The Rapid player took on the role of Santa Claus for the Academy children » What was the most coveted accessory

“Santa Claus is a speedster” has already become a tradition at the end of the year for the team that is at the top of the Superliga, and the CRBL artist (real name, Eduard Mihail Andreianu) also appeared at the event.

At Rapid, Santa Claus, dressed in cherry, arrived 6 days early for the children from the academy. Santa's helper was Cristi Ignat, the stopper of the Giulești team.

VIDEO + PHOTO | Rapidist Cristi Ignat, statements at the festivity at Coresi Base: “I asked Santa for the title with Rapid!”

Approximately 1,000 children received packets of sweets, notebooks and various objects inscribed with Rapid.

The most coveted item by far was the kendama, one of the fashionable toys. Visibly excited, Ignat thoroughly enjoyed this event and stated that he used to ask Santa for a ball when he was little, and now he wants health and the title with Rapid.

He is much better physically after his injury and prefaced Sunday's derby with FCSB.

“It's a very nice event here, especially for the children. I think they enjoy it a lot, it's something beautiful. I was asking Santa for a soccer ball, I think everyone, especially if you love soccer, soccer ball, equipment.

I saw that everyone has kendama, but no, no, a soccer ball all day. Now I asked him for health, let's all be healthy, that's the most important thing, especially since I came after a period of injury.

Physically I am fine, much better physically, I am training 100%, I am ready for the match, I am very well. I asked Santa for the title with Rapid, I would really like it, let's see, I want us to take each match separately and then think about it. A victory in the derby, that's what we're thinking about now”, declared Ignat.

Asked about the form shown by rival FCSB lately, Ignat answered firmly: “Yes, they are on a comeback and it showed in their game, but FCSB has always been a good team and we have to be as prepared as possible. Whoever will give everything on the field and work harder, I think will win. It would be a very nice moment for the fans, after that there will be a break, a holiday period, and we really want to give the fans a nice gift”.

VIDEO | Petre Goge, lifelong speedster: “I'm glad I played for this team, I'm very close to them and I'll come to all the matches as long as I can”

Petre Goge, present at the event, remained with Rapid with his soul. Left in 2022, after 5 years spent in Giulesti, he is indispensable at the matches of the team prepared by Costel Gâlcă.

Goge was the last player left in the team after the “restart” of the team, from League 4. He remained hopelessly in love with the spirit of Giulești.

“The most important thing is that the stadium is full, there are children and people understand that it is important to exercise and we should start from here.

I'm glad that it's this event, they've already created a tradition through it, every year thousands of children gather and I'm glad to be part of this event and I'm glad to have played for this team, I'm very close to them and all the time, as much as I can, I'll come to all the matches of Rapid, I'll be close to the children because that's what charges me the most.

When I was little, I only got a ball and clementines. Other than that I don't remember anything. There weren't that many phones, I see now they're crazy about kendama, but I'm glad they use kendama a lot. Rather than using the phone, I prefer kendama more.

Now I asked Santa for health and to see as many children as possible in the stadium and to see us all much healthier next year. What I would really like is for us to learn to collaborate more with each other as people,” said Goge.

(no – And Rapid champion, right?) I hope so, because they started very well, no one expected them to have this course, I hope it will be quiet in Giulesti, especially the Sunday match is very important because a month will pass and I hope that the Rapidists have a happy Christmas through that match, I hope they win against FCSB because it is important that they have a happy month break.

Goge also explained what the team from Giulesti still needs: “I think they still need a striker and besides that they need a connection with the supporters, because that's the most important thing.

I'm glad that Liviu Ungurean is back among them, you can see, since he came back the atmosphere seems to be much better, they are much more organized, there are no more small groups and I hope that in the summer we will all enjoy a Rapid title, because all the rapidist breath is waiting for this”.