“All teams want the Cup”

In detail, what was said:

Andreas Moukios (Chairman of the Faculty / OHE): “We welcome you to the 18th Final Four, in an area that is the birthplace of Greek handball. All these years, the help we receive from the institutions here in Western Macedonia is important. I would like to convey the thanks of the Board of Directors of the Federation, to the Region of Western Macedonia and to the Municipality of Kozani for this co-organization.

The Final Four will be held in a beautiful stadium, of European standards, which in the past has hosted major events. As it has become known, this event was characterized as “special handling”. Each club has received ten nominal invitations, while another 700 invitations are available to academy athletes from Western Macedonia, local agencies, sponsors and people in the sport. The invitations are nominal and will be checked for identity along with the necessary certificates related to covid-19.

It is clear that for those who will not have an invitation will not be able to access the stadium. I wish good luck to everyone, to advertise the sport and the image of Greek handball to become better and better “.

George Kasapidis (Regional Governor of Central Macedonia): “Christ is Risen and happy birthday. I wish the festive spirit that existed this year, after what we went through in previous years, due to the pandemic, to continue at the stadium of Lefkovrisi with the Final Four of the Greek Cup evolving into a celebration. It is an opportunity for everyone to come closer to the good of competing and the sporting ideal.

We welcome the teams, it is an honor for our region to host this event that presents a sporting interest that transcends the borders of our country. The Final Four will be held in a stadium – “jewel” and we are pleased to host such events here. Handball has deep roots in Western Macedonia and every important event that takes place here gives joy to the local community and the people of the sport.

There is the know-how, there is the cooperation between the institutions, I estimate that the games will be crowned with success, we wish that handball wins and that the spectators and the viewers enjoy wonderful games “.

Zisis Maras (President of the Sports, Culture and Youth Organization of the Municipality of Kozani): “We are glad to host the Final Four of the Cup in our city. Handball has a tradition for the city of Kozani, both historically with the clubs that “cultivate” the sport, and with the events we have hosted in previous years. We are always ready to host high level matches.

We will see four great teams, we wish health to the athletes and the best to win. We will always have the doors open and with good cooperation we will be happy to host Greek handball “.

The coaches of the four finalists:

Charalambos Ananiadis (coach of AESH Pylaia): “Congratulations to all those responsible for the event. We are excited to be here, participating in the Final Four is already a success. We are the team with the smallest budget and that means we are the big underdog, however we will give everything first to reach the final.

We are in a good mood, we have a good atmosphere, we are a family and this is our big ‘weapon’ for tomorrow’s game. Even with his absences, in the semifinal PAOK is the favorite. “We can only win from this participation and we will fight with all our might.”

Panagiotis Gousios (PAOK coach): “It’s our pleasure to be here this year. I hope that a very good event will take place, that the athletes will be the protagonists and that the fans will enjoy the games. We are coming here after a difficult journey with away qualifiers in Argos and Edessa.

“We have adapted our game to the absences we have, due to injuries, we have worked on tactics and fitness all this time and we will give everything to reach the final and claim the trophy.”

Dimitris Dimitroulias (AEK coaches): “Congratulations to the organizers and the four teams that are rightfully here. I feel good to be among coaches, with whom we have worked in the past and belong to the new generation of the sport.

For our part, after a difficult period, we have rested, we have the “clean” mind and energy for the institution, we are working on the details and I believe we are ready to perform 100%. Our goal is to win the Cup. “We have a ‘thirst’ for the titles to come and I feel that my team is very good.”

George Karasavvidis (OSFP coach): “Congratulations to all three contending teams for their season, for each one is a successful season for different reasons. The continuous improvement of all teams, in recent years, brings better results for our National team, as we see.

We are excited to be here. In the summer we set up the team almost from the beginning. I think we have our chances, we play with the big favorite, AEK, a team that has been together for three years. I believe that my team is very good, we have the personalities, but also the “tying” that is needed to pursue our goal against a team that plays very good handball “.

The athletes of the four finalists:

Giannis Alatsatianos (athlete of AESH Pylaia): “We are excited for our participation, we are looking forward to the Final Four. We come with good psychology to claim the qualification to the final, which this year also gives a European ‘ticket’, which we really want. We know PAOK, we are an outsider both in terms of budget and in terms of progress in the league.

We have worked for the semifinal and I hope we will be close. It is important the stress that we will have to come out creatively on the field. If everything goes well, we will be close enough to qualify and, beyond that, to claim what is due to us “.

Apostolos Palaskas (PAOK athlete): “We thank the players for this event. We, as PAOK athletes, must claim the trophies. This is what we came to do, despite our injuries and absences.

Sure, the team of Pylaia will have a “thirst” to win, but if we bring out the quality and character that we have as a team, I believe that we will be able to go to the final to claim the title. I wish health to all the athletes and for the best to get it “.

Christos Mylonas (AEK athlete): “We are coming from a ‘full’ season with many European games. Now, it’s time for the trophies, first for the Cup and then for the championship. These are our goals.

In the semifinals we have against us a commendable opponent. I believe that we have prepared properly to qualify and claim the trophy in the final “.

Petros Kandylas (Olympic SFP athlete): “We thank the Municipality of Kozani, the Region of Western Macedonia and the Federation. It is the first time that the three big clubs, together with the team of Pylaia, are in a Final Four and I think that gives glamor to the organization.

In the competitive part of the semifinal, the matches with AEK are always special, they have spectacle, emotions and raise the level. I do not think there are favorites, the odds are 50-50. The goalkeepers will play an important role and whoever keeps his defense closed will have the first say, we our 6-0 and AEK its 5-1. Good luck and let the best one win “.