Ambitious Pafos think big
Half-a-dozen clubs with origins that reflect the island’s cultural and political make-up dominate Cypriot football, but a new challenge is emerging. Following in the footsteps of the Greeks, Turks and British, Russians are flocking to the Mediterranean island seeking security and sun.
The Russians initially brought money and colonised the banks in Cyprus, only to pull out billions six years ago when the island’s economy went into meltdown and the European Union imposed a financial “haircut”.
To stem the departures, the Cypriot government created a “golden visa” scheme that offered residency rights in return for investment in property development. As a result, there are now so many Russians with a Cypriot passport that two years ago they formed their own political party. And their influence has now spilled onto the football pitch.
Pafos hailed the signing of Jason Puncheon as one of the most important in Cypriot history
Pafos FC were formed in 2014 with the merger of AEK Kouklia and AEP Pafos. Kouklia chairman Christakis Kaizer drove the plan, but two Russian exiles, Roman Dubov and Sergey Lomakin, bought into Pafos in 2017 after the club had secured promotion to the top flight.
A new board was
