FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIER 2018

CARDIFF CITY STADIUM MONDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2016 KICK OFF 19:45 OFFICIAL PROGRAMME £3

ROWND RHAGBROFOL CWPAN Y BYD FIFA 2018

STADIWM DINAS CAERDYDD DYDD LLUN MEDI'R 5ed CIC GYNTAF 19.45 RHAGLEN SWYDDOGOL £3

CHRIS COLEMAN

A warm welcome to you all back here to the City Stadium Croeso cynnes iawn i chi yn ôl yma i Stadiwm Dinas Caerdydd ar for our first World Cup qualifying match. gyfer ein gêm gyntaf yn ymgyrch Cwpan y Byd.

This is obviously the first time that we have all been together Yn amlwg, dyma’r tro cyntaf i ni gyd fod gyda’n gilydd ers yr haf since the memorable summer in France. bythgofiadwy yn Ffrainc.

Although we cannot afford to dwell on the past I have to take Er na allwn fforddio edrych tua’r gorffennol o hyd, mae’n rhaid i mi advantage of this opportunity and thank everyone for their fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn a diolch i bawb am eu cefnogaeth yn ystod support during the UEFA European Championships. We could Pencampwriaeth Ewrop UEFA. Roedd pob un ohonom yn gallu all feel the warmth of the support and how genuine everyone teimlo’r gefnogaeth frwd a pha mor ddiffuant yr oedd pawb gyda’u was with their good wishes. The scenes when we arrived back in dymuniadau gorau. Roedd y golygfeydd wrth i ni gyrraedd yn ôl Cardiff were incredible. A sea of red and happy faces will stay yng Nghaerdydd yn anhygoel. Bydd môr o goch a wynebau hapus with me forever. yn aros gyda mi am byth.

On and off the pitch, here in Wales or over in France I believe Ar y cae, ac oddi arno, yma yng Nghymru neu draw yn Ffrainc, that we were all excellent ambassadors for our country and the mae pob un ohonom ni wedi bod yn llysgenhadon gwych i’n gwlad summer of 2016. a haf 2016.

However, all this week I have been telling the squad and the Fodd bynnag, drwy gydol yr wythnos rydw i wedi bod yn dweud management team that although we had great success in wrth y garfan a’r tîm rheoli, er ein bod ni wedi mwynhau llwyddiant France we must now concentrate on the future starting tonight mawr yn Ffrainc, mae’n rhaid i ni nawr ganolbwyntio ar y dyfodol, against . gan ddechrau heno yn erbyn Moldofa.

The level of expectation is now greater and we will be seen in a Erbyn hyn, mae lefel y disgwyliadau yn fwy, a bydd ein different light by the opposition. We know how important it is to gwrthwynebwyr yn edrych arnom ni mewn golau gwahanol. get off to a good and winning start in the campaign. There are Rydym ni’n gwybod pa mor bwysig yw dechrau’r ymgyrch yn three home matches to come in the first four games and we need gadarn a thrwy ennill. Mae tair gêm gartref yn y pedair gêm gyntaf to take advantage of that fact. ac mae’n rhaid i ni fanteisio’n llawn ar hynny.

Moldova will come here tonight to make things difficult for Bydd Moldofa yn dod yma heno i wneud pethau’n anodd i ni. Maen us. They are a hard team to beat as their results in the last nhw’n dîm anodd eu curo, fel mae eu canlyniadau yn yr ymgyrch qualifying campaign have shown. There is no way we can or will ddiwethaf yn dangos. Ni ddylem, ac ni fyddwn, yn eu tanbrisio. underestimate them. Hoffwn ddiolch i ddau aelod o’r tîm hyfforddi a adawodd ar ôl Ewro I would like to thank two members of the coaching staff who left 2016. Mae Martyn Margetson a Paul Trollope yn ddau unigolyn after the EURO 2016. Martyn Margetson and Paul Trollope are hynod o alluog ac yn bobl arbennig i weithio â nhw, ac rwy’n both extremely talented individuals and great people to work with dymuno’n dda iddyn nhw yn y dyfodol. and I wish them well in the future. Mae Kit Symons wedi dychwelyd i’r tîm i gymryd lle Paul ac rydym Kit Symons has returned to the fold to replace Paul and we ni’n croesawu Tony Roberts fel hyfforddwr newydd y gôl-geidwaid. welcome Tony Roberts as the new goalkeeping coach. We will Byddwn yn elwa’n fawr oddi ar eu gwybodaeth a’u profiad. benefit greatly from their knowledge and experience. Diolch, Diolch, Chris. Chris.

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MONDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2016 WALES / CYMRU v MOLDOVA GEORGIA v AUSTRIA SERBIA v REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

THURSDAY 6 OCTOBER 2016 AUSTRIA v WALES / CYMRU MOLDOVA v SERBIA REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v GEORGIA

SUNDAY 9 OCTOBER 2016 WALES / CYMRU v GEORGIA MOLDOVA v REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SERBIA v AUSTRIA

SATURDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2016 WALES / CYMRU v SERBIA AUSTRIA v REPUBLIC OF IRELAND GEORGIA v MOLDOVA

FRIDAY 24 MARCH 2017 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v WALES / CYMRU AUSTRIA v MOLDOVA GEORGIA v SERBIA

SUNDAY 11 JUNE 2017 SERBIA v WALES / CYMRU REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v AUSTRIA MOLDOVA v GEORGIA

SATURDAY 2 SEPTEMBER 2017 WALES / CYMRU v AUSTRIA SERBIA v MOLDOVA GEORGIA v REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

TUESDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2017 MOLDOVA v WALES / CYMRU AUSTRIA v GEORGIA REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v SERBIA

FRIDAY 6 OCTOBER 2017 GEORGIA v WALES / CYMRU AUSTRIA v SERBIA REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v MOLDOVA

MONDAY 9 OCTOBER 2017 WALES / CYMRU v REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SERBIA v GEORGIA MOLDOVA v AUSTRIA

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DAVID GRIFFITHS JONATHAN FORD President, FAW / CEO, FAW / Llywydd, Cymdeithas Prif Swyddog Gweithredol, Bêl-droed Cymru Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru

Good evening everyone and I Noswaith dda bawb a dyma estyn Good evening and welcome to Noswaith dda, a chroeso i bid you all a warm welcome to croeso cynnes i Stadiwm Dinas . Stadiwm Dinas Caerdydd. Cardiff City Stadium. Our focus Caerdydd. Mae ein ffocws nawr I’m sure that it goes without Dwi’n siŵr nad oes angen now switches to the 2018 FIFA yn symud at ymgyrch Cwpan y saying that you all enjoyed the gofyn sut haf gawsoch chi?! World Cup Qualifying campaign Byd FIFA 2018 sy’n dechrau heno summer?! Fe wnaeth Chris a’i garfan and that starts this evening gyda’n gêm gyntaf yn grŵp D yn Chris and his squad of players ein gwneud ni’n arbennig o falch with our first game in group D erbyn Moldofa. Hoffwn groesawu made us immensely proud in yn Ffrainc wrth i Gymru barhau i against Moldova. I welcome their eu Llywydd, yn ogystal â France as Wales continued to greu hanes dwy gyrraedd rownd President, directors, players, chyfarwyddwyr, chwaraewyr, staff make history by reaching the gynderfynol Ewro 2016 UEFA, staff and supporters who have a chefnogwyr sydd wedi teithio Semi-Finals of UEFA EURO 2016 a hynny gyda pherfformiadau made the trip to Wales. draw i Gymru ar gyfer y gêm. with some splendid displays ysblennydd ar y cae. Tonight we must put the Heno, mae’n rhaid i ni roi of football. Hoffwn achub ar y cyfle tremendous success of the llwyddiant enfawr Ewro 2016 I’d like to take this opportunity hwn i ddiolch o waelod calon i UEFA EURO 2016 behind us and UEFA tu ôl i ni a symud ymlaen i’n to show my gratitude to Chris, Chris, ei staff a’r garfan o 23 o move on to our next challenge her nesaf o gyrraedd rowndiau his backroom staff and the chwaraewyr a lwyddodd i wireddu of reaching the World Cup finals terfynol Cwpan y Byd Rwsia squad of 23 players who made ein breuddwydion ni. Yn ogystal, in Russia in 2018. However, we 2018. Fodd bynnag, ni ddylen our dreams come true. In hoffwn ddiolch i staff Cymdeithas should never forget the events in ni anghofio beth ddigwyddodd addition, I’d like to thank the staff ac Ymddiriedolaeth Bêl-droed France that included a stunning yn Ffrainc, gan gynnwys y of both the FAW and FAW Trust, Cymru a oedd wrthi’n ddiflino victory over Russia, a hard fuddugoliaeth fythgofiadwy yn who worked tirelessly behind the drwy gydol yr ymgyrch i sicrhau fought win over Northern Ireland erbyn Rwsia, gornest galed a scenes to make everything run bod popeth yn digwydd fel y and an absolutely fantastic llwyddiannus yn erbyn Gogledd so smoothly, allowing Chris and dylai, gan alluogi Chris a’r performance and result over the Iwerddon a pherfformiad a the players to concentrate on chwaraewyr i ganolbwyntio ar star studded Belgium team. chanlyniad hollol anhygoel yn achieving success. gyflawni pethau mawr. The supporters were an erbyn sêr Gwlad Belg. Most importantly of all, I’d Yn bwysicach na dim, hoffwn absolute credit to Wales and Roedd y cefnogwyr yn glod like to thank all of you… the fans. ddiolch i bob un ohonoch chi....y were the 12th man the team i Gymru, y deuddegfed dyn Whether you were in France or cefnogwyr. P’un a oeddech chi yn needed as run continued to angenrheidiol wrth i’r tîm brysuro back here in Wales, your support Ffrainc neu yma yng Nghymru, the semi-final. I know it cost tuag at y rownd gynderfynol. was tremendous, a true showing roedd eich cefnogaeth yn many of you a lot of time, effort Rwy’n gwybod ei fod wedi costio of Together Stronger! anferthol, gan ddangos gwir ystyr and expenditure to follow the llawer o amser, ymdrech ac arian It’s fantastic to see a capacity Gyda’n Gilydd, Yn Gryfach! team on their run in France and i lawer ohonoch chi wrth ddilyn y crowd here at Cardiff City Mae’n wych gweld stadiwm I thank you one and all for your tîm ar eu taith yn Ffrainc, ac rydw Stadium as we begin another dan ei sang yma heno wrth i ni magnificent support in all i’n diolch i chi un ac oll ac eich adventure. Our participation at gychwyn ar antur arall, ac mae ein the games. cefnogaeth wych ym mhob gêm. the European Championships profiad ym Mhencampwriaeth Our campaign starts again Mae ein hymgyrch yn dechrau has made us hungry for Ewrop wedi gwneud i ni ysu am this evening and we can look eto heno ac fe allwn edrych more and I know everyone is fwy. Rwy’n gwybod bod pawb forward to a long testing set of ymlaen at grŵp heriol o gemau determined to give us every yn benderfynol i roi o’u gorau er fixtures to get to the finals. But I i geisio cyrraedd y rowndiau chance of qualifying for the 2018 mwyn bod â phob cyfle posibl o am convinced that by everyone terfynol. Ond rwy’n siŵr , gyda FIFA World Cup in Russia. gyrraedd Cwpan y Byd 2018 FIFA pulling in the same direction with phawb yn tynnu i’r un cyfeiriad Looking ahead to tonight’s yn Rwsia. our motto “Together Stronger” gyda’n moto “Gyda’n Gilydd yn game I’d like welcome Moldova’s Hoffwn groesawu chwaraewyr, we can again achieve another Gryfach” fe allwn ni gyrraedd players, management, officials tîm rheoli, swyddogion a milestone in the history of Welsh carreg filltir arall yn hanes pêl- and fans to Cardiff. We really chefnogwyr Moldofa i’r gêm heno football. Back the players to droed Cymru. Cefnogwch y tîm hope you all enjoy your time here yng Nghaerdydd. Rwy’n mawr the hilt and let’s see where this i’r carn a chawn weld ble fydd yr in the country’s capital. obeithio y byddwch yn mwynhau adventure can carry us. antur hon yn mynd â ni! I hope everyone enjoys eich amser yma ym mhrif ddinas Enjoy the game and have a Mwynhewch y gêm a dyma tonight’s match. ein gwlad arbennig. safe journey home. ddymuno siwrne ddiogel i chi. Thank you, Mwynhewch y gêm! David Griffiths David Griffiths Jonathan Diolch Jonathan

