It is crazy how things work in this world. This blog has helped re-unite me with a childhood friend. Many years ago, a childhood friend who lived 2 houses down from me moved away and I had lost touch with him. Back in the day, my brother and I along with the kids in the neighborhood used to play soccer in my backyard until we ruined my backyard because we wore out the grass. Then my mom made us find another place to play. However, after all this time he somehow found my blog online and got in touch with me through the Stevens athletic department. So thank you Brian and Russ for helping in re-uniting me with a childhood friend.
A big highlight of the past two weeks was that I got my first pro goal, and luckily my father was in the crowd to see it. It was a decent goal off a corner kick, however we ended up losing 2-1 in the last second of play. They had a corner kick in the closing seconds and they scored and once they scored the whistle blew. Right now, we are on a 4 game losing streak and not in a good position in the standings. However, we have 21 more games and this gives us a lot of time to gain points and move up in the table. I find myself getting more comfortable with the level of play. It's tougher because as the weeks pass, your body begins to get a little tired and you really need to take care of your fatigue.
I also got my first yellow card of my pro career the other day, which was for a stupid reason. The other team had a free kick and I was simply standing in the wall, and an opponent decided to try to stand in the wall to open space for the shot. I simply nudged the player a little bit to get him out of the wall, and he dropped to the ground. We both got yellow cards, and now I will probably also get my first small fine of my career for a stupid yellow card. Its ok though, coach said he liked my intensity.
For our next game we go to Paphos which is a team who came down from the 1st division last year. It is also very tough to win there because they have a very good team and very supportive fans. Regardless, we played them in a friendly and tied 1-1, so hopefully we can get some points when we go there.
My full body test results came back and they came back very good. My quadriceps and hamstrings were strong, my heart pumps well, body fat was low, and breathing was good. So along with a functional brain I am all set for soccer.
I also want to wish all the Stevens sports team's luck in postseason play. This time of year is always exciting around Stevens and I hope to catch a few webcasts. Good luck to all.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Struggling to Find form
So as the season continues on, we find ourselves in a bad position in the table. We are on a 4 game losing streak and we have in total 1 win and 4 losses. Although I scored my first professional goal last game which was a big achievement for me, we still lost the game in the last minute on a corner kick. Things are not going our way, and this is when we really need to focus hard in training and get the winning mentality back. We are off today, because we had a game yesterday and today I am just relaxing and recovering from some knocks I got in the game yesterday. It is tough because all I think about is soccer so when things aren't going well I am in a bad mood. I always think about the games that we lose and I think of every little situation that I could have done better. The worse thing is I got a stupid yellow card last game from getting in a tassle with an opposing player so I probably have a minor fine coming my way. It is still relatively early in the season so we have a lot of time to improve. Next week's game is going to be a very tough away game against Pafos, who were relegated from the 1st division last year. We played them in a friendly earlier in the season and we ended in a 1-1 draw. I remember I received a nice welcoming to the professional game by receiving an elbow to the jaw by one of their players. They have a quality team and we need to be at our best to go to their field and get points. Anyway, today I will probably go with some friends to a cafe to chill out and get my mind off of soccer for a little. The movie ATL is on the television tonight and I remember hearing about it when it came out so I am going to check it out. Other than that its a simple day for me.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Weekend Off
So having the weekend off for international games was good because we were given Saturday and Sunday off. I was interested in seeing the Cypriot national team play so I got tickets for the game versus Wales. I was very excited to go see because Wales had many players that played on very big teams in Europe specifically England. Cyprus also had some good players, but most of the players I have seen play before. Cyprus dominated the game and ended up winning the game 3-1, and performed very well. Overall, it was very inspiring to see the famous players I used to watch on TV in America play in person. Aside from the game, I went out with some friends for a coffee on Friday night and just relaxed the rest of the weekend. Training continued on Monday and it would be time to get serious for our next game.
I was told by the coach that I would have to go to this training center one morning to get a couple of tests done. These tests include strength test for the legs, body fat, flexibility test, and another test where you run on a treadmill and they monitor your breathing. The coaching staff does this to monitor the overall progression of the player throughout the course of the season. I had no problem with going, aside from the fact that the tests were at 9 am, but getting up early one day of the week is a sacrifice I am willing to make. Luckily because we have a game on Sunday we are given off on Thursday. However, if we have a game on Saturday we have off the day after.
I feel like I am having a good week of training and so I am happy. I find the best thing to do is always try to improve in training, because there is always something to learn and get better at.
