As a footballer, Franco Tafuni had played the role of full-back, he had an imposing physique and was very fiery on and off the pitch. Franco, the first and perhaps only case in history in Italy to have held the role of footballer-president of his Altamura, was known and appreciated by everyone. A true Juventino, he was a friend of president Giampiero Boniperti and Michael Platini. As president he brought Matera to C1. Father of six children and married, Franco loved football madly. His greatest feat was to bring Altamura to Serie C in the 1988-89 season by winning on the Rende pitch. An incredible celebration broke out in the Murgia as if for a championship. Everyone defined Franco as a force of nature. On 30 August 2009 he passed away after 9 long years in which he fought ALS (i.e. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis which Borgonovo, another former footballer, had nicknamed “The Bitch”). We have collected some testimonies from those who appreciated him and knew his story.
The memory of Giulio Mola, sports journalist and writer of the book “The Last Game: investigation into suspicious illnesses and deaths in the most beautiful game in the world” with preface by Luca Vialli, quotes Franco Tafuni on page 134. Giulio Mola’s thoughts: «Franco Tafuni, who passed away in the summer of 2009 due to ALS, remains one of the great mysteries of Italian football. It is not only a painful loss of a footballer much loved by Altamura and in the Matera area, but everywhere because he was appreciated by Boniperti and many others. His passing, however, represents a ‘mystery’ linked to the sudden and very painful deaths that occurred in those years involving several players. Tafuni’s family later reported that among the causes of the possible death there could be the use of drugs and something linked to strange movements that happened in the changing rooms. What then happened a few years later with Stefano Borgonovo, Bruno Beatrice and other players. The beautiful memory of a footballer and president loved by his fans remains alive.”
The memory of Salvatore Guastella, former Bari player from 1983 to 1989 and friend of Franco Tafuni, was present at a friendly match when Franco, already living with the disease, showed up to greet his friends and former teammates. The words of Sasà Guastella: «It seems like yesterday was the memory of what wasn’t a simple friendly match for a fundraiser in order to lend a hand to the family due to the many expenses they incurred. Everyone loved Franco, even his enemies, because he was as bold and courageous as on the pitch. When I saw him again, for that friendly match. deprived of physical energy and in the chair, I turned around for a moment and with difficulty held back the tears because from a gentle giant who was similar in bearing and technical abilities to the German “championship winner” of Hellas Verona, Hans Peter Briegel you couldn’t imagine him differently. But on that occasion he smiled with great strength and fought like the tiger man, another nickname for him. He leaves a huge void.” Guastella was part of the Bari team which made a sensational run in the Italian Cup against Mr. Bolchi’s Bari, captained by Totò Lopez who in the 83-84′ season beat Platini’s Juventus led by Trapattoni, of whom Franco Tafuni was a huge fan and friend . In the summer of that year, Tafuni, a fan of the Vecchia Signora, had that legendary Bari team play a friendly match by wearing an official Juventus shirt, as told in the book written by Franco Cirici, “The other half of Bari”. , to players who later wrote pages of Bari history. In the photo, those friends of Franco wore the original Bianconeri shirt just for the occasion. In the photo, here are those well-known faces: from left to right above: Tavarilli, G. Loseto, Cuccovillo, Maggi, Mariano, Tafuni (pres. Altamura); below: Lopez, O. Loseto, De Trizio, Frappampina and Armenise. Also in this case Franco is described as a great aggregator and unconventional character.
The memory of Gianluca Paparesta. Present at the friendly match played on 28 June 2005 to raise funds in favor of Franco Tafuni, among the illustrious guests, alongside the then president of Bari, Vincenzo Matarrese, there was also the international referee from Bari. «I keep the memory of a genuine man and a “pure” person. He had incredible strength and dedicated himself entirely to the world of football and he also got very angry when he didn’t recognize the right commitment from the players. I remember “Francuccio” with great affection. On the day of the friendly match he showed off a smile that seemed to want to give strength to others and I hope that his testimony and what he did can be an example. For Altamura, promoted less than a week ago, it is a great sounding board also from an entrepreneurial point of view.”
