What did he say about his involvement in football with Panathinaikos and Olympiacos?
About his history in Greek football, his love for Panionios but also for the strongmen of PAOK and AEK, Ivan Savidis and Dimitris Melissanidis respectively, Lefteris Pantazis, among others, spoke in the podcast “Conversation in PI & FI” with Tomas Mikos .
Analytically:
On whether sports are one of his greatest passions: “Definitely! I used to play football as a child, then I decided to deal with the new kids. I had a whole sports center in Voula. It brought together children who were eager to learn and even cooperated with big teams like Panionios, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos and AEK. The love of football made me I create it. I was also a great talent, but the song blew my mind!”
On his involvement in professional sports and the possibility of him actively participating again: “I have received suggestions from time to time. Panionios also called me to take charge again and spend beautiful moments like before. But I don't know if I have the stamina anymore because I work long hours and don't have the time I need to devote myself to football. Of course, I am a football fan, but I am not a football fan. I really like it and watch it when I have time. I like footbal. “I don't know now if I can live up to the task of taking charge of the team.”
On whether there is still room in football for people like him: “When I took over, I was helped a lot by the football expert, Achilleas Pius. I didn't go to make money, nor to become a millionaire, nor to make headlines, I was Lefteris Pantazis, who people knew me from the song. In fact, when I went there for the first time we had 300 people.” Every Sunday in the stadium and when I left there were 3,500 of us! We gave love to the world, we made good transfers, we built a nice team that did well in the league, we went to Europe, we played against Barcelona. We did everything well! Today, With everything going on, things have become so wild. Your soul withers with the image we see of empty stands in stadiums. But, we are all to blame. We have seen deaths, injuries and fans hitting each other. This is not good for football. Football is a celebration. I remember every day On Saturday, I used to go to the stadium with my family. Now you are afraid to go to the stadium with your children because you do not know if you will bring them home! I do not know if the measures taken by the government are the best, but this is not the image of Greek football, which is full of young children and talent. When I had the position The athlete I saw many talents and their parents were happy to see them playing. There will always be talent. People should go to the stadium and have a good time, it's a game. “What we see now is a sin from God.”
On whether he feels sad about Panionios’ absence from the Premier League for several years: “Some people made wrong moves and poor management to get the team there. It's in good shape now from what I hear. In fact, I went and watched the team's game closely and they won, I must have brought them a good luck charm. They keep calling me and asking me to take over “The responsibility of the team so that it can go back to how it was before. The love of football is like the first bond that you want to live with forever. That's what football is.”
On whether he maintained contacts with Hatsipanagis: “Vassilis Chatzipanagis is my friend. We talked for two years because he also has his own jobs and children. I would put this footballer among the best players in Europe if he moved abroad. It was a pity that he stayed at Heracles, without wanting to offend the presidents who served at that time Nor to the Heracles fans. He was the only footballer who had clubs, who traveled to see him perform his tricks, like Maradona and Messi. He also had this… the solopi, he was left-handed and a great dribbler. He was unlucky not to play for the Greek national team. Maybe “He didn't have a huge career, but he made history in Greece. We're talking about a real talent.”
According to Dimitris Melissanidis: “We've known each other since we were children. When I started I was drawing his father's shoes falsely! His father loved me very much. I was making my living there, and we have known each other ever since. Dimitris is a football connoisseur and since joining AEK he has lived great moments. “The team has played very good football over the last two years.”
For Ivan Savvidis: “He was my friend. We first met at the Pontius Russian Dance in Moscow where I went to sing. We never stopped being friends. He, like Pontius, did a great job, helped a lot of people. He also helps the church, and he helped the PAOK club a lot in the years “I think he and Melissanidis contributed to football. Of course, this does not mean that the presidents of Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, former and current, are not my friends.”
Then he added: “Because I am a sports fan, I have always had friendships with all the presidents and all the footballers. Everyone comes to hear me in the positions where I sing. And so as not to annoy them, when they asked me about my team, I answered Greece! But, like Pontius, I probably have feelings for AEK AEK, PAOK, Panionios. This does not mean that I do not like or like the good football that other teams play. When you are a fan of sports you like good football. When Greek teams play in Europe I support them because I am Greek and I like Greece to get points and advance In Europe. This is the way I want people to love me because I came to Greece from abroad and I cannot understand the distinction between groups and parties. We must never forget that we are Greeks and that we must love each other. We have to be tight-fisted so they don't eat us cabbage! We must take care of Greece like our own eyes.”
Read also: New… Bakasetas to Pau – Al-Fouzos also brings a second Greek from AEK – Norwich decided to include Giannoulis!
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