Local Football:  

A.E.K. 2 v Thilina 1: A.E.K. had an early shot in the 3rd minute, well saved by the Thilina goal keeper Grintakis. Then in the 4^th minute, a mistake by the A.E.K. defense let in Kefalianos to score the first goal for Thilina. In the 20^th minute a good run by Arian Tzertzi led to a corner which resulted in an overhead kick by Psalithakis which just scraped the post. A.E.K. now dominated the game, with many corners, but all shots going wide.  However, they finished the first half well on top, but a goal down.

In the 2^nd half, A.E.K.’s Yiorgos Zourlandonis had a 30-meter shot well saved. Finally, in the 55^th minute a good header by A.E.K.’s Mihalis Sitherithis got the deserved equalizer. In the 73^rd minute, Stilianos Paterakis hit a great goal to make it 2-1 to A.E.K. Man of the match was Stilianos Hronakis for a very solid performance.

Thiagoras 2 v Aris Gournon  0: This local derby between Thiagoras of Anopoli and Aris of Gournes was a poor game of football with not too many chances for either team. A large attendance from supporters of both teams tried to lift the teams and eventually, after 20 minutes, Pavlos Moraitakis scored for Thiagora. It was much the same in the second half with Dimitri Somaraki making it 2 - 0 for Thiagora, keeping them at the top of the league table.

Handball: The Greek National Handball Team will face the 2005 World Champions, Spain, in the playoffs for next year’s World Championship in Croatia. The first games will be played on June 7 to 8 and the return leg will be a week later.

Football, World Cup 2010: Greece will begin their campaign to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with an away match against Luxembourg on September 6. The next game is against Latvia on September 10 in Latvia.

Athletics: Hania is to host an International Triathlon Union European Cup on April 13. The triathlon is an endurance sport consisting of swimming, cycling and running over various distances and this competition will be a warm up for many European athletes vying for a place in the prestigious E.T.U. Triathlon European Championships in Lisbon on May10 to 11.

Ice Hockey: After nine years of absence from the international scene, the Greek National Ice Hockey Team is set to return after beating Armenia to qualify for their place in the World Championship Division III. The matches will be played in Kockelscheuer, Luxemburg, from March 31 to April 6.

Basketball: Greece will be competing for one of the remaining three men’s berths for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games which will be decided in a 12-team FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament from Athens.

Greek Cup Final: The holders, Panathinaikos, winners of the cup for the last three years, will meet with Olympiakos in the 2008 Greek Cup Final on March 29 at the Helliniko Olympic Complex, Athens. 

Golf: The Third Aegean Airlines International Pro-Am Golf Tournament will be held form June 5 to 7 at Crete Golf Club, Hersonissos. The tournament is made up of up to 44 teams each consisting of one professional player and three amateurs. This year’s event has a substantial purse of 62,000 euros for the professionals and gift awards for the amateurs. The professional winner will receive the Aegean Airlines Pro-Am Trophy plus 7,000 euros.

Sports to watch in March

Local football:

March 1: AEK Karteros v Almiros; Gouves v Thoxa

March 5: Anayennisi v Aris Gournon; Thiagoras v Iraklis IR; Romanos v Handakas

March 9: Elpithes v Gouves; Iraklis IR v Romanos 11.00; Thiagoras v Ag. Vasilios 11.00

Arkathia v Aris Gournon

March 15: Keravnos v AEK Karteros; Aris Gournon v Handakas

March 16: Romanos v Ag Vasilios 11.00; Gouves v Patuhas

March 23: Aetha v AEK Karteros; Iraklis IR v Aris Gournon 18.00

March 30: AEK Karteros v Minoiki 16.00

All matches at 15.30 unless otherwise stated.

Champion’s League

March 5: Chelsea v Olympiakos 21.45

UEFA U21 Championship

March 26: Albania v Greece

OFI Games

March 2: OFI v AEK Athens 16.45

March 9: Larissa v OFI 16.45

March 16: OFI v  FC Xanthi 16.45

March 23: Iraklis v OFI Crete 17.00

March 30: OFI v Panathinaikos 17.00

Formula One

March 14 to 16: Australian Grand Prix

March 21 to 23: Malaysian Grand Prix

Athletics

March 7 to 9: 12^th IAAF World Indoor Championship, Valencia, Spain

Golf

March 27 to 30: Asian Tour. The Open Championship international final qualifying round, Singapore

Tennis

March 3 to 9: ATP. The Dubai Championships, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Ice Skating

March 17 to 23: World Figure Skating Championship, Gothenburg, Sweden

ROCK FISHING – A SPORT WORTH TRYING
By Silas Psarakis
Proprietor of Arhontiko Taverna in Anopoli

Dimitris, Aris, Thanasis, Andreas, Manolis and I would like to initiate you to our favourite participation sport – rock fishing.
The secret to success is good physical condition, love for adventure and primo equipment (which Aris takes care of).
You must go to the most inaccessible places around Crete – off the rocks in places in Kasteli, Fragokastelo, Sitia, Rethymno, and Ierapetra. 
Our only guide is weather conditions, especially high wind and rough surf, which is best.
Sargos (Sea-bream), rofos (grouper) and lavraki (striped bass)are our day’s catch.