The phenomenon of the Canya at Girona: “He takes more photos than the players”

GironaFour years ago, Girona became the first pet friendly football club. Now, that decision has turned it into a “club different from the others," because they go beyond what a traditional football club does. "We create moments that are unique for people who are never the protagonists, who live in the shadows or are only highlighted for their difficulties or disabilities,” explains Albert Marquès, director of the CTAC Girona center and the handler of Canya, an 8-year-old Labrador Retriever who has won the hearts of all the red-and-white fans.

There is no matchday at Montilivi where Canya is not the center of attention before and after seeing the ball roll. But it is during the week that it has greater significance: hand in hand with the work of the Girona entity and its Foundation, the canine mascot visits schools, hospitals, special education centers, and centers for the elderly. “I am proud of the social work we do: we have the opportunity to provide opportunities and make people happy who do not enjoy an easy life. We are by the side of boys and girls, and the elderly, who are going through a complicated moment and this serves them to recharge with energy,” affirms the social educator.

The emotional return is priceless. “We accompany minors to the Trueta Hospital, for example, and when they get injections, they don't think about the harshness of the treatment. For a brief moment, they can escape and for a while, they are happy because Canya is by their side wearing the Girona shirt. The fact of taking care of our people is the best contribution we can make as a club,” highlights Marquès, who meticulously plans the calendar and visits every corner he can of the Girona regions. In Roses, Olot, or Platja d’Aro, they bring “Girona pride wherever they go.” The average number of annual visits is about 35, distributed among different entities.

Girona gives visibility to people who are often invisible to society. When there is a matchday at the stadium, they choose a special case to go down to the pitch, meet the players, and walk to the middle of the field with Canya minutes before the start of the duel, while the situation is explained to the members and fans over the PA system. “One of the last boys to have this experience is Roman, whom we met while visiting the Els Joncs School with Mate Morey and Javi Boñar. It was very beautiful for him. Stuani went to hug him and Gazzaniga gave him his gloves in a moment of complicity between the two that was not planned. The next day his educators called me and told me that the boy had slept with the gloves, that he was telling everyone that he had experienced the best day of his life and that he didn't want to know anything more about Real Madrid, that he would now be a Girona fan forever.”

“Everyone has many role models and we imagine footballers in many ways. There is a tendency to say that they live in a bubble and are insensitive to the problems of others, because they enjoy a comfortable life. But I can assure you that the footballer who does not respond to these initiatives is the exception. At Girona, they are very open; everyone has a moment and, if they don't, they look for it until they create it. They often end up staying longer than agreed and they don't do it just to go through the motions, they do it because they get involved,” continues Marquès. Girona also raises funds that it gives to various groups and distributes tickets to them with the purpose of strengthening the club's bond with the community. Recently, it has also visited the Trueta coinciding with the city's Fairs, to support all those who were unable to attend. They went there with the Canya and the Mosca Sisa, and they will repeat, as always, at Christmas.

More than 100,000 followers

The Canya phenomenon has gone viral: it has accumulated more than 100,000 followers on Instagram and many of its videos have had unprecedented repercussions internationally. Some European media, moreover, have echoed its work and dedicated several articles to it. "On match days she takes more photos than the players," her coach lets slip, amidst laughter. "It is impossible for everyone to like the presence of a dog on a football pitch, because to each their own. But no one has ever said anything to me, quite the opposite. Everyone treats her with respect and parents teach their children by telling them to put their hand out first, so she can smell it. Perhaps the only time I have to stop them is when, in good faith, they want to give her a piece of frankfurter".

Within the squad, she is also one of them. And she even delights rival players, who play with her when they find her on the Montilivi pitch. "They are very fond of Canya: Àlex Moreno, Carles Pérez, Bryan Gil, Oleksandr Pyshchur… Most of them pet her at the beginning and give her treats at the end. I still remember Miguel Gutiérrez, who is now at Bayer Leverkusen: he used to give her a kiss. And we have even reached the point where opponents give her gifts. The first was Atlético de Madrid, who brought her a disc with their crest on it," he assesses.

“I think if she didn't go, I would notice it now. Every time I put her jersey on to go to the stadium, she wags her tail. Canya has a great time there,” concludes Marquès. The Girona team can no longer be understood without its canine mascot.