Football mans the lifeboats

By Paul-Daniel Zaharia

The floods that have hit Romania have had a devastating effect. For the first time in 30 years, intense rainfall prompted extensive flooding, particularly in the north-east region of Moldova and the southern region of Munteania, with 22 people reported dead and nearly 1,000 homes destroyed.

Huge losses
The local farming and forestry industries are already anticipating losses of around €130m because of flood damage, and the nation's football teams have also been effected. Not least among them FCM Bacau, who were training in the mountains at Slanic Moldova when the floods came.

Bacau stranded
As the water washed in, the players were effectively stranded, unaware of the damage that had been inflicted upon their home town. With no mobile phone signal at the club's training camp, sporting director Daniel Scanteie was forced to climb into the hills to finally get a call through to Bacau.

Stadium flooded
The players can consider themselves fortunate that food and other provisions were delivered to them the day before the floodwaters cut off the roads into the mountains, but newly-promoted FC Pandurii Targu Jiu are counting the cost after the waters engulfed their stadium.

Helping hand
Pandurii are making huge efforts to get their stadium back into shape before the start of the new season, but the floods have also seen senior figures in Romanian football looking far beyond their own immediate concerns and lending a hand to those worst affected by the disaster.

Charity match
Former international Gheorghe Popescu, now a football agent and a wealthy businessman, underlined his reputation for charitable works by organising a benefit match which saw Romania's 1994 FIFA World Cup defeat their counterparts from Brazil - the team they would have played in the semi-finals if they had not lost on penalties against Sweden - 4-1.

'Evening of Champions'
The 'Golden Generation' had reunited for the first 'Evening of Champions' last year to play a match in Craiova to benefit the paedeatric department of the local hospital, but this year, the match held in Timisoara saw all profits go to a fund to help victims of the floods.

Major auction
In tandem with the charity match, a major auction was held in Bucharest in which big names from Romanian football had the chance to buy shirts worn by the stars of Brazilian and Romanian football. A total of €268,000 was raised, with Gheorghe Hagi spending a total of €55,500 on his own.

Popescu pleased
"I am so happy that this event was a huge success and that the amount will be used by people who really need it," said Popescu, who was also a big spender in the sale. "I will have to consider organising such an 'Evening of Champions' every year."

Personal donations
Romania captain Cristian Chivu has also done his bit, bringing a contribution of €10,000 to Moldova in person to be spent on food, water and medication. Meanwhile, 'Golden Generation' stars Florin Raducioiu and Ionut Lupescu have pledged to fund the building of homes for two flooded-out families.

Generous acts
With the organisation having helped out with a donation when floods devastated Timis county a few months back, Romanian Football Federation president Mircea Sandu organised a transport of food and water to be sent to flooded Teleorman county, while the Romanian Professional League chimed in by opening a bank account to allow players to donate money to flood victims.

Adverse reaction
The floods have left a heavy burden on Romania, but as the waters clear, it seems adversity brought the best out of Romanian football.