The big day has arrived. Third last day of group H of Serie D, by virtue of the seven points advantage over Martina, Altamura has the first against Gallipoli match ball to close this championship. Regardless of the result of the opponents, a victory would mean mathematically celebrating promotion to Serie C, right in front of the friendly public. Category that had been missing since 1996-97 although, to be picky, that was the old C2 and after the reform, this unique Serie C would correspond to the old C1 where they had never been before. Precisely for this reason the fever broke out this week with the immediate hunt for a ticket for this match. All the available tickets having been pulverized in a few days, the strong further demand from the home crowd had seen various hypotheses follow one another, including even the construction of a temporary grandstand and the implementation of a steward for each visiting fan, in order to be able to use at least part of the grandstand intended for them, while still finding the no of the security bodies despite the absence of rivalry between the two fans.
Scarves, flags, patches of red and white in every balcony, window and street of the city of Alta Murgia. It is practically the entire population that breathes and sighs for this newfound love, kept alive by the organized fans even in the darkest moments, starting from the not simple choice to follow Real Altamura in Promotion, abandoning the historic US Altamura in Excellence in the hands of the father -master Franco Tafuni. It could open up the eternal debate about what makes a team worthy of representing its city: a freshman? The brand? The name? Popular legitimation? These are subjective choices and there is no point in even discussing them unless directly involved. What is certain is that the vacuum created around that Altamura forced the contested president to dissolve the association, while the one elected by the organized support as its worthy representative is here today to celebrate the C and this is already a quite eloquent response.
I arrive in Altamura at 11, the weather doesn’t promise anything good. Icy cold and wind reign supreme but everything fades into the background. The kids from the organized groups, hospitable as always, are already out and about in the streets of the historic center dressed to the nines, not only for the championship victory but also for a Frederick re-enactment which always attracts many visitors, taking them on a fascinating journey to the Altamura thirteenth-century of the Swabians. An appointment therefore not only with mathematics but also with history. All astral conjunctures seem to converge in this magical moment for the city.
After the historic center the stream of people gathers around the stadium where thousands of people with red and white flags and scarves are already waiting to be able to take part in this event. At 3pm the wait finally ends and the last fateful ninety turns of the hands begin, minutes that seem interminable.
The sector of fans who have come from Salento has the task of believing in the miracle and snatching every precious point for the purposes of a very precarious ranking. Difficult in front of a full stadium like you’ve never seen before, ready to push your team with all your strength. It is difficult to quantify the attendance, in addition to the coupons sold there are children who are granted free entry while many other people still climb the walls or simply remain outside waiting, with bated breath.
With the result still tied at 0-0, the anxiety that was starting to creep in was swept away from the spot by Loiodice, one of the symbolic players of this championship. The “Tonino D’Angelo” explodes in a roar of joy, repeated after just a minute by Lattanzio. It is the apotheosis, Altamura finds the suffrage of mathematics. Serie C is no longer a dream and with still two days to go, the party can pour into the city. The gray sky that had welcomed this new day gives way to the sun which clears away even the last superstitious fears. Happy birthday Altamura, the C series is yours!
Text by Pier Paolo Sacco
Photo by Pier Paolo Sacco and Imma Borrelli
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