Final phase: first triangular race on Saturday at 4.00 pm.
Having won the playoffs, the national junior team begins its journey in the final phase for the title of Italian champion. First stage is the triangular tournament with the reigning champions Portici and Paganese: only one team will advance to the round of 16. We start with the first home match against Portici, the match will be played at the Muzi stadium, not at the anti-stadium.
Giuseppe Olimpieri, who has led the team since last December, when Enrico Broccatelli moved to the first team as Antonio Rizzolo’s second, summarizes this period which led the young red and whites to such a prestigious goal:
“It was a continuous crescendo, the team was already doing very well before when it was led by Enrico, the somewhat sudden technical change only brought about some inevitable destabilization among the boys for a very short period, but we immediately got back on track and fought until the penultimate day to win the group, with only one defeat, we ended up second, we won the playoff against Sambenedettese. It is a strong, cohesive group, ready to fight with anyone.”
What do you expect from these challenges, what do we know about Paganese and Portici?
“We weren’t lucky in the draw, the teams from southern Italy have a great tradition of youth sectors and large catchment areas, they are very organised, they will need high level performances both from a technical, physical and mental point of view. However, we arrive prepared and motivated, already strengthened by our successes, like when we went on to win 3-1 at home to the leaders of our group. I hope that a lot of people will come to cheer for us on Saturday, the boys really deserve it, I invite everyone to come and see us and support us.”
You too, like Rizzolo and Broccatelli, are part of that group of Orvieto coaches who are achieving results with their city’s team. Broccatelli complained a little about the initial climate of lack of trust, what can you tell me?
“I have been in the Orvietana football family for several years, both as a coach and previously also as technical director of the youth sector. I feel the trust, both from the club and from the boys. Great work is being done, also in the other youth categories, not only on the players, but also on the coaches.”
The objective of the youth sector is not only to obtain results, but above all to prepare players for the first team, without necessarily naming names. Do you think that next year in Serie D whoever will build the squad can draw a lot from this group?
“I believe that there are several born in 2006 who have the right profile to be included in the squad as under for the next Serie D and it is true that this is precisely the true purpose of the youth sectors. For this reason, during the season a lot of work is also done on improving the individuals. I believe that the club will now have to further facilitate the entry into the first team of home-trained youngsters, this to give the right continuity to the work done.”
Orvietana – Portici is played Saturday 11 May at 4.00 pm at the L. Muzi stadium. Referee: Edoardo Panici of Aprilia (Andrea Scionti of Roma 1 – Giovanni Martino of Cassino).
