Teodor Luca, president of the Romanian Teqball Federation (FRTEQ), told AGERPRES on Friday that the federation is preparing a surprise project for football and teqball fans: bringing legendary footballer Ronaldinho to Romania in 2027, alongside Fernando Fiore, one of the most charismatic figures in sports journalism in the United States.

The FRTEQ president said the project is expected to take place in Bucharest and Timisoara and was discussed during the recent visit Fernando Fiore, nicknamed 'El Presidente' paid to Romania.

Photo: Romanian Teqball Federation


'The plans under discussion go beyond the traditional format of a simple sports gala. FRTEQ is working intensively on an innovative concept for 2027, designed as the perfect blend of sport, entertainment and top-level journalism. If the discussions come to fruition as intended, audiences in Bucharest and Timisoara will witness a spectacular duo: Ronaldinho, who made history with his magic on the pitch, and Fernando Fiore, who has given a voice to the great stories from behind the scenes of football. Romanians will have the exclusive opportunity to hear fascinating behind-the-scenes details about world football and Fiore's encounters with idols such as Maradona, Messi and Pele,' Teodor Luca said.

The FRTEQ president sees this opportunity not only as a sporting achievement but also as an emotional parallel with Romanian values.

'For me, meeting Fernando Fiore also has a strong personal dimension. I make a comparison that I offer with the greatest respect: whenever I have had the opportunity to meet Gheorghe Hagi, I have noticed the same extraordinary passion for football. Hagi speaks about football with unparalleled passion. Fernando Fiore does the same in the world of sports journalism and television. When you listen to him speak, you realise that sport is not just a profession for him,' Teodor Luca stressed.

Through this initiative, Luca said, the Romanian Teqball Federation is demonstrating how a young and dynamic sport can open doors to elite international communities, while Fiore's visit and the prospect of bringing Ronaldinho to Romania reaffirm the federation's central message.

Photo: Romanian Teqball Federation


'Sometimes, it takes someone who has seen the whole world to come to Romania and remind us how much we have to show the world. And if Fernando Fiore has discovered Romania in just a few days, the next meeting could be an opportunity for Romania to discover, through his stories, the extraordinary world of international football. So 2027 could bring a first for Bucharest and Timisoara,' the FRTEQ president concluded.

Visiting Romania for the first time, 'El Presidente,' as he is widely known, said he had been completely captivated by the experience.

'It has been a wonderful trip. Over the past few days, I had the opportunity to visit the beautiful capital, Bucharest, where I spent four hours exploring the outstanding Football Museum. Then I went to Brasov, Sighisoara, Bran, Sibiu and Peles Castle in Sinaia, and now I am heading home. I would have loved to stay longer, but I am also the official radio commentator for Inter Miami's matches. And even though Messi retired from the national team this week, I have to leave to commentate on Inter Miami's match against DC United this Saturday. I hope to return to Romania to visit other places and take part in an event alongside my good friend Ronaldinho. We have organised many events together with this wonderful Brazilian legend and we hope to be back here next year. Thank you, Luca, thank you, Romania! It is a wonderful country and the people are absolutely extraordinary. I will certainly recommend to all my friends that they visit. God bless you and I hope to see you again soon. Viva Romania!,' Fernando Fiore told AGERPRES.

The journalist said that in the 1990s he travelled around the world with a travelling television show and had always wanted to visit Romania but had never had the opportunity until now.

Photo: (c) Fernando Fiore personal archive


'I have been a commentator and presenter for more than 37 years. I have covered ten men's World Cups, two Women's World Cups and several youth World Cups, all in football. I have also reported from a hundred other sporting events around the world: more than 50 world championship boxing events, over ten Super Bowls, tennis tournaments, NBA Finals, All-Star games across various sports and much, much more. In the 1990s, I travelled around the world with a travelling television show. I had always wanted to come to Romania but had never had the opportunity until now. Thanks to Teodor Luca, I have finally managed to visit this wonderful country. We met a few years ago during a teqball tournament, a Teqball World Championship. He invited me here and told me about all the beautiful places in Romania. It has been a wonderful trip,' Fernando Fiore said.

The story behind the project began in Germany at the 2022 Teqball World Championships in Nuremberg.

'Fernando is the kind of person you can talk to for a few minutes and feel as though you have known him for years. He is extremely approachable, charismatic and, above all, speaks about sport with extraordinary passion,' Teodor Luca added.

With a career spanning more than three decades at renowned media networks such as Telemundo and Univision, where he hosted successful programmes including 'Republica Deportiva' and 'Fuera de Serie,' alongside Sofia Vergara, Fernando Fiore has interviewed and formed friendships with sporting greats such as Pele, Diego Maradona, Dunga, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Lionel Messi and David Beckham. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Dorina Matis; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)

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