I was told by the coach that I would have to go to this training center one morning to get a couple of tests done. These tests include strength test for the legs, body fat, flexibility test, and another test where you run on a treadmill and they monitor your breathing. The coaching staff does this to monitor the overall progression of the player throughout the course of the season. I had no problem with going, aside from the fact that the tests were at 9 am, but getting up early one day of the week is a sacrifice I am willing to make. Luckily because we have a game on Sunday we are given off on Thursday. However, if we have a game on Saturday we have off the day after.
I feel like I am having a good week of training and so I am happy. I find the best thing to do is always try to improve in training, because there is always something to learn and get better at.
Dad Visits
As the week dragged on, the time drew close when I would get to hang out with my dad. I had to get up early on Saturday morning to go pick him up from the airport. It was good to see him, because I had not seen him since July. I took him to training on Saturday morning and just showed him around. Coach had just posted a sheet in the locker room with certain team rules so I showed my dad what is expected of us. Also, he was interested in the list of fines. Fines are given to players for certain things like stupid yellow or red cards, fights, tardiness, etc. But he was happy to hear I had not been fined yet.
So the time came for the game and it didn’t turn out to be a good day. We lost at home and I did not get used in the game. I would have liked to play in front of my dad, but luckily he will be here for the next game two weeks from now so hopefully I will be used in that game. I stayed after the game and did a workout including running and weights because I did not want to lose any fitness. The following weekend we do not have a game because all leagues are off due to international games. We had Monday off so my dad and I went to the mall and checked out the Bourne Ultimatum. It was a really great film and I would recommend it to anyone. It probably came out a few months ago in the States but we are a little behind over here. It was good to have a day off and to do something not involving soccer. I am glad my dad is getting a taste of my new lifestyle which is a little different than it was back in NJ. Anyway, that is all from here and I hope to check out a few webcasts this weekend because I will have some free time.
So the time came for the game and it didn’t turn out to be a good day. We lost at home and I did not get used in the game. I would have liked to play in front of my dad, but luckily he will be here for the next game two weeks from now so hopefully I will be used in that game. I stayed after the game and did a workout including running and weights because I did not want to lose any fitness. The following weekend we do not have a game because all leagues are off due to international games. We had Monday off so my dad and I went to the mall and checked out the Bourne Ultimatum. It was a really great film and I would recommend it to anyone. It probably came out a few months ago in the States but we are a little behind over here. It was good to have a day off and to do something not involving soccer. I am glad my dad is getting a taste of my new lifestyle which is a little different than it was back in NJ. Anyway, that is all from here and I hope to check out a few webcasts this weekend because I will have some free time.
Season Begins
So all the excitement and hype for the season to begin was finally reaching its climax because September 23rd was finally here. Our coaching staff stressed the fact that we need to start off the season well and to make sure we establish the fact that’s its tough to win at our field. I was not in the starting lineup for the game; however we had a few injuries so I believed I would get my chance as a sub.
The day of the game was exciting, and the day started off with our 2nd team playing at 2 pm. The 2nd team consists of younger players on the team who are being developed for the first team. It is also used as a game for any 1st team players who are recovering from injury or are suspended from the 1st team game due to yellow or red cards. Our game was set to begin at 4:00 and the turn out wasn’t bad. We do not have a big stadium, it can probably hold about 1,000 but it looked like the stands had a good amount of people. The younger kids in the crowd were shooting off fireworks and confetti so it was interesting. Anyway, the game went relatively well and we won 4-2. I was substituted in the 60th minute, and I assisted on the 4th goal. I was pleased with my debut, and it was fun to get in there in front of the home crowd. Everyone on the team was happy after the win and was ready for the next game.
We went back to the usual routine after the game and it was fun to have a win under our belts. Coach still gave us criticism on Tuesday as is always the tradition, and we were now focusing on the next game which would be a tough away game.
We also had a team dinner in the midweek at a restaurant in the capital city of Nicosia. It was cool for everyone to get together and relax outside of the soccer field. Ironically, we were watching the cup games on TV, which we were supposed to playing in if we hadn't lost.
So now this past weekend we had a tough away game versus one of the bigger teams in the league. We were scheduled to play them at their home field which is never an easy place to win. The coach told me I would be starting the game so I was nervous and excited at the same time. I always get nervous before a game whether I am starting or not so this just added to it. The temperature at the start of the game was in the high 90's and because the field was near the sea there was added humidity so it was difficult conditions. The game did not go very well for us and we ended up losing 2-0. I did some good things on the field but overall I would consider it a mediocre performance by me. Mediocrity doesn't win games though so I was disappointed.
