Last weekend, the Penya Barcelonistas de Gante (FCB World Federation) welcomed a very special guest: Jon Andoni Goikoetxea. The former Barça player, one of the key figures of the legendary “Dream Team” of the early 1990s, took advantage of his trip to the Belgian city to visit one of the penyes that lives Barça passion most intensely in that country. The president of PB Gante, Juan Carlos Díaz, was the perfect host for “Goiko,” who spent quality time with the members of penya and discovered the true Barça museum that the association’s headquarters has become. In fact, the right-winger from Navarre signed a popular Barça-themed car, alongside other great Club legends.
Jon Andoni Goikoetxea visit featured another star guest: Kevin De Bruyne. The Barça delegation visited the venue of the U-15 age football tournament that bears the Belgian star’s name, the KDB Cup. De Bruyne greeted Goikoetxea himself as well as Juan Carlos Díaz and thanked them for their visit. The KDB Cup is regarded as a highly prestigious international tournament, through which young talents who later reached football’s elite level have passed. Last year, the FC Barcelona team of La Masia competed in the tournament and took home the title.
Barça passion through and through
The president of Penya Barcelonista Gante, Juan Carlos Díaz, embodies everything that Barça passion stands for, despite living 1,200 kilometres from Barcelona. Barça devotion of Díaz has become a benchmark within the world of penyes and among Barça supporters internationally, and it has already been recognised by several notable names in the history of the Club. His most popular symbol is his car, customised from top to bottom in Barça colours, as well as all the objects he collects in his venue. For all these reasons, PB Gante has established itself as the best ambassador of the Barça spirit in Ghent and keeps its doors open to all culers visiting the city.
