A social media campaign has begun in support of Greece’s Rugby League team, due to November's crucial home World Cup Qualifier against Scotland coming under threat from Greek authorities.
Greece’s 56-26 win against Norway last month means they need to beat either Scotland or Russia to make history and secure a spot in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England.
However, the victory was marred by reports that expelled Hellenic Rugby League Federation president Anastasios ‘Tasos’ Pantazidis, who also works for the Greek Ministry of Sport will attempt to ban the Greek national team from playing.
Newtown Jets assistant Jim Pizanias, who took charge of Greece against Norway said home grown advantage against Scotland is vital and is hoping the #LetGreecePlay campaign will boost their chances of playing in Athens.
“Pantazidis has tried to stop games in Greece and that’s going to be our issue moving forward when we play Scotland,” he told Inside Sport.
“But I know that the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) is meeting with the Greek authorities and we are hoping that can be resolved and we can play our game in Greece.
“Our home game against Scotland will be played on the weekend of the 2nd/3rd November 2019 and we are hoping that will be in Athens and that we are going to try to get a massive crowd.
“A week later we then travel play Russia in Russia and that will be tough game. So if we can possibly win one out of those two games we are on our way to the World Cup in 2021 in England.”
One of the key players of the Greek Rugby League side is South Sydney Jersey Flegg player Peter Mamouzelos.
The Rabbitohs’ rising star scored four tries in the win over Norway, and he told Inside Sport that he was confident Greece can get the result it needs.
“That’s our end goal as a team and country to make it to England," he told Inside Sport.
“We know what is in front of us. Both Scotland and Russia are two great teams and if we are to win one of those and reach the World Cup it would mean so much, not only to the team and the players but everyone in Greece an all the Greek Australians over here.
Mamouzelos added, “Over the last 10 years our head coach Steve Georgalis, Jim PIzanias and Jim Minadakis and everyone behind the scenes have been put so much time into the Greek Rugby league team.
“To start a domestic competition in Greece and develop those players they have put a lot of time and to do it for them is something that would mean the world to all Greeks and hopefully we can make that World Cup and make every one’s dream come true.”
Greek assistant coach Pizanias revealed that over the years several NRL clubs have come to the aid of Greek Rugby League team to grow the sport in that country.
“So we do a lot of functions and fundraising here in Australia between Greece team manager Terry Liberopulos, Steve Georgallis (Canterbury Bulldogs assistant coach) and myself to raise money and send it to the Greek national team.
“NRL Clubs like the Bulldogs, the Raiders, Manly, the list goes on, give us jerseys and training gear that we pack in bags every time we go over to play and we give to the players.
“The sport in Greece gets no funding whatsoever in terms of the Greek sporting authorities so it’s all for them to be able to play in the local competition in Greece.”
A campaign to allow Greece to play their home game against Scotland has begun with fans of the team urged to support the campaign by spreading the #letgreeceplay hashtag across social media and express their views to the Greek Sports Minister by going to the Facebook page below:
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