Latest news with #LevskiSofia
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.
The Independent
20-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Heimir Hallgrimsson pleased for ‘fantastic' Matt Doherty after win in Bulgaria
Heimir Hallgrimsson singled out 'fantastic' match-winner Matt Doherty for special praise after the Republic of Ireland battled back to beat Bulgaria 2-1 in the first leg of their Nations League play-off. Right-back Doherty, who before the game played down talk of a rift with manager Hallgrimsson, marked his return to the starting XI by bravely heading home the decisive goal in the 42nd minute in Plovdiv. Marin Petkov had fired the hosts into a surprise early lead at a sparsely-populated Hristo Botev Stadium before Finn Azaz quickly nodded the visitors level with his first international goal. The deserved victory was a third from seven games under Hallgrimsson as his side took a small step towards preserving their League B status ahead of Sunday's return match in Dublin. Doherty was involved in the build-up to Azaz's 21st-minute equaliser, which was assisted by Troy Parrott following a Robbie Brady cross, and then beat Bulgaria goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov to the ball to finish Josh Cullen's diagonal delivery into the area. 'It was a good collective performance today,' said Hallgrimsson. 'I would say Matt Doherty had a really good game, also scored and it was a fantastic run from deep and a brave, brave header. 'He had a big part in the first goal as well, quick thinking, a quick diagonal ball to Robbie Brady for the delivery and the cross. 'Sometimes the goalscorers and those who contributed get the biggest praise. 'It was his 49th cap, hopefully he will get his 50th – at least he could get his 50th – back home in Ireland. 'But it was a collective (performance), there were many good performances.' Wolves player Doherty was recalled as part of seven changes to the Ireland team thrashed 5-0 by England in November. The 33-year-old had publicly expressed frustration with his omission from the squad for Nations League games against Finland and Greece the previous month. Ahead of Thursday evening's match, Doherty said he stood by his comments but insisted he had a 'good relationship' with Hallgrimsson. 'He was fantastic and we ask that from our senior players, to share their experiences, it's a young squad,' Hallgrimsson said of Doherty. 'It's important to have a mix and a good blend of experienced and young players.' Ireland began in the ascendancy but, in a game which kicked off at 9.45pm local time, were caught napping as Bulgaria snatched a sixth-minute lead. Filip Krastev produced a neat turn away from Dara O'Shea on the edge of the box and then delightfully rolled the ball back for Levski Sofia player Petkov to fire a precise, left-footed finish into the net via the base of the right post. 'From their first attack, of course it's a little bit shock (to fall behind),' said Hallgrimsson. 'We showed real character coming back, dominating the rest of the half and scoring two goals.'
CNN
19-03-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Bulgarian team apologizes after holding a minute's silence for former player who isn't dead
A top-flight Bulgarian soccer team has apologized after it held a minute's silence before its recent match to mourn a former player who the club mistakenly believed had died. Before Arda Kardzhali's game against Levski Sofia in Bulgaria's First League on Sunday, both sets of players lined up near the center of the field to honor Arda's former player, Petko Ganchev. But before the game had finished, Arda published a statement on Facebook apologizing to Ganchev saying they had 'received wrong information about his death.' '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.' Arda and Levski Sofia would go onto draw the game 1-1. In the aftermath of the incident, Ganchev detailed to Bulgarian media how he found out about the mistake from his former team. 'I don't miss a chance to watch Arda matches on TV. Now against Levski, I was late about 10 minutes because I had some work,' Ganchev told Bulgarian news outlet Blitz. 'While I was driving home, my phone started ringing a lot. But I'm driving and don't dare to pick it up. 'I park in front of our house. I enter the yard and my wife welcomes me in tears. She says: 'Petko, Petko, on the television they announced that you had passed!' I couldn't understand what she was telling me and what had happened. She explained that they called her on the phone and told her what they heard was announced ahead of the match between Arda and Levski. 'To bury you alive is very stressful. Truthfully, the situation was not pleasant, but at the end of the day, we have to be positive. Here, yesterday, when I heard the horrible news, I poured myself a small brandy,' Ganchev said with a smile.
CNN
19-03-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Bulgarian team apologizes after holding a minute's silence for former player who isn't dead
A top-flight Bulgarian soccer team has apologized after it held a minute's silence before its recent match to mourn a former player who the club mistakenly believed had died. Before Arda Kardzhali's game against Levski Sofia in Bulgaria's First League on Sunday, both sets of players lined up near the center of the field to honor Arda's former player, Petko Ganchev. But before the game had finished, Arda published a statement on Facebook apologizing to Ganchev saying they had 'received wrong information about his death.' '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.' Arda and Levski Sofia would go onto draw the game 1-1. In the aftermath of the incident, Ganchev detailed to Bulgarian media how he found out about the mistake from his former team. 'I don't miss a chance to watch Arda matches on TV. Now against Levski, I was late about 10 minutes because I had some work,' Ganchev told Bulgarian news outlet Blitz. 'While I was driving home, my phone started ringing a lot. But I'm driving and don't dare to pick it up. 'I park in front of our house. I enter the yard and my wife welcomes me in tears. She says: 'Petko, Petko, on the television they announced that you had passed!' I couldn't understand what she was telling me and what had happened. She explained that they called her on the phone and told her what they heard was announced ahead of the match between Arda and Levski. 'To bury you alive is very stressful. Truthfully, the situation was not pleasant, but at the end of the day, we have to be positive. Here, yesterday, when I heard the horrible news, I poured myself a small brandy,' Ganchev said with a smile.
BBC News
18-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ex-player 'poured a brandy' after learning of his 'death'
"When I heard the terrible news, I poured myself a small brandy."For Petko Ganchev, a regular Sunday afternoon spent watching his former club Arda Kardzhali play Levski Sofia turned into an evening of reassuring friends and family he was still Bulgarian top-flight side held a minute's silence for Ganchev before kick-off in the mistaken belief that the 78-year-old had died."I was 10 minutes late [for kick-off] because I had a personal job. While driving home, my phone started ringing a lot," former striker Ganchev told Bulgarian website BLITZ, external."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."Arda quickly realised the mix-up and posted on the club's Facebook page before the game had finished to say they had been who played for Arda for five years, said the club's sporting director Ivaylo Petkov then phoned him to apologise."Look, sometimes such things happen, but the situation was not easy at all," said Ganchev."It is normal to spread a rumour here in the village, but they announced it in front of the whole football audience of Bulgaria. "So many people called me - relatives, friends, acquaintances and not so big acquaintances. The situation was not pleasant, but in the end we have to be positive."
