Ik heb hem al eens in een ander artikel vermeld. Ik sprak over hoe lief hij was voor zijn fans, voor mij bijvoorbeeld. Vandaag ga ik wat vertellen op mijn laatste ontmoeting met hem. Dat was enkele weken terug, toen wist nog niemand of hij bij onze club zou blijven of naar een andere club zou gaan.
Wanneer de training voor de wedstrijd over was passeerde Elyaniv me om naar de kleedkamers te gaan. Fans naast me wouden een handtekening van hem maar ze hadden geen pen bij. Ik ging in mijn handtas opzoek naar een pen. Elyaniv bleef geduldig wachten totdat ik een pen vond tussen al mijn spullen. Nadat iedereen een handtekening had kwam hij terug om mijn pen te geven. "I hope to see you back next year!" zei ik tegen hem. Hij nam mijn handen vast (!) en antwoordde "Thank you, thank you very much!" Daarna ging hij de kleedkamers in om zich klaar te maken voor de wedstrijd.
Tijdens de match werd Elyaniv gewisseld en de fans riepen "Barda moet blijven!" minuten lang door heel het stadion. Wat kreeg ik er kippenvel van. Hij klapte in zijn handen om ons te bedanken.
Toen de wedstrijd gedaan was trok hij zijn truitje uit en een ander shirt kwam tevoorschijn "Dank u wel voor alles" stond erop gedrukt. Hij liep een ronde rond het voetbalplein om alle fans te bedanken. Hij kwam voorbij om terug naar de kleedkamers te gaan. "Elyaniv can we take a picture?" vroeg ik. Hij knikte en deed teken dat ik verderop moest gaan staan voor de foto. Voor ons stonden enkele bodyguards.
Hij liep naar een betere plaats met me. We hadden alleen een hek tussen ons staan. Iemand van de pers die aan het opruimen was deed het hek open en vergat het dicht te doen. Ik glipte snel naar binnen. Ik stond er alleen met hem en mijn vader maakte een foto van ons. Ik vroeg als ik hem een knuffel kon geven. "Yeah sure!" zei hij en opende zijn armen. Ik bedankte hem terwijl ik hem een knuffel gaf. Er kwamen fans op ons afgelopen als gekken. "Omg Barda!!" riepen ze. Voor hun was het waarschijnlijk de eerste keer dat ze de kans hadden om hem van zo dichtbij te zien. Ik wachtte totdat iedereen zijn foto en handtekening had. Hij sloeg geen één fan over!
Ik hoorde jongens achter me. Ik draaide me en zag drie jongens waarvan één in en rolstoel zat. Iemand van de pers kwam het hek sluiten. "Kan u het terug openen?" vroeg ik. "Ge ziet hem wel hoor!" Wow, arrogant dat ze was. "Doe het hek dan voor deze jongen open!" zei ik en wees naar de jongen in de rolstoel. "Oei, sorry!" Ze was meteen al vriendelijker. De jongen mocht door de hekken en stond te wachten op Elyaniv Barda. Elyaniv zag de jongen en groette hem. Uit het niets deed hij zijn schoenen uit en gaf ze aan de jongen. Je had moeten zien hoe blij die jongen was. Ik kreeg tranen in mijn ogen, dat was zo lief! De jongen kwam terug bij ons staan en meerdere fans kwamen aangelopen. Ik wachtte weer tot iedereen tevreden was.
Nu was het mijn beurt terug. Ik liep tussen de hekken naar Elyaniv. Ik stond bijna op het grasveld. "Kan je me eerlijk zeggen als je blijft?" vroeg ik hem. "Ik weet het echt niet." antwoordde hij met zijn hand op mijn schouder. "Als je weggaat wens ik je het beste!"
Daarna vroeg ik hem als ik zijn sokken mocht hebben. "Dan heb ik je hele outfit! Ik heb je shirt en short toch al!" voegde ik eraan toe. Hij lachte en keek naar zijn voeten. Hij stond er op mijn sokken, boxershort en het shirt waar hij een tekst op had staan voor de fans. Hij lachte en deed zijn sokken uit en gaf ze aan mij. Daarna babbelde we nog over zijn kinderen. Het was tijd om afscheid te nemen. Hij zwaaide met een lach en liep op zijn blote voeten naar de kleedkamer.
I mentioned him in an other post earlier. I talked about how amazing he was for his fans, for me for example. Today I'm gonna write about my last meeting with him.
I met him for the last time of this soccer season on Sunday, back then nobody was sure if he'd leave the club or if he'd get a new contract and stay.
When his training was over he passed me to go inside. Fans next to me wanted a autograph for Elyaniv and I had to borrow him a pen. When I was searched in my handbag he was just standing infront of me, laughing. How awkward that he was waiting on me! He was ready with the autograph and gave me my pen back. He came to me and I said to him "I hope to see you back next year!", he took my hands(!) and said "Thank you, thank you so much!" He left to make himself ready to play on the field.
During the game all the fans in the stadium were shouting "BARDA NEEDS TO STAY!" It gave me goosebumps.. He clapped in his hands to thank us.