Now it is back to training and getting ready for our next game which is home. That is the difficult part about playing in the pros, you have one game a week and if you do not win you are stuck thinking about it for a whole week. Anyway, my father is flying out to Cyprus this week to visit so I am excited to see him and for him to watch a game. I will keep you all posted on how it goes…
The day of the game was exciting, and the day started off with our 2nd team playing at 2 pm. The 2nd team consists of younger players on the team who are being developed for the first team. It is also used as a game for any 1st team players who are recovering from injury or are suspended from the 1st team game due to yellow or red cards. Our game was set to begin at 4:00 and the turn out wasn’t bad. We do not have a big stadium, it can probably hold about 1,000 but it looked like the stands had a good amount of people. The younger kids in the crowd were shooting off fireworks and confetti so it was interesting. Anyway, the game went relatively well and we won 4-2. I was substituted in the 60th minute, and I assisted on the 4th goal. I was pleased with my debut, and it was fun to get in there in front of the home crowd. Everyone on the team was happy after the win and was ready for the next game.
We went back to the usual routine after the game and it was fun to have a win under our belts. Coach still gave us criticism on Tuesday as is always the tradition, and we were now focusing on the next game which would be a tough away game.
We also had a team dinner in the midweek at a restaurant in the capital city of Nicosia. It was cool for everyone to get together and relax outside of the soccer field. Ironically, we were watching the cup games on TV, which we were supposed to playing in if we hadn't lost.
So now this past weekend we had a tough away game versus one of the bigger teams in the league. We were scheduled to play them at their home field which is never an easy place to win. The coach told me I would be starting the game so I was nervous and excited at the same time. I always get nervous before a game whether I am starting or not so this just added to it. The temperature at the start of the game was in the high 90's and because the field was near the sea there was added humidity so it was difficult conditions. The game did not go very well for us and we ended up losing 2-0. I did some good things on the field but overall I would consider it a mediocre performance by me. Mediocrity doesn't win games though so I was disappointed.
Now it is back to training and getting ready for our next game which is home. That is the difficult part about playing in the pros, you have one game a week and if you do not win you are stuck thinking about it for a whole week. Anyway, my father is flying out to Cyprus this week to visit so I am excited to see him and for him to watch a game. I will keep you all posted on how it goes…
First Earthquake and Weigh In
We returned from Moldova early on Saturday morning and I was glad to hear that we had the weekend off. It was a much needed rest because the training was taking a toll on me. Over the weekend, I went out with a couple of teammates to see the city and just got away from soccer for a little.
We began training again on Monday and coach talked to us about the importance of being under the designated weight that they set for us. Prior to pre-season we were all weighed and given a "playing weight." This was the weight the coach wanted us to maintain during the season. They wanted me to play at 184 pounds (83.4 kilos) which was a 4-5 pound difference from what I was my senior year at Stevens. I had been watching my diet so I knew I was losing, but I did not realize that the next day they would be weighing us and whoever was overweight would be fined. So sure enough I got on the scale and was less than 1 kilo overweight so I did not get fined.
So after training one night I stopped by my cousin's house for dinner. After I was finished eating and hanging out, I went in the house to get my keys to leave. As I go to pick up my keys I notice that the wall to my left begins to shake. I did not think anything of it, until I looked around and everything was shaking. Next thing I know my cousin yells "EARTHQUAKE" and says to get out of the house. All the shaking only lasted about 10 seconds but it was crazy. We later found out on the news that it was a 4.6 on the Richter scale, which is light and not very harmful. It was actually one of the most interesting things that has happened to me, but I would not want it to happen again.
A few days after the quake was our last scrimmage which was against a team we would be competing with this year in the league. I was informed the day before the game that I would be getting the start so I was excited. Although I started a game in Moldova, I felt that after a long preseason, I know the team better and am a lot more comfortable than I was.
It was a very physical game, and we ended up with a 1-1 draw. I had the assist on our goal, and could have scored the game-winner in the 90th minute but I hit the post! I just would have been too good to be true. Overall, the game was a success for the team because we played well enough to win but were unlucky. I was also happy that the coach trusted me to play the full 90 minutes.
We began training again on Monday and coach talked to us about the importance of being under the designated weight that they set for us. Prior to pre-season we were all weighed and given a "playing weight." This was the weight the coach wanted us to maintain during the season. They wanted me to play at 184 pounds (83.4 kilos) which was a 4-5 pound difference from what I was my senior year at Stevens. I had been watching my diet so I knew I was losing, but I did not realize that the next day they would be weighing us and whoever was overweight would be fined. So sure enough I got on the scale and was less than 1 kilo overweight so I did not get fined.
