By: Peter Katsiris
After a controversial relegation battle which saw the Hellenic Football Federation deduct sixty-five points from PAS Giannina during the 2002-2003 Alpha Ethniki (now the Greek Super League) season, the side nicknamed the 'Ajax of Epirus' is back in the Greek top flight; and their early summer splurging predicts Giannina will be no pushover next season.
It may be a coincidence, but Giannina's return to the top flight coincides with the return of another colourful fixture in Greek football. Dimitris Eleftheropoulos was a monumental figure in the Greek game during his tenure as starting goalkeeper in Piraeus with Olympiacos CFP.
Leaving the port city and Greece for the more glorious Italian Serie A in the summer of 2003, Eleftheropoulos was expected to one day return to Greece in order to put the finishing touches on the career of one of Greece's most recognizable shot-stoppers.
With his arrival, the 37-year-old custodian is tipped to provide leadership to an anticipated revolution at PAS Giannina; one the club hopes will allow them to remain a permanent fixture in the top flight - and eventually in European competition.
But aside from the acquisition of Eleftheropoulos, Giannina have also obtained the services of Kostas Mendrinos on a free transfer from Olympiacos. The Greek midfielder was let go by the Greek Champions soon after capturing their domestic double this season, but intriguingly Mendrinos never managed to forcefully impose himself on the Olympiacos roster throughout his seven-year association with the Piraeus club.
Other early summer additions include Patrick Dimbala and Paraskevas Andralas from Levadeiakos, and Charalambos Vaggelis from PAOK. The trio join the Beta Ethniki runners up on free transfers from their respective clubs and will remain under contract until the end of the 2010/2011 Super League season.
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