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LAST WORLD CUP : 1998 (GROUP STAGE) LAST WORLD CUP : NEVER QUALIFIED FIFA RANKING : 22 FIFA RANKING : 165 Familiar faces: Captain Christian Fuchs was part of Leicester City’s Familiar faces: Slim pickings here, although defenders Victor title winning side last season and will be keen to Golovatenco and Alexandru Epureanu have racked-up over 70 emulate domestic success onto the international stage with a taste international appearances for their country. Off the field manager for the underdog story. Meanwhile, will have quickly learnt Igor Dobrovolski won gold at the 1988 Olympics with USSR and was all about Marko Arnautović following his summer switch to Stoke the top scorer in the tournament with six goals. City, where the towering striker is a key part of Mark Hughes’ side. Interesting fact: The qualifying matches against Georgia will have Interesting fact: Veteran striker Marc Janko would have had a a special meaning for Moldova as their first ever match was played vested interest in the recent Olympic Games as his mother Eva against Georgia in 1991. What might not be so special is that won bronze for her efforts in the Javelin back in 1968. Georgia won on that occasion.

LAST WORLD CUP : 2010 (GROUP STAGE) LAST WORLD CUP : NEVER QUALIFIED FIFA RANKING : 47 FIFA RANKING : 118 Familiar faces : Striker Aleksandar Mitrović was amongst the goals Familiar faces: Not too many, but defender Zurab Khizanishvili for Newcastle United last season while captain Branislav Ivanović is the second most-capped player in Georgia’s history with 93 remains the most recognisable name after spending eight years appearances, and did have spells with Dundee, Rangers, Blackburn at Stamford Bridge. Manchester City’s Aleksandar Kolarov is also a Rovers, Newcastle United and Reading earlier in his nomadic career. formidable opponent and scored against Wales in the 3-0 victory in In case you were wondering, he is currently playing for Inter Baku in Cardiff back in September 2013. Azerbaijan.

Interesting fact: A complex political background has seen the Interesting fact: Since their formation in 1990, Georgia have country represented by a number of different names but since made no-less than 16 permanent managerial appointments, with 1994 they have always been known as ‘the Blues’. This was until Aleksandre Chivadze and Vladimir Gutsaev both enjoying two their kit changed to red in 2006 and their nickname changed separate spells in what appears to be a very hot seat. to....’the Eagles’. Obviously!

LAST WORLD CUP : 2002 (ROUND OF 16) FIFA RANKING : 31 Familiar faces: With pretty much the entire squad playing their club football in England there will be plenty of familiarity when the two sides meet. Winger Anthony Pilkington will be no stranger to Cardiff City Stadium having joined the club in 2014. However, Republic of Ireland will go into the qualifiers without Robbie Keane, who has called time on his international career after making an incredible 145 appearances for his country.

Interesting fact: The Republic of Ireland won the one and only Carling Cup competition in 2011 with a perfect record against Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. However, the competition was scrapped due to poor crowds and a general lack of interest.

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CWPAN Y BYD OLAF: 1998 (CYFNOD GRŴP) CWPAN Y BYD OLAF: ERIOED WEDI CYMHWYSO SAFLE FIFA: 22 SAFLE FIFA: 165 Wynebau cyfarwydd: Roedd y capten Christian Fuchs yn rhan o Wynebau cyfarwydd: Does dim llawer, er i’r amddiffynwyr Victor ochr fuddugoliaethus yr Uwch Gynghrair, Caerlŷr, y tymor diwethaf Golovanteco ac Alexandru Epureanu chwarae dros 70 o weithiau i’w ac fe fydd yn gobeithio dynwared y llwyddiant hwnnw ar lwyfan gwlad. Oddi ar y cae enillodd y rheolwr Igor Dobrovolski fedal aur rhyngwladol wedi cael blas ar y brig. Yn y cyfamser, bydd Joe Allen yng Ngemau Olympaidd 1988 ar gyfer yr Undeb Sofietaidd ac ef wedi dysgu am Marko Arnautović yn gyflym wedi iddo symud i Stoke oedd sgoriwr uchaf y twrnamaint gyda chwe gôl. yn ystod yr haf ble mae’r ergydiwr anferth yn rhan allweddol o dîm Mark Hughes. Ffaith ddiddorol: Bydd y gemau cymhwyso yn erbyn Georgia yn arbennig i Foldova gan i’w gêm gyntaf erioed fod yn eu herbyn yn Ffaith ddiddorol: Byddai gan yr ergydiwr profiadol Marc Janko 1991. Beth sydd ddim mor arbennig yw mai Georgia enillodd y ddiddordeb personol yn y Gemau Olympaidd diweddar gan i’w fam gêm honno. Eva ennill medal efydd yn taflu’r waywffon yn 1968.

CWPAN Y BYD OLAF: ERIOED WEDI CYMHWYSO CWPAN Y BYD OLAF: 2010 (CYFNOD GRŴP) SAFLE FIFA: 118 SAFLE FIFA: 47 Wynebau cyfarwydd: Dim llawer ond yr amddiffynnwr Zurab Wynebau cyfarwydd: Sgoriodd Aleksandar Mitrović sawl gôl i Khizanishvili yw’r ail chwaraewr gyda mwyaf o gapiau yn hanes Newcastle Unedig y tymor diwethaf tra bod y capten Branislav Georgia wedi ymddangos 93 o weithiau. Mae hefyd wedi chwarae Ivanović yn parhau i fod yr enw mwyaf adnabyddus ar ôl treulio wyth am gyfnodau i Dundee, Rangers, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle a mlynedd yn Stamford Bridge. Mae Aleksandar Kolarov o Fanceinion Reading yn gynharach yn ei yrfa nomadig. Mae nawr yn chwarae i Unedig hefyd yn wrthwynebwr arbennig wnaeth sgorio yn erbyn Inter Baku yn Azerbaijan. Cymru yn y fuddugoliaeth 3-0 yng Nghaerdydd fis Medi 2013. Ffaith ddiddorol: Ers sefydlu yn 1990, mae Georgia wedi apwyntio Ffaith ddiddorol: Mae cefndir gwleidyddol cymhleth wedi gweld y rheolwr 16 o weithiau gyda Aleksandre Chivadze a Vladimir Gutsav wlad yn cael ei chynrychioli gan nifer o enwau gwahanol ond wedi yn mwynhau dau gyfnod yr un wrth y llyw. 1994 roeddent yn cael eu hadnabod fel ‘y Gleision’ tan i liw eu cit newid i goch yn 2006. Newidiodd eu llysenw i... ‘yr Eryrod’, yn amlwg!

CWPAN Y BYD OLAF: 2002 (ROWND YR 16 OLAF) SAFLE FIFA: 31 Wynebau cyfarwydd: Gyda’r rhan fwyaf o’r garfan yn chwarae i dimau yn Lloegr bydd nifer o gyfarwydd i sgwad Cymru pan fydd y timau’n cyfarfod. Un fydd yn teimlo’n gartrefol yn Stadiwm Dinas Caerdydd yw’r asgellwr Anthony Pilkinton sydd wedi ymuno â’r clwb ers 2014. Er hyn, bydd Gweriniaeth Iwerddon yn dechrau eu hymgyrch gymhwyso heb Robbie Keane, sydd wedi ymddeol o’i yrfa ryngwladol ar ôl chwarae 145 o gemau i’w wlad.

Ffaith ddiddorol: Enillodd Gweriniaeth Iwerddon yr unig gystadleuaeth Cwpan Carling yn 2011 gyda record berffaith yn erbyn Gogledd Iwerddon, Yr Alban a Chymru. Cafwyd gwared ar y gystadleuaeth wedi hynny oherwydd diffyg diddordeb a chynulleidfa. www.faw.cymru 15 16 www.faw.cymru MARK HUGHES WALES TO REACH THE WORLD CUP? WHY NOT!?

By Jamie Thomas

Having played in and managed Welsh from the moment 25,000 Welsh fans finish against the Belgians in Lille: teams that have come agonisingly close passionately poured the anthem out “I don’t mind that, I don’t mind that at to qualifying for major tournaments in ahead of Wales’ EURO 2016 game in all! Goals are remembered because they recent years, Wales legend Mark Hughes Bordeaux, right until beyond the final make a mark on people, and people appears to have been taken by the whistle in Lyon, where The Red Wall usually talk about the Spain goal because wave of optimism that’s carrying Welsh showed their immense gratitude after it had an impact on them – but the goals football forward into this new qualifying their heroes managed to reach the semi- that Wales scored in the summer will be campaign, as he confidently told us that finals of their first major tournament in imprinted on millions of Welsh people Chris Coleman’s men have what it takes 58 years: around the world, and rightly so,” to qualify for the 2018 World Cup: “The manner of the Russia result, Hughes said. “I think Chris is still excited by the the Belgium performance, they’re my Reaching the last four of a major group and what it can achieve, he standout moments. I expected them to tournament for any team is incredibly probably thinks there’s more to come. In beat Russia, I thought they were really special, and Wales’ exceptional exploits the back of his mind he must be thinking poor, but you’ve still got to put them to this past summer mean that they’ll catch how he’d love to take Wales to a World the sword. very few teams by surprise now, but Cup and see how we do against the best “The Belgium game, them being Sparky is adamant that this team can in the world, and why not? number two in the world, for us to overcome that challenge: “Without a shadow of a doubt they’ve outplay them and score the goals that “If you get to the semi-finals of a major got another tournament in them; they’ll we did, I thought it was outstanding tournament then you deserve a certain benefit from the experience of the – with some outstanding individual respect, so they may find teams who set summer and they’ve got a lot of good performances within that too – it was a their stall out to try and negate Wales’ will behind them, which is going to be a great time to be a Welsh fan.” obvious threats.” massive factor. ’s goal against Italy, Ian “Maybe that’ll be a little bit different “It’s not an easy group in fairness, but Rush’s goal at Hampden Park, Sparky’s from what they’ve seen in the past, with their experience and the unity there spectacular goal against Spain in ’85 – all but collectively they seem a strong then you’ve got to think they’ve got a of them are fan favourites, holy moments group, they’ve stayed together and that good chance.” of history for Welsh fans, but now it continuity is really important so we can Like all of us, Sparky’s eyes were seems everyone has a new favourite use that to our advantage.” glued to football pitches across France after Hal Robson-Kanu’s Cruyff Turn and

