AYMA, Nicosia
Encyclopedia
AYMA in Nicosia is a cultural and sporting club of the Armenians of Cyprus
. A member of the international federation AYMA, it was founded in 1934 in the Armenian quarter of Nicosia
, with colours black and white and first president Anania Mahdessian. Today the colours are the colours of the Armenian flag, i.e. red, blue and orange. The club reserves football team, and previously had a hockey team and table tennis.
, Nicosia, very near the Sourp Asdvadzadzin
church. In the same premises are housed the Armenian National Committee of Cyprus (1965), the local branch of the Armenian Youth Federation (1977), the Azadamard Youth Centre (1986), the Armenian Relief Society (HOM
, 1988) and the Armenian Educational and Cultural Association of Cyprus (Hamazkayin
, 1949/1999), all branches of the ARF Dashnaktsoutiun
party ,.
In the premises of AYMA and/or by its affiliated associations are organised various social, cultural and charity events, such as lunches, speeches, exhibitions, fund-raisings etc. AYMA is also a place where old and young members of the Armenian-Cypriot community gather to relax, converse and play cards, billiards and tavli. The Armenian Youth Federation organises summer camps, while Hamazkayin organises dance and theatre performances, as well as art exhibitions. In late 2009, the club was renovated and enlarged and was officially inaugurated on 28 February 2010 by Armenian MP Vartkes Mahdessian.
On 28 April 2002, Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian unveilled an obelisk containing some bone remains of martyrs from the Der Zor desert in Syria.
, receiving position 4, while in the Cup it reached the semifinals, where it was excluded by AEL
. In the next season (1948–49), AYMA takes position 6 while for a second consecutive time reaches the semifinals for the cup losing again to AEL. These were her best participations in the 1st division of Cypriot football, in the next participations it finished in the last positions of marking.
The 1949-1950 championship was one of the worse for AYMA, as it finished 8th and last, in the cup it reached once again the semifinals, losing to Pezoporikos. The fall continued also during the 1950-51 period, taking the 7th pre-last position and excluded from the cup in the first round. In 1951-52 again in the 7th place and exclusion in the first round of the cup, 8th place in 1952-53 and 9th in 1953-54. In 1954-55 it finished 8th, 9th in 1955-56 and her last presence in the 1st Division in 1960-61, terminating 13th and final.
Overall, it had 11 participations and in 176 matches it had 23 victories, 126 defeats and 27 ties. In fact, in the 1953 and 1962 championships it had no victory.
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. A member of the international federation AYMA, it was founded in 1934 in the Armenian quarter of Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
, with colours black and white and first president Anania Mahdessian. Today the colours are the colours of the Armenian flag, i.e. red, blue and orange. The club reserves football team, and previously had a hockey team and table tennis.
A centre of Armenian-Cypriot national, cultural and social life
AYMA is considered to be one main centres of Armenian-Cypriot cultural and social life. Its premises are located in StrovolosStrovolos
Strovolos is a municipality of Nicosia. With a population of near 70,000, it is the second biggest municipality of Cyprus, after Limassol, and the biggest municipality of Nicosia...
, Nicosia, very near the Sourp Asdvadzadzin
Sourp Asdvadzadzin
Sourp Asdvadzadzin is the Armenian Apostolic cathedral in Strovolos, Nicosia, Cyprus.Following the 1963-1964 inter-communal troubles, the Armenian-Cypriot community of Nicosia lost its mediaeval church Notre Dame de Tyre to extremist Turkish-Cypriots. As a result, President Makarios granted them...
church. In the same premises are housed the Armenian National Committee of Cyprus (1965), the local branch of the Armenian Youth Federation (1977), the Azadamard Youth Centre (1986), the Armenian Relief Society (HOM
Armenian Relief Society
The Armenian Relief Society, A.R.S or H.O.M , is an independent, non-governmental and non-sectarian organization and NGO, serving the social and educational needs of Armenian communities everywhere, seeking to preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian nation, and, whenever and wherever the...
, 1988) and the Armenian Educational and Cultural Association of Cyprus (Hamazkayin
Hamazkayin
Hamazkayin , short for Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society, is a major cultural organization of the Armenian Diaspora, with a presence in every significant Armenian community worldwide...
, 1949/1999), all branches of the ARF Dashnaktsoutiun
Armenian Revolutionary Federation
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation is an Armenian political party founded in Tiflis in 1890 by Christapor Mikaelian, Stepan Zorian, and Simon Zavarian...
party ,.
In the premises of AYMA and/or by its affiliated associations are organised various social, cultural and charity events, such as lunches, speeches, exhibitions, fund-raisings etc. AYMA is also a place where old and young members of the Armenian-Cypriot community gather to relax, converse and play cards, billiards and tavli. The Armenian Youth Federation organises summer camps, while Hamazkayin organises dance and theatre performances, as well as art exhibitions. In late 2009, the club was renovated and enlarged and was officially inaugurated on 28 February 2010 by Armenian MP Vartkes Mahdessian.
On 28 April 2002, Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian unveilled an obelisk containing some bone remains of martyrs from the Der Zor desert in Syria.
Football
During the first years it participated in friendly games, until joining KOP. Today the club participates in the amateur championships of Nicosia and the agricultural championships of Cyprus.Participations in the 1st Division
AYMA joined KOP in 1945. In 1947 it participated in the 1st DivisionCypriot First Division
The Cypriot Championship First Division is the top tier football league competition in Cyprus. As of 2007 it is sponsored by Marfin Popular Bank and is hence officially known as Marfin Laiki League .-Format:...
, receiving position 4, while in the Cup it reached the semifinals, where it was excluded by AEL
AEL Limassol
Athlitiki Enosi Lemesou , commonly known as AEL Limassol , is a Greek Cypriot multisport club based in the city of Limassol, the port of Cyprus....
. In the next season (1948–49), AYMA takes position 6 while for a second consecutive time reaches the semifinals for the cup losing again to AEL. These were her best participations in the 1st division of Cypriot football, in the next participations it finished in the last positions of marking.
The 1949-1950 championship was one of the worse for AYMA, as it finished 8th and last, in the cup it reached once again the semifinals, losing to Pezoporikos. The fall continued also during the 1950-51 period, taking the 7th pre-last position and excluded from the cup in the first round. In 1951-52 again in the 7th place and exclusion in the first round of the cup, 8th place in 1952-53 and 9th in 1953-54. In 1954-55 it finished 8th, 9th in 1955-56 and her last presence in the 1st Division in 1960-61, terminating 13th and final.
Overall, it had 11 participations and in 176 matches it had 23 victories, 126 defeats and 27 ties. In fact, in the 1953 and 1962 championships it had no victory.
Hockey
AYMA was a pioneer of hockey in Cyprus, participating in all three championships that took place after World War II, winning one. It also participating in internationa friendly games with distinction.Field
The club was originally based in its own field on Roccas bastion of the Wall of Nicosia, since 1947 it uses GSP.Sources
- Μιχάλη Γαβριηλίδη - Στέλιου Παπαμωυσέους, Ένας αιώνας Κυπριακό ποδόσφαιρο, 2001
- ΑΠΟΕΛ 1926-2001 75 χρόνια ένδοξης πορείας, έκδοση ΑΠΟΕΛ Λευκωσία 2002