Baku, Azerbaijan
September 2004


Iwan Pryce shares out the sweets at Orphanage#3 in the Khatai District

It was a case of renewing old aquaintances when Gôl! visited Orphanage #3 in the Khatai District of Baku.

Not only had we visited the orphanage in 2002, when some Welsh fans had failed miserably in their attempts at a traditional Azeri dance, but Gôl! had also arranged for two boys from the orphange, Saleh Salayev and Rahim Gozalov to visit Wales for the return match.
 
A fleet of taxis was commandeered to take a large number of Welsh fans from the Absheron Hotel to the orphanage. With each taxi driver taking it as a matter of pride that their passengers arrived first, the journey out to Khatai turned into a Gumball Rally for Ladas, and I doubt that Alton Towers has anything to compare with a ride through the streets of Baku!

When we arrived, the orphanage's football team was on hand to welcome us, resplendant in the national strip of Azerbaijan.

And, after a welcome speech from the principal of the orphanage, there was only one thing on the minds of the children - a football match!

Having had an extra two years to cultivate their beer-bellies, the Welsh fans showed that, once again, they were no match for the Azeris.

With the help of the Jeyhun Osmanly from the Azerbaijan Volunteers Union (AVU), Gôl! were able to ensure that the mountains of football shirts, pyjamas, childrens clothes and toys donated would be distributed between a number of orphanages in the district.

But we did have one special gift for Orphanage #3 and, with the help of Anne Thompson and her colleagues at the BBC's Baku office, we were able to deliver a brand new computer.

Once again, visiting the orphanage in Baku was a truly humbling experience, but one felt a strong bond growing between this particular orphanage and the Welsh fans.