From today, the sports park of the Székelyföld Football Academy in Miercurea Ciuc bears the name of Csaba Burus. During the naming ceremony, the memorial of the former athlete and educator was also unveiled.

From today, the sports park of the Székelyföld Football Academy in Miercurea Ciuc bears the name of Csaba Burus. During the naming ceremony, the memorial of the former athlete and educator was also unveiled.

The ceremony was attended by the late coach’s widow, Burus Carmen, and his son, Burus Bernát, a coach at the Székelyföld Football Academy. Róbert Kálmán Ráduly, former mayor of the city, recalled the memory of Csaba Burus and explained why, out of the 121-year history of football in the city, he was chosen as the namesake of the sports facility. “Because no one else could have been,” summarized the expert who contributed to the project as manager, outlining Burus Csaba’s life and career in detail, and highlighting the values he inherited from his father and passed on. The speaker emphasized: Csaba Burus was one of the pioneers who made the foundation of the Székelyföld Football Academy possible — without his contribution, Miercurea Ciuc would not have a football academy or a top-tier team today.

Zoltán Szondy, president of FK Csíkszereda and the Székelyföld Football Academy, also shared his memories of Csaba Burus. “I’m very glad that he lived to see our greater successes and the path we were taking. I’m convinced that he is still supporting us and will be with us at every important match in the future,” he said.

The memorial unveiled on Saturday features a quote from Csaba Burus, as well as an obituary written by Róbert Kálmán Ráduly:

“Csaba Burus was born on October 13, 1968. Besides his family, football was everything to him. He burned with passion for the game — in the locker room, on the pitch, and on the sidelines. Every fiber of his being burned on the bench. At a very high intensity.

Following in the footsteps of Dénes Ladó, Béla Jónás, Károly Császár, and Csaba Antal, he graduated from the Bucharest Institute of Physical Education in 1993. Upon returning to Miercurea Ciuc, he became a teacher at the Nagy István Arts High School. In July 1998, he became the coach of the city's team, recently relegated from Division C, and immediately led it back to the third tier. However, the team was unable to remain there, even under his leadership.

Csaba Burus never backed down. He began building from the foundations — within the Start 2000 association, which he founded with a few enthusiastic colleagues. The fact that in the early 2000s Miercurea Ciuc reappeared on the national youth football map is largely thanks to his professional work, faith, and dedication. He showed the path and taught others how to follow it. Not just once, but until the very end. He did not live to see the great successes of modern Csíkszereda football, but he remains forever part of its journey. Csaba Burus passed away on December 5, 2016.”

Rédai Attila