Armenian Young Men's Association

AYMA (Armenian Young Men's Association) in Nicosia is a cultural and sporting club of the Armenians of Cyprus. A member of the international federation AYMA, it was founded in 1934 in the Armenian quarter of Nicosia, with colours black and white and first president Anania Mahdessian. The club has a Scouts movement – the AYMA 77th Scouts – which is part of the Cypriot Scout Movement. The club operates a junior Football Academy. In the past it has had teams in hockey, darts and table tennis.

AYMA is considered to be one main centres of Armenian-Cypriot cultural and social life. Its premises are located in Strovolos, Nicosia, very near the Sourp Asdvadzadzin church. In the same premises are housed the Armenian National Committee of Cyprus (1965), the local branch of the Armenian Youth Federation (1977), the Azadamard Youth Centre (1986), the Armenian Relief Society (HOM, 1988) and the Armenian Educational and Cultural Association of Cyprus (Hamazkayin, 1949/1999), all branches of the ARF Dashnaktsoutiun party,.

In the premises of AYMA and/or by its affiliated associations are organised various social, cultural and charity events, such as lunches, speeches, exhibitions, fund-raisings etc. AYMA is also a place where old and young members of the Armenian-Cypriot community gather to relax, converse and play cards, billiards and tavli. The Armenian Youth Federation organises summer camps, while Hamazkayin organises dance and theatre performances, as well as art exhibitions. In late 2009, the club was renovated and enlarged and was officially inaugurated on 28 February 2010 by Armenian MP Vartkes Mahdessian. On 28 April 2002, Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian unveilled an obelisk containing some bone remains of martyrs from the Der Zor desert in Syria.

During the first years it participated in friendly games, until joining KOP. Today the club participates in the amateur championships of Nicosia and the agricultural championships of Cyprus.

AYMA joined KOP in 1945. In 1947 it participated in the 1st Division, receiving position 4, while in the Cup it reached the semifinals, where it was excluded by AEL. In the next season (1948–49), AYMA took position 6 while for a second consecutive time reached the semifinals for the cup, losing again to AEL. These were her best participations in the 1st division of Cypriot football, in the next participations it finished in the last positions of marking.

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