligi - 19:00
Caykur Rizespor v. Trabzonspor - 20:00

Fener Hands Sivas First Home Loss of the Season

Fener Hands Sivas First Home Loss of the Season
By Nathan L. Redd

Despite the thermometer reading, Sivas felt awfully hot today for Fenerbahçe. With gametime temperatures hovering around -5 degrees celcius, Fener heated up the Turkcell Süper Lig standings by handing Sivasspor their first home loss of the season. The 4-1 scoreline also moved Fener temporarily into first place until the Galatasaray result.

The icy pitch kept players moving tentatively, but Fener dominated early play. Time of possession was clearly on the Canaries' side early on with several opportunities to take command. After 28 minutes, Alex de Souza got the offense going with a shot past the goalkeeper to temporarily quiet the Sivas crowd. Eleven minutes later, Semih Şentürk devastated the home fans with a second goal that put Fener up 2-0 heading into the break. Much of the red and white-clad fans were feeling down as it appeared Sivas would lose its hold on the top spot in the Turkcell Süper Lig.

The second half started with a different look from the home side. Sivas came out attacking, looking to equalize and keep their hold on the standings. Several times they had chances to get on the boards early in the second half, and their attack finally paid off in the 58th minute. Musa Aydın put a shot just to the left of Volkan Demirel to cut the lead in half and energize the home fans. With renewed hope, Sivas continued to attack looking for an equalizing goal. With Sivas pressuring, Zico made two crucial moves to turn the tide in the game. He brought in Gokcek Wederson for Ugur Boral in the 65th minute. Then, nine minutes later, Zico replaced Semih Şentürk with Mateja Kezman. Kezman, with five goals in his last three apperances, continued his streak on Sunday. Only four minutes after checking in, Kezman devastated the home crowd with a beautifully-crossed ball from the left side. Kezman gained control and sent a right-footed bullet past the Sivas keeper to put Fener up 3-1. Eight minutes later Kezman added another goal, giving him seven goals in the last week and a half and putting Fenerbahçe up 4-1. The last goal ended the fantastic run at the top for Sivasspor.

The win put Fenerbahçe temporarily at the top of the standings before the end of the Galatasaray match. Fener still finds themselves only one point out of first place. With the win over Sivas, Fener has now scored nineteen goals in their last three games after receiving criticism for their lack of offense.

After the game, Zico told reporters "We absolutely deserved this victory. Despite not having the best conditions to play futbol, my players did what they had to and made sure that we stay at the top of the league." Regarding the fantastic play of Mateja Kezman, Zico stated "Kezman did his utmost to help his teammates. He is ready and I hope that he will continue at training hard."

Fener returns home next weekend to host Gençlerbirliği Oftaşspor. The two teams finished 1-1 in Ankara earlier this season.

Sivasspor - Fenerbahce Match Preview

Sivasspor - Fenerbahce Match Preview
By Ozgur R. Nazilli

On the eve of very exciting developments for Fenerbahce Worldwide, Fenerbahce is also preparing for a very important day. Today is the day that Sivasspor, the unbeaten leaders of Turkcell Super Lig faces the real leaders: Fenerbahce.

The game has been hyped up a great deal during the week by the Turkish media, with the effects reaching as far as England, as exemplified by an article by the Guardian about Sivasspor. The expectation is high, and stakes are higher. Even though it is only the 20th week of the season, a defeat here, no matter how unlikely it is, would set back Fenerbahce 5 points, boost Sivaspor's confidence by continuing their undefeated state even in the face of Fener, and renew the determinations of both Besiktas and Galatasaray. However, being the all-star-like team they are, Fenerbahce players have more than enough talent between themselves to end the unbeaten run of Sivasspor, and they will be looking to prove this today.

Interestingly enough, Sivasspor is the team that conceded the least amount of goals this season, and Fenerbahce is the team with the most goals scored. There certainly isn't a lack of scoring ability for Fenerbahce lately, with the team scoring 15 goals in the last two games. However, Sivas has only conceded 3 goals in their home ground this season, So the score is anyone's guess at the moment, with both sides' fans favouring their teams.

Sivasspor has yet to win a match in the 6 meetings they have had with Fenerbahce, and Zico and his students will be looking to build on this record. Sivas is definitely in a position that deserves the applause they are getting, and considering the huge gap between the budgets of the teams like Sivasspor compared to the likes of the Istanbulian big 3, Bulent Uygun and his team are on their way to making history. However, no matter how strong they appear to be, it is not very credible for an Anatolian team to win the championship, unfortunately. The word on the street is that, as usual, Besiktas, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce fans want their teams to come out on top, however if anyone is to win the title other than their own team, the consensus is that it should be Sivas.

No matter who wins, the football fans will watch some performances that are worthy of the top spot today. We as Fenerbahce Worldwide hope first and foremost that there will be no injuries in the game. Good luck to both teams, let the best team win!

Stephen Appiah Interview

Stephen Appiah Interview

English-language website Goal.com has published an interview with Fenerbahce midfielder Stephen Appiah on their website. In the interview, Appiah talks about his native Ghana's performance in the African Cup of Nations Tournament thus far.

To read the interview, in its entirety, check out http://goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=560942.

Tumer Metin Signs with Greek Squad AE Larissa

Tumer Metin Signs with Greek Squad AE Larissa
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce midfielder Tumer Metin has signed a deal with Greek squad AE Larissa, according to a statement released by the club on Friday. The deal ends Tumer's 19-month tenure with the Yellow Canaries.

Tumer signed with Fenerbahce in June 2006 after a successful stint at rivals Besiktas, where he spent five years. He played a pivotal part of Fenerbahce's 2006-2007 Turkcell Super Lig championship run. He's also been a member of the Turkiye National Team since 2005.

Fenerbahce was expecting to be without Tumer for much of this season due to injury and his pending Turk military commitment. The deal with AE Larissa is believed to delay his military commitment even further. Details of the deal have not yet been released.

AE Larissa currently plays in the Greek Super League. They finished last season in tenth place in the league, and currently sit in 13th place this season.

English Sides Interested in Kezman

English Sides Interested in Kezman
By Nathan L. Redd

With the January transfer window closing soon, two English clubs have expressed an interest in Fenerbahce striker Mateja Kezman. According to English newspaper The Guardian, Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur have both expressed an interest in the Serbian-born forward.

