Eustathios from the US at PAO's water polo game!

Water polo, a sport of our Panathinaikos that never deserved the attention that it should. Probably due to the lack of titles, probably because the team was always between A1 and A2, because, because, because… That doesn’t really matter now. What matters is that the past few years Panathinaikos is among the best clubs of the country with the addition of great players with green heart. Something that seems to be changing again due to the financial issues that torture Panathinaikos as an entity. But that’s a topic for another time…

The base for this successful team was a key match that I had the honor to see in person. Actually I immigrated to the United States exactly four years ago for family reasons but half of my heart is back home. You know guys, it hurts a lot when you are used to have season tickets and go to as many games as you can, from football to water polo, from women’s basketball every Sunday morning to women’s volleyball every Saturday afternoon and midweek etc. and suddenly your life changes that much. So please support our Panathinaikos AC with all your heart and seize the opportunity whenever you can, to go and support our athletes with the shamrock in the heart. There are so many people that live thousands of miles away that would give anything to spend their day in Leoforos.

Back to the game now… Two turns before the end of the championship of 2007/08 and Pao is a favorite for relegation to A2. We were playing against Glyfada who were in the same boat with us (12 points both). Whoever was losing would most likely follow the last Kerkyra (2 points) to the lower division. The stands were full of non-stop singing green fans and everything was ready for another green magic afternoon. My expectations were met once again and Gate 13 offered free classes of true support. Hot topic back then was the entrance of PEK in our daily lives and everybody was excited for the new era that was rising…

Our team won 9-6 and was saved to A1 in front of its passionate crowd. The players with the coach Maki Lykoudi (his last season in Panathinaikos) jumped in the swimming pool and the celebrations started. The championship ended with us winning 14-9 Kerkyra in an away match and finding us at the 8^th place with 16 points.

Players of that team were among the rest: Tsokas, Mpitsakos , Kafetzopoulos , Kountoudios, Dermitzakis and Dimou.

Watch the legendary Hymn ''Chorto Magiko'' chanted from the Gate 13 in the Water Polo game mentioned above!