When the game was over he putted jersey out and he was wearing another shirt, the one you see on the picture. Its says "Thank you for everything". He walk around the field to thank the fans. He came from the fiels to go inside (i see the players walking out of their dressingroom). So he came from the field and I asked him if we could get a picture. There was some bodyguards standing too so I asked if we could go a bit further.
He walked with me to a better place, we only had barriers between us. The press and TV-stations opened one of the barriers so I 'sneaked' inside. I was standing there alone with him and we made a picuture. I asked him if I could hug him. He said 'Sure!' and opened his arms. I said 'thank you' while hugging him. Some other fans came, running like a freak. "Omg Barda!". For the other fans it was probably the first time that they really met him. So I waited until they got and autograph and a picture. I was watching it and remember him greeting ALL the fans. He didn't forget anyone!
Behind me I heard some boys. I turned around and saw the boys with another boy in a wheelchair. A few seconds later a security came and closed the barriers. I asked her if she could open it again. "You can see him!" wow rude. I said "Can you open it so at least the boy in his wheelchair can see something?" and she was like "omg sorry!!" We let the boy in the wheelchair go behind the barriers. Elyaniv noticed him and greeted him. Out of nothing he started to take his shoes off and gave it to the boy. Wow, that smile. I had almost tears in my eyes, that was so sweet!
New fans came and again I waited till they had there moment with Elyaniv. Then it was my turn again. I walked to Elyaniv, I was almost standing on the field. "Can you tell me if you'll stay?" "I really don't know." answered he with his hand on my shoulder. "Well, if you'll leave I wish you the best with everything!"
Then I asked if I could get his socks, so I'd have his outfit cause he already gave me his T-shirt and short some time ago. He laughed, look at his feet. He gave his shirt away, his short, his shoes and now I was asking for his socks. He putted his socks out and have it so me. Then I told him that I knew the teacher of his daughters and he was like "Oh really?! Yeah, I know her!" He smiled and then it was time to say goodbye. He walked barefoot to his dressingroom.
I met him for the last time of this soccer season on Sunday, back then nobody was sure if he'd leave the club or if he'd get a new contract and stay.
When his training was over he passed me to go inside. Fans next to me wanted a autograph for Elyaniv and I had to borrow him a pen. When I was searched in my handbag he was just standing infront of me, laughing. How awkward that he was waiting on me! He was ready with the autograph and gave me my pen back. He came to me and I said to him "I hope to see you back next year!", he took my hands(!) and said "Thank you, thank you so much!" He left to make himself ready to play on the field.
During the game all the fans in the stadium were shouting "BARDA NEEDS TO STAY!" It gave me goosebumps.. He clapped in his hands to thank us.
When the game was over he putted jersey out and he was wearing another shirt, the one you see on the picture. Its says "Thank you for everything". He walk around the field to thank the fans. He came from the fiels to go inside (i see the players walking out of their dressingroom). So he came from the field and I asked him if we could get a picture. There was some bodyguards standing too so I asked if we could go a bit further.
He walked with me to a better place, we only had barriers between us. The press and TV-stations opened one of the barriers so I 'sneaked' inside. I was standing there alone with him and we made a picuture. I asked him if I could hug him. He said 'Sure!' and opened his arms. I said 'thank you' while hugging him. Some other fans came, running like a freak. "Omg Barda!". For the other fans it was probably the first time that they really met him. So I waited until they got and autograph and a picture. I was watching it and remember him greeting ALL the fans. He didn't forget anyone!
Behind me I heard some boys. I turned around and saw the boys with another boy in a wheelchair. A few seconds later a security came and closed the barriers. I asked her if she could open it again. "You can see him!" wow rude. I said "Can you open it so at least the boy in his wheelchair can see something?" and she was like "omg sorry!!" We let the boy in the wheelchair go behind the barriers. Elyaniv noticed him and greeted him. Out of nothing he started to take his shoes off and gave it to the boy. Wow, that smile. I had almost tears in my eyes, that was so sweet!
New fans came and again I waited till they had there moment with Elyaniv. Then it was my turn again. I walked to Elyaniv, I was almost standing on the field. "Can you tell me if you'll stay?" "I really don't know." answered he with his hand on my shoulder. "Well, if you'll leave I wish you the best with everything!"
Then I asked if I could get his socks, so I'd have his outfit cause he already gave me his T-shirt and short some time ago. He laughed, look at his feet. He gave his shirt away, his short, his shoes and now I was asking for his socks. He putted his socks out and have it so me. Then I told him that I knew the teacher of his daughters and he was like "Oh really?! Yeah, I know her!" He smiled and then it was time to say goodbye. He walked barefoot to his dressingroom.
One of my favorite people ever. He took my hands, thanked me, hugged me, laughed with me. He gave me his shirt, short and socks. I'l never forget the moments that we had on every game.
Thank you Elyaniv Barda.
Hope to see you back in another club in Belgium.
You'll always be
My favorite
Eva.
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