Cardiff, Wales
March 2003
Thanks
to Gôl! two Azeri children had the opportunity of a lifetime as
they lead out their national team in front of 72,000 people at the Millennium
Stadium.
Saleh Salayev (12) and Rahim Gozalov (13) are two of almost 20,000 children
living in orphanages in the Azeri capital city of Baku, and, having visited
three orphanages when in Baku for the match against Azerbaijan, Gôl!
struck on the idea of providing a chance of a lifetime for two Azeris to visit
Wales.
"Having come back from Baku we managed to raise enough money and persuade enough
sponsors to ensure this hair-brained idea of ours became reality," explained
Gôl! chairman Dylan Llewellyn.
Thanks to the generosity of FACTS Travel and British Midland the two boys and
their guardian for the trip, President of the Azerbaijan Volunteers Union,
Jeyhun Osmanli, travelled business class form Baku to London on the same flight
as the national team - so the boys were able to meet their heroes as well as
visit the cockpit and meet the captain.
The boys had an action packed weekend in Wales thanks to the generosity of Rob
and Mandy Santwris and their daughters Katie and Jade. As soon as the Santwris
family heard of the plan to bring the Azeri kids to Wales, they insisted that
they should stay with them in Newport.
So Rahim and Saleh's first experience of Welsh life after arriving on Thursday
afternoon was a 'welcome' disco at Baneswell Social Club, Newport along with 70
screaming teenagers!
Friday morning was spent visiting the Gwent Police dog handling section and
traffic police as Rahim wants to be a policeman. In the afternoon they visited
St Joseph's High School and were stars of Uned 5, a live
children's programme on S4C, before heading off to Barry in the evening along
with 70 other kids on a double decker bus courtesy of Acorn Recruitment, for the
U21 match between the two countries.
Jenner Park, Barry was no preparation for Rahim and Saleh for the following
day's events and as they arrived at the Millennium Stadium they gazed in
amazement. Having changed into their Azeri football kits they met the Azeri team
manager and whilst waiting to go out onto the pitch Craig Bellamy stopped to
chat.
Having sang their hearts out during the national anthems the boys were escorted
to their seats, and although disheartened by the final score, they were
delighted to have met Ryan Giggs after the match.
On Sunday the boys went shopping to buy presents for the other 100 children at
the orphanage with spending money kindly raised by Newport County's Amber Army
Supporters' Group before heading off for the fun fair.
"The fans created a great impression when they visited Baku," said Jehyn
Osmanli. "We were touched by the help we received back then, and I'm certain
that the boys will return home with even fonder memories of Wales."
