Hristo Stoichkov met with fans and football lovers in the “Arena Shumen“ hall. The event, in the overcrowded hall, goes under the title “30 years of USA 1994”. The Ballon d'Or and Golden Boot winner spends hours signing autographs and taking pictures with his fans. He announced that he would sign autographs and take pictures with anyone who wanted, and only then would he leave the hall.
Stoichkov presented a copy of his award for the best football player, awarded to him in 1994, to the mayor of Shumen, Prof. Hristo Hristov, and he presented him with a plaque with the global symbol of Bulgaria - the Madar horseman. To the football fans, Stoichkov promised to come again to Shumen for the opening of the city stadium “Panayot Volov”, which the municipal administration intends to renovate, a commitment that the mayor of Shumen, Prof. Hristo Hristov, also made at a press conference earlier.
„This event is part of our platform related to creating a healthy generation of ours, and we can achieve this through sports. Our goal was to give the young football children of Shumen the opportunity to touch Mr. Stoichkov and God grant that he will be able to convey to them his love for football and his thirst for victory, said Prof. Hristov at the press conference.
„It is a joy and an honor for me to be in Shumen after so many years. You know that Shumen gave Bulgarian and world football two of the biggest idols of our generation. One is Tsonyo Vassilev, his little finger, and the other, with whom I had the honor to play and a friendship that connects us, is Ivaylo Kirov”, comments Hristo Stoichkov.
„I am happy that here I have the opportunity to meet these young people in Shumen. The city has always been famous for sports facilities, with schools where great athletes grew up. When the big stadium in Shumen is restored, the schools will be given a chance to develop sports even more, so that these children can feel what sports are, because lately we have been neglecting our children, added Stoichkov.
According to him, it is good for every school to have events, to have swimming pools and for children to play sports. “Saturday and Sunday should have competitions between classes, between schools should have competitions as it was in our time”, recommended Hristo Stoichkov.
“This year marks the 30th anniversary of Bulgaria having the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe in the same year. It has always been an honor and responsibility for me to defend both the shirt of CSKA and Barcelona, as well as the national team. This year is a little different – we have two individual trophies, which are not mine, but belong to my colleagues, my family, all the Bulgarian fans who have supported me, my coaches, doctors, masseurs, physiotherapists, administrators, drivers, everyone, because without them, I would not have been able to lift these trophies, Stoichkov said at the press conference.