The calendar year is drawing to a close and we already have the first rehearsal in the first season of Olympic B ‘. The red-whites have played eight games in the Super League 2 and have not yet lost. Ariel Ibagasa’s team has collected 14 points and is fourth in Group A behind Anagennisi Karditsa (16), Veria (21) and Xanthi (22).

The purpose of a second group is not just the results. The main goal of a team with K23 players is the production of soccer players. That means preparing the small children for the first team through a competitive and tough championship.

Of course, Pedro Martins is keeping a close eye on the players in the second team. He watches their development to see when they are ready to take the next step and climb the ladder. He has been to the stadiums where Olympiacos B ‘played to see the progress of his players while speaking with the best of words about Ibagasa’s work.

“It’s very interesting because we are now treating these kids as professionals and we have daily collaboration and supervision. It’s important because it helps the kids to prepare and have much better opportunities to become better professionals more easily.” The Portuguese coach had spoken out in favor of the second team shortly before the start of the season.

The four … endless

Already in Olympiakos B ‘there are players who stood out for their presence in the first eight games and logically turned Pedro Martins’ eye on them. In Ariel Ibagasa’s squad there are the four … unforgettable football players, that is, those who have the most minutes of play in the Super League 2 games on their feet.

The first is Petros Bagalianiswho played 90 minutes (720 minutes) in all eight. The 20-year-old is the main cog in the defense of Olympiacos B ‘in the first few games, with Etienne Jute Kinkue being his partner in seven of the eight games. Overall, the red and white defense works very well with only five goals conceded, which is also attributed to Bagalianis.

THAT Apostolos Apostolopoulos also did not lose a minute in the second group of red-whites (720 minutes). The 19-year-old full-back is one of Olympiacos’ most promising players. It was not for nothing that he was one of the players that Pedro Martins took with him to prepare for Piraeus in Austria in the summer.

THAT George Xenitidis is also one of the … unforgettable Ariel Ibagasa (716 minutes) and keys on the red and white axis, even with the leader’s armband. At 22 he is one of the most “experienced” with 29 appearances in Zenes Ess and four in the Olympiacos first team.

Finally, that Nemanja Nikolic takes fourth place in the corresponding list with 693 minutes of participation. The 20-year-old Bosnian, who was loaned out in the Super League 2 in Chania last year, plays an active role in the second team and wants to go one step further. Nikolic also scored a goal against Apollon Larissa. In addition, Kinkue played 630 minutes in seven games, while Voilis, Kostis, Kitsos and Doi have eight participations.

The first goalscorer is Voilis, followed by Kostis

Olympiakos B found their way into the opposing nets nine times in the first eight Super League 2 games. Three of them were from Alexandros Voilis. The 21-year-old center forward scored against PAOK B ‘, Panserraikos and Veria. The young striker has scored several goals for the Red-Whites in his career, including 31 goals in 72 appearances in Olympiacos K19. That’s why he has three appearances with the first team.

Behind Voilis in the top scorers of Olympiacos B ‘is Ioannis Kostiswho has scored two goals. The 21-year-old Cypriot is one of the most talented players in the red and whites, but also in his country. He was taken over by Olympiakos in the winter of 2020 and loaned to Nea Salamina, AEL and Levadiakos, while now that he is closer to Rentis he needs more minutes to attend and is preparing to raise his level.

The projects of Algasim Ba – Kinkue

Two of Olympiacos’ most interesting projects are Algasim Ba and Etienne Jute Kinkue. They belong to the category of Mandi Kamara and Pape Abu Cisse, that is, talented footballers who went to the red and whites at a young age and are now important members of the first team with the prospect, with the prospect of bringing enough money to Olympiacos a possible transfer.

The red and whites acquired Algacim Ba from the renaissance of Guinea in the summer. The 19-year-old striker has made three appearances at Olympiakos B ‘this year and has scored one goal. He has also played in two first-team games with Atromitos in the Super League Interwetten and Levadiakos in the Greek Cup.

Another interesting project is that of Etienne Jute Kinkue. The 19-year-old central defender with a height of 1.96 has worked in the infrastructure departments of Troyes, but also of Inter, from where he was taken over by the red and whites in the summer. This season in the Super League 2 he is together with Bagalianis with seven participations one of the most important “cogs” of the Red-Whites in the defense center.

The first test with Levadiakos

Pedro Martins observes the second team closely and, at the first opportunity, tests the players who stand out. Proof of the first game against Levadiakos for the round of 16 of the Greek Cup. There the Portuguese coach invited many Olympiakos B ‘footballers to the mission.

In particular Nikolic, Bagalani, Apostolopoulos, Kitsos, Kostis, Xenitidis, Marino and Algasim Ba. “Aroma” of the second team also featured the base XI, with Apostolopoulos and Ba starting the game from the start. THAT Fotis KitsosAlso one of the players who stood out on the left end of the second team’s attack this year, replaced Apostolopoulos in 46 ‘. For the last six minutes, George Marinos has also taken Brousai’s place.

Olympiakos lost 3-2 in that game, but it was a prime opportunity for Pedro Martins to see the progress of the second-team players. Of course it will continue, because the Super League 2 championship is still in its infancy.