Fatih Tekke Decides: New Foreign Transfer Takes the Field
In the 19th week of the Trendyol Süper Lig, Trabzonspor faced Kasımpaşa at home. The team made one change from their previous match against Kocaelispor. Technical director Fatih Tekke utilized new transfer Mathias Lovik in place of the suspended Mustafa Eskihellaç.
New Foreign Transfer Takes the Field
- Mathias Lovik: The left-back joined Trabzonspor from Italy’s Parma and started in the first eleven.
- Paul Onuachu: After a 41-day absence due to his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, the striker returned to the squad.
Onuachu’s last match was against Göztepe on December 12. He missed games against Beşiktaş, Gençlerbirliği, and Kocaelispor due to a yellow card suspension and international duty.
Team Composition and Injuries
The lineup for Trabzonspor against Kasımpaşa consisted entirely of foreign players, including Onana, Muçi, Lovik, Pina, Zubkov, Folcarelli, Nwaiwu, Oulai, Batagov, Olaigbe, and Augusto. Team captain Zubkov stepped in due to several injuries within the squad.
Acknowledgments and Highlights
- Ernest Muçi received the award for the goal of the month in December, awarded before the match by Trabzonspor’s board member Coşkun Öztürk.
- Kasımpasa’s Rodrigo Becao made his debut as a starter after transferring from Fenerbahçe.
Kasımpaşa faced challenges with players Ali Yavuz Kol and Baldursson absent due to yellow card suspensions. Despite the significance of the match, the turnout from Trabzonspor fans was lower than expected, with noticeable empty seats at Papara Park. Nonetheless, the supporters created a visual spectacle with Turkish flags distributed before kickoff.
