MEAP Pera Choriou Nisou (Greek: ΜΕΑΠ Πέρα Χωριού Νήσου; short for Μικτή Ερυθρού Αστέρα Προόδου Πέρα Χωριού Νήσου, Mikti Erithrou Astera Proodou, "Selected team of Erithros Asteras and Proodos") is a Cypriot football club from the village of Nisou. The club was founded in the small town of Nisou near the city of Nicosia in 1981, following the merge of Erithros Asteras (Red Star) and Proodos (Progress). The colors of the team are red and white. The club currently competes in the Cypriot Second Division.

MEAP Nisou
Full nameMikti Erithrou Astera Proodou Pera Choriou Nisou
Nickname(s)MEAP Nisou
Founded1980; 44 years ago (1980)
GroundTheodorio Koinotiko (Nisou)
Capacity1,000
ChairmanAndreas Chrysostomou
LeagueSecond Division
2023–24Second Division, 13th

History

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Establishment

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Pera Chorio-Nisou community consists of 2 neighboring villages, Nisou and Pera Chorio. In 1958, the first sports club in Pera Horio was founded under the name Athletic Youth Club (Α.Ο.Ν.). A few months after the founding of the club came to Cyprus for friendly matches Red Star Belgrade, an important and well known team of the time in Europe. The AO.N. hosted the Red Star at her club and for that reason, in 1959, it was decided to rename the club to Erythros Asteras (Red Star). At the same time, at Nisou was established the club Proodos (Progress). Both teams were part of the same federation of rural football, The Federation of Nicosia (POEL), in which the Erythros Asteras was one of founding members and were competing at the same league. There was rivalry between the two teams.[1]

In 1979, it was decided to merge the two groups, which took place in 1980. The new club was named Mikti Erithrou Astera Proodou (MEAP). From the first period, the united team claimed its promotion to the third division, but lost to the semi-finals of the STOK championship.[1]

Early years

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In the early years, the presence of the MEAP in the agricultural championship that participated was moderate. In 1984, the fourth division was formed, involving associations from the agricultural federations, following the suggestions of the federations themselves. For political reasons, POEL did not propose MEAP, although at that time it had won the championship of the federation, the championship of the championships and had reached the semifinals of the STOK championship.[1] However, in the following period the club secured its promotion through the STOK championship.

Period 1986–1999

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In 1986, the club promoted in the Cyprus Football Association (CFA) as a fourth division member. From 1986 to 2000 it participated in the fourth division.

2000–2009 decade

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In the 1999–00 season won the fourth division championship and also the climbing ticket in the third division. There were 4 consecutive appearances third division championship, where the team finished in positions in the first half of the table, culminating in the 2003–04 season that secured the second place and the promotion in the second division.[1]

In second division the team participated for six consecutive seasons. In the 2005–06 season it finished in 6th place, the highest position in its history. The next period, it reached the round of 16 of the Cypriot Cup, which is its best proceeding in the competition.

2010– decade

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In the 2009–10 season the club ranked 14th and in the last position of the championship and was relegated to the third division. There was another relegation to the fourth division in the following season. It remained for two periods in fourth division. In the 2012–13 season won the championship and gained the promotion to third division. The following season finished fifth in the championship. In the 2014–15 season finished in 4th place, just two points behind the third place leading to the second division. In the 2017–18 season finished in second place of the championship, ensuring its return to the second division.

Current squad

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As of 8 January 2019

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   GRE Eleftherios Chatziadamidis
2 DF   CYP Christos Constantinou
3 DF   CYP Giorgos Costa
4 MF   CYP Thanasis Liasides
5 MF   CYP Nicolas Peppos
6 MF   CYP Sergios Panayiotou
7 FW   CYP Charalampos Mouzouros
8 MF   CYP Evangelos Kallikas (Vice captain)
9 FW   NOR Samuel Narh
10 MF   CYP Giorgos Siapanis
11 FW   CYP Panos Demetriou
13 GK   CRO Hrvoje Bukovski
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 FW   GHA Samad Oppong
18 GK   CYP Antonis Mavrantonis (on loan from Doxa Katokopias)
20 DF   FRA Paul Romain Bangwent
21 DF   CYP Constantinos Constantinou
22 DF   CYP Renos Erodotou
24 DF   CYP Stelios Mina
27 DF   CYP Michalis Clark (on loan from Omonia)
37 MF   BRA Luciano Bebê
40 DF   CYP Foivos Christodoulou (on loan from Omonia)
46 MF   CYP Demetris Christofi
77 DF   CYP Panayiotis Panayiotou
83 FW   CYP Panayiotis Roussos (Captain)

Honours

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2000, 2013

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Να γιατί είναι το καμάρι του κυπριακού ποδοσφαίρου!". www.politis-sports.com. Archived from the original on 2013-06-30. Retrieved 29 March 2014.