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Gan Jamie Thomas

Wedi chwarae mewn a rheoli timau Cymru anthem yn angerddol cyn gêm Cymru mae pobl yn siarad am y gôl wnes i sgorio a ddaeth mor agos i gymhwyso i dwrna- yn EURO 2016 yn Bordeaux tan wedi’r yn erbyn Sbaen oherwydd eu bod wedi meintiau mawr yn y blynyddoedd diwed- chwiban olaf yn Lyon, ble dangosodd ‘Y cael effaith arnyn - ond bydd y goliau dar, mae arwr Cymru Mark Hughes i weld Wal Goch’ eu diolch i’r arwyr a gyrhaed- sgoriodd Gymru dros yr haf ar feddyliau wedi cael ei gario ar don optimistaidd sy’n dodd rownd gynderfynol eu twrnamaint miliynau o Gymru dros y byd, a da iawn am gyrru pêl-droed Cymru mewn i’r ymgyrch mawr gyntaf mewn 58 mlynedd: hynny,” dywed Hughes. gymhwyso newydd yma. Dywedodd “Agwedd buddugoliaeth yn erbyn Rwsia, Mae cyrraedd pedwar olaf unrhyw wrthym gyda sicrwydd bod gan ddynion ein perfformiad yn erbyn Gwlad Belg, dwrnamaint mawr yn arbennig i unrhyw Chris Coleman yr hyn mae ei angen i gym- dyna’n uchafbwyntiau i. Roeddwn i’n dîm, ac mae gorchestion eithriadol Cymru hwyso ar gyfer Cwpan y Byd 2018: disgwyl curo Rwsia, ac roeddwn i’n med- dros yr haf yn golygu na allent synnu “Rwy’n credu bod Chris dal i fod wedi’i dwl eu bod nhw’n wael, ond mae dal unrhyw dîm nawr, ond mae Sparky’n sicr gyffroi gan y grŵp a’r hyn gall ei gyflawni, angen brwydro. gall ei dîm oresgyn y sialens yna: mae mwy na thebyg yn meddwl bod mwy i “Yn y gêm yn erbyn Gwlad Belg, a nhw “Os ydych chi’n cyrraedd pedwar olaf ddod. Yng nghefn ei ben mae siŵr o fod yn yn ail yn y byd, roedd gweld Cymru yn prif dwrnamaint yna rydych yn haeddu meddwl sut hoffai fynd a Chymru i Gwpan rhedeg o’u cwmpas a sgorio’r goliau ‘na yn parch, felly bydden nhw’n siŵr o wynebu y Byd a gweld sut rydym yn perfformio yn anhygoel - gyda rhai unigolion anhygoel timau sy’n taflu popeth er mwyn atal erbyn goreuon, a pam ddim? yno hefyd - roedd hi’n amser da i fod yn bygythiadau amlwg Cymru.” “Heb amheuaeth mae ganddyn nhw gefnogwr Cymru.” “Efallai bydd hyn yn wahanol i beth dwrnamaint arall ynddyn nhw; byddant Gôl Craig Bellamy yn erbyn Yr Eidal, gôl maen nhw wedi gweld yn y gorffennol, ond y profiad a gawsant dros yr haf o fudd Ian Rush yn Hampden Park, gôl wefreid- gyda’i gilydd maen nhw’n edrych fel grŵp mawr ac mae ganddynt lawer o gefnoga- diol Sparky yn erbyn Sbaen yn ’85 - oll yn cadarn, maen nhw wedi aros gyda’i gilydd eth dda tu cefn iddyn nhw, sydd am fod yn ffefrynnau’r cefnogwyr ac yn rhan o hanes ac mae’r parhad yna yn bwysig fel y gallwn ffactor enfawr. pêl-droed Cymru i nifer, ond nawr mae’n ei ddefnyddio i’n mantais.” “I fod yn deg, dyw hi ddim yn grŵp debyg bod ffefryn newydd gan bawb wedi hawdd, ond gyda’u profiad a’r undod i Hal Robson-Kanu droi o gwmpas y bêl i mae’n rhaid credu bod ganddynt gyfle da.” sgorio yn erbyn y Belgiad yn Lille: Fel pawb, roedd llygaid Sparky wedi gludo “Dydw i ddim yn meindio hynny, o gwbl! i’r caeau pêl-droed yn Ffrainc o’r eiliad Mae goliau’n cael eu cofio oherwydd eu canodd 25,000 o gefnogwyr Cymru’r bod wedi creu argraff ar bobl, ac fel arfer

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JAMES CHESTER EMYR HUWS Aston Villa Cardiff City

WAYNE HENNESSEY Crystal Palace

ASHLEY WILLIAMS JOE ALLEN Everton Real Madrid Stoke City Newcastle United

www.faw.cymru 21 TOM LAWRENCE BEN DAVIES Ipswich Town Tottenham Hotspur

SIMON CHURCH HAL ROBSON-KANU Roda JC Kerkrade West Bromwich Albion

SHAUN MACDONALD ANDY KING Wigan Athletic Swansea City Reading Leicester City

22 www.faw.cymru OWAIN FON WILLIAMS Inverness Caledonian Thistle Birmingham City

ASHLEY RICHARDS GEORGE WILLIAMS Cardiff City Milton Keynes Dons

SAM VOKES DANNY WARD JAMES COLLINS Burnley Huddersfield Town West Ham United Crystal Palace

www.faw.cymru 23 24 www.faw.cymru WE HAD THE TIME OF OUR LIVES A LOOK BACK AT AN INCREDIBLE EURO 2016 ADVENTURE

By Glen Wilson

‘So, how was it?’ A question I’ve been On my return from Lyon I spent four days asked endless times since returning from in bed. I’m a Welsh Doncaster Rovers fan; France, and one I am still unable to answer. my frame clearly hasn’t been suitably Nothing I say will ever really do justice conditioned for such endless joy. Besides, to the vast spectrum of emotions, the there was no need to go any further. This innumerable sights and sounds that Wales team had fulfilled the only dreams made up a summer few of us ever thought I’d ever dared to have, and then spent a we’d see. month carrying me far beyond them. How In taking the field to face Slovakia in could I be gutted with that? Bordeaux, Wales had already delivered all The true joy of following Wales I’d ever asked of them; everything beyond around France, the thing that set my that was just a blurry, red, tear-stained, experience apart from any other countries’ arm-flailing, scarf-twirling, stranger- supporters, was that I wasn’t simply at hugging bonus. EURO 2016, I was part of it. For years I’ve I lost count of the times I presumed struggled to empathise with professional we had reached a pinnacle, that this footballers as their lives edge them further was as good as it got, only for Wales to and further from reality. With Wales I’ve no raise the bar another notch. And I know I need to try and relate to the men on the wasn’t alone. In Toulouse, in the eruption field because they already relate to me. of celebration which followed Aaron “We are a group of players having the Ramsey’s goal against Russia, the guy who time of our lives,” Chris Gunter told a had previously been standing on his chair reporter during the tournament – swap behind me somehow ended up lying on the players for ‘people’ and it could’ve been floor beneath my seat. As I went to help said by any one of us. They got it, they truly him up, he yelled back ‘Leave me, leave got what all this meant and that’s why we me here; it’s the happiest I’ve ever been’. as a nation have never had it so good. I can’t imagine how he coped with the knock-out stages. Stewards are probably still trying to prise him off a stadium seat in Lille. ‘You must’ve been gutted to go out in the semi-finals’ a work colleague said to me. To be honest, I don’t think my mind and body could’ve taken any more.

www.faw.cymru 25 FE GAWSON NI AMSER WRTH EIN BODD BWRW GOLWG YN ÔL AR ANTUR ANHYGOEL EWRO 2016

Gan Glen Wilson

‘Felly sut oedd e’?’ Cwestiwn y mae Rovers, yn amlwg dydy fy ffrâm heb pobl wedi gofyn i mi amryw weithiau ers ei baratoi’n addas ar gyfer gorfoledd dychwelyd o Ffrainc, ac un yr ydw i’n dal i diddiwedd o’r fath. A beth bynnag, doedd gael trafferth ei ateb. Does dim yr ydw i’n dim angen mynd ymhellach. Roedd y tîm ddweud wir yn gallu gwneud cyfiawnder wedi gwireddu’r unig freuddwydion yr â’r ystod helaeth o emosiynau, y oeddwn i erioed wedi mentro eu cael, ac golygfeydd di-ri a’r sŵn a oedd yn llenwi’r yna wedi treulio mis yn mynd â mi y tu haf, haf nad oedd llawer ohonom yn hwnt i hynny. Sut oedd hynny’n gallu credu fyddai byth yn digwydd. bod ergyd? Wrth gamu ar y cae i wynebu Slofacia Y gwir bleser o ddilyn Cymru o yn Bordeaux, roedd Cymru eisoes wedi amgylch Ffrainc, yr un peth a oedd yn cyflawni popeth yr oeddwn i erioed wedi gosod fy mhrofiad ar wahân i brofiad gobeithio amdano; roedd popeth y tu cefnogwr unrhyw wlad arall, oedd nad hwnt i hynny yn fonws o fôr coch llawn oeddwn i yn EWRO 2016 yn unig, ond ro’n dathlu, dagrau, dawnsio, canu a chwtsio i’n rhan o’r cyfan. Am flynyddoedd rydw i dieithriaid! wedi cael trafferth teimlo empathi â phêl- Fe gollais i gyfrif o’r adegau lle’r o’n droedwyr proffesiynol wrth i’w bywydau i’n credu ein bod ni wedi cyrraedd pinacl, fynd â nhw ymhellach ac yn bellach oddi mai dyma’r gorau y gallwn ni ei gyflawni, wrth realiti. Gyda Chymru, does dim dim ond i Gymru godi’r bar unwaith yn angen i mi geisio teimlo cysylltiad â’r rhagor. Ac rydw i’n gwybod nad o’n i ar fy dynion ar y cae, achos maen nhw eisoes mhen fy hun. Yn Toulouse, yn y ffrwydrad yn teimlo cysylltiad â mi. o ddathlu a ddaeth yn sgil gôl Aaron “Rydyn ni’n grŵp o chwaraewyr sy’n Ramsey yn erbyn Rwsia, rhyw ffordd neu’i cael amser wrth ein bodd,” meddai Chris gilydd fe laniodd y dyn a oedd yn sefyll y Gunter wrth newyddiadurwr yn ystod y tu ôl i mi ar y llawr o dan fy sedd. Wrth i twrnamaint – defnyddiwch y gair ‘pobl’ mi geisio ei helpu fe floeddiodd ‘Gad mi yn lle chwaraewyr, ac fe allai unrhyw un yma, gad mi yma; dyma’r hapusaf yr ydw ohonom ni fod wedi ynganu’r geiriau i erioed wedi bod’. Alla’i ddim dychmygu hynny. Roeddwn nhw’n deall, wir yn deall sut wnaeth o ymdopi yn y rowndiau beth oedd hyn i gyd yn ei olygu, a dyna nesaf. Mae’r stiwardiaid yn Lille yn dal i pam, fel cenedl, dydyn ni erioed wedi’i geisio ei dynnu’n rhydd o un o’r seddi siŵr chael hi mor dda. o fod. ‘Mae’n rhaid ei bod hi’n dipyn o ergyd mynd allan yn y rownd gynderfynol’ meddai cydweithiwr wrtha i. I fod yn onest, dwi’m yn meddwl y byddai fy meddwl na fy nghorff wedi gallu cymryd llawer mwy! Ar ôl dychwelyd o Lyon, fe dreuliais i bedwar diwrnod yn fy ngwely. Rydw i’n Gymro sy’n cefnogi Doncaster

26 www.faw.cymru www.faw.cymru 27 28 www.faw.cymru www.faw.cymru 29 A TO Z OF MOLDOVAN FOOTBALL From ‘A’ Division to Zimbru, Andy Greeves offers a rough guide to Moldovan football. A I Z O BÊL-DROED MOLDOFA O Adran ‘A’ i Zimbru, dyma gipolwg ar bêl-droed Moldofa gan Andy Greeves.

