Politehnica Timisoara met today at the “Ştiinţa” arena under the new head coach. 41 players took part in the first training session for the preparation of the 2022-23 season, many of them young players from their own nursery.

“I’m very happy to be back at Poli, you know very well the relationship between me and the club. And at the inaugural match at Giulești I was one of those dressed in purple who greeted Poli’s gallery after the match. Things don’t happen by chance in life and I think it was only a matter of time before I returned to Poli. Unfortunately it’s a bit of a sad return after the team’s last season. Fortunately we have the chance to play in League 2 again. We will have to change things from the ground up, in all areas of the club, at the level of organization, at the level of the game – of the players. That’s why we will try this season to do things better. We will try to build a new team, with young players and we will be able to create a team of the future, which can attack next season with real chances of promotion to the First League. That doesn’t mean we’re going to step aside. We will do everything we can. I’ll do my best and my staff will do their best and I’ll try to give the players the confidence they need. Let’s fight for a goal – places 1-10 – because things have to be done step by step. But if the opportunity arises and the team will play the way we want, both me and the supporters, I hope we will have the chance to fight for the play-offs”, were Bogdan Andone’s first thoughts on his return to the white-violet.

“In Romania it’s hard to find clubs that have a project, they are all made from one day to the next, unfortunately. That’s why we are trying to build a new team. I think today there are 20 players from our own academy, they will be watched, we will do some friendly games to see them very well. And then the ones who will go back to their squads will be watched every weekend as much as possible. Both by me personally and by the staff. The first step is to find players that will help the team grow and the academy players grow, it’s very important to find players of character, quality players, so that these kids have someone to learn from and grow with. The ultimate goal would be to get promoted to League I next season”, said Andone.

The squad for the first training session: Rareș Murariu, Claudiu Pamfile, Alin Ignea, Cătălin Oanea, Nicolae Sofran, Alex Iamandache, Balsa Rogosic, Stefan Vukoje, Cristian Bocșan, Ervin Bakoș, Cosmin Huminic, Daniel Olariu, Cosmin Bîrnoi, Adrian Zaluschi, Silviu Pană (signed today), Marco Mircea (Ripensia loan back), Ralf Kuhn, Alexandru Gașpar (both rev. Periam), Rareș Bîrlovean (rev. împr. Ghiroda), Eduard Amariei, Luchian Gologan (both rev. împr. Dumbrăvița), Dragoș Danciu (central midfielder, b. 2002, Aurul Brad), Daniel Benzar, Cristian Grancea (midfielder, b. 2004, Ghiroda), Carol Taub (ex-Concordia) and George Isvoranu (CS Tunari); – In parenthesis the team they last played for.

Also took part in the training 15 youngsters from the Politehnica Academy (Elite League players): Mario Cuzmanovici, Carlos Butar, Ionuț Spulber, Paul Bălănescu, Narcis Popovici, Dan Pureca, Raul Țurcaș (all born 2004), Alex Urdeș, Fabian Marincu, Armin Mada (b. 2005), Patrick Paleacu, Robert Matei, Mario Balica, Denis Boariu and Răzvan Erceanu (b. 2006).

Not only the squad is under construction, but also the technical staff and the Italian physical trainer Simone Fornari (ex-U Craiova 1948) was present at the meeting. There is a possibility of a training camp in Slovenia in July.

The first friendly match of the white-violet team, especially for testing young players, will be on Saturday, at 11.00 a.m., at the “Science”, against Obilici Sânmartinu Sârbesc (League 5).