By: Haris Ioannides - Armida Publications

Fully aware that I am repeating myself, I find that Cavafys‘ poem ‘Ithaca‘ is the most appropriate salutation to this team and to the whole experience.

The journey came to an end last night after our defeat by one of the world’s top teams, Christiano Ronaldo‘s Real Madrid. We played well, we scored twice, we could have scored a couple more. The score is not the issue. The point is that APOEL has given us immense pleasure. It has offered us excitement never felt before. Most importantly, it has filled us all with pride for our team and our country. These are hard times for Cyprus, hard times for Europe and the whole world. Any bit of success, any instance where one (or many) manages to battle the odds and shine, only serves to rejuvenate and energize. And this is exactly what APOEL has done for us.

Constantine P. Cavafy  - Ithaca

When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,
pray that the road is long,
full of adventure, full of knowledge.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the angry Poseidon — do not fear them:
You will never find such as these on your path,
if your thoughts remain lofty, if a fine
emotion touches your spirit and your body.
The Lestrygonians and the Cyclops,
the fierce Poseidon you will never encounter,
if you do not carry them within your soul,
if your soul does not set them up before you.

Pray that the road is long.
That the summer mornings are many, when,
with such pleasure, with such joy
you will enter ports seen for the first time;
stop at Phoenician markets,
and purchase fine merchandise,
mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
and sensual perfumes of all kinds,
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
visit many Egyptian cities,
to learn and learn from scholars.

Always keep Ithaca in your mind.
To arrive there is your ultimate goal.
But do not hurry the voyage at all.
It is better to let it last for many years;
and to anchor at the island when you are old,
rich with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.

Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.
Without her you would have never set out on the road.
She has nothing more to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.
Wise as you have become, with so much experience,
you must already have understood what Ithacas mean.

Thank you APOEL, thank you all team members and especially Ivan Jovanovic, the best coach a team can have.

Thank you all for this amazing journey!

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