A number of events in Sofia during the recent days mark the 100th anniversary of the oldest, still existing football club in Bulgaria – Slavia.
The first protocol book of the sports club, which fans call “the white bible” reads that Slavia aims at the physical education of members and urging their motivation for physical and moral development. This first document is signed by 13 founders and the event took place on April 10, 1913 “in the field near the Russian monument in Sofia.” The field near the Russian monument downtown Sofia is long gone but recently fans and the management of the white club opened a plate on one of the nearby buildings to remind of the establishment of the club.
Slavia is a renowned Bulgarian club that has given football players like Alexander Shalamanov, Simeon Simeonov, Bozhidar Grigorov and others. The long history of the club is marked by a number of successes. Slavia is a 7-time Champion of Bulgaria and the first team that played on the semifinals of a European club tournament. In the tournament for the European Cup Winners Cup Slavia played against Rangers (Glasgow) at the semifinals but lost.
Fans of sport know that Slavia has brought a number of successes not just in football. In 1959 the women’s basketball team triumphed with the Cup of the European champions. Incredible Vanya Voinova, regarded by many as the best Bulgarian basketball player among the women played in the team.
Slavia also remained in the history as the first Bulgarian volleyball club that reached the final of the Cup of European Champions. This happened in 1962 when the women’s team won the silver medals.
For its anniversary Slavia’s management received gifts from other football clubs and the President of the Bulgarian Football Union Borislav Mihaylov and Minister of Sport Petar Stoichev gave awards to legendary members of the club.
“What Slavia has given to Bulgaria cannot go unmissed. My presence here shows that I truly respect the deed of the great sportspeople of Slavia,” Stoichev said.
“I am proud that Slavia turned 100-years old. I also played in the club in my career and I am grateful to it,” Borislav Mihaylov told the guests.
Among those to receive awards were Andrey Zhelyazkov, the coach of the Olympic silver medalists in volleyball from Moscow 1980, Todor Piperkov, and the water polo legend Georgi Gadzhev.
Slavia has always had true fans who know that the future would surely bring new memorable victories.
English: Alexander Markov
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