KICKOFF FOR CHARITY: The
Sunday football match between
Bulgarian politicians and foreign
diplomats (4:4) raised
50 000 leva for the
disabled people and promoted
Bulgaria's bid for EU
membership in 2007.
Sunday football match between
Bulgarian politicians and foreign
diplomats (4:4) raised
50 000 leva for the
disabled people and promoted
Bulgaria's bid for EU
membership in 2007.
THE charity football match between Bulgarian politicians and foreign diplomats last Sunday finished with an even result, of 4:4, and raised more than 50 000 leva in donations for homes for disabled people.
The scorching heat of 38 degrees C did not stop people from filling the entire A sector of Vassil Levski national stadium.
"It is beautiful weather for football with 38 degrees, 35 of which is in the shade," said comedian Ventsislav Martinov who, together with Krum Savov of Nova TV was the commentator.
The match was organised at the initiative of Swedish ambassador Sten Ask, and was under the patronage of President Georgi Purvanov.
Ask was also the captain of the EU diplomats' team, which was coached by the head of the European Delegation to Bulgaria, Dimitris Kourkoulas.
The diplomats' side included Spanish ambassador Jose-Lopez Jorrin, Czech ambassador Petr Dokladal, Slovak ambassador Jan Kovac, as well as Ola Svenningsson from the Swedish embassy, the son of Ask, Christopher Ask, and representatives of the Russian, French, UK, Algerian, Moroccan and Turkish embassies.
Keeping goal for the diplomats' team was Stefan Staikov, former top footballer and now a customs officer.
The Bulgarian team was captained by the Speaker of Parliament, Ognyan Gerdjikov, who was also goalkeeper.
At the tip of the Bulgarian attack were Purvanov, who attracted the attention of the audience with his red shoes, and Interior Ministry chief secretary Boiko Borissov who played with the number 13 T-shirt.
The Cabinet was represented by Foreign Minister Solomon Passi who played as a back.
All parties represented in Parliament also participated in the game.
The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) was represented by its deputy head, Rumen Ovcharov, who played briefly in the second half, as well as by Mihail Mikov, MP, Yanaki Stoilov and several other MPs.
The Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) was represented by several MPs.
The ruling National Movement Simeon II (NMSII) MP Borislav Tsekov showed mastery with the ball in the first half.
During the second, however, he was noticed limping badly.
The first goal was scored in the first five minutes of the game by the NMSII floor leader Plamen Panayotov who, after a high pass by Purvanov, scored with a header.
The goal was welcomed with a roar by the audience.
Soon after that Steven Cooper of the UK embassy restored the even result.
Shortly before the end of the first half, Ertan Kara, of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) and economic adviser to the President, who scored a total of two goals in the game, restored the advantage for the Bulgarian team.
During the first half, goalkeeper Gerdjikov - with spectacular jumps - saved at least five shots within the goal area.
Meglena Kuneva, Minister of European Affairs, kicked off the second half.
During the second half, Borissov, encouraged by enthusiastic children chanting his name, missed a penalty kick and the opportunity to increase the lead of the Bulgarian team.
The children, fortified by seemingly endless amounts of free drinking yoghurt, croissants, soft drinks, and pastry kept on chanting Borissov's name throughout most of the remaining time.
Every now and then the grown-ups would start chanting "Bulgari, yunatsi," which is somewhat more traditional for sports events.
Shortly after the missed penalty kick, the diplomats' team sneaked the ball past Krassimir Karakachanov, head of the Interior Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation (IMRO), who replaced Gerdjikov as goalkeeper.
Purvanov, who was changed for a short time during the first half, played during the entire second half and made several attempts to score.
Young Christopher Ask, who played as a forward, was by far the fastest player on the field.
Sten Ask, however, played during the entire game.
The second half was tense as several minutes before the final whistle the diplomats were leading with one goal, scored by Sten Ask.
In the last couple of minutes, with a goal by Deputy Justice Minister Mario Dimitrov, the Bulgarian team managed to equalise the score for the final 4:4.
The scorching heat of 38 degrees C did not stop people from filling the entire A sector of Vassil Levski national stadium.
"It is beautiful weather for football with 38 degrees, 35 of which is in the shade," said comedian Ventsislav Martinov who, together with Krum Savov of Nova TV was the commentator.
The match was organised at the initiative of Swedish ambassador Sten Ask, and was under the patronage of President Georgi Purvanov.
Ask was also the captain of the EU diplomats' team, which was coached by the head of the European Delegation to Bulgaria, Dimitris Kourkoulas.
The diplomats' side included Spanish ambassador Jose-Lopez Jorrin, Czech ambassador Petr Dokladal, Slovak ambassador Jan Kovac, as well as Ola Svenningsson from the Swedish embassy, the son of Ask, Christopher Ask, and representatives of the Russian, French, UK, Algerian, Moroccan and Turkish embassies.
Keeping goal for the diplomats' team was Stefan Staikov, former top footballer and now a customs officer.
The Bulgarian team was captained by the Speaker of Parliament, Ognyan Gerdjikov, who was also goalkeeper.
At the tip of the Bulgarian attack were Purvanov, who attracted the attention of the audience with his red shoes, and Interior Ministry chief secretary Boiko Borissov who played with the number 13 T-shirt.
The Cabinet was represented by Foreign Minister Solomon Passi who played as a back.
All parties represented in Parliament also participated in the game.
The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) was represented by its deputy head, Rumen Ovcharov, who played briefly in the second half, as well as by Mihail Mikov, MP, Yanaki Stoilov and several other MPs.
The Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) was represented by several MPs.
The ruling National Movement Simeon II (NMSII) MP Borislav Tsekov showed mastery with the ball in the first half.
During the second, however, he was noticed limping badly.
The first goal was scored in the first five minutes of the game by the NMSII floor leader Plamen Panayotov who, after a high pass by Purvanov, scored with a header.
The goal was welcomed with a roar by the audience.
Soon after that Steven Cooper of the UK embassy restored the even result.
Shortly before the end of the first half, Ertan Kara, of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) and economic adviser to the President, who scored a total of two goals in the game, restored the advantage for the Bulgarian team.
During the first half, goalkeeper Gerdjikov - with spectacular jumps - saved at least five shots within the goal area.
Meglena Kuneva, Minister of European Affairs, kicked off the second half.
During the second half, Borissov, encouraged by enthusiastic children chanting his name, missed a penalty kick and the opportunity to increase the lead of the Bulgarian team.
The children, fortified by seemingly endless amounts of free drinking yoghurt, croissants, soft drinks, and pastry kept on chanting Borissov's name throughout most of the remaining time.
Every now and then the grown-ups would start chanting "Bulgari, yunatsi," which is somewhat more traditional for sports events.
Shortly after the missed penalty kick, the diplomats' team sneaked the ball past Krassimir Karakachanov, head of the Interior Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation (IMRO), who replaced Gerdjikov as goalkeeper.
Purvanov, who was changed for a short time during the first half, played during the entire second half and made several attempts to score.
Young Christopher Ask, who played as a forward, was by far the fastest player on the field.
Sten Ask, however, played during the entire game.
The second half was tense as several minutes before the final whistle the diplomats were leading with one goal, scored by Sten Ask.
In the last couple of minutes, with a goal by Deputy Justice Minister Mario Dimitrov, the Bulgarian team managed to equalise the score for the final 4:4.