‘A’ Division / Adran ‘A’ /Dd– Divizia Națională The ‘A’ Division or ‘Divizia A’ is the second-tier of league football in The Moldovan National Division or Divizia Națională was established Moldova. 14 teams are competing in the division this season, with in 1992 and has been dominated by the country’s ‘big two’ clubs the top two sides promoted to the Moldovan National Division. The Sheriff Tiraspol and Zimbru Chișinău. Between them, the pair have league contains the reserve teams of a number of National Division won 22 of the league’s 25 titles to date. clubs, who cannot gain promotion. Sefydlwyd Adran Genedlaethol Moldova, neu’r Divizia Națională Adran ‘A’ neu’r ‘Divizia A’ yw’r ail-lefel yng nghynghrair pêl-droed yn 1992 sydd wedi ei ddominyddu gan ddau glwb mawr y wlad sef ym Moldova. Mae 14 tîm yn cystadlu yn yr adran y tymor hwn gyda’r Sheriff Tiraspol a Zimbru Chișinău. Rhyngddynt, maent wedi ennill ddwy garfan uchaf yn symud i’r Adran Genedlaethol Moldova. 22 o’r 25 cynghrair hyd yma. Mae’r gynghrair yn cynnwys timau wrth gefn nifer o glybiau’r Adran Genedlaethol, sydd ddim yn gallu symud fyny.

Established/Ers 1990 The Moldovan Football Federation or Federația Moldovenească de Bălți Fotbal (FMF) was founded in 1990 shortly before Moldova declared Bălți is Moldova’s second largest city after the Moldovan capital its independence from the Soviet Union on August 27, 1991. The Chișinău in terms of area and economic importance. The city will be governing body for the sport in Moldova gained UEFA affiliation in represented in the National Division by Zaria Bălți this season. 1993 and FIFA affiliation in 1994. Bălți yw ail ddinas fwyaf Moldova mewn maint a phwysigrwydd Sefydlwyd Ffederasiwn Pêl-droed Moldova neu’r Federația economaidd ar ôl y brif ddinas Chișinău. Bydd y ddinas yn cael ei Moldovenească de Fotbal (FMF) yn 1990 ychydig cyn cyhoeddwyd chynrychioli gan Zaria Bălți yn yr Adran Genedlaethol y tymor hwn. annibyniaeth Moldova o’r Undeb Sofietaidd ar Awst 27, 1991. Derbyniodd gorff llywodraethol chwaraeon Moldova dadogaeth UEFA yn 1993 a FIFA yn 1994.

/Ch – Chișinău Chișinău meanwhile currently has three top flight representatives in Academia, and Zimbru (see ‘Z’). The Moldovan national /Ff – Futsul team plays the majority of its home matches at the Zimbru Stadium Moldova’s FCA Classic Chisinau are competing in this season’s in Chișinău, which has a capacity of 10,400. UEFA Futsul Cup with Cardiff University one of their opponents in Mae tri chlwb yn cynrychioli Chișinău, Academia, Dacia a Zimbru Group C of the preliminary round! (gweler Z). Dyma gartref tîm cenedlaethol Moldova ar gyfer Mae FCA Classic Chisinau Moldova yn cystadlu yng mwyafrif o’u gemau cartref yn stadiwm Zimbru yn Chișinău, sy’n dal nghystadleuaeth Cwpan Futsul UEFA gyda Phrifysgol Caerdydd yn hyd at 10,400. un o’u gwrthwynebwyr yng ngrŵp C o’r rowndiau rhagbrofol.

30 www.faw.cymru /Ng – Goals Galore/Goliau lu Jordan Tournament/Twrnamaint Jordan Moldova’s biggest-ever win was 5-0 against Pakistan on August 18, The first competition the Moldova national team ever took part 1992. Alexei Scala gave Moldova the lead in the match with Serghei in was the 1992 Jordan Tournament. Wins over Pakistan, Sudan Alexandrov then scoring four goals in the space of 25 second and Congo saw them achieve a third-place finish. half minutes. Twrnamaint Jordan oedd y gystadleuaeth gyntaf i dîm cenedlaethol Gêm orau Moldova oedd ennill 5-0 yn erbyn Pacistan ar Awst 18fed, Moldova gymryd rhan ynddi yn 1992. Rhoddodd fuddugoliaethau 1992. Rhoddodd Alexei Scala Moldova ar y blaen yn yr hanner cyntaf dros Bacistan, Sudan a’r Congo dîm Moldova yn y trydydd safle. cyn i Serghei Alexandrov sgorio pedair arall mewn 25 munud yn yr ail hanner.

The Kuchuks/Y Kuchuks The Kuchuk name is one of the most famous in Moldovan Hungary/Hwngari football. Former defender Leonid Kuchuk has enjoyed a fine Moldova achieved a number of notable results in their failed managerial career, including leading Sheriff Tiraspol to six Divizia attempts to qualify for UEFA Euro 2008. Away wins in Latvia and Naţională titles between 2004 and 2010. Son Aliaksei Kuchuk Bosnia and Herzegovina were followed by a fine 3-0 victory at meanwhile played under his father at Sheriff scoring 71 goals home to Hungary on November 17, 2007 thanks to goals from Igor in 147 league games. Bugaev, Nicolae Josan and Serghei Alexeev. Kuchuk yw’r enw enwocaf ym myd pêl-droed Moldova. Cafodd gyn- Llwyddodd Moldova i dderbyn nifer o lwyddiannau nodedig yn eu amddiffynnwr Moldova Leonid Kuchuk yrfa rheoli wych gan arwain hymgyrch a fethodd i gymhwyso ar gyfer UEFA Euro 2008. Cafodd Sheriff Tirasol i frig y Divizia Națională chwe gwaith rhwng 2004 a gemau llwyddiannus i ffwrdd yn erbyn Latvia a Bosnia-Herzegovina 2010. Yn y cyfamser chwaraeodd ei fab Aliaksei Kuchuk dan adain ei eu dilyn gan fuddugoliaeth gartref o 3-0 yn erbyn Hwngari ar dad i Sheriff gan sgorio 71 gôl mewn 147 gêm gynghrair. Dachwedd 17, 2007 diolch i goliau gan Igor Bugaev, Nicolae Josan a Serghei Alexeev.

/Ll – Legend/Llysgennad Currently captain of the national team, defender Alexandru Igor Dobrovolski Epureanu is perhaps the greatest Moldovan footballer of all time. Moldova’s current manager is Igor Dobrovolski who as a player, Winner of the Moldovan Footballer of the Year title on no less than was part of the USSR football team that won gold at the 1988 four occasions, the 29-year-old currently turns out for Turkey’s Olympic Games. İstanbul Başakşehir. Igor Dobrovolski yw rheolwr presennol Moldova a oedd, fel Yn gapten presennol i’r tîm cenedlaethol, efallai taw’r amddiffynnwr chwaraewr, yn rhan o dîm pêl-droed yr Undeb Sofietaidd a enillodd Alexandru Epureanu yw peldroediwr gorau Moldova erioed. Yn fedal aur yng Ngemau Olympaidd 1988. derbyn gwobr Peldroediwr Moldova’r Flwyddyn nid llai na phedair gwaith, mae’r chwaraewr 29 oed yn chwarae i’r İstanbul Başakşehir yn Nhwrci.

www.faw.cymru 31 MONTENEGRO /PH – PRANKSTER/PRANCIWR Moldova’s 5-2 victory away to Montenegro in a World Cup qualifying In 2009, The Times published a list of ‘Football’s 50 Rising Stars’ and match on October 15, 2013 is widely considered as the country’s amongst them was a 16-year-old Moldovan forward by the name best ever international performance. A brace from Montenegro’s of Masal Bugduv. The Olimpia Bălți ‘star’ appeared in an Associated Stevan Jovetić was cancelled out by two goals from Alexandru Press story with agent Sergei Yulikov talking up his client’s chances Antoniuc while there further strikes from Igor Armaș, Eugen of a transfer to Arsenal or Liverpool. It had also been claimed that Sidorenco and Artur Ioniță for Moldova. Bugduv was the youngest player to appear for the national team Mae buddugoliaeth 5-2 Moldova i ffwrdd yn erbyn Montenegro aged just 16 years and 44 days against Armenia on May 22, 2008. mewn gêm gymhwyso Cwpan y Byd Hydref 15, 2013 yn cael ei As news of the striker spread across Europe, clubs and football chysidro fel gêm ryngwladol gorau’r wlad erioed. Cafodd arweiniad reporters wanted to find out more about this young sensation but Montenegro o ddwy gôl gan Stevan Jovetić eu canslo gan ddwy it turned out Masal Bugduv never existed! The ‘player’ had been the gan Alexandru Antoniuc gyda goliau pellach gan Igor Armaș, Eugen invention of an internet prankster! Sidorenco a Artur Ioniță yn arwain Moldova i fuddugoliaeth. Yn 2009 cyhoeddodd The Times restr ‘Football’s 50 Rising Stars’ ac yn eu mysg oedd chwaraewr 16 oed o Foldova o’r enw Masal Bugduv. Ymddangosodd ‘seren’ Olimpia Bălți mewn stori yn yr Associated Press gyda’i asiant Sergei Yuikov yn brolio’i gleient er mwyn cael ei gyfnewid i Arsenal neu Lerpwl. Roedd si hefyd taw NEW NATIONS/CENEDL NEWYDD Bugdux oedd y chwaraewr ieuengaf i chwarae i dîm cenedlaethol yn Moldova gained UEFA affiliation in 1993 are one of 21 ‘new ddim ond 16 mlwydd oed a 44 diwrnod yn erbyn Armeni ar Fai 22, nations’ to have joined European football’s governing body since 2008. Wrth i’r newyddion am yr ergydiwr deithio dros Ewrop cododd 1990 and to remain a member. The other nations are the Faroe y diddordeb gyda gohebwyr o glybiau yn holi mwy am y dalent ifanc. Islands, Armenia, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Ond, doedd Masal Bugduv erioed yn bodoli, dim ond ‘chwaraewr’ Ukraine, Belarus, Croatia, Slovakia, Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Bosnia- dychmygol gan branciwr ar y we! Herzegovina, Kazakhstan (previously a member of the Asian Football Confederation), Serbia, Montenegro, Gibraltar and Kosovo. In 1994, Israel became a full UEFA member having only previously been an associate member. Cafodd Moldova eu cydnabod gan UEFA yn 1993 ac felly’n un o’r 21 QUALIFIER/CYMHWYSO ‘cenedl newydd’ i ymuno â’r corff llywodraethol pêl-droed ers 1990 Moldova played in their first qualifying match for a major ac aros yn aelod. Y cenhedloedd eraill yw Ynysoedd Ffaro, Armenia, tournament against Georgia on September 7, 1994, winning the Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slofenia, Wcráin, Belarus, UEFA Euro 1996 qualifier 1-0 in Chişinău. Croatia, Slofacia, Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzeovina, Chwaraeodd eu gêm gymhwyso i dwrnamaint mawr am y tro cyntaf Kazakstan (gynt yn aelod o’r Conffederasiwn Pêl-droed Asiaidd), yn erbyn Georgia ar Fedi 7, 1994, gan ennill y gêm gymhwyso UEFA Serbia, Montenegro, Gibraltar a Kosovo. Yn 1994 daeth Israel yn Euro 1996 1-0 yn Chişinău. aelod llawn o UEFA wedi ond bod yn aelod cyswllt ynghynt.

