Apollon captain Giorgos Malekkidis benched due to illness

Apollon Limassol captain Giorgos Malekkidis was excluded from the starting lineup for the derby match against Anorthosis on September 5, 2026. The decision, made by manager Hernan Losada, caught observers by surprise as the left-back is typically a regular starter for the team.

The team's press officer, Fanourios Konstantinou, clarified the situation shortly before kickoff, stating that the Cypriot player had been suffering from gastroenteritis in the days leading up to the game. Although Malekkidis was included in the match-day squad, the technical staff opted to keep him on the bench to prevent further physical strain and ensure he did not aggravate his condition during the match.