Today will be one of the last matches played at the Dan Paltinisanu stadium, which is expected to be demolished soon for the construction of the new ultramodern arena.
It will be a demonstration game between old-boys teams Politehnica Timisoara and Rapid Bucharest.
The match will start at 16.00 and spectators will exceptionally be allowed, but only on the athletics track, not in the stands. The two clubs’ galleries are twinned.
The Polist team includes, among others, Constantin Varga, Sorin Vlaicu, Florin Bătrânu, Cristian Dancia, Paul Codrea, Srgian Luchin, Iasmin Latovlevici and Marcel Băban. The latter is the main organizer of the meeting; he has played for both teams throughout his career.
Rapid’s squad includes Necula Răducanu, Marian Rada, Dumitru Târțău, Dorel Mutică, Mugur Bolohan, Zeno Bundea, Cristian Dulca, Ștefan Nanu, Viorel Ion, Daniel Chiriță, Marian Aliuță, Costin Lazăr, Ovidiu Herea and former Polish coach Bogdan Andone.
On Saturday, the players of the two teams will lay a wreath at the grave of former Phoenix leader Nicu Covaci at the Heroes’ Cemetery in Timisoara.
The Giulești team will make the trip by train, in remembrance of times gone by. Rapid will also play on Sunday in Arad against the old-boys team of UTA.
P.S. Friday’s match will almost certainly not be the last one played at the “Dan Paltinisanu”.