Article by Marius Mărgărit – Published Wednesday, October 29, 2025 23:23 / Updated Wednesday, October 29, 2025 23:35
Before the Romanian Cup debut, when Rapid meets ACS Dumbrăvița on Thursday, a different match took place at the Coresi base. A friendly one, between a team from Giulești and a group of 13-19-year-old kids from the SOS Children's Villages Association.
The host team included the minority shareholder of Višinii, Victor Angelescu, former players Petre Goge and Marian Vlada, as well as other members of the administrative staff and volunteers who work for the club.
And their opponents were young people who come from vulnerable families or are in alternative care, at the centers of the association which, in the last 32 years, has helped more than 130,000 children find their way in life. Including through sports.
Emotions, but also a goal for Angelescu
Still convalescing, after a ligament tear in his right elbow, with which he also chose a thousand, Victor Angelescu promised that he would only come in for 5-10 minutes, to play with the children. But the game caught up with him and he stayed on the field for more than half of the match.
He has them with the ball and really puts passion and ambition! That's how it played, beautifully, but without management, both teams wanting to win. But there were also more relaxed moments, in which he joked. He was just being friendly though.
During a phase in which he tried to dribble two opponents, Victor Angelescu fell, giving emotions to his colleagues. He protected his still unrepaired hand. Referee Adrian Olariu, the club's security officer, intervened: “It's easier that you break his hand again! And you, Mr. Player, see that I'm taking you out, calm down!”.
On another occasion in the hosts' box, he gave the impression that he was giving a penalty for the kids, and Angelescu reacted: “Come on, stop the nonsense!”. The reply came promptly: “Mr. player, talk too much, maybe I'll kick you out!”.
The referee really annoyed the people of Giulești, denying them two more penalty kicks. That's why from the hosts' bench they took him to the “base”, with the usual chant, “Thief! Thief!”.
Gabriel Sztoika, the youngest player on the pitch, also scored
The kids opened the scoring from a penalty “challenged” by the speed players. “What do you mean, don't you give us a clearer penalty and give it to them?!”, Angelescu jokingly reproached Olariu. The equalizer was brought by Goge, also from the penalty, after which the former player scored another goal, a lob from the middle of the field.
And the third success was signed by Victor Angelescu. Which, at the end, explained: “I played more because I wanted to score a goal too!”.
Goge wanted to go to the opponents at 3-1, but they refused. And in the end it ended 3-3, because the kids didn't give up. The last goal was scored by Gabriel Sztoika, who raised smiles the moment he appeared on the pitch.
He was the youngest, a 13-year-old girl who wasn't even half the size of some of the opponents. But technically and with a toupee. He is from Cisnădie and plays there, at “Măgura”. After the game, the speedsters presented the children with a special T-shirt, which they signed, a memory for later.
“I'm recovering, but I came to play for the cause, for the children. I played football, I know how to take over, shoot, it's not a problem, that's what I know! It's just that I broke my hand, I'm going to play less because I don't want to risk getting hurt again”
Victor Angelescu, minority shareholder Rapid
“For me, it's extraordinary to play with the kids because I, for my part, have a program with such kids. Plus it's a pleasure to play with former colleagues. These kids deserve a chance, maybe one of them will become a footballer. I advise them to dream very high, never to give up. We at Rapid support this cause”
Petre Goge, former Rapid player