/RH – RADU REBEJA OPPONENTS/ YR OCHR ARALL Until recently, retired midfielder Radu Rebeja was Moldova’s most Georgia provided Moldova’s first opposition in a friendly match capped player, having made 74 appearances for the national team in Chişinău on July 2, 1991. Georgia have been Moldova’s most between 1991 and 2008, in which time he scored twice. His record regular opponents since then, with ten matches between the two was surpassed by Victor Golovatenco (see ‘V’) on June 3, 2016. nations to date. Tan yn ddiweddar, y cyn-chwaraewr canol cae Radu Rebeja oedd Georgia oedd gwrthwynebwyr cyntaf Moldova mewn gêm chwaraewr Moldova gyda mwyaf o gapiau, wedi ymddangos i’r gyfeillgar yn Chişinău ar Orffennaf 2, 1992. Mae Georgia wedi bod tîm cenedlaethol 74 weithiau rhwng 1991 a 2008, gan sgorio yn wrthwynebwyr rheolaidd i Foldova ers hynny, gyda deg gornest ddwywaith. Cafodd ei record ei dorri gan Victor Golovanteo (gweler rhwng y ddwy wlad hyd yma. ‘V’) ar Fehefin 3, 2016.

32 www.faw.cymru SHERIFF TIRASPOL WALES/O WALIA Founded on April 4, 1997, Sheriff Tiraspol have wasted no time in There have been two previous meetings between Moldova and establishing themselves as Moldova’s most successful club. The Wales, both in the qualifying campaign for UEFA Euro 1996. Moldova reigning National Division champions have 14 top flight titles to won 3-2 in Chișinău on October 12, 1994 while the Dragons got their name in total, having also won eight Moldovan cups. a 1-0 victory in Cardiff on September 6, 1995 (see page ?? for Ian Wedi ei sefydlu ar Ebrill 4, 1997, gwastraffodd Sheriff Tiraspol ddim Rush’s memories of this fixture). amser yn sefydlu ei hunain fel y clwb fwyaf llwyddiannus Moldova. Mae Cymru wedi chwarae yn erbyn Moldova ddwywaith yn y Mae gan bencampwyr yr Adran Genedlaethol 14 o deitlau i’w henw gorffennol, a’r ddau ymddangosiad mewn ymgyrch gymhwyso ar ac wyth o gwpanau Moldova. gyfer UEFA Euro 1996. Moldova enillodd o 3-2 yn Chișinău ar Hydref 12, 1994 gyda’r Cymry’n eu curo gyda buddugoliaeth o 1-0 yng Nghaerdydd ar Fedi 6, 1995. (Darllenwch atgofion Ian Rush o’r gêm ar dudalen XX)

/TH – TENNIS/TENIS In 1997, comedian Tony Hawks tracked down the eleven members of the Moldovan football team that had played England in September 1997 and challenged them each to a tennis match. ‘X’ DENOTES DRAW/‘X’ AM GÊM GYFARTAL His adventures were written about in his Sunday Times Best Seller, As well as beating some far larger footballing nations during Playing the at Tennis while a film version was released their history, Moldova have also achieved some impressive in 2012. draws with more illustrious opponents such as Poland, Greece, Yn 1997, aeth y comedïwr Tony Hawks ar ôl yr unarddeg o , Romania, Russia, Scotland, Turkey, Hungary, Israel and chwaraewyr pêl-droed Moldova a wynebodd Lloegr fis Medi 1997 Northern Ireland. a’u sialensi i gêm o denis. Cafodd yr hanes ei ysgrifennu yn yr Yn ogystal â churo rhai o wledydd mawr yn eu hanes, mae Moldova Sunday Times Best Seller gyda Playing the Moldovans at Tennis yn wedi dod yn gyfartal yn erbyn gwledydd enwog ym myd pêl-droed cael ei drosi’n ffilm yn 2012. fel Gwlad Pwyl, Groeg, Norwy, Romania, Rwsia, Yr Alban, Twrci, Hwngari, Israel a Gogledd Iwerddon.

UNDERDOGS/UN O’R RHAI ISAF Despite some good results during their history, Moldova remain YEARLY FIXTURE/YMGAIS FLYNYDDOL one of the lowest ranking FIFA nations. They stand 165 on the list at The Moldovan Super Cup in an annual match played between the the time of writing. winners of the Moldovan National Division and the Moldovan Cup. In Er i Foldova gael rhai llwyddiannau yn ystod eu hanes pêl-droed, the instance that the same team has won both cup and the league, maent yn dal i fod yn rhan isaf rhestr FIFA yn safle 165 wrth the match does not get played. Sheriff Tiraspol beat Zaria Bălți 3-1 ysgrifennu. in the most recent Super Cup match back on August 10. Mae’r Moldovan Super Cup yn gêm flynyddol rhwng enillwyr Adran Genedlaethol Moldova a’r Gwpan Moldova. Os bydd yr un tîm yn ennill y gwpan a’r cynghrair, ni fydd y gêm yn cael ei chwarae. Curodd Sheriff Tiaspol Zaria Bălți o 3-1 yn y Super Cup diweddaraf VICTOR GOLOVATENCO ar Awst 10. Victor Golovatenco is Moldova’s most capped player of all-time, having made 75 appearances and scored three goals for the national team to date. Victor Golovatenco yw chwaraewr Moldova gyda’r mwyaf o gapiau erioed, gan ymddangos 75 o weithiau a sgorio tair gôl i’r tîm ZIMBRU cenedlaethol hyd yma. Zimbru Chișinău are the second most successful club in Moldovan National Division history. They have won the title on eight occasions, most recently in 2000, and are the only team to have competed in all 26 seasons of the National Division to date. Zimbru Chișinău yw’r ail glwb mwyaf llwyddiannus yn hanes yr Adran Genedlaethol Moldova. Maent wedi dod i’r brig wyth gwaith, y diweddaraf yn 2000, a’r unig dîm i gystadlu ym mhob un o’r 26 tymor o’r Adran Genedlaethol hyd yma.

www.faw.cymru 33 34 www.faw.cymru MEMORY MATCH IAN RUSH, WALES’ ALL-TIME LEADING GOAL SCORER, TALKS TO ANDY GREEVES ABOUT A 1-0 VICTORY OVER MOLDOVA BACK ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1995.

In contrast to the convincing manner of been great for him to have got a start… a Wales’ qualification for this summer’s reward for always being available to meet European Championships, the Dragons’ up with the squad when he was selected.” attempts to make it to UEFA Euro 1996 In the first game under the managerial were far more of a slog. Competing reign of Bobby Gould, it was a strike from in a tough, six-team qualifying group that gave the home team the containing the likes of Germany and lead ten minutes into the second half. Bulgaria was always going to be an uphill It was enough to secure victory in front challenge to reach the tournament being of a crowd of 6,721. A defeat to Germany hosted by England and so it proved. and a draw with Albania thereafter saw A 2-0 victory over Albania at Cardiff Wales finish fifth in Group 7, a point Arms Park on September 7, 1994 on the behind Moldova. opening weekend of the qualification Few could have imaged back then that campaign was one of just two victories two decades on from the disappointment Wales would achieve in the group. of missing out on UEFA Euro 1996, Wales Matchday two saw the Dragons go would have been European Championship down to a moral-sapping 3-2 defeat semi-finalists this summer. The Welsh to Moldova in Chişinău, with the lowly- Football Trust, for whom Rush is the Elite ranking hosts playing in just the second- Performance Director, have played a major ever qualifying match of their history. part in the rise and rise of the national “I didn’t play in that match but any team since then. defeat for Wales is always hard to take and “Eight years ago, we put a programme especially one against a nation you might in place from grassroots level up as part be expecting to beat,” laments Rush. of the FAW’s restructuring at the time,” “There were a few bad results like that explains Rush. “What we have seen is during my Wales career, but the important about ten players come through the thing was always to respond by winning various youth levels of that programme the next game.” to be part of our squad at the Euros. It was By the time Moldova visited Cardiff for proof that if you sow the seeds properly at the corresponding fixture on September a grassroots level you will bear the 6, 1995, Wales’ hopes of qualification had fruit eventually. all but been distinguished. However, the “To be successful as a national team, Dragons put on a professional display at we needed the kind of facilities and Cardiff Arms Park to win 1-0 against their infrastructure that young players will eastern European visitors. Amongst the be used to at Premier League clubs. We players starting that night were Reading needed a training facility like Dragon Park duo Adrian Williams and Lee Nogan, with and crucially, we needed to deliver the the latter winning just his second and best coaching possible. Osian Roberts ultimately final cap for his country. and his coaching staff are excellent and “We didn’t see too much of Lee deserve huge credit in terms of what (Nogan) in terms of starting matches, but Wales have achieved in recent years.” he was always there on standby,” says Rush, who started upfront with Nogan and Mark Hughes on the day. “It would have

www.faw.cymru 35 ATGOFION Y GÊM SGORIWR GORAU CYMRU, IAN RUSH, SY’N SIARAD GYDA ANDY GREEVES AM Y FUDDUGOLIAETH 1-0 DROS FOLDOVA AR FEDI 6, 1995.