According to the report, Kezman would be available for a fee of approximately £5 Million, or just under $10 Million. A transfer of Kezman has been rumored for quite some time, and his four goals earlier this week may have put his name back in the eye of interested European clubs.

Despite transfer rumors, Kezman issued a statement recently indicating that he is not leaving Fenerbahce anytime in the near future. If Fener does not sign a new striker during the January transfer window, Kezman is likely to play a crucial role in the team's championship run.

Turkcell Süper Lig Weekend Schedule

Turkcell Süper Lig Weekend Schedule
By Nathan L. Redd

Saturday, January 26:

Genclerbirligi OFTASSpor v. Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor - 13:30
Besiktas v. Gaziantepspor - 19:00

Sunday, January 27:

Vestel Manisaspor v. Denizlispor - 13:30
Kasimpasa v. Kayserispor - 13:30
Konyaspor v. Ankaraspor - 13:30
Sivasspor v. Fenerbahce - 14:00 (7 AM EST in the U.S.)
Ankaragucu v. Galatasaray - 19:00

Monday, January 28:

Bursaspor v. Genclerbirligi - 19:00
Caykur Rizespor v. Trabzonspor - 20:00

Photos from Fenerbahçe 10 - 3 Alanyaspor

Photos from Fenerbahçe 10 - 3 Alanyaspor
By Nathan L. Redd

Turkish newspaper Hurriyet has an online gallery of photos from the Fener vs. Alanyaspor match on Wednesday. To check out photos from the game, click on http://fotogaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/galeridetay.aspx?cid=9244&p=1&rid=155 .

Goals for Everyone! Fenerbahçe Rolls 10-3 in Alanya

Goals for Everyone! Fenerbahçe Rolls 10-3 in Alanya
By Nathan L. Redd

Gol....and Gol Again! Fans who packed tiny Milli Egemenlik stadium in Alanya hoping for offense got their money's worth on Wednesday. Fenerbahçe overwhelmed third division Alanyaspor 10-3 behind four goals from Mateja Kezman to advance to the knockout stage of the Fortis Türkiye Cup.

It took 30 minutes to get the offensive onslaught rolling, but thirteen goals in the last 60 minutes kept the scoreboard active this afternoon. With the huge clash against Sivasspor coming up this weekend, Zico gave most of the starters a break, opting for valuable playing time for key reserves. No one needed an offensive outburst more than much-maligned striker Mateja Kezman, who put four goals in the back of the net to lead all scorers. He was followed by Mehmet Aurelio who got the Canaries rolling in the 31st minute, then added another at the 66-minute mark. Ilhan Parlak also added two goals for Fener in the 52nd minute, and again just three minutes later. Kemal Aslan, having scored two goals last weekend against Gaziantepspor, kept his hot streak going with another goal today in the first half. Colin Kazim-Richards would add a final goal just before the end of regulation to put the Canaries in double-digits for the day.

Volkan Babacan, starting in goal today for Fener, conceded three goals to Alanya. They were the first goals scored by Alanya during their Fortis Türkiye Cup run.

Zico went with a starting eleven of Volkan Babacan, Yasin Cakmak, Gokcek Wederson, Mateja Kezman, Onder Turaci, Ilhan Parlak, Ugur Boral, Gokhan Gonul, Colin Kazim-Richards, Kemal Aslan, and Mehmet Aurelio. Ali Bilgin, Gurhan Gursoy, and Can Arat all saw time as substitutes.

The win means Fenerbahçe has scored 15 goals in their last two games, coming after media criticized the team for a lack of offense previously. The Canaries know, however, the real test comes this weekend when the team travels to Sivas to take on the league-leaders.

After the game, Kezman told reporters "I'm very happy about scoring four goals which made my team the leader of our group. It was not unexpected, as I have been working and training really hard for the last couple of weeks. I knew that my comeback would be that fantastic."

The last two games have temporarily silenced critics who claimed Fener was going through a slump of sorts. A win in Sivas on Sunday would go a long way toward silencing those critics for good.

(photos courtesy of Hurriyet)

Fortis Türkiye Cup Match Day: Fener vs. Alanyaspor

Fortis Türkiye Cup Match Day: Fener vs. Alanyaspor
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahçe is on the Mediterranean coast of Türkiye Wednesday, as they return to the pitch for their next Fortis Türkiye Cup match against Alanyaspor. Kickoff is scheduled for 13:30 (6:30 AM EST in the U.S.). With the game in Alanya, Fenerbahçe will have a chance to enjoy the mild weather of Türkiye's southern coast before traveling to Sivas this weekend for their huge clash. Temperatures are expected to be around 18 degrees at kickoff in Alanya.

Alanyaspor will be looking to pull off what would likely be one of the biggest upsets in Fortis Türkiye Cup history. Alanyaspor plays in Iddaa League B Group 2 and currently sits fourth in the standings with 27 points through 17 games. Iddaa League B is the third division of Turk futbol.

Alanyaspor Manager Muharrem Uğur knows it will take the game of a lifetime from his players to claim any points against the Turk champions. The green and orange side will host the Turk giants at their home stadium, Milli Egemenlik Stadium, but with a capacity of only 2,500, it will hardly be an intimidating venue. As always with Fenerbahçe, there is a large number of Fenerli's expected to be in attendance.

Fenerbahçe is coming off a huge 5-0 win over Gaziantepspor over the weekend, and they hope to take the momentum from a win in Alanya into their huge matchup this weekend. Fener travels to Sivas in northern Türkiye this weekend to play the league leaders Sivasspor in what will be one of the biggest matches of the season thus far. Fener star Alex de Souza returned to the lineup last weekend and provided a much-needed offensive spark to the Yellow Canaries. The win showed that a healthy Fener side is as dangerous as any in Europe.

Fenerbahçe and Alanyaspor kickoff at 13:30 in Alanya, Türkiye on Wednesday. Check back with Fenerbahce Worldwide for a full recap on photos after the match.

Who Needs a Striker? Fener Rolls 5-0

Who Needs a Striker? Fener Rolls 5-0
By Nathan L. Redd

Internet fan message boards have been going crazy lately with Fenerli's speculating about which striker the club should sign during the transfer window. Fenerbahçe answered with a resounding "who needs a striker?" with a dominating 5-0 win in Gaziantep on Sunday.

