We have just received this message from our friend and collaborator Yannis Mostrios and we're definitely happy to dedicate the deserved tribute to our friend Dimitri Nicolaou, who is experiencing a tough battle, harder than any futsal match ever played before.

Keep up the battle Dimitri, and thanks for the lesson you're giving us! As you know, we'll be always by your side!





A Hero Among Us: Nicolaou Overcomes Cancer

By Yannis Mostrios

In the road of life there are those who no matter what the circumstances are, choose to stay and fight, and those who give up and fall short of their expectations. This is the story of one of our own who despite the difficulties has chosen to stay and fight. On March of 2006 Dimitri Nicolaou coach of the Greek U-21 National Team and of Platon School (Greek Championship runner up) was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma a very serious form of cancer in the esophagus. The well known and respected coach in the country has fought hard to make this ordeal only a minor setback in his life and has managed to come out victorious. After battling the disease for several months with constant therapies and trips to the USA, Dimitri Nicolaou seems to be reacting well to his treatment and his health is improving steadily. The Greek coach even managed to be there with his team in the final game of the season although he had just finished another session at the hospital. His presence was the most important part of the game despite its vital importance in determining this year’s champion. His team (Platon) might have not won the game and thus the title, but everyone who was present or read about his case was certainly inspired by his story. Dimitri Nicolaou is continuing his treatment and seems to be in much better health and spirits. He has vowed to never give up and be there right by his wife Helena and two children Apostolo and Niki for a long time. All futsal people in Greece have been inspired by this man's will to survive this disease and stay close to everything he loves, futsal being one of them.

After several weeks the Greek coach will return on the court next week to train the U-21 National Team in the last practice of the season before this summer. Nicolaou stated:
"This is not a battle, a fight or a football game where both sides remain standing. This is not war with winners and losers. This is a clash in which one side has to live and one has to die. His life or mine! There is no way around it."




Posted by the Futsalplanet staff, a group of Dimitri's friends!