Yn wahanol iawn i argyhoeddiad am fod ar gael i gwrdd â’r garfan pan oedd perfformiad Cymru yn ymgyrch gymhwyso o’n cael ei ddewis.” ar gyfer Pencampwriaeth Ewropeaidd yr Yn y gêm gyntaf gan adain rheolwr newydd haf, roedd rhaid i’r Dreigiau weithio’n galed Bobby Gould, gôl Gary Speed a roddodd iawn i gyrraedd UEFA Euro 1996. Roedd Gymru ar y blaen ddeg munud mewn i’r cystadlu’n anodd, mewn grŵp cymhwyso ail hanner. Roedd yn ddigon i sicrhau’r o chwe thîm oedd yn cynnwys Yr Almaen fuddugoliaeth o flaen cynulleidfa 6,721. a Bwlgaria roedd hi’n mynd i fod yn anodd Gwelodd fuddugoliaeth i’r Almaen a gêm iawn i gyrraedd y twrnamaint yn Lloegr, ac gyfartal gydag Albania Gymru’n gorffen yn anodd y bu. bumed yng ngrŵp 7, pwynt yn unig y tu ôl Roedd y fuddugoliaeth 2-0 dros i Foldova. Albania ym Mharc yr Arfau Caerdydd ar Ychydig fyddai’n rhagweld yng Fedi 7, 1994 ar benwythnos agoriadol yr nghyfnod siomedig o fethu allan ar UEFA ymgyrch gymhwyso yn un o ddim ond Euro 1996 y byddai Cymru yn cyrraedd dwy fuddugoliaeth i Gymru yn y grŵp. gêm gynderfynol Pencampwriaeth Cael eu trechu gwnaeth y Dreigiau ar Ewropeaidd dau ddegawd yn eu hail gêm gan golli o 3-2 yn erbyn ddiweddarach. Mae’r Ymddiriedolaeth Moldova yn Chişinău gyda’r tîm isel eu Bêl-droed Cymru, ble mae Rush yn safle yn croesawu Cymru yn eu hail gêm Gyfarwyddwr Perfformiad Elit, wedi gymhwyso erioed yn eu hanes. chwarae rhan fawr yn nyrchafiad y tîm “Wnes i ddim chwarae yn y gêm ond cenedlaethol ers hynny. mae’n anodd delio gydag unrhyw dro “Wyth mlynedd yn ôl, fe wnaethom mae Cymru’n cael eu trechu, yn enwedig roi rhaglen lawr gwlad mewn lle fel rhan o yn erbyn gwlad rydych chi’n disgwyl ei ad-drefnu CBD Cymru ar y pryd,” esbonia churo,” dywed Rush. “Roedd ‘na ychydig Rush. “Rydym wedi gweld ryw ddeg o ganlyniadau fel ‘na yn ystod fy ngyrfa i chwaraewr yn dod trwy’r lefelau ieuenctid Gymru ond y peth pwysicaf oedd ymateb gwahanol o’r rhaglen yna i fod yn rhan gyda buddugoliaeth yn y gêm nesaf.” o’r garfan ar gyfer yr Ewros. Mae hynny’n Erbyn i Foldova gyrraedd Caerdydd brawf yn dangos os ydych chi’n plannu’r ar gyfer y gêm gyfatebol ar Fedi 6, 1995, hadau’n iawn ar lawr gwlad yna byddant yn roedd gobeithion Cymru o gymhwyso bron dwyn ffrwyth yn y diwedd. â diflannu. Er hynny, rhoddodd y Dreigiau “Er mwyn bod yn llwyddiannus fel berfformiad proffesiynol ym Mharc yr tîm cenedlaethol, roedden ni angen pob Arfau Caerdydd gyda buddugoliaeth o 1-0 mathau o gyfleusterau ac isadeiledd yn erbyn eu hymwelwyr o ddwyrain Ewrop. byddai’r chwaraewyr ifanc wedi arfer gyda Yn rhan o’r tîm a ddechreuodd ar y noson nhw mewn clybiau’r Uwch Gynghrair. oedd y ddau o Reading, Adrian Williams a Roedden ni angen cyfleusterau hyfforddi Lee Nogan, gyda’r ail yn ennill ei ail gap a’i fel Parc y Dreigiau ac, yn hanfodol, gap olaf i’w wlad. roedden ni angen yr hyfforddwyr gorau “Wnaethon ni ddim gweld llawer o Lee posib. Mae Osian Roberts a’i staff hyfforddi (Nogan) ar ddechrau gemau ond roedd yn arbennig ac yn haeddu clod anferth o bob tro yno wrth gefn,” dywed Rush a am beth mae Cymru wedi’i gyflawni yn y ddechreuodd ar y blaen gyda Nogan a blynyddoedd diweddar.” Mark Hughes ar y dydd. “Byddai wedi bod yn dda iddo gael dechrau...fel diolch iddo

36 www.faw.cymru www.faw.cymru 37 WHAT A AM HAF! SUMMER!

FSF Cymru would like to welcome any Moldova supporters who have Hoffai FSF Cymru groesawu unrhyw gefnogwyr Moldova sydd wedi made the long journey to the Cardiff City Stadium this evening in what teithio o bell i Stadiwm Dinas Caerdydd heno a ddylai fod yn llawn should be a full house for the first of the World Cup qualifiers on the dop ar gyfer y cyntaf o’r gemau gymhwyso Cwpan y Byd ar y daith hir long road to Russia 2018. i Rwsia 2018. The summer of 2016 will never be forgotten as Wales got to game Ni fydd neb yn anghofio haf 2016 gyda Chymru yn cyrraedd gêm 49 out of 51 and the semi-finals of the UEFA EURO 2016. 49 allan o 51 a rownd gynderfynol UEFA EURO 2016. It was an extremely busy time for the FSF Cymru fan embassy Roedd hi’n amser prysur iawn i dîm llysgenhadaeth y cefnogwyr team and we dealt with over 300 calls to our help line and personal FSF Cymru yn delio gyda dros 300 o alwadau i’n llinell gymorth a phones. There were thousands of interactions between the fan ffonau personol. Fe wnaeth llysgenhadaeth y cefnogwyr gysylltu embassy and the fans during the 6 games, over 20 calls from gyda miloedd dros gyfnod y 6 gêm, gyda 20 galwad gan gefnogwyr supporters in Bordeaux unable to get home late at night due to no yn Bordeaux yn methu a chael tacsi yn hwyr yn y nos a dros 60 o taxis and over 60 fans were assisted who had missed their transport gefnogwyr yn derbyn cymorth ar ôl methu eu cludiant adref o home from various games. gemau gwahanol. We received reports of at least a dozen fans being beaten up or Rydym wedi derbyn cofnodion o dros ddwsin o gefnogwyr yn mugged plus 7 people were reported missing to us by distressed cael eu hymosod arno neu’n cael eu heiddo wedi’i ddwyn. Cawsom friends or family, thankfully all were later found. alwadau gan ffrindiau a theulu 7 person yn nodi eu bod wedi mynd ar We also had over 30 calls about lost passports and, finally, over 20 goll a diolchwn eu bod wedi eu darganfod. reports of robberies or pick pocket attacks in metros and subways. Cawsom 30 galwad am basbortau wedi eu colli a 20 achos o bic Taking all the above into account it has to be remembered that poced ar y Metro neu danlwybrau. over 100,000 Welsh fans travelled to France and had a fantastic time, Er hyn oll, rhaid cofio bod dros 100,000 o gefnogwyr Cymru wedi the French people were full of praise for them and we were welcomed teithio i Ffrainc a chael amser anhygoel, roedd y Ffrancwyr yn llawn at every host city with open arms. canmoliaeth ac roedd croeso cynnes ym mhob dinas ble roedd Cymru The fans became known as the ‘Red Wall’ inside the stadiums and yn chwarae. we were so proud to be part of it all. Cafodd y cefnogwyr eu hadnabod fel y ‘Wal Goch’ o fewn stadiwm Now the new campaign begins and we have record numbers of y dinasoedd gyda phob un yn falch o fod yn rhan o bopeth. tournament ticket holders and new FAW members. Nawr mae’r ymgyrch nesaf yn dechrau gyda nifer o docynnau We have started preparing our information booklet ahead of twrnamaint ac aelodau CBD Cymru yn torri record. next month’s game in Austria, where we anticipate over 3,000 Welsh Rydym wedi dechrau paratoi ein llyfryn gwybodaeth ar gyfer ein fans will make that trip with a large proportion opting to stay in gêm yn erbyn Awstria fis nesaf ble byddwn yn disgwyl i dros 3,000 Bratislava for a few days before the game, where the beer and food o gefnogwyr Cymru wneud y daith gyda nifer fawr yn dewis aros yn is so much cheaper. Bratislava am ychydig ddyddiau cyn y gêm ble bydd cwrw a bwyd We have been up to North Wales in the summer where we hosted llawer yn rhatach. a meeting of Welsh supporters in Llandudno Junction where nearly Rydym hefyd wedi bod yng Ngogledd Cymru yn yr haf gan gynnal 50 fans attended and it is hoped that a group can be formed in the cyfarfod i gefnogwyr Cymru yng Nghyffordd Llandudno ble daeth area to represent the views and ideas of the North Wales fan base. 50 o gefnogwyr i’n gweld. Rydym yn gobeithio creu grŵp yn yr ardal i A database has now been created and hopefully it can be used to gynrychioli syniadau a gweledigaeth cefnogwyr y gogledd. benefit fans with travel to home and away games but also to improve Mae basdata nawr wedi ei greu a gobeithiwn byddai o ddefnydd i communications and enable the group to put their points gefnogwyr sy’n teithio i gemau i ffwrdd a gartref ond hefyd er mwyn to the FAW at our regular fan meetings throughout the campaign gwella cyfathrebu a galluogi i’r grŵp roi eu barn i’r GBD Cymru yn and into the future. If you would be interested in joining the North ein cyfarfodydd cefnogwyr rheolaidd drwy gydol yr ymgyrch ac yn Wales supporters group please contact me, Paul Corkrey, at y dyfodol. Os oes gennych ddiddordeb ymuno â grŵp cefnogwyr [email protected]. Gogledd Cymru cysylltwch â mi, Paul Corkey ar [email protected] .