Fenerbahçe simply overwhelmed the Gaziantepspor goalkeeper with a barrage of shots early on. In the 14th minute, Semih Senturk nearly put Fener on the boards with a fantastic header that was stopped just short of the goal line. Despite the save, Fenerbahçe needed only ten more minutes to begin sending the scoreboards into a frenzy. Kemal Aslan, making a rare starting appearance, put Fener up 1-0. A cross from the right wing into the box found a series of deflections, but Aslan took a fantastic lobbing shot from the right side of the box that sailed over the heads of the defenders and goalkeeper. The goal quited the raucous Gaziantep crowd eager to cheer on the home red and black to a victory.

Eight minutes after Kemal's goal, Alex de Souza showed why he was sorely missed during his injury. Roberto Carlos sent a fantastic pass from the left side into the box, where Alex used a beautiful left-footed shot to send the ball past the goalkeeper, putting Fenerbahçe up 2-0. Despite the comfortable first half lead, the Yellow Canaries were just getting started. Three minutes later, Kemal Aslan would make his presence felt again. Kemal took a shot just right of the goal that would deflect off of Gaziantep defender Metin's arm into the goal, putting Fener up 3-0 with ten minutes left in the first half.

With a comfortable 3-0 lead, Fener could have put it in "cruise" in the second half, but the Canaries kept pressuring the Gaziantep defense with a onslaught of shots. Deivid de Souza would get the second half scoring started with a goal in the 56th minute adding to the day's dominant performance. Thirteen minutes later, Deivid would add a second goal to put the scoreline at 5-0, quieting the home fans and sending the Fener fans in attendance into a roar. "Today we showed everyone what we are capable of achieving. We were totally focused on the victory, so a 5-0-victory is not a surprise" he told media after the match.

Volkan Demirel found himself tested rarely in the match and was able to preserve the clean sheet. Mateja Kezman, Ali Bilgin, and Gokcek Wederson all entered the game as substitutes, but the damage was already done to the Gaziantep defense. Goalkeeper Volkan Demirel told reporters after the game "We all needed such a fantastic victory. We were frustrated about not getting the results we had wanted." With a gigantic game next weekend against league-leaders Sivasspor, Fenerbahçe could not have asked for a better result to build confidence and take pressure off the board from hearing about a new striker signing. Alex de Souza, returning from injury, again showed how valuable of a playmaker and scorer he is when healthy. Semih Senturk and Deivid de Souza again showed their reliability as offensive options headed into the Sivasspor match.

The win moves Fenerbahçe back into third place in the Turkcell Süper Lig with 41 points. Sivasspor, Galatasaray, and Besiktas all won this weekend to keep pace at the top. With only two points separating them from leaders Sivasspor, Fenerbahçe can potentially take over the league's top spot with a win next weekend. Galatasaray currently stands between Sivas and Fener with 42 points. They'll travel to the capital next weekend to take on seventh-place Ankaragucu.

(photos courtesy of Hurriyet)

Match Day: Fenerbahçe vs. Gaziantepspor

Match Day: Fenerbahçe vs. Gaziantepspor
By Nathan L. Redd

After a disappointing 2-2 draw in Kadıköy last weekend, Fenerbahçe is in Southeastern Anatolia Sunday to take on Turkcell Süper Lig opponents Gaziantepspor. Kickoff is schedule for 15:00 (8:00 AM EST in the U.S.).

Fenerbahçe will be looking to keep pace with league-leaders Sivasspor and Galatasaray, while Gaziantepspor is hoping to stay in the top half of the table. Following Sivasspor and Besiktas wins on Saturday, Fenerbahçe will need three points and pending the Galatasaray game on Sunday, the Yellow Canaries could move into second place. Fener currently sits in fourth place with 38 points. Gaziantepspor is currently in ninth place, in the midst of a logjam in the middle of the table. With 24 points, Gaziantep is tied with two other teams and only one point behind sixth-place Denizlispor. Despite being close to the top third of the league, Gaziantep's defense has been suspect so far this season. They've scored 23 goals on the season, but have given up 24 to their opponents. Fenerbahçe has scored 32 goals on the season, but has struggled offensively in the Turkcell Süper Lig recently. With injuries to Stephen Appiah, Alex de Souza, Deniz Baris, and Tumer Metin unavailable, Fener will be looking for scoring options to regain their earlier form. After a crucial goal in the Fortis Turkiye Cup, Zico and company are hoping for increased confidence and offensive prowess from striker Mateja Kezman. Zico also indicated earlier that Alex de Souza may see playing time in Gaziantep on Sunday. He told FB TV "Alex is healthy enough to play against Gaziantepspor. He has been training hard to get back in form."

Fenerbahçe and Gaziantepspor kickoff at 15:00 (8:00 AM EST in the U.S.) in week 19 of Turkcell Süper Lig action. For those outside of Türkiye, the game is available on a pay-per-view basis live online at www.digiturkwebtv.com.

Has Fenerbahce Reached a Deal with Maldonado?

Has Fenerbahce Reached a Deal with Maldonado?
By Nathan L. Redd

Several reports out of Istanbul Friday indicate that Fenerbahce may be close to finalizing a deal for Chilean star midfielder Claudio Maldonado. The 28-year-old defensive midfielder currently plays for Brasilian squad Santos FC.

Maldonado is highly regarded as one of the best players in South America and is known for his tremendous passing skill in addition to defensive tenacity. Reports earlier this week indicated that he may be close to signing with future Fenerbahce opponent Sevilla, but now rumors are circulating that Fener could sign him for a deal of 4 Million Euros. The deal is rumored to be a three-year contract and if true, the star could be in Istanbul this weekend to make it official.

We'll have more information on the rumored deal throughout the weekend as it becomes available.

Fenerbahce Clarify Appiah Situation

Fenerbahce Clarify Appiah Situation
By Nathan L. Redd

Earlier this week it was reported that Fenerbahce had frozen the contract of star midfielder Stephen Appiah. Reports began to circulate that speculated on the definition of such an action, implicating that Fener will cease to pay Appiah during the remainder of the deal.

Fenerbahce issued an official statement clarifying what the "freezing" of Appiah's contract means. In the statement, the club said "Following discussions between Stephen Appiah and club doctors, there is a consensus not to include him in the team for the second half of the season to better enable the process of treating his injury. As a result of his absence, an application has been made to the Turkish Football Association to adjust the quota of foreign players: our club would like to include another foreign player in the team for the six months when Appiah is due to be missing. There is no thought at all of cancelling or annulling the contract of Stephen Appiah." According to UEFA Champions League rules, Appiah can be removed from Fenerbahce's list and replaced by a new name before 1 February.

