Gica Hagi and Popescu gave autographs Gifts from FC Barcelona for the children in Emergency Reception Center (photo gallery)

Constanta Emergency Reception Center for Children had important guests last week. Besides Gica Hagi and Popescu one of the guests was Pau Vilanova, the responsible for the Catalan team fan clubs around the world

" Barca Fan Club Bucarest " Association was officially launched at Costinesti a day before the visit, on July 24^th_. As a preamble to the event, a delegation of representatives of the fan club team, of FC Barcelona and of the Romanian Football Federation, and two former players of the Spanish football team, Gheorghe Hagi and Gica Popescu, shared gifts and promotional items to the children in the Constanta Emergency Reception Center.

"Barca Fan Club Bucarest " was represented by President Ionel Blănculescu (Honorary Advisor to Prime Minister Victor Ponta) and Vice-president Xavier Marco (Spanish businessman, resident in Romania). FC Barcelona was represented by Pau Vilanova (director member of the football club and responsible of fan clubs worldwide) and the Romanian Football Federation by general secretary Bella Kassai. Among the guests there were also Gica Hagi and Gica Popescu, two former players of Barca. Gica Popescu was the captain of the 1997 Spanish team, when they won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
 
Guests were greeted with a welcome speech by Petre Dinică, Director General of Social Assistance and Child Protection Department under whose authority is the Constanta Emergency Reception Center. "We are glad to have you here. Gica Hagi is an old friend of the Department and he supported us whenever he had the opportunity", said Petre Dinică. Barcelona representatives learned that the center is divided into four modules, and the children are brought here first, before moving them to another center, before entrusting to a family or before giving them into a foster parent care.
 
The center has a capacity of 30 beds, but right now houses about 50 children. "We wanted to be there for the children. We hope that such activities are going to be organized in Romania in the future. Barca Fan Club Bucarest will have the same slogan as FC Barcelona, ​​"More than a club". We want to comfort as much as we can the suffering, to get involved in solving social issues, so that the spirit and joy of performance that FC Barcelona brings to Romania to be accompanied by an attitude that exists in abundance in Gica Hagi, Gica Popescu or Pau Vilanova, who coordinates Barcelona fan clubs from around the world", said Ionel Blanculescu.

Catalan club colors Ball with signatures of all the players

Afterwards they attended the meeting with children, upstairs. Boys and girls had a brief artistic show, performing two songs and four poems. After that, they talked with the guests, who had watched with excitement on their faces the kid’s little show. "Children, have you heard of FC Barcelona?" asked the President of "Barca Fan Club Bucarest".
 
"Yeeeeeees", came the answer from dozens of crystal voices. "We are here today primarily to smile together and enjoy the FC Barcelona. We offer you gifts and symbols to carry them with you and bring you memories of this day", said Ionel Blanculescu. Guests have handed Raluca Branov, the Reception Center’s director, a ball in the colors of Barcelona, ​​with the signatures of all the players, and Gica Hagi and Gica Popescu signed on the back of the pictures with them in the Catalan club shirts. All children received autographs and Pau Vilanova gave them gifts. "Thank Yoooou", children enjoyed the gifts and posters.

When it Messi coming to Romania?

"I'll gladly come back to this neighborhood. We are with Barcelona, which came in Constanta. I wanted to make these children a happy day, unforgettable. I felt good with them. They are examples of purity and sincerity. We hope they will always be protected", said Gica Hagi. "We came to the Center to offer the children joy for a day. The little ones impressed me. I'm a father myself and I know how important it is for a child to feel the warmth of a home. More can be done for these children in need. We will attend similar events whenever we are asked. FC Barcelona is more than a club. Apart from sports, it is very much involved in such social events and charitable acts. Messi has a charitable foundation, too. This is why he is so respected and loved, because in addition to his enormous football talent he comes in child’s support. We hope we can bring him in Romania, too", said Gica Popescu.