You can join the FSF free by signing up at www.fsf.org.uk/join/. Gallwch ymuno â’r FSF am ddim drwy fynd ar wefan www.fsf.org. uk/join/

38 www.faw.cymru GÔL APPEAL

UPDATEThe Gôl Appeal, the Wales Football Supporters Charity who aim to help under-privileged children wherever Wales play, was formed in 2002 by a group of Wales Supporters, with the work of Gôl continuing thanks to the fans. BAILEY CUTTS – HAPPY A number of good causes were helped this summer by Gôl, starting with a visit to the Astrid BIRTHDAY! Lindgren Children’s Hospital in Stockholm with £750 donated to help the hospital purchase equipment for its new Sensory Room at the Play Centre. Happy Birthday to Bailey Cutts who is Onwards towards France and Gôl’s plans for the group stage consisted of taking 13-year-old 9 today! What a great way to celebrate a Tom Morris to the game against Slovakia with his mum Clare. Birthday here in Cardiff for this World Cup Tom was diagnosed in October 2014 with Malignant Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma, Qualifier against Moldova. which is a form of Cancer that is formed from Soft Tissue. He had surgery to remove the Bailey’s favourite teams are Wales tumor and started an 8-month course of Chemotherapy straight away. Due to the strength of (obviously), Cardiff City and Real Madrid. His Chemotherapy he received Tom suffers with a condition called Drop Foot which has affected favourite player is Gareth Bale. the nerves and muscles in his hands and feet. Bailey is currently in the Cardiff City Tom finished his treatment in May 2015 and was told the news in June 2015 that he was in advanced development squad and Merthyr remission, he currently still has hospital check-up’s and scans. Town academy and also plays for his local The trip couldn’t have gone better for Tom, who watched his heroes on that historic day in side Carnetown AFC. He attends Ysgol Bordeaux. He even had his photo taken with Ian Rush along with thousands of other Wales fans. Gymraeg Abercynon where he is in year 4. Next on Gôl’s list was two hospital visits in Bordeaux and Lens. Toys and souvenirs from wales Bailey attends all home Wales games were donated to the children at both hospitals while in Lens a donation of €500 was made by and was aged just 4 when he attended his Gôl to help develop the ‘Treatment through Playing’ programme at the hospital. first on 12 November 2011, when we beat With Wales qualifying for the knockout stages Gôl managed to organise three more good Norway 4 – 1. In the summer Bailey spent causes to support. Care4Calais were visited first on the way to the Northern Ireland game. They 18 days taking in all of Wales’ group games provide supplies to the Refugee Camps in Calais and football kit donated from clubs in Wales at EURO 2016 with his family and the Round were given out by Gôl. of 16 game against Northern Ireland. Lille children’s hospital was then visited before the quarter final match with Belgium, with a number of toys donated to the children here, while onto the semi-final against Portugal and a trip of a lifetime for an orphan from Lesotho, Southern Africa. Gôl sponsored Paraffin, to come to Lyon for the Streetfootball World Festival - a tournament involving 500 underprivileged children from all over the world. Little did he know when the donation was made in March he would also get the chance to watch his new team in action and meet one of the players in Joe Allen. He had flown for the first time 3 days before and on match day scored 5 for his country at the festival. Even though our dreams ended that night in Lyon, the dreams will last forever for this 13-year-old thanks to all the Wales fans. Moving on to the future and at the game tonight there will be children from LATCH, Ty Hafan and Game On here in conjunction with the Football Association of Wales and Gôl. Next month, Gôl will be bringing two orphans over from the city of Kutaisi in Georgia, which is twinned with NATHAN GRIFFITHS Newport. Happy Birthday to Nathan Griffiths who Gôl can’t help all these good causes without your support. is 15 today! Nathan comes from Aberdare and attends St John the Baptist school in A special mention to Wales fan Leigh James who organised a raffle in France that raised over Aberdare. £1000 and to Suzanne Twamley at the FAW and the players for organising and signing several He plays for Cambrian & Clydach Vale Wales shirts for Leigh to raffle. Academy and has been a Wales Supporters Club member for 8 years. Donations can still be made at: www.justgiving.com/france16 Nathan was lucky enough to see Wales play England at EURO 2016, shame about the result in that game but we did ok in the rest of the completion! Nathan, we hope you have a great time watching Wales against Moldova here at Cardiff City Stadium this evening.

www.faw.cymru 39

THE SUPPORTERS TEAM AT EURO 2016

The pre EURO build up began thanks to the unlikeliest of results. Jordan Rafcliffe The next game was another against a organisation of Abi Haywood and Ben and Tom Bowen had scored Wales other club side, this time Toulouse Saint Jo. Thompson who on behalf of Vauxhall penalties, while that man Salenko couldn’t Wales were this time up against the sponsored the game against Northern miss for Ukraine. A special mention for club’s coaches, but many were ex-pros. Ireland at the Principality Stadium. Only Gerallt Lyall, who inspired the comeback Despite Will Johnson continuing his Wales manager Neil Dymock knew of the with an outstanding performance. remarkable scoring feats for Wales and venue and between the three of them they Onto Stockholm and a match organised the heroics of goalkeeper Luke James, it managed to keep it a secret until a bus by Camp Sweden. Despite the 10 o’clock was another one-sided game with Saint Jo picked all the players up from the Leckwith kick off, Wales went 2-0 up midway through running out 4-1 winners. to take them to the stadium. With Iwan the first half thanks to goals from Jamie Finally, it was back to an international Roberts and Gerry Taggert on hand to Matthews and Gareth Godwin, before team, Russia. The authorities wouldn’t assist, both teams fought out an epic 3-3 Sweden pulled it back to 2-2 at half time, sanction the game within the city limits draw, thanks to goals from Tom Bowen, despite Leigh James making several superb of Toulouse due to security reasons, so Daniel Shon and Nathan Davies. saves. However, after some fine tuning the game was taken 5 miles outside. Will A few days later, the team assembled at the interval, Wales produced a superb Johnson announced before the game in Kiev to face a strong Ukraine team defensive display in the second half, winning kicked off that this would be his last made up of ex-pros and Internationals, the game with a 30 yard strike from Jamie international, so he was given the captaincy including Oleg Salenko top scorer at the Matthews, his second of the game. in his honour. Sion Cox scored a hat trick 1994 World Cup in the USA. Wales had France beckoned and the next game to salvage a draw, after Wales had been a poor start and found themselves lucky was against a French Club side in Bordeaux 3-1 down. to be only 3-0 down at half time, thanks called Merignac FC, who had failed to read After the group stage everyone was to heroic defending from Huw Williams, the script and fielded a team of semi-pros. too excited watching the first team so Wyn Lewis and Tim Hartley. However, with Despite Wales being 5-1 down at the no further games were organised in the several substitutions at half time, six players interval, with only a consolation from Wyn tournament. winning their first caps, Wales stormed back Lewis, it was left to Tom Keohane to make The next Wales Supporters match to score through Dave O’Gorman, Tom the scoreline respectable with a couple of will be on match day in Vienna against Bowen and Seffan Tomos. The game was to late goals to make the home side sweat for Austria. Anyone wishing to take part be decided on a best of three penalties and a few minutes. or watch, please email Neil Dymock on after Ukraine missed their second penalty, [email protected]. it was left to Geraint Jones to slot home for

www.faw.cymru 41

ARTUR IONITA Club : Cagliari (Italy) MOLDOVAONES TO WATCH Age : 26 MOLDOFAY RHAI I’W GWYLIO Position : Midfielder Who is he? : Another player to come ALEXANDRU EPUREANU through the youth ranks of Moldovan Clwb: Istanbul Basaksehir (Twrci) side Zimbru Chisinau, Artur Ionita has Oed: 29 since enjoyed a nomadic club career that Rôl: Amddiffynnwr has taken him to Switzerland and Italy Pwy yw e’? : Yn un o chwaraewyr enwocaf from his early days in the lower Moldovan a mwyaf adnabyddus Moldova mae wedi leagues. Has a decent goal return from serennu i’r tîm cenedlaethol ers 2006. midfield and became a key member of the Daeth trwy’r timau ieuenctid yn Zimbru Moldava Under-21 side between 2009 and Chisinau cyn symud i fyny i’r lefel uwch 2012, making 22 appearances. Although yn 2002. Aeth drosodd i wrthwynebwyr Ionita has also played for the senior side Cynghrair Moldova, Sheriff Tirspol, yn 2004 since 2009, the first of his two senior cyn ymuno â chyfoeth Uwch Gynghrair international goals did not arrive until Rwsia fel capten i Anzhi Makhachkala am October 2013 when he was on target in gyfnod byr. Nawr yn chwarae pêl-droed the 5-2 win over Montenegro. Holds the yn Nhwrci gyda Istanbul Basaksehir, unusual record of being the first Moldovan mae Epureanu ymhlith y rhai sydd wedi to score in the Italian top-flight with his ymddangos mwyaf i’w wlad, ac yn parhau i IGOR DOBROVOLSKI first goal for Hellas Verona coming against chwarae rôl allweddol fel amddiffynnwr wedi Head Coach Torino. Was rumoured to have been a degawd o bêl-droed rhyngwladol. Mae wedi Back for a second spell in-charge of the target for Swansea City during the summer sgorio saith gôl i Foldova mewn 73 gêm. Moldovan national team, Dobrovolski brings but any speculation ended when he joined to the role a wealth of experience gained Calgiari. Named Moldovan Footballer of the ARTUR IONITA from a nomadic playing career that saw Year in 2014. Clwb: Cagliari (Yr Eidal) him play in Spain, Italy, France, Russia and Oed: 26 Germany before ending that particular VICTOR GOLOVATENCO Rôl: Canol cae chapter of his football career in Moldova Club : FC Zaria Balti (Moldova) Pwy yw e’? : Yn un arall a ddaeth trwy’r timau with Tiligul Tiraspol in 2006. Has managed Age : 32 ieuenctid clwb Zimbru Chisinau, mae Artur clubs in Moldova and Russia, and held the Position : Defender Ionita wedi mwynhau gyrfa glwb nomadig national team job between 2007 and 2009. Who is he? : Another international veteran sydd wedi mynd ag ef i’r Swistir a’r Eidal However, Dobrovolski is best in the Moldovan ranks, Golovatenco has ers ei ddyddiau cynnar yng nghynghreiriau remembered for his efforts at the 1988 made the same number of appearances isaf Moldova. Gyda record goliau da o Olympic Games in Seoul, winning a gold for his country as Alexandru Epureanu (73) ganol cae, roedd yn aelod allweddol i dîm medal with Russia USSR and finishing as heading into this latest qualifying campaign. dan-21 Moldova rhwng 2009 a 2012 gan the tournaments top goalscorer with six If both players play tonight they will equal ymddangos 22 o weithiau. Er bod Ionita goals. Soviet Footballer of the Year in 1990 the appearance record of 74 held by retired wedi chwarae ar gyfer y garfan uwch ers and a UEFA Champions League winner with midfielder Radu Rabeja. Golovatenco is 2009, daeth ei ddwy gôl ryngwladol gyntaf Marseille in 1993, Dobrovolski will now look now back playing in his native Moldova after ddim tan Hydref 2013 gyda’i giciau’n taro’r to emulate his playing success in his current spending almost a decade in the Russian targed mewn buddugoliaeth 5-2 dros coaching role, but has only tasted victory Premier League, and has represented his Montenegro. Mae’n dal y record anarferol once since returning to the job after four country as a senior international since o fod y chwaraewr cyntaf o Foldova i games back in charge. 2004, scoring just three goals during that sgorio ar lefel uchaf pêl-droed yn Yr Eidal time. His first goals coming in the 2-1 gyda’i gôl gyntaf i Hellas Verona yn erbyn ALEXANDRU EPUREANU victory over Georgia in June 2009. Torino. Roedd sôn ei fod yn darged i Ddinas Club : Istanbul Basaksehir (Turkey) Abertawe yn ystod yr haf ond diweddodd Age : 29 RADU GINSARI unrhyw sïon pan ymunodd â Calgiari. Position : Defender Club : Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) Cafodd ei enwi yn Chwaraewr y Flwyddyn Who is he? : One of Moldova’s most famous Age : 24 Moldova yn 2014. and well-known players having starred Position : Forward for the national team since 2006. Came Who is he? : A product of the Moldovan through the youth team ranks at Zimbru capital of Chisinau, Radu Ginsari has Chisinau before progressing to the senior represented his country at Under-19 and side in 2002. Switched to Moldovan league Under-21 level, but has only scored once rivals Sheriff Tirspol in 2004 before heading since making his senior in 2012. With only to the riches of the Russian Premier 10 international appearances since his League, and captained Anzhi Makhachkala debut, Ginsari has found his opportunities for a brief period. Now playing his football in limited, but with his only goal coming in the Turkey with Istanbul Basaksehir, Epureanu teams last match against Switzerland in is one of the country’s leading appearance June he will be hoping that this qualifying holders, and remains a key part of their campaign will help him establish himself in defence after a decade of international the side. Has scored nine goals for Sheriff football. Has scored seven goals for Tiraspol in the Moldovan top division but Moldova in 73 games. has been hindered in his strike-rate by his ability to drop back and play in midfield. www.faw.cymru 43

