TARANTO – Destination Massafra. The track leading to the “Italia” stadium is being strengthened as an alternative to the “Iacovone” which, in winter, will be affected by the renovation works planned for the Mediterranean Games.
The hypothesis, already launched several times by Journal in recent weeks, with the passing of the days it finds other and new confirmations. And, soon, there may be further news. Of course, it should be underlined in the introduction, it is not easy but not impossible and indeed the Massafrese plant could probably really be the only viable alternative. Not immediately, but soon.
Therefore, according to well-founded rumours, in recent days, the mayor of Massafra, Fabrizio Quarto, met with the government commissioner, as well as president of the organizing committee, Massimo Ferrarese. During the discussion, mainly, the situation would be taken stock of the adaptation interventions planned for the sports hall included in the first master plan and in which, in 2026, some sports disciplines will take place including, for example, taekwondo in which Carlo Molfetta, current director general of the Committee, won the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. And if for the definitive approval of the necessary resources, Massafra as well as the other 21 municipalities involved will have to wait for the approval of the Court of Auditors to the decree, the works at “Italia” could find financial coverage in the second masterplan or in what will be supported by subsequent and further resources made available by the Government. Therefore, in this context, the “Italia” stadium could be indicated as one of the facilities to be used for training of the national football teams involved in the Mediterranean Games. And in a similar scenario, evidently, the alternative to the Salinella district plant would materialize. In Massafra, in reality, redevelopment works are already underway which are affecting the grandstand and, at the end of which, the capacity could fluctuate around 1,500 seats. Few, obviously, for the Serie C championship which, in fact, requires at least 3,500-4 thousand seats for fans. The solution, however, could still come by arranging a couple of sectors created with prefabricated structures that could allow the minimum threshold required by the Lega Pro to be reached. But it is there, or rather it would be there if the choice really fell on the massafrese facility, another obstacle to overcome: the size of the pitch. The width of the green rectangle of “Italy” is 60 meters (the minimum requirement is 64-65) and, therefore, the FIGC should grant Taranto Fc an exemption to use the Massafrese facility, in Serie C, for two years. Which, if necessary, will have to be requested given that other solutions, either for structural reasons or for reasons of public order, do not seem to be truly viable.
Tags: Taranto work Iacovone stadium alternative Massafra
