Stange bouyant at Apollon

Bernd Stange's Apollon Limassol FC are still top of the Cypriot First Division, although APOEL FC are in hot pursuit under new Polish coach Jerzy Engel.

New-look Apollon
Bank-rolled by new owner Freddy John Paul, Apollon continue to defy expectations in Cyprus and have signed some fine players including Portuguese pair João Pedro Paiva and Helio Pinto, Iraqi internationals Jassim Arig and Karim Mahdi, English midfielder Craig Hignett and Czech goalkeeper Aleš Chvalovský.

Derby win
Despite being expected to be overhauled by the island's more powerful clubs, the Limassol side picked up four points from two crucial games recently, earning a 1-1 draw against AC Omonia in Nicosia before goals by top scorer Lukasz Sosin and Christoforos Christofi secured a 2-0 derby win against AEL Limassol FC.

Champions defeated
APOEL also picked up four points from their last two league games and remain two points off the summit. A 1-1 draw away to AEL was followed by a 5-3 victory against Timuri Ketsbaia's Anorthosis Famagusta FC in Nicosia, with Marios Neophytou scoring two penalties.

Omonia in pursuit
Third-placed Omonia, who recently signed Olympiakos Nicosia FC's German striker Paulo Rink, are also in with a shout after a hard-earned 1-0 win at Nea Salamina FC last weekend. Anorthosis, in fourth, are now eight points off the pace in the league and look hard pushed to defend the title they won last season.

Record win
Elsewhere, a 7-1 defeat against fellow strugglers APOP Kinyras/Peyias FC prompted ENTHOI Lakatamias FC coach Savvas Paraskevas to resign with Bulgarian Georgi Petkov stepping in to replace him. Ethnikos Achnas FC coach Mironas Sifakis has also resigned following a 2-0 loss at Dighenis Morphou FC.

AEK change
AEK Larnaca FC also parted company with their coach as Nikolai Kosdov resigned in the aftermath of a 2-1 defeat against Troodos mountains side APEP Kyperounda FC. It was APEP's first win of the season at the 12th attempt. Marios Konstantinou has been appointed.