Article by Cezar Titor – Published on Wednesday, 06 May 2026, 16:09 / Updated on Wednesday, 06 May 2026 16:10
Dinamo he experienced one of the darkest evenings in history on May 6, 2016, at the stadium in Ștefan cel Mare, today a ruin, in its place an ultra-modern arena with 25,000 seats is promised to be built by 2028.
That evening, the “dogs” faced Farul Constanța, then Viitorul Constanța, in a play-off match, which ended in a tie, score 3-3. For the red-whites, Dorin Rotariu and Harlem Gnohere had scored, with a “doppietta”, while Răzvan Marin, Florin Tănase and Alexandru Mățan scored for the Dobrogens, the latter restoring the tie at the end, from the spot-kick. However, the result immediately faded into the background.
10 years since the disappearance of Patrick Ekeng
In the 70th minute, tragedy struck. Patrick Ekeng collapsed in the middle of the pitch, and the entire dynamo team relived a pain that he will never be able to get over, almost 16 years after the tragedy of Cătălin Hîldan, who died on October 5, 2000, after collapsing during a friendly match played in Oltenita.
The ambulance at the stadium transported the former Cameroonian international directly to the Floreasca Hospital, without a medical staff performing resuscitation maneuvers, even though the footballer was in cardio-respiratory arrest. The footballer died at the hospital. An autopsy revealed that Patrick had died of a heart problem at the age of 26.
Just two weeks before the tragedy, Ekeng scored a superb goal, from the volley, from 25 meters, in a derby with FCSB, score 2-2, in the semifinals of the Romanian Cup, a match after which the “dogs” qualified for the last act of the competition.
Today, 10 years after his disappearance, the number 14 remains permanently retired from Dinamo, and Patrick Ekeng was “canonized” in the red-white shirt by the Dinamo supporters.
Every early May, it is commemorated by the club and supportersas it happened now, through the messages published on social networks, but also through the moment of silence that will take place at the match with FC Argeș, scheduled for Sunday, from 19:00, in the 8th stage of the Superliga play-off.
10 years ago, our team's midfielder, Patrick Ekeng, was collapsing in the center of the pitch, during the match against Viitorul Constanța.
Unfortunately, Patrick died a few hours later, at the Floreasca Emergency Hospital. As a tribute to this tragic moment, Peluza Cătălin Hîldan made an impressive cardboard scenography, in the stands of the National Arena, with the message “Bon voyage, Patrick!”, and Dinamo decided to retire the shirt with number 14, in his memory.
You will forever be in our hearts, Patrick!
– Message from Dinamo
The final with CFR Cluj, where Dinamo reached also thanks to his success (2-2, won by the “railwaymen” on penalty kicks) was in the memory of Patrick Ekeng. The supporters performed an impressive scenography, which stretched from the left edge of the PCH lawn to the right edge of the 2nd tribunea multitude of plates that created an emotional visual spectacle: Patrick, portrayed at the very moment of the FCSB goal, and a comprehensive message: “Bon Voyage, Patrick!” (no – “Goodbye, Patrick!”).
The scenography of the Dynamo players from the final of the Romanian Cup, 2016.