Fenerbahce is expected to move quickly to sign either a striker or midfielder during the current transfer window. Speculation has now shifted that Brasilian star Maldonado may be in Fener's transfer plans.

Fortis Türkiye Cup Match Day: Fenerbahçe v. Şanlıurfaspor

Fortis Türkiye Cup Match Day: Fenerbahçe v. Şanlıurfaspor
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahçe returns to the pitch on Wednesday in Fortis Türkiye Cup action. The Sarı Lacivert host Turkish third division side Şanlıurfaspor at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. Kick-off is slated for 20:00 (1 PM EST in the U.S.).

While the game seems like a blowout on paper, Fenerbahçe is coming in after a disappointing 2-2 draw with a former second division side on Sunday. Şanlıurfaspor, however, will be looking to play the game of their lives against the most famous club in Türkiye. They'll bring confidence with them, as they have scored two draws against other Turkcell Super Lig teams, Gaziantepspor and Kayserispor. They also have a big 3-0 win over Alanya. Fener needs three points today to keep their Fortis Türkiye Cup championship hopes alive.

Anticipated lineups for Wednesday's matchup are:

FENERBAHÇE:
Volkan Demirel
Gökhan Gonul
Edu Dracena
Diego Lugano
Roberto Carlos
Deivid de Souza
Selçuk Sahin
Mehmet Aurelio
Ali Bilgin
Uğur Boral
Semih Senturk

ŞANLIURFASPOR:
Habip
Abdullah
Doğan
GökhanKül
GökhanG.
Burhan
Hayrullah
Ali
Şenol
Kamil
Fatih

Fenerbahce Suspends Appiah's Contract

Fenerbahce Suspends Appiah's Contract
By Nathan L. Redd

As reported earlier by Fenerbahce Worldwide's Ozgur Nazilli, Fenerbahce has suspended the contract of star midfielder Stephen Appiah as a result of his long-term injury. The move by the club frees up a spot under the Turkish Futbol Federation's foreign player limit.

Appiah has played in only six games this season as a result of the injury. He's been sidelined since suffering the original setback last spring. Appiah had surgery over the summer to repair torn ligaments in the knee, but has since developed a blood clot. The injury is expected to sideline Appiah at least until mid-summer.

Dr. Mehmet Kurdoglu stated "Treatment will immediately begin to dilute his blood. This will last for six months and during this period he shouldn't risk any contact that could cause bleeding to any part of his body." Kurdoglu added "It is risky for him to head the ball as even this could cause a cerebral hemorrhage. There is a 95 per cent chance that he will recover after the treatment and only a five per cent chance of a recurrence of the problem. At the moment he can only do light training."

Appiah was rumored to be making a return to Italy during the January transfer window, but the severity of his injury puts his future in question. Fenerbahce has suddenly found themselves in dire need of a midfielder and is expected to address the issue in the coming weeks.

Shocking News: Fenerbahce Officially Announces An Impending Transfer

Shocking News: Fenerbahce Officially Announces An Impending Transfer
By Ozgur R. Nazilli

Anyone who follows Fenerbahce news knows that the club has a rule that they abide by with no exceptions: Transfers are announced after they have been signed and they are for certain, not during the transfer process. This was true, until now. The official Fenerbahce website has declared, for the very first time in its history, that the club is working on transfers and further news will follow shortly.

As the fans know, Appiah has been sidelined for a long time now, and that looks to be the case for at least 6 more months, effectively diminishing the midfield strength of the team. When this was coupled with the departure of Tumer (which is not official yet but will happen, since his age doesn't permit him to play in Turkey anymore without doing his mandatory military service first) and the injuries of Deniz and Alex, a transfer had become a necessity for the continuing well being of the team. Fenerbahce has finally suspended the license of Appiah with the Turkish Football Federation, which means that they have freed up a foreign player quota. The official website, www.fenerbahce.org, broadcast this news tonight by Turkish time, and included a short yet immensely powerful side note in the article, in which they declared that the club was in the process of working on transfers and further explanation would follow shortly. This, although not too extraordinary for a football club, is a first in history for Fenerbahce, which has proven to be very exciting development, and is currently keeping fans awake and in front of their computers, mostly in Antu.com, to hear about the developments as soon as they happen.

More information and further developments will be made available on Fenerbahce Worldwide as events unfold.

Bolton, Portsmouth Chasing Kezman

Bolton, Portsmouth Chasing Kezman
By Nathan L. Redd

According to various reports, English sides Portsmouth and Bolton are interested in Fenerbahce striker Mateja Kezman. Fenerbahce has yet to make a move during the January transfer window, but rampant speculation has indicated that Kezman may make a move out of Turkiye. The player also recently commented that he believed his tenure in Istanbul may be coming to an end, and he would welcome a move to Germany's Bundesliga.

Turkish magazine Fotomac reports that Bolton is prepared to make a 5 Million Euro offer for Kezman. Goal.com reports that Portsmouth is also interested. Both English clubs are familiar with Fenerbahce as they were vying to sign former Fener star Nicolas Anelka two seasons ago.

Fener Join Race for Lyon's Fred

Fener Join Race for Lyon's Fred
By Nathan L. Redd

With the January transfer window in full swing, Fenerbahçe has yet to make a move in the market, but that could be about to change. According to Jean-Michel Aulas, Chairman of French Club Lyon, the Yellow Canaries are once again interested in star striker Fred. Paris Saint Germain, Middlesbrough, Tottenham Hotspur and Benfica are also believed to be vying for the Brasilian star's services.

Fenerbahçe was linked to Fred during last season's transfer window as well, but nothing materialized of a rumored deal. During an interview over the weekend, Fenerbahçe striker Mateja Kezman declared he is unhappy in Istanbul and is possibly seeking a move abroad. If so, his move would free up a spot for another foreign player to join the club, but Fener has not commented on any rumored deals this month as of yet.

Wild Finish in Kadıköy Results in 2-2 Draw

Wild Finish in Kadıköy Results in 2-2 Draw

By Nathan L. Redd

Maybe Fenerbahçe should have spent more time scouting Türkiye Lig 1 last season. Newly-promoted İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor has had the Canaries' number this season not once, but twice. The second resulted in a 2-2 draw at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium Sunday evening.

