Are we facing the Italian football perniciously contaminated ?
“We have become poor and we do not want to admit it. Many of my colleagues who also train in second division would like to go abroad tomorrow, because there is no future here . There are more samples , we are stuck with Totti and Del Piero and it’s a problem of education. In Spain they win so much because there are talents well behaved since the football school. Here, the schools are all to be rethought.”
That’s the problem, but the solution?
“Less campus paid for the ambitions of parents and more “ethical campus” where to teach children the fundamental rule: play for fun with the friends and not to be or become ” numbers “of this football grinder.”
Truce: did we arrived at the end?
“No, we can still hope if we decide to follow the direction of Cesare Prandelli. The head coach of the national team is the only one with his football, that first of all like to play, education and respect for rules, continues to hide the many flaws in our system.”
His philosophy, that perhaps no president would be willing to marry .
“One , yes, but sadly no more. It was Angelo Gabrielli , the president of my Citadella. I still have a dozen letters of this remarkable man and the most beautiful are those who wrote to me after the defeats. Someone will end up in the book I’m writing ( Mazzanti publisher) and so I hope that will make people think and read those officers and prosecutors who are ruining this game.”
You insists on the concept of “game”, maybe that is not the case you recommences coaching boys.
“If there is a serious and educational project I am willing to start over even the last step of amateurism. But first I would like to see a country where football is played at school. I would like to youth matches at the sun light and not matches in the spotlight or the frozen fields, only to show them that at 10 years they have already professionals. I would like to see everyone play on the same team: good and less good, rich and poor, healthy children and those with disabilities and to do it with a smile . Because what it’s missing above all things in this sport is the joy, the smile . “
But who can restore the smile to this generation.
“We need teachers, like those that I had. Gino Costenaro, who went to take us to school in his team at “oratorio” in Portogruaro. Then, from there, put me in the arms of Luisito Suarez who coached the young players of Genoa. Suarez came into the locker room with his elegant shoes tied on the shoulder and said to us: ” Do you see ? They are shiny and I clean them always me alone. It is for this reason that I came up to the Golden Ball.” If we teach these little things, as to take care themselves at own football shoes, then maybe these guys will still grow big dreams in the pitch, and perhaps also in life.”
(By Massimiliano Castellani, Avvenire.it)
