European Football

ANKARA, March 26 (Reuters) - The coach of Turkey's surprise league leaders Sivasspor has said their success is partly due to the lack of nightlife in conservative central Turkey.

"There is no nightlife in Sivas," Sivasspor coach Bulent Uygun was quoted as saying on the Hurriyet daily's website (www.hurriyet.com.tr).

"There are only a few shops where my players can buy drinks but I'm in contact with the shop owners, so I am informed as soon as one of my players buy drinks and I warn him."

Sivasspor, from the city of Sivas in the icy Anatolian heartland, are top of the Turkish championship with 50 points, ahead of Istanbul's Besiktas on 49.

Sivasspor fans are starting to dream that the club could break Istanbul's 24-year stranglehold on the league title.