After a long, subpar first half that saw no goals, it appeared that the two sides might be headed toward a scoreless draw. Fenerbahçe reverted back to its mediocre form that it has exhibited in low-profile domestic games, with little emotion or intensity on the pitch. The Canaries played as if a late goal would save them and result in three points, despite coming back from their halftime camp in Antalya. After 74 minutes of stagnant futbol, İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor shocked the home crowd when Ibrahim sent a corner toward the box that was headed in by Ilyas to give the visitors the first goal.

Before the home crowd could get over the shock, İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor would find the back of the net again. IBBSpor's Gokhan put the cross-town side up 2-0 in the 81st minute, leaving the Fener fans wondering what the team had learned during their Antalya camp. However, a wild finish would salvage a point for the home side after a loss seemed imminent with only ten minutes remaining. In the 84th minute, Fener took a corner that saw Wederson send a fantastic shot into the box that Edu Dracena was able to head past the goalkeeper to finally put Fener on the scoreboard. Despite the goal, Fener had only a few minutes remaining to try to find a goal that they couldn't score in the first 84 minutes. Less than three minutes after Edu's goal, Gokhan Gonul sent a beautiful pass through to Deivid de Souza to tie the game at 2-2. The four goals in the final 15 minutes capped a wild finish that saw Fenerbahçe gain a point and stay near the top of the Turkcell Süper Lig standings.

Zico was obviously unhappy with his team's performance after the game. He told Lig TV "Actually I am not very satisfied with my players' performance tonight. We should have achieved more and done better against İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor. Despite this, what I find really positive is that my players did never give up on fighting, but of course we should not lose any more points. From this moment on we have to be more careful than before."

With the draw, Fener slipped into third place in the Turkcell Süper Lig with 38 points. Wins by Sivasspor and Galatasaray keeps the teams in first and second place, respectively. Besiktas's win moves them only one point behind Fener into fourth place in the league.

Lineups:

FENERBAHÇE: Volkan Demirel, Gökhan Gönül, Diego Lugano, Edu Dracena, Roberto Carlos, Deivid de Souza, Mehmet Aurelio, Kemal Aslan (substituted by Colin Kazım-Richards MIN. 60 ), Uğur Boral (substituted by Gokcek Wederson MIN. 60 ), Ali Bilgin (substituted by İlhan Parlak MIN. 73 ), Semih Senturk

İSTANBUL BÜYÜKŞEHİR BELEDİYESPOR: Hasagiç, Murat, Volkan, Efe (substituted by Mahmut MIN. 86), Erman (substituted by İbrahim Akın MIN. 57 ), İlyas, Tjikuzu, Kerim, Cesario, Sertan (substituted by Aydın MIN. 78 ), Gökhan Kaba

(photos courtesy of Hurriyet)

Fenerbahçe Starts Second Half with Confidence, Questions

Fenerbahçe Starts Second Half with Confidence, Questions
By Nathan L. Redd

As Fenerbahçe gets ready to kick off the second half of the Turkcell Super Lig later today, the club is riding a high boosted by European and Super Lig success to close out the first half. However, many questions remain for Fener's second half with injuries looming and an unsure transfer market still in doubt.

After struggling to start the season, Fener closed out the first half on a five-game winning streak, tying first place Sivasspor with 37 points for the lead. The Canaries will kick off the second half against promoted side Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor, who defeated Fener 2-0 to open the season back in August. Although the team has regained its top form, there are many questions surrounding the future of several players. Stephen Appiah, once considered a possible transfer out of Kadikoy, may remain with the club after suffering an injury that could sideline him until the summer. Mateja Kezman is also being evaluated by several English and German clubs, making him a possible transfer target out of Turkiye. One-time Fenerbahçe targets Ronaldo and Afonso Alves appear headed for other destinations, keeping Fener fans wondering if any new faces are coming to Kadikoy during the January transfer window.

Another issue possibly facing Fenerbahçe could be team focus, although Zico has done a tremendous job recently of keeping the team grounded. With vital UEFA Champions League matches against Sevilla coming up and the club's first-ever trip to the knockout round, it could be difficult for Fener to focus on 100% effort against teams like Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor. If the team does lose focus, their trip to UEFA Champions League could be a short one and they could find themselves back in the UEFA Cup next year. If Fenerbahçe plays against teams like Genclerbirligi OFTASSpor with the same vigor and effort they put forth against Inter Milan, an 18th Turkcell Super Lig championship could be on the table for them.

Fenerbahçe kicks off their second half campaign on Sunday at 19:00 (12 Noon EST in the U.S.) against Istanbul Buyuksehir Belediyespor. The game is at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Kadikoy and is available online at www.digiturkwebtv.com for those living outside of Turkiye.

Turkcell Super Lig Weekend Schedule

Turkcell Super Lig Weekend Schedule
By Nathan L. Redd

Saturday, January 12:

GENÇLERBİRLİĞİ OFTAŞSPOR vs. GENÇLERBİRLİĞI - 13:30
KASIMPAŞA vs. GAZİANTEPSPOR - 13:30
KONYASPOR vs. BEŞİKTAŞ - 15:00
ÇAYKUR RİZESPOR vs. GALATASARAY - 19:00

Sunday, January 13:

BURSASPOR vs. DENİZLİSPOR - 13:30
MKE ANKARAGÜCÜ vs. ANKARASPOR - 13:30
VESTEL MANİSASPOR vs. KAYSERİSPOR - 13:30
SİVASSPOR vs. TRABZONSPOR - 15:00
FENERBAHÇE vs. ISTANBUL BÜYÜKŞEHİR BELEDIYESPOR - 19:00 (12:00 Noon EST in the U.S.)

Halil Altintop Sees Potential Fenerbahce Future

Halil Altintop Sees Potential Fenerbahce Future
By Nathan L. Redd

Two of Turkiye's best players playing abroad include brothers Halil and Hamit Altintop, who both call Germany their home. Hamit, at Bayern Munich and Halil, at Schalke 04, have been rumored to be coming back to Turkiye in the past. Recently Halil told Turkish newspaper Zaman that while he has no plans to return to Turkiye anytime soon, both he and his brother would like to play in the Turkcell Super Lig in the future, and Fenerbahce would be a welcome destination for both.

Halil told Zaman "I’m happy to be in Germany and play there. Currently, I’m not thinking about returning to Turkiye. Although they offered me very nice terms, I did not accept any offer. Building a good career is my first and foremost priority. But when the time comes in the future, I, with my brother Hamit, would like to play in Turkiye."

