Tinet welcomes its new coach Mario Di Pietro

The 2023 – 2024 season has just ended and the future has already begun. To lay solid foundations, Tinet Prata, as usual, has already moved and the first stone on which to build the new building is obviously that of the coach. In this sense, the choice of Sports Director Luciano Sturam and General Director Dario Sanna was for a coach with extensive experience, who will be able to make an important contribution to the future of Volley Prata.
The new coach is Mario Di Pietro, a sixty-three-year-old from Padua who started at the high level in his hometown, acting as second to an institution of Italian volleyball like Professor Silvano Prandi. His experiences in pink volleyball are also fortunate. With Foppapedretti Bergamo in two years he won two championships, two Italian Cups and a Champion’s League. Shortly thereafter, the partnership began with the coach of the European and World champion national team Ferdinando De Giorgi, with whom he coached for two years in Cuneo in the Super League. Then the return to the Veneto region with high-level youth sectors and the Serie A in Montecchio, a tough team against which Tinet has always struggled.
His qualities have always been highly appreciated, so much so that he joined the senior national team’s staff as an assistant. This summer he will instead take on the role of coach of the U22 national team.

“I have great enthusiasm – comments the Paduan coach in his first official interview with the yellow and blue team – and I must say that convincing myself to embark on this new adventure was easy. The reality of Prata is very important and I have met it many times on the field in recent seasons. I have always appreciated the gradual but constant growth of this club and one of my goals was to get to coach here. Fortunately I succeeded and for this I have to thank the club for giving me their trust and the job.”

What are the pillars of your training system?

“I like working a lot and especially with young people, but not only. I believe everyone can always improve. The secret is to train while having fun, but with a strong motivation to continually improve your game. I don’t forget that Prata plays in A2 and that there are already trained and high-level players. However, I am convinced that by pushing hard in training we will be able to create a great team and a great championship.”

There is no doubt that you like working in the gym. So much so that you won’t get remarried this summer, but you will face an adventure in the blue shirt

“It will be my third year in the national team. In the last two years I was the assistant of the senior national team, while this year I will take on a new role: I will be the second coach of the U22 national team. We will train in Cavalese from Sunday 12 May, together with the senior national team. I don’t see it as an effort, but as a recharge of energy. Furthermore, it is also an opportunity to learn many things, not only from De Giorgi, but also from the players. There is no tiredness, but a lot of emotion.”

Speaking of De Giorgi, how do you remember your experience with him in Cuneo?

“It was undoubtedly special. Our acquaintance dates back to years before when he was the setter of Charro Padova and I was the second coach. The year in Cuneo he was player-coach and I played the role of first or second depending on the situations. It was a fantastic season also because De Giorgi, in addition to being very prepared, is also a coach who stimulates the staff to give their best, in a peaceful and fun environment. Finding him again in the national team was wonderful and already as a player he had the nature of a coach.”

Can you help us get to know you a little better off the field too?

“I have a beautiful family with a wife and two children and I dedicate my free time to them. I really like traveling and I have traveled a lot with the national team in recent years. So when I can I go traveling with my loved ones.”

Do you want to say hello to your new supporters?

“I managed to watch many Play Off and Italian Cup matches and I saw that the public follows the team with such warmth and enthusiasm. For my part, I can’t wait to get started and I’m sure they will follow us with great affection and enthusiasm.”

“I am absolutely happy with the choice made. – comments the General Director Dario Sanna – The guarantee of a technician included in the national staff can only be good for our movement. I met him personally and found him enthusiastic about our club and I am convinced that together we can do very well”