Brothel, undertakers, back hard hit Greek sides

The economic crisis in Greece has forced two amateur football sides to seek unusual sponsors in the shape of a brothel and an undertakers. "When we announced to the players that our sponsor would be a brothel, they wanted to know about bonuses," Voukefala president Giannis Batziolas told NovaSport FM radio station Wednesday with humour. Batziolas complained that everyone had turned their backs on amateur football and that the club had no choice but to resort to an unconventional backer. "The proposal was made strickly for economic reasons. As soon as the offer was made, we couldn't turn it down," Baziolas said. He stressed that the brothel in question is "a legal enterprise valued at two million euros." Baziolas said that the brothel will be advertised on the players' jerseys throughout the season. As for Paleopyrgo the situation is the same, lack of funds forcing the team to make a deal with the local funeral home. "It was a matter of survival. The owner of the funeral home is a friend and we agreed," Paleopyrgo general manager and player Lefteris Vasiliou told NovaSport FM. "The previous season was very difficult for us with the economic crisis. We did not have a sponsor for the last three years. For this season, the team's players will be wearing black jerseys with a large cross in the center bearing the name of the new sponsor. "I showed the players the jersey and they liked it. We know have people requesting us to produce more jerseys," Vasiliou said.