Friends from Azov

CSKA – Zalgiris game has become special for the kids from orphanage from Azov, Rostov Region. My Friends Charity Foundation initiated the invitation and the trip was organized by the whole team which actively participates in the Euroleague One Team project.

Sport is not a hobby but a life style for the children in Azov orphanage. Therefore the trip to a big game was a kind of dream for them. It’s always great to see the dreams coming true during the Christmas time.

It is important to note that it was the team members who organized the celebration. CSKA President Andrey Vatutin and the red-blues’ captain Victor Khryapa inspired the players and coaches to collect money. And what they collected was enough not only to bring, feed and accommodate 7 boys and girls of different ages plus the teacher to head them but also to provide them with cultural program in Russian capitol. The club provided the tickets and souvenirs.

The kids got the full game experience: the watched basketball game, they went on the floor to participate in the contest together with Evgeny Voronov, they got the gifts and met the team in the end. They’ll spend one more day in Moscow and get on the train for a long road back to Azov.

“It’s great that it all came to the ‘final stage’, that the kids made a long trip to Moscow to see us playing, to meet their favorite athletes,” CSKA captain, One Team Ambassador Victor Khryapa said. “But it all started much earlier, when the club helped them to come here. I am glad that we were able to give them this Christmas present. We found out later that the trip actually took around 24 hours but I think the kids enjoyed the game. Hopefully, the will be able to come here again.”

“This is obviously a great opportunity for the kids to come here to see the game, to join our great supporters,” One Team Global Ambassador, CSKA center Kyle Hines said. “I think it was a great gesture from CSKA, the whole organization, the entire club. This was not the last game we played in the season, hopefully we can bring more kids to more games.”