So after training one night I stopped by my cousin's house for dinner. After I was finished eating and hanging out, I went in the house to get my keys to leave. As I go to pick up my keys I notice that the wall to my left begins to shake. I did not think anything of it, until I looked around and everything was shaking. Next thing I know my cousin yells "EARTHQUAKE" and says to get out of the house. All the shaking only lasted about 10 seconds but it was crazy. We later found out on the news that it was a 4.6 on the Richter scale, which is light and not very harmful. It was actually one of the most interesting things that has happened to me, but I would not want it to happen again.
A few days after the quake was our last scrimmage which was against a team we would be competing with this year in the league. I was informed the day before the game that I would be getting the start so I was excited. Although I started a game in Moldova, I felt that after a long preseason, I know the team better and am a lot more comfortable than I was.
It was a very physical game, and we ended up with a 1-1 draw. I had the assist on our goal, and could have scored the game-winner in the 90th minute but I hit the post! I just would have been too good to be true. Overall, the game was a success for the team because we played well enough to win but were unlucky. I was also happy that the coach trusted me to play the full 90 minutes.
Preseason in Moldova
So preseason training was set to begin and I was very nervous because I did not know what to expect in terms of how hard it would be. However, a few days before the start of preseason training I picked up an intestinal virus. This was a huge setback because I had been training for many months prior to coming to Cyprus and I did not want anything to get in the way of training. Nevertheless, I was extremely ill for about a week and a half which made me miss the first few days of training. Luckily, we have about 2 months for preseason so missing a couple days was not a big deal. Once I was fully healthy, I began training with the team and got to work.
After a couple of days of training, I was no longer nervous because I saw the training was not so bad after all. The coaches have more time to get the team to full fitness so getting in game shape is more of a gradual process. Obviously coming to a new team, I knew it would be difficult at first because I did not know the players well and the drills in training were new to me. However, soccer is soccer no matter where you are so I knew I could fit right in once we got playing.
After a few weeks of training in Cyprus, we were set to leave for Moldova for 12 days in order to do more preseason training and play some scrimmages. The preseason trip would allow for the team to get closer and allow for better training environment because in Cyprus it is very hot during the summer. In Moldova, we stayed at the grounds of FC Sheriff, which is a team that competes in the Moldovan 1st division. Their facilities were the best soccer specific facilities I have ever seen. They had an Olympic size pool, a full-size indoor turf field, indoor futsal arena, 8 outside grass training fields, 2 sauna's, cafeteria with full staff, masseuse and 2 stadiums. They also had dormitories which we stayed in that are for the players in the FC Sheriff system.
The schedule in Moldova went something like this; we would get up at 8 and eat breakfast, then training from 10-12, lunch at 1, relax/massage/therapy 2-5, training at 6-8, dinner 8:30, and then curfew at 11. After about 6 days of this schedule, the coach gave us the morning off and allowed our curfew to be until 4 am. The coach and president stressed that we should act like adults when we are out and that anyone who comes back after the allotted curfew would be fined and punished. So we all went out together downtown and enjoyed some team bonding. After a night of fun it was back to training and we continued our normal schedule for the rest of the trip. We were scheduled to have another free night to go out on the town, but one of our teammates decided to miss curfew so we were all punished. We ended up playing 3 friendlies in Moldova in which we went 1-1-1. I played in all the friendlies and started the 3rd one. I think the trip was a definite success for me because I got to know the players a lot better and now I felt like part of the "family". I also got more accustomed to the level of play, and the tactics the team uses.
Now we were on our way back to Cyprus and even though the preseason training was done in Moldova, we still had a lot more time before our first real game. Our first cup game is Sept. 8th with the 2nd leg on Sept. 15th. The season begins Sept. 23rd so we still have many more training sessions along with a couple of friendlies.
After a couple of days of training, I was no longer nervous because I saw the training was not so bad after all. The coaches have more time to get the team to full fitness so getting in game shape is more of a gradual process. Obviously coming to a new team, I knew it would be difficult at first because I did not know the players well and the drills in training were new to me. However, soccer is soccer no matter where you are so I knew I could fit right in once we got playing.
