Latest news with #ArdaKardzhali
BBC News
02-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ex-player is match guest after club wrongly announced death
Bulgarian side Arda Kardzhali welcomed club great Petko Ganchev as a special guest to their match against Cherno More on Wednesday - two weeks after holding a minute's silence for mourned Ganchev before their match with Levski Sofia last month, wrongly believing he had died, with both teams lining up on the centre circle and bowing their before that game had ended, Arda posted on social media to say they had received "incorrect information about his death" and that the 78-year-old was very much was described as a "legend" and received a jersey with his name on it before Arda's match against Cherno More, which they won 4-0."Before the match Petko Ganchev saw the sport director Ivaylo Petkov, who gave him a jubilee jersey. He watched the match in the company of other Arda veterans," the club said."Once again we apologise to Petko Ganchev."Ganchev said he had to reassure friends and family he was still alive because he was driving home when Arda mistakenly made their announcement of his death."When I heard the terrible news, I poured myself a small brandy," he told Bulgarian outlet Blitz."Being buried alive is quite stressful, really."
Dubai Eye
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Dubai Eye
Club legend attends match 2 weeks after minute's silence held for his death
Bulgarian side Arda Kardzhali invited club great Petko Ganchev and feted him at their first division match on Wednesday, two weeks after they held a minute's silence for their former player thinking he had died. When Arda played Levski Sofia last month, players from both sides lined up at the centre circle to honour Ganchev. But before the day was done, the club posted a message saying they had received "incorrect information about his death" and that the 78-year-old was very much alive. On Wednesday, the club said their 'legend' was a special guest for their match against Cherno More, where the home side won 4-0. Ganchev also received a jersey with his name and the number nine. "Before the match Petko Ganchev saw the sport director Ivaylo Petkov, who gave him a jubilee jersey... He watched the match in the company of other ARDA veterans," the club said. "Once again we apologise to Petko Ganchev for the gaffe two weeks ago." Ganchev said he received several phone calls when the club held a minute's silence while his wife was in tears when he got home late to watch the match.
Reuters
02-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Club legend attends match two weeks after minute's silence held for his death
April 2 (Reuters) - Bulgarian side Arda Kardzhali invited club great Petko Ganchev and feted him at their first division match on Wednesday, two weeks after they held a minute's silence for their former player thinking he had died. When Arda played Levski Sofia last month, players from both sides lined up at the centre circle to honour Ganchev. But before the day was done, the club posted a message saying they had received "incorrect information about his death" and that the 78-year-old was very much alive. On Wednesday, the club said their 'legend' was a special guest for their match against Cherno More, where the home side won 4-0. Ganchev also received a jersey with his name and the number nine. "Before the match Petko Ganchev saw the sport director Ivaylo Petkov, who gave him a jubilee jersey... He watched the match in the company of other ARDA veterans," the club said. "Once again we apologise to Petko Ganchev for the gaffe two weeks ago." Ganchev said he received several phone calls when the club held a minute's silence while his wife was in tears when he got home late to watch the match. "When I heard the terrible news, I poured myself a little brandy," he had told Bulgarian outlet Blitz. "To bury you alive is very stressful. Truthfully, the situation was not pleasant."
Daily Tribune
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Arda Kardzhali Apologizes After Mistaking Player's Death
TDT | Manama Bulgarian football club Arda Kardzhali issued an apology after mistakenly holding a minute's silence for their former player, Petko Ganchev, who is very much alive. The 78-year-old Ganchev had returned home early during the first half of a match against Levski, only to find his wife in tears after watching the minute's silence broadcast on TV. "I was about ten minutes late for the game because I had some work to do. As I drove home, my phone kept ringing, but I didn't want to answer while driving," Ganchev explained. "When I entered the garden, my wife was crying and said, 'Petko, Petko, they've announced on TV that you've passed away!' I had no idea what she was talking about." At halftime, the club sent an email to the TV station airing the match to correct the error and confirm that Ganchev was, in fact, still alive. Arda Kardzhali's management later issued an official statement: "The management of PFC Arda would like to offer a huge apology to Petko Ganchev and his family after the club received incorrect information about his death. We wish Petko many more years of good health and continued success with Arda."
The Guardian
18-03-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Bulgarian footballer commemorated with minute's silence … despite not being dead
A Bulgarian footballer who was honoured with a minute's silence by his former club, despite not being dead, has shared his side of the story and admitted 'being buried alive is quite stressful, really'. The life of Petko Ganchev was commemorated by the top-division side Arda Kardzhali last Sunday, after they were wrongly informed of the former striker's demise. Arda issued an apology, wishing Ganchev 'many more years of good health', but the 78-year-old said he had been forced to alert everyone he knew of his continuing existence all the same. 'I was 10 minutes late because I had a personal job,' Ganchev told the Bulgarian website Blitz. 'While driving home, my phone started ringing a lot. I parked in front of our house, entered the yard and my wife greets me crying, shouting: 'Petko, Petko, they announced on TV that you have died!' 'I could not understand what she was telling me and what had happened. Then two of my friends called me. Being buried alive is quite stressful, really.' He also saw a lighter side, though. 'When I heard the terrible news, I poured myself a small brandy,' he said. Arda's players and those of their opponents, Levski Sofia, had stood by the centre circle with their heads bowed on Sunday, after being in receipt of erroneous information as to Ganchev's mortal status. Club officials were made aware of their mistake and posted an apology on Facebook before the match had finished. 'The management of PFC Arda would like to express a huge apology to the former Arda player Petko Ganchev and his relatives after the club received wrong information about his death,' the club wrote. 'We wish Petko Ganchev many more years of good health and to enjoy the success of Arda.' Ganchev said Arda's sporting director, Ivaylo Petkov, had phoned him to apologise, and he attempted to retain perspective on a situation he described as 'not easy at all' to deal with. 'So many people called me – relatives, friends, acquaintances and not so big acquaintances,' Ganchev said. 'The situation was not pleasant, but in the end we have to be positive. 'Look, sometimes such things happen,' he went on. 'It is normal to spread a rumour here in the village, but they announced it in front of the whole football audience of Bulgaria.' The match ended 1-1.