The Zaman interview went on to quote Halil Altintop as saying Fenerbahce had made an offer for him in the past. He stated that Fenerbahce is considered a top European club outside of Turkiye, and he felt that the best European players would consider offers to play in Kadikoy.

To read the Zaman article and interview, click on http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=131467 .

Fener Moves Up to #22 in Club World Rankings

Fener Moves Up to #22 in Club World Rankings
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce picked up another accolade this week following their string of UEFA Champions League success. The Yellow Canaries rose to #22 in the Club World Rankings, up seven spots from their previous setting at #29. According to the Club World Rankings of the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, Fenerbahce accumulated 187 points to jump seven spots.

The top spot in the rankings is held by a club Fener fans will get to know well. Sevilla, Fenerbahce's next UEFA Champions League opponent, sits at #1 in the rankings.

AC Milan Commits to Ronaldo

AC Milan Commits to Ronaldo
By Nathan L. Redd

With the flurry of names mentioned as possible targets for Fenerbahce, none is bigger than AC Milan star Ronaldo. However, the Italian club has reportedly committed to keeping the superstar through at least the end of the season.

"Ronaldo will stay here surely through June 30, but if he's well both he and we will want to continue this relationship," Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said Wednesday after AC Milan's training camp in Dubai. American TV network Fox Soccer Channel also confirmed the report Thursday evening. Galliani went on to say "I'm happy Ronaldo has returned. Now we have the entire squad available."

Ronaldo himself told reporters "My wish is to earn an important position in Milan ... what counts now is that I feel good and I want to start playing again."

Fenerbahce has been linked with a deal to bring the superstar to Kadikoy, but the club has denied any truth to the rumors. It is believed that President Aziz Yildirim and the board are scouting at least one other striker for a potential move to Turkiye during the transfer window.

Fener Target Alves May Stay in Holland

Fener Target Alves May Stay in Holland
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce Worldwide reported Tuesday that Heerenveen (Holland) star Afonso Alves had linked himself with Fenerbahce. It appears that Heerenveen may have been seeking leverage from another Dutch suitor, AZ Alkmaar, instead.

Alves stated on his personal website this week that Fenerbahce and English side Manchester City were interested in signing the Brasilian-born striker. However, Brasil's Jornal dos Sports claims that Alves will sign with AZ Alkmaar as early as Thursday for approximately 15 Million Euros. Additionally, Brasilian TV Network Rede Globo claims Alves’s agent, Roberto Tibúrcio, is already in the Netherlands working out a deal with AZ president Dirk Scheringa.

With the January transfer window now in full swing, Fenerbahce has yet to make a move on the transfer front. Zico has indicated that several players could be leaving during the mid-season window, but the club has remained mum on any transfers thus far.

Roberto Carlos May Return to Brasil National Team

Roberto Carlos May Return to Brasil National Team
By Nathan L. Redd

Despite retiring from the Brasil National Team over a year and a half ago, Fenerbahce superstar Roberto Carlos is considering a return to his native country's side. Carlos did an interview earlier this week with Brasilian magazine Invicto and talked about the negative end to his international career.

"My real image is that I have played 132 games with the national team, with only 16 defeats. I think people made up an unfair, disrespectful image," he told Invicto. "I want to return because I feel well. I do not even care about being in the starting line-up. I am going to work to win. I would return with my head up, and happy."

Carlos will be 37 years old when the 2010 World Cup arrives, but the Fenerbahce star remained confident about his ability. "I think I am in a position to play (in the 2010 World Cup). I am physically fit. The physical aspect is what is most important," he stated.

Carlos stressed that his current fitness is as good as its ever been, leading to a possible return to Brasil's National Team. "I am going through the best part of my career. When I think the time is right, I will call (Brasilian Manager Dunga) to talk, with no pressure, about his plans for me. I think that the player must take that initiative."

Dutch Star Hoping for Fenerbahce Move

Dutch Star Hoping for Fenerbahce Move
By Nathan L. Redd

Dutch striker Afonso Alves has a rapidly rising profile in Europe and he's using it to his advantage. The star of Holland's Heerenveen Football Club is looking to make a move abroad during the January transfer window, and Fenerbahce sits at the top of his list.

According to Alves, Fenerbahce has offered a deal for the Brasilian-born star. Alves also claims that English sides Manchester City and Middlesbrough are interested. Fellow Dutch side AZ Alkmaar had hoped to sign Alves but are close to admitting defeat.

Setanta Sports quotes Alves as saying "I hope my transfer is decided this week,” said Alves. “I want to further my career and I want to remain in the picture of national coach Dunga. That won’t happen at Heerenveen.” Alves also stated on his personal website that Fenerbahce is prepared to offer 20 Million Euros to bring the star to Kadikoy. He said in an interview just over a week ago “I expect that my move to one of the two clubs will be sealed when I’m back in the Netherlands.”

Fortis Turkiye Cup Bore: Kayserispor 0 - 0 Fenerbahce

Fortis Turkiye Cup Bore: Kayserispor 0 - 0 Fenerbahce
By Ozgur R. Nazilli

Yet another weak performance was put forth by the Yellow Canaries today in the Fortis Turkiye Cup, when Fenerbahce faced Kayserispor for the second match of the group stages. As the score suggests, there was not much excitement going on in the match, and the only positive thing Fener came away with from the game was that none of the players suffered any injuries.

Kayseri has always been a tough opponent for Fenerbahce, as evidenced by the 2-1 defeat they suffered earlier this year at, again, the Kayseri home grounds. All the Anatolian teams put forth a special performance whenever they face the Big 3 of Istanbul, since all the players give their best to showcase themselves for the transfer period. As Kayseri is one of the strongest of the bunch, it was expected for Fenerbahce to have a tough time today. However, not many people expected such a weak display. Fenerbahce was falling apart everywhere on the pitch, and only the magnificent performance of Volkan Demirel kept the scoreline level.

Another problematic factor that possibly slowed down the gameplay was the weather condition. As also stated by the players after the game, the pitch was mostly frozen for the whole game, and when this was coupled with the -15 Degrees Celsius the players came to from the 20 Degrees Celsius of their training camp city Antalya, weather could easily be used as a mitigating factor of the poor performance. However, for a team that is aspiring to be a European giant, this definitely is not enough of an excuse. Players will travel all over Europe and face harsher conditions than they faced today in Kayseri in the years to come, both in the UEFA Cup and the Champions League. Will the frozen grass be an acceptable excuse then?

