The Savona Section named after Armando Brustia, a leading figure in the Ligurian arbitration world – Italian Referees Association

Savona section

On 25 November, with the presence of the National Vice President of the AIA, Alberto Zaroli, and the National Member Andrea Mazzaferro, the celebration of an event of great importance took place: the naming of the Section after Armando Brustia, a leading figure in the Ligurian arbitration field, with 75 years of association behind it and prestigious positions such as Section President, national observer and secretary of the Ligurian Regional Committee.

The event was attended by numerous members and former members, who have maintained a close bond with Armando over the years. The evening opened with the screening of a video that narrated his journey within the AIA. Following, a visibly moved Federico Ferrara, President of the Savona Section, wanted to share his personal memories with everyone present. “For me Armando is the Section – he said – From the first day I joined he was there, always ready to dispense valuable advice to help us grow in every area of ​​our professional and personal life”.

“TOrmando was a storyteller: like medieval troubadours he told stories about football, refereeing and much more, making reality more beautiful every time by adding a pinch of fantasy – said the Vice President of the AIA Alberto Zaroli – It spoke of emotions, of passion and commitment, of rules and regulations. I would like every new referee who arrives in Savona to be able to absorb a bit of this passion: let’s tell young people the stories and life of Armando Brustia and remember how much love there was in his words“.

The Member of the National Committee Andrea Mazzaferro he has declared: “I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing him like you are here, but through your words I got to know him this evening, I understood his love for the Section and the Association“.

“Armando truly lived for his Section, this is the natural recognition – said the president of the Regional Referees Committee of Liguria Andrea Crispo – he brought every grain of his experience to the service of the Association and young people, the real boy at the Centenary was Him”.

The former Savona sectional presidents present also spoke during the event. Roberto Fresia he said: “I learned a lot from him and thanks to him, when I became president, I overcame the difficulties that came my way”, he continued to talk about the importance he had for the referees from Savona and Liguria Giorgio Cerioniwho stated: “He was the referee father of all of us”.

One after the other he intervened Mariano Zito who stated: “A formidable president who made many of us grow as referees, then as observers and finally as managers”. Fabio Muratore he narrated: “When I became a referee, I saw a person who loved being with all of us kids, making us love the section with his passion and his stories”; the last of the presidents to speak was the current regional Vice President Simone Roba who told an anecdote: “He was an incredible person and inspired respect: although I had known him for years, only when I became a manager was I able to address him on first terms. The best memory of him is precisely the last one, that is, his presence at the centenary of our Section last June 10th: his eyes shone with joy because he was able to be with his referees”.

After a greeting, Giordana, the person who looked after Armando in his last years, expressed gratitude to all those present, underlining his deep appreciation for what was done to remember Amando, stating how moved and filled with joy he would have been in knowing that the section would perpetuate his name forever.

The evening continued with the technical meeting, held by the international assistant David Imperiale of the Genoa Section, who had trained in the afternoon with young colleagues from Savona. “The Section is the place where we feel at home, where we can resolve doubts and grow both professionally and personally in the arbitration field” he said, then focusing on the importance of sacrifice to pursue one’s dreams, underlining that only through study and training will one be able to achieve one’s goal.

The lesson also had a technical component with the international guest who put his experience into play by showing a series of videos that aroused interest and participation from the young colleagues.