Maccabi Tel Aviv to play home Euroleague matches in Limassol

Limassol, Cyprus. Israeli basketball team Maccabi Tel Aviv will play its home Euroleague matches in Limassol, Cyprus Sports Organisation (KOA) chairman Yiannis Ioannou said on Tuesday. The announcement followed a meeting of stakeholders and an official visit to the city’s Spyros Kyprianou indoor arena.

Arena preparations

Ioannou told the Cyprus News Agency that representatives of KOA, the police, Maccabi Tel Aviv and the stadium authorities attended the meeting.

Related: Maccabi Tel Aviv set to stage EuroLeague home games in Limassol, starting November 12

RelatedMaccabi Tel Aviv set to stage EuroLeague home games in Limassol, starting November 12

It followed a letter sent last Friday in which President Nikos Christodoulides, the police and KOA confirmed to Euroleague that Maccabi Tel Aviv could use the arena.

Ioannou said the venue was “ready to use” and that Maccabi Tel Aviv would be responsible for installing the “special equipment” required for Euroleague basketball matches.

The team’s first game in Limassol will be against Real Madrid on October 22.

Security arrangements

The Cyprus News Agency, citing sources it described as “comprehensive”, reported that extensive security measures were expected in and around Limassol on matchdays.

Security and fixture organisation may become more complicated when Maccabi Tel Aviv host Turkish club Anadolu Efes on December 23, with other Turkish teams potentially travelling to Cyprus for subsequent matches.

Home fixture schedule

After the Real Madrid game, Maccabi Tel Aviv are scheduled to face Paris Basketball on October 29, Hapoel Tel Aviv on November 12, Olympiacos Piraeus on November 17, Dubai Basketball on November 19 and Zalgiris Kaunas on December 15, before hosting Anadolu Efes.

Next year’s fixtures include Panathinaikos on January 7, Virtus Bologna on February 7, Barcelona on February 11, Red Star Belgrade on March 9, Lyon on March 11 and Valencia on March 18.

Maccabi Tel Aviv are scheduled to host Turkish club Fenerbahce in Limassol on April 1. The match coincides with the public holiday observed by Greek Cypriots marking the 72nd anniversary of the formation of Eoka, the paramilitary organisation that fought to unify the island with Greece.