One lesson that was hopefully learned by the Board of Fenerbahce today was that this team definitely needs some transfers to support the current squad. As Zico has said earlier this week, the midfield is losing some valuable players this second half, since Tumer will be leaving the squad one way or another, and Appiah will at least be out with an injury for the next 6 months. Deniz and Alex are recovering from lesser injuries, but today we have seen how weak the midfield can be with the currently available players. Ugur Boral and Ali Bilgin are both hard working and talented players, but they are not ready to hold the midfield for as big a team as Fenerbahce yet. On top of that, today the brain of the team, Maestro Alex, was also unavailable, and we got the chance to (yet again) see how dull the football becomes without him to lead the flow of the game. The Board keeps denying every transfer rumor as soon as they start circulating, and holds some kind of a bizarre record in this area, with 24 denials for Ronaldo, 19 for Adriano, and 18 for Mehmet Topuz (Source: http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/spor/futbol/7975039.asp?gid=211&sz=53744 ). Hopefully, these denials are just tactics to keep the prices of the players they are interested in going up, and Fenerbahce is, contrary to what they keep declaring on the official website, making some transfer negotiations behind the scenes. The only glimmer of hope in this area is that Fenerbahce had denied the transfer of Roberto Carlos 9 times, before it finally happened.

Fenerbahce was poor on the pitch today, that much is certain. However, this is after all the Turkish Cup and not many fans care about it too much. Also, there are two more games Fener is going to play, and they will most likely qualify out of the group stages by winning these last two against lower league teams. The possibility of Fenerbahce not qualifying to the next stage is not what is worrying from today's match. What worries the fans is the level of performance when Alex is missing from the team. The only serious difference between today's team and the "Ace" team of Fenerbahce was Alex, and that apparently was enough to pull down the quality of the performance down a couple of notches. One cannot help but worry about the possibility of Alex suffering a serious injury and missing out a month or more...

If the Board does not act soon and bolster the midfield, and possibly also the strikers, of the team, Fenerbahce will have a seriously hard time of keeping up the success level of the first half. Our hope as the fans is that the remaining 25 days of the January transfer period will be used wisely and the team will be prepared, by the end of the month, for all but the most serious of the injury crises.

(Photo courtesy of Hurriyet.com.tr)

Match Day: Fortis Turkiye Cup

Match Day: Fortis Turkiye Cup
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce is in snowy, cold Kayseri today as they try to work toward ending one of the longest cup droughts in club history. The Fortis Turkiye Cup resumes today with Fenerbahce taking on Kayserispor at Ataturk Stadium.

The Fortis Turkiye Cup, formerly known as the Turkiye Cup and the Federation Cup, has been an on-going tournament in Turkish futbol since 1962. Fener rivals Besiktas are the current holders of the championship, having defeated Kayseri Erciyesspor last season. Fenerbahce's failure to finish in the top two last year only exacerbated the Canaries' drought. Despite their overall success, Fener has not captured the Cup title since the 1982-1983 season. They came close in 2005 and 2006, finishing second to Galatasaray and Besiktas, respectively. Since the Cup began in 1962, Fenerbahce has won the Fortis Turkiye Cup only four times, putting them behind Galatasaray, Besiktas, and Trabzonspor.

As Fenerbahce wraps up their Antalyan mid-season camp, many questions hover over the team as the January transfer window is underway. The future of Fener stars Mateja Kezman, Stephen Appiah, Tumer Metin, and Mehmet Aurelio has been questioned, while Zico has publicly eluded to some new faces (such as Ronaldo) coming to Kadikoy during the season's second half as well. Additionally, original first team goalkeeper Serdar Kulbilge is nearly ready to return to the team's lineup for the season's second half, challenging rising star Volkan Demirel for the starting spot.

Fenerbahce will enter Sunday's game as the second place team in the Turkcell Super Lig, tied with Sivasspor with 37 points. Kayserispor is not far behind, sitting in fifth place with 26 points, but eight points behind fourth place Besiktas. Both teams will not only look to continue their Fortis Turkiye Cup run, but get their squads prepared for the stretch run of the Turkcell Super Lig.

Kickoff of Fenerbahce vs. Kayserispor in the Fortis Turkiye Cup is set for 19:00 (12:00 Noon EST in the U.S.) on Sunday in Kayseri. Bünyamin Gezer has been announced as the referee for today's match by the Turkish Futbol Federation.

Fenerbahce May Be In The Transfer Market After All

Fenerbahce May Be In The Transfer Market After All
By Ozgur R. Nazilli

Fenerbahce fans love their team to death, that much is certain. However, if they were asked, one of the first things they would complain about is how the club denies every transfer rumour, even if they are in bid for that player, until the signing has been realized for certain. Every fan knows that more than half of the transfer rumours in circulation are fraud, and they are more annoyed with the newspapers who circulate them than the club board who denies them, but they would like to at least know a bit more about the transfer possibilities, before the players actually show up on the pitch, which is usually when the fans find out about them.

Zico was featured in a TSYD (Turkiye Spor Yazarlari ve Spor Kulubu Dernegi - Turkish Sports Writers and Sports Clubs Foundation) organization with Roberto Carlos, and gave the fans a new hope in terms of seeing new faces in the second half of the year. Zico was quoted as saying "Alex and Deniz are recovering from their injuries, however if I am going to lose both Appiah and Tumer in the second half, I will be asking for a transfer to be made to support the midfield." What do you know, Fenerbahce migh actually be in the transfer market after all!

Other than the transfer news, Zico said that he and his staff has been given a very positive working environment in Fenerbahce, and that it has been helping both the technical staff and the players. Zico also commented on how the Fener players are committed to their work and how respectful they are of him, and praised them on their professionalism.

Camp Updates from Antalya

Camp Updates from Antalya
By Nathan L. Redd

As Fenerbahce continues it's mid-season training camp in Antalya, Fenerbahce TV has sent a crew to follow the team through its preparations. "Kamp Günlüğü" will provide updates on the team from Antalya. Kamp Günlüğü airs on Friday at 23:00 (4 PM EST in the U.S.) and will re-air Saturday at 14:00 (7 AM EST in the U.S.) on Fenerbahce TV. You can watch Fenerbahce TV free online at http://fbtv.mail2web.com/

Fenerbahce, Ronaldo Possibly Close to Deal?

