Ladislau Boloni, the revered former player and coach, shed light on FCSB's impressive performance in this season's European competition during the Romanian Sports Gala held at the National Opera in Bucharest on March 18, 2025. Boloni, who at 72 continues to be a prominent figure in Romanian football, praised FCSB while carefully referring to them exclusively as "roș-albaștrii," a term that encapsulates their red and blue colors without directly naming the club, which faced a controversial identity issue in recent years.
The football club made a considerable mark this season, reaching the round of 16 in the UEFA Europa League after a decade-long hiatus from this stage. However, their journey was cut short by a formidable Lyon side, who eliminated them with a resounding 7-1 aggregate score. Despite the early exit, FCSB's season was far from disappointing, culminating in a financial windfall that saw the club rake in €12.5 million from UEFA, alongside another estimated €4 million from ticket sales during their European campaign.
Boloni expressed hope for FCSB’s future prospects, stating, "Roș-albaștrii au avut un parcurs foarte frumos. Au obținut niște calificări interesante. Să sperăm că anul viitor pot face același lucru și chiar să ajungă la un etaj mai sus, chiar dacă este dificil," underscoring a wish for the team to ascend even higher in future competitions.
At the same gala, Digi Sport proudly received a diploma of excellence awarded by the National Agency for Sport (ANS), recognizing their contribution to the promotion of sports journalism in Romania. George Dobre, the Chief Editor of Digi Sport, graciously accepted the award, echoing sentiments that underline the media’s indispensable role in connecting the public with sports. He noted, "Este un sentiment extrem de plăcut. [...] E atât de important premiul acesta pentru noi, pentru că sprijinim și noi sportul," as he articulated the importance of media presence in elevating Romanian sports achievements.
The gala celebrated numerous accomplishments across various sporting disciplines. David Popovici was crowned Sportsman of the Year for his extraordinary achievements in swimming, and Simona Radiș garnered recognition as Sportswoman of the Year for her remarkable skills in rowing. The coach of the year was awarded to Adrian Rădulescu, who has continually driven swimmers to podium finishes, while Camelia Voinea took home the title of Female Coach of the Year for her exceptional guidance in gymnastics.
The event also honored athletes in the Paralympic sphere, with Alexandru Bologa named Sportsman of the Year in Paralympic sports, and Camelia Ciripan receiving the equivalent award for women in that sector. The Romanian national football team, known as "naționala de fotbal a României," was recognized as Team of the Year in male team sports, reflecting the unyielding support and expectations from fans and stakeholders alike.
The recognition extended to CS Gloria 2018 Bistrița-Năsăud, named Team of the Year in female team sports, with emphasis on their stellar performance in handball. Further accolades highlighted the achievements within individual sports, with Marian Enache and Andrei Cornea driving their rowing team to success earning Team of the Year in men's individual sports, while the Barca de 8+1 of Romania claimed the same title for women's individual sports.
A number of promising young athletes were also acknowledged, including Amalia Lică for women's sports hopes and Vlad Covaliu for men's sports hopes. Not to overlook the rising stars in mixed sports, Teodor Luca Butnaru and Julia Denisa Bidică were honored amid a gathering of Romania’s sports elite.
With prominent awards like the Excellence Award for Lifetime Achievement bestowed upon Simona Halep, and a special ANS award presented to Ladislau Boloni, the gala illustrates a vibrant celebration of not just past achievements, but a horizon of future aspirations for Romanian athletes.
As Boloni and Dobre demonstrated through their remarks, the reverberating message of support and recognition encapsulates a collective commitment to nurturing talent within the sporting landscape, resonating far beyond the one night of celebration.
