Istanbul giants count the cost
Thursday, May 1, 2003
Article summary
Galatasaray SK and Besiktas JK both lost key players through injury in Turkey's friendly loss on Wednesday.
Article body
Turkish title challengers Galatasaray SK and Besiktas JK will both be missing key players for forthcoming matches after Hasan Sas and Ilhan Mansiz were injured during Turkey's 4-0 international friendly loss to the Czech Republic on Wednesday.
Right knee
Galatasaray club doctor Serhan Kurtulmus, who is already treating Ali Lukunku and Abel Xavier to get them fit for the upcoming game against Trabzonspor, was hopeful that Hasan Sas would be fit soon. "According to the result of the scan, he has a tendon problem in his right knee," he said. "We have immediately started the treatment and I believe that he will play before the end of the season."
Mansiz injured
Mansiz, meanwhile, will miss this weekend's game against Altay GK and possibly his side's subsequent league fixture against Adanaspor AS in a fortnight's time. "He had a problem with his left knee," reported Besiktas club doctor Ayhan Optur. "A cover which protects the muscles there is damaged. It may take around two weeks."
Tense finale
With just five games remaining until the end of the season, Besiktas top the table with 70 points, but Galatasaray are hot on their heels, lying one place and three points behind their Istanbul rivals.