Fenerbahce, Ronaldo Possibly Close to Deal?
By Nathan L. Redd

One of the biggest names being talked about during the January transfer window is AC Milan star Ronaldo, who has been linked to Fenerbahce and a number of European and South American powers. According to Brasilian website Globosporte.com, the Canaries could be close to a deal to bring the striker to Kadikoy.

Globosporte quotes Fener Manager Zico as having said he wants Ronaldo in the Fener lineup for the UEFA Champions League run. Fenerbahce has denied the report thus far. Italian newspaper La Repubblica reports that Fenerbahce has in fact offered a deal to AC Milan to bring the maligned striker to Turkiye.

Fenerbahce Linked to CSKA Moscow's Wagner Love

Fenerbahce Linked to CSKA Moscow's Wagner Love
By Nathan L. Redd

With the January transfer window in effect, rumors are flying about who is coming and who is going from Kadikoy. One name that continues to be mentioned is Wagner Love, the Brasilian-born striker from CSKA Moscow. Fenerbahce got a fantastic chance to evaluate Love during their two matches against CSKA in the UEFA Champions League. Love reportedly grew weary of being in Moscow and was most certainly destined to leave.

Fenerbahce is rumored to be interested in bringing in at least one additional striker during the January transfer window. The club has denied interest in most of the players being rumored and has not confirmed a desire to bring in any new transfers definitively.

Izmir Fans Visit Fenerbahce Worldwide Office

(L-R: Başar Gencel, Nathan Redd, Beth Mitchell-Gencel)

Izmir Fans Visit Fenerbahce Worldwide Office
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce Worldwide was honored to have two of Fenerbahce's biggest fans visit our office this week. Başar Gencel and his wife, Beth Mitchell-Gencel, were in Louisville, USA on holiday and stopped by the office to spend some time with the crazy American Fenerbahce fan. Başar and Beth are loyal Fenerbahce supporters in Izmir, while Beth is a native of Louisville, USA - the home of Fenerbahce Worldwide.

Their visit marks the second visit from Izmir fans in recent months who were visiting Louisville. While we don't offer the opportunity to meet anyone famous when visiting the FW office, we do offer free coffee upon request. Our office is very exquisite and fabulous - similar to Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, but with a smaller seating capacity and slightly less hooliganism.

Crystal Palace Reportedly After Kazim-Richards

Crystal Palace Reportedly After Kazim-Richards
By Nathan L. Redd

It seems that Fenerbahce found a gem when they signed young star Colin Kazim-Richards from England last summer. Although the star is reportedly very happy in Turkiye, English side Crystal Palace plans to make a bid for the up-and-coming striker.

According to ClubCall.com, Crystal Palace Boss Neil Warnock hopes to make a move for Kazim-Richards during the January transfer window. Warnock knows Colin well from their tenure together at Sheffield United, Colin's home before his Fenerbahce move.

The club is hoping to make a splash with a big signing during the upcoming transfer window. Although the Croydon, England club has spent time in the Premiership, they are currently in the Coca-Cola Football League Championship - the second division of English football. They are currently in 8th place in the standings.

German, English Sides Vying for Kezman

German, English Sides Vying for Kezman
By Nathan L. Redd

As reported earlier, Mateja Kezman's time in Kadikoy could be winding down according to his comments in an interview earlier this week. Fenerbahce Worldwide reported that Kezman would welcome a move to Germany's Bundesliga. Now, EyeFootball.com reports that Bundesliga clubs Hamburg and Schalke 04 are interested in the Serbian striker. Additionally, the website claims that Italian power Roma and English side Fulham are pursuing him as well.

According to EyeFootball.com, Hamburg officials have already contacted Fener about a possible transfer and/or loan for Kezman. The article cites Kezman's value at approximately £6 million (around $11.9 Million).

Kezman is still under contract with Fenerbahce, but he lost his first team position earlier this season. He also missed over a month of action with an injury.

Ghana Midfielder Wants Appiah's Number Retired

Ghana Midfielder Wants Appiah's Number Retired
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce star Stephen Appiah will miss the African Cup of Nations Tournament in his home country next month, but his presence will be felt if Andre Dede has any say. Dede, a midfielder for Ghana's Black Stars National Team, wants Appiah's number 10 shirt temporarily retired during the tournament. He has asked the Ghana Football Federation to comply with his request next month, according to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

"Capito is a special person for all the players in the national team and I think our recent successes can be attributed to him," Dede told Ghanasoccernet. "He serves his country as if his life depends on it and we, the younger ones, are learning from it too and that is what has made him the player he is today."

Dede is serious about his request to honor the Fenerbahce star. "I am pleading with the authorities not to use his jersey during the Nations Cup to show him that Ghanaians really appreciate the work he has done and that his jersey will be available anytime he wants. I think from this he will know how highly Ghanaians and his colleagues hold him and when this thing is done for him he will be very happy."

Appiah is a huge star in his home country, but he's gained a reputation for not letting his success go to his head. After spending some time with him earlier this season, I can certainly attest that Appiah has not lost his humility or sense of humor. Dede claims the superstar has been a mentor to him and the other young Ghana players as well. "Since I joined the Black Stars he has made every effort to make sure I feel part of the team by encouraging and advising me and I know this is how he has dealt with other players too. His absence is a blow to the country but we can't fold our hands and do nothing. We will fight to bring glory to Appiah's name."

Ghana will host the African Cup of Nations Tournament in February 2008.

Zico, Roberto Carlos Pick Up Turkish Awards

Zico, Roberto Carlos Pick Up Turkish Awards
By Nathan L. Redd

Turkish newspaper Zaman has awarded Fenerbahce Manager Zico "Futbol Coach of the Year" and Roberto Carlos "Futbol Player of the Year" for 2007. Their year-end Turkish sport awards were announced in Tuesday's edition. To read their entire article (in English), click on http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=130504

Happy New Year from Fenerbahce Worldwide!

Happy New Year from Fenerbahce Worldwide!
By Nathan L. Redd

As our friends in Turkiye and across Europe wake up to 2008, the clock has just turned on another year here in the United States. From Fenerbahce Worldwide, I'd like to wish a very happy new year to all of our loyal visitors and friends around the globe. I'm excited about what 2008 holds for Fenerbahce in the Turkcell Super Lig and UEFA Champions League, and we have some big changes coming for Fenerbahce Worldwide as well. As wonderful as 2007 was, 2008 promises to be even greater.

Happy New Year / Mutlu Seneler to each of you!