VICTOR GOLOVATENCO Clwb: FC Zaria Balti (Moldova) Oed: 32 Rôl: Amddiffynnwr Pwy yw e’?: Yn chwaraewr rhyngwladol profiadol i Foldova, mae Golovatenco wedi IN MEMORY ymddangos i’w wlad yr un nifer o weithiau ag Alexandru Epureanu (73) wrth edrych ymlaen am yr ymgyrch gymhwyso nesaf. Os fydd y ddau chwaraewr yn ymddangos heno byddant yn gyfartal gyda’r record o 74 gêm sy’n cael ei ddal gan chwaraewyr canol cae Radu Rabeja. Mae Golovatenco nawr yn ôl yn chwarae gartref ym Moldova wedi treulio bron i ddegawd yn Uwch Gynghrair Rwsia, ac wedi cynrychioli ei wlad ar lefel ryngwladol ers 2004 a sgorio ddim ond tair gôl ers hynny. Daeth ei gôl gyntaf mewn buddugoliaeth 2-1 yn erbyn Georgia ym Mehefin 2009.

RADU GINSARI Clwb: Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) Oed: 24 Rôl: Blaenwr Pwy yw e’?: Yn wreiddiol o brif ddinas Moldova Chisinau, mae Radu Ginsari wedi cynrychioli ei wlad ar lefelau Dan-19 a Dan-21 ond wedi sgorio unwaith yn unig ers ymddangos ar lefel uwch yn 2012. Since Wales last played a football match Having joined the FAW Council in 1966, Yn ymddangos ddim ond 10 gwaith yn at home, the Football Association of undoubtedly the highlight of Tommy’s rhyngwladol ers ei gêm gyntaf, prin iawn Wales has sadly seen two of its Council career in football administration was his oedd cyfleon Ginsari, ond gyda’i unig gôl yn Members pass away – Mr Tommy Forse Presidency of the FAW from 1989 to 1992. ymddangos yng ngêm olaf y tîm yn erbyn Y and Mr J.O Hughes. J.O Hughes, who was 97, became Swistir fis Mehefin byddai’n gobeithio bydd David Griffiths, FAW President, paid a Council Member of the FAW in 1973 yr ymgyrch cymhwyso’n ei helpu i sefydlu ei tribute and said: “My fellow Council and was a founding member of the hun o fewn y garfan. Mae wedi sgorio naw Members and I were deeply saddened by Anglesey Football League during gôl i Sheriff Tiaspol yn adran uchaf Moldova the recent passing away of past President the 1940s, playing a key role in the ond mae ei raddfa sgorio wedi ei ddal yn ôl Tommy Forse at 99 years of age, 12 weeks establishment of the competition. gan ei allu i chwarae yng nghanol cae. before his 100th birthday. J.O also held Secretary positions Igor Dobrovolski - Prif Hyfforddwr “It was also sad that past president with the Welsh Alliance Football League Yn ôl ar gyfer ei ail gyfnod yn rheoli tîm J.O Hughes and life councillor Terry Harris and the North Wales Coast FA. Until his cenedlaethol Moldova, mae Dobrovolski yn all passed away this year after devoted passing, he was President of the Huws dod â phrofiad cyfoethog i’r rôl wedi gyrfa service to the FAW and all would have Gray Alliance League. nomadig yn ei weld yn chwarae yn Sbaen, Yr been proud of our achievements at He was well thought of both inside and Eidal, Ffrainc, Rwsia a’r Almaen cyn gorffen EURO 2016 in France and each played an outside of Welsh football circles and in his ei yrfa o chwarae pêl-droed ym Moldova integral role in getting the FAW to where personal life he worked for the DVLA in gyda Tiligul Tiraspol yn 2006. Mae wedi it is today.” Llangefni in a role that covered the whole rheoli clybiau ym Moldova a Rwsia, gan ddal Tommy was a magnificent servant to of Wales and the boarders. y swydd gyda’r tîm cenedlaethol rhwng Welsh football both on and off the field J.O was also a former President of the 2007 a 2009. Er hyn, mae Dobrovolski yn during a long and distinguished career. FAW and until his passing was a Life Vice- cael ei gofio am ei ymdrechion yng Ngemau Tommy played for Cardiff City and was President of the Association. Olympaidd 1988 yn Seoul, gan ennill medal an ardent supporter of the club. He also The thoughts of everyone connected aur i’r Undeb Sofietaidd a chael ei enwi’n filled numerous administrative rolls at with the FAW are with the family and sgoriwr goliau uchaf y twrnamaint gyda both local and national level. friends of Tommy Forse and J.O Hughes. chwe gôl. Yn Bêl-droediwr Sofietaidd y Flwyddyn yn 1990 ac enillydd Cynghrair y Pencampwyr UEFA gyda Marseille yn 1993, bydd Dobrovolski nawr yn edrych i ail-fyw ei lwyddiant yn ei rôl hyfforddi, wedi blasu buddugoliaeth unwaith yn unig allan o’r pedwar gêm ers dychwelyd i’r swydd.

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TONIGHT’S ANTHEM SINGER IS YOU #TOGETHERSTRONGER

HEN WLAD FY NHADAU

Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi, Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri; Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mâd, Tros ryddid gollasant eu gwaed.

Gwlad, Gwlad, pleidiol wyf i’m gwlad, Tra môr yn fur i’r bur hoff bau, O bydded i’r heniaith barhau.

CENTREVELINDRE CANCER

You may have noticed a number of people with green buckets standing at the turnstiles. This group of 30 dedicated volunteers are helping raise much-needed funding for Velindre Cancer Centre.

If cancer has touched your life, either directly or indirectly, and you live in South Wales, then the chances are you already know all about the excellent work which takes place at Velindre Cancer Centre in Whitchurch, Cardiff.

From medical treatment for cancer sufferers to counselling for the families, Velindre is always there for the people who need the most help and support.

But this support does not come cheap and it’s through the generous donations of the people of Wales that Velindre is able to carry out ground breaking medical treatment and a comprehensive care programme.

There is no such thing as a ‘small’ donation, as very penny counts, so please give what you can.

Thank you in advance for your support.

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/TracyGoode- StephenJohnson CARDIFF CITY STADIUM / STADIWM DINAS CAERDYDD

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Football Association of Wales / Cymdeithas Bêl-droed Cymru Contributors

Patron / Noddwr Life Councillors / Cynghorwyr Oes Editor H.M. The Queen Mr R Smiles, Mr K J Tucker, Rob Dowling Mr R M Waygood, Mr C R Whitley, President / Llywydd Mr I F Williams Contributors / Cyfranwyr Mr D R Griffiths Chris Coleman, Paul Corkery, Council / Y Cyngor Rob Dowling, Neil Dymock, Vice Presidents / Is-lywyddion Mr M Adams, Mr R Bridges, Mr D Cole, Jonathan Ford, Andy Greeves, Mr D A Jones, Mr K O’Connor Mr K J Davies, Mr N Dymock, David Griffiths, Ian Gwyn Hughes, Mr V Edwards, Mr J Harris, Mark Pitman, Jamie Thomas, Honorary Treasurer / Mr R K Hughes, Mr D Hinton Jones, Glen Wilson Trysorydd Anrhydeddus Mr E W Jones, Mr M Jones, Mr S Williams Mr P A Jones, Mr S Lawrence, Photography / Ffotograffiaeth Mr B Paton, Mr C Rowland, David Rawcliffe (Propaganda) Life Vice Presidents / Is-Iywyddion Oes Mrs T Turner, Mr A Watkins, Mr B Fear BEM, Mr J O Hughes, Mr G Williams, Mr I Williams, Design / Dylunio Mr T Lloyd Hughes, Mr P C Pritchard, Mr W L Williams, Mr P Woosnam Designroom Sport Mr P Rees, Mr D W Shanklin Chief Executive / Prif Swyddog Gweithredol CBDC Mr. J. Ford 48 www.faw.cymru

WALES / CYMRU MOLDOVA

Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace) Ilie Cebanu (Mordovia) Danny Ward (Huddersfield Town) Nicolae Calancea (CS U Craiova) Owain Fôn Williams (Inverness Caledonian Thistle) Alexei Koșelev (Sheriff Tiraspol) Ashley Williams (Everton) Alexandru Epureanu (Istanbul BB) Neil Taylor (Swansea City) Victor Golovatenco (Zaria Bălți) (Aston Villa) Igor Armaş (Kuban) Chris Gunter (Reading) Cătălin Carp (Viitorul) James Collins (West Ham United) Ion Jardan (Zimbru Chişinău) Ashley Richards (Cardiff City) Vitalie Bordian (Sheriff Tiraspol) Paul Dummett (Newcastle United) Petru Racu (Milsami Orhei) Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur) Artur Ioniţa (Cagliari) Emyr Huws (Cardiff City) Eugeniu Cebotaru (Sibir) Shaun MacDonald (Wigan Athletic) Andrei Cojocari (Milsami Orhei) Joe Allen (Stoke City) Valeriu Andronic (Academia Chișinău) Tom Lawrence (Ipswich Town) Vladimir Ambros (Petrocub – Hîncești) Joe Ledley (Crystal Palace) Alexandru Onica, (tustrei, Zaria Bălți) Andy King (Leicester City) Alexandru Antoniuc (ambii, Milsami Orhei) Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) Alexandru Dedov (ambii, Milsami Orhei) Hal Robson-Kanu (West Bromwich Albion) Eugeniu Cociuc (Dacia Chișinău) (Burnley) Alexandru Gațcan (FC Rostov) David Cotterill (Birmingham City) Radu Gînsari (Sheriff Tiraspol) Simon Church (Roda JC Kerkrade) George Williams (Milton Keynes Dons) Manager / Rheolwr: Igor Dobrovolski

Manager / Rheolwr: Chris Coleman

REFEREE LIANY LIRAN, ISRAEL

ASSISTANT REFEREE I BITION DAVID ELIAS, ISRAEL

ASSISTANT REFEREE 2 IVIAHAGNA MAHMUD, ISRAEL

FOURTH OFFICIAL PAPIR EREZ, ISRAEL

50 www.faw.cymru

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