Leo Bengtsson succeeded with Aris Limassol.
As for Sportbladet, the midfielder now tells, among other things, about the title race against Hammarby Poles, and why he ignored AIK and the Swedish invasion of Cyprus.
– It’s a dream to be here and the league is only going to grow, he says.
Last year, Cyprus emerged, somewhat unexpectedly, as the country where Swedish football personalities made their pilgrimage. Within a few months, Aleksandar Kačanik, Franz Brorsson, Leo Bengtsson and Muammer Tanković signed for clubs in the top flight.
What attracts Swedish soccer players to Cyprus?
The warm climate and net salaries that are good are much higher than those of the Allsvenskan. But also the league and the clubs are on the rise. Former Häcken and Hammarby player Leo Bengson made the move to Aris Limassol this summer. He enjoys football life.
She’s been as good as she can be here since she got here. In fact, I didn’t know much at all about Cyprus as a football country before I came down. I had a little chat with Franz Prorsson (he signed for Aris Limassol last winter) and he had only good things to say about the club and the country.
– Then I must say that the quality of the league and football here is much higher than I thought. He says he is very professional in our club, Ares.
Nobbed AIK due to his past in Bajen
I have rejected AIK and AGF Aarhus in favor of Aris Limassol. What made you jump to Cyprus?
– AIK has never been close and I didn’t want to go there given my background at Hammarby. AGF Århus had rather long conversations with him, but then Aris showed up rather late. They spot me really well and show that they really want me. And then there was nothing to talk about.
– The club is well run, we have a great staff and although the longest journey is an hour or so we always stay in a hotel the day before the game. It’s a high score here and Aris is building a new arena and training facility, among other things.
Leo Bengson has scored six goals and made three appearances for Aris Limassol, who are chasing the title this year. But it was only a soft start for the Swede.
– No, he became feverish. It was actually very crazy. We faced Sundsvall away with Hacken. After that, I immediately got on the plane, and went down for the medical examination and signature. Then I met the rest of the team at the hotel the night before the Europa League Conference match against Baku.
– There I immediately jumped in and played almost 30 minutes without having a single training session with the team. It was a little weird, but it’s nice to just jump in and play.
Many Swedes on site
Do you hang out with other Swedes over there?
– Yes, Franz and I are teammates, and then I spent a lot of time with Aleksander Kacniklik who plays for AEL Limassol. Then we have Mojo (Muamar Tankovic) 45 minutes away in Paphos. It takes a little more planning when we meet, but we also hang out quite a bit. We eat lunch and have dinner. Then, now, “Abby” (Abdul Rahman Khalili) also arrived.
– We’re a good group here, he says.
Are you recognized when you go out and eat and such?
No, they haven’t noticed it yet. It is brand new. Not as many supporters as we are used to in Sweden. The club is also on an upward journey. Just a few years ago, they were even lower on the chain system. Now they have new owners who are going to take the club to the top.
The climate beckons
Why do you think so many Swedes have chosen Cyprus lately?
– It relates to what I said earlier. The climate, everything is very well maintained here, it’s nice to live here and then the football is of high quality. Then if you play in a big team, you have a great chance of playing in one of the European Cups as well.
What do you think it will look like in a few years for clubs in Cyprus?
– I think the league will only get better and the clubs will grow up and expect more stars. The owners who come have great financial backing and more arenas and training facilities will be built.
You are now fighting at the top against, among others, Paphos Muamar Tankovic. What makes you win the league?
All the players put in such hard work in every game. May we be the team that works the most and works hard for each other. The club’s strategy was also to sign players who were young, hungry and perhaps not already slightly chubby stars.
How do you follow Häcken?
– I follow the club closely, I follow everything. It’s also good that they recruited Simon Sandberg, a close friend of mine. Yet it will be more fun to check them out. I think they have a good chance of winning SM gold this season too. It is impossible to predict for sure, but if they played football, it would be difficult for them to stop.
As-Suwayda in Cyprus
Leo Bengson, Midfielder, Aris Limassol
Franz Brorsson, Central Defender, Aris Limassol
Alexander Kakaninklik, Midfielder, Limassol
Muammer Tankovic, Forward, Paphos F.C
Nikolaos Dosis, Midfielder, Olympiacos Nicosia
Abdelrahman Khalili, Midfielder, Olympiacos Nicosia
Some other profiles in the Cypriot league
Kevin Mirallas, Midfielder, Limassol
Henning Berg, Paphos FC coach
Frederico Machida, striker, APOEL Nicosia
Godswill Ekpol, Defender of Apollon Limassol
Aleksandr Kokorin, Midfielder/Forward, Aris Limassol
Nenad Tomović, Defender, AEK Larnaca
Waris Majeed, Ytter, Anorthosis Famagusta