After a few weeks of training in Cyprus, we were set to leave for Moldova for 12 days in order to do more preseason training and play some scrimmages. The preseason trip would allow for the team to get closer and allow for better training environment because in Cyprus it is very hot during the summer. In Moldova, we stayed at the grounds of FC Sheriff, which is a team that competes in the Moldovan 1st division. Their facilities were the best soccer specific facilities I have ever seen. They had an Olympic size pool, a full-size indoor turf field, indoor futsal arena, 8 outside grass training fields, 2 sauna's, cafeteria with full staff, masseuse and 2 stadiums. They also had dormitories which we stayed in that are for the players in the FC Sheriff system.
The schedule in Moldova went something like this; we would get up at 8 and eat breakfast, then training from 10-12, lunch at 1, relax/massage/therapy 2-5, training at 6-8, dinner 8:30, and then curfew at 11. After about 6 days of this schedule, the coach gave us the morning off and allowed our curfew to be until 4 am. The coach and president stressed that we should act like adults when we are out and that anyone who comes back after the allotted curfew would be fined and punished. So we all went out together downtown and enjoyed some team bonding. After a night of fun it was back to training and we continued our normal schedule for the rest of the trip. We were scheduled to have another free night to go out on the town, but one of our teammates decided to miss curfew so we were all punished. We ended up playing 3 friendlies in Moldova in which we went 1-1-1. I played in all the friendlies and started the 3rd one. I think the trip was a definite success for me because I got to know the players a lot better and now I felt like part of the "family". I also got more accustomed to the level of play, and the tactics the team uses.
Now we were on our way back to Cyprus and even though the preseason training was done in Moldova, we still had a lot more time before our first real game. Our first cup game is Sept. 8th with the 2nd leg on Sept. 15th. The season begins Sept. 23rd so we still have many more training sessions along with a couple of friendlies.
Leaving Home/ First Days
The toughest part about pursuing a pro soccer career in Cyprus was leaving New Jersey. I knew I would especially miss Hoboken, not only because of the strong friendships I have established there but also the extracurricular activities that Hoboken offers at night. I would now have to start a whole new life in a place where the culture, food, language and weather were all different than what I was accustomed to. However, being half-Cypriot and having visited the island for vacation in the summers, I knew I would get acclimated after a few weeks.
So as I arrived on the island and settled into my new living quarters, I realized the experience was much like when I was a freshmen coming into Stevens. I would be moving into a new dormitory with a new roommate. However, the dormitory in my case is my grandmother's house and the new roommate is my grandmother. After getting settled, I had to meet with the coach and the president of the club to speak about what they expected from me. It was a good meeting and it helped me understand more about the organization and how they do things.
In the days after the meeting I had to do a couple of different things before I could start training. First, I had to go to the physio (trainer) to test the strength in my legs and to see what muscles in my legs needed to be stronger. This helps the coach get an understanding of what I need to work on in terms of strength. The second thing I needed to do was get a full medical to make sure I was healthy. I had to get x-rays of my chest, blood test, urine test, and an ecocardiogram. Luckily everything came out normal and I passed the medical. After passing the medical I was free to begin training so I was excited.
So as I arrived on the island and settled into my new living quarters, I realized the experience was much like when I was a freshmen coming into Stevens. I would be moving into a new dormitory with a new roommate. However, the dormitory in my case is my grandmother's house and the new roommate is my grandmother. After getting settled, I had to meet with the coach and the president of the club to speak about what they expected from me. It was a good meeting and it helped me understand more about the organization and how they do things.
In the days after the meeting I had to do a couple of different things before I could start training. First, I had to go to the physio (trainer) to test the strength in my legs and to see what muscles in my legs needed to be stronger. This helps the coach get an understanding of what I need to work on in terms of strength. The second thing I needed to do was get a full medical to make sure I was healthy. I had to get x-rays of my chest, blood test, urine test, and an ecocardiogram. Luckily everything came out normal and I passed the medical. After passing the medical I was free to begin training so I was excited.
Introduction to Beyond the Pond
Hello friends, before I begin my blog I would like to introduce myself to all who are reading. My name is Nick Gkionis and I recently graduated from Stevens with a degree in Chemical Biology. However, unlike many of my colleagues who proceeded on to medical school, graduate school or high paying jobs after graduation, I decided to pursue a career in professional soccer. Ever since I was a kid it was a dream of mine to play soccer professionally so once it became a realistic option I decided to go for it. I, recently, signed a contract to play for a team in Cyprus named MEAP Nisou. This blog will give you an interesting perspective on my life in the Mediterranean as I try to progress as a professional athlete.
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