Fenerbahçe handed Champions League boost
Monday, August 19, 2002
Article summary
Fenerbahçe SK's European hopes were boosted today by the postponement of their next league game.
Article body
The Turkish Football Association (TFF) has postponed Fenerbahçe SK's game against Gaziantepspor on Friday to allow the Istanbul club more time to prepare for next week's UEFA Champions League third qualifying round second-leg match against Feyenoord.
'National issue'
"The request was considered with satisfaction as a national issue and the match was postponed to a later date by the federation," the TFF said in a statement today. Fenerbahçe play UEFA Cup holders Feyenoord on 27 August, with the Turkish side trailing 1-0 from the first leg. The winner earns a place in the competition proper.
Determined to do better
Last season the TFF postponed some of Galatasaray SK's league fixtures for the sake of their Champions League campaign. Fenerbahçe, however, crashed out of the first group stage of the competition without a single point and are determined to do better this season.
