Dionigio Dionigi is not a normal person. In the sense that he brings together so many positive characteristics, tasks and experiences that make him unique in Cesena and beyond. Great entrepreneur, president of the Panathlon Club Cesena, the largest in the world, capable of bringing personalities of international and national caliber to Romagna, organizer of events that are making history such as the Pantani memorial. He has a great passion, practically since birth: Cesena football, as the dean of Cesena’s journalists.
Dionigi, this year has been a blessing.
“The record-breaking Cesena, author of an extraordinary ride. He has returned to his home, the B series from which he has been missing for too long. He has everything to play an important role even in the lower division after an exciting season, a real dictatorship , practically without opponents despite Torres’ attempts”.
As far as I can remember, I have never seen such a strong Cesena.
“Never seen in almost 80 years. A dream ever since Cesena played at the Ippodromo, Azeglio Vicini played in the ranks of that team. I recently heard a Sky commentator nail the judgment when he stated that Cesena was offering a show that it comes close to perfection. Despite only one penalty conceded, a real shame considering that I counted at least a dozen sensational fouls in the opponent’s area against our attackers. But we did it anyway, despite unfriendly refereeing, which was strong like ours public, of the wonderful stadium that many envy us not only in Serie B”.
Credit goes to the company for the resources made available, to ARC who invested them well, to the team who was always on top of things, but also to Mister Toscano.
“True. Our coach hasn’t missed a beat this season. Incredible records for him too, he beat them all demonstrating a clear superiority. Never a mistake, never an error in the substitutions, always effective. I only remember the last two, Pierozzi with the winning goal for the mathematical certainty of promotion and that of Ciofi. Well done to our coach.”
As the doyen of journalists, is it also difficult to give the prize to the players who have stood out?
“I have been following this team since the distant 1947/48 season, that year Count Rognoni sold Azeglio Vicini for 350 thousand lire. The same thing is happening, the nursery has started to churn out talents again who will then go to the squads as they should. mention all the bianconeri. I am enthusiastic about Shpendi, De Rose with his 37 years that seems 18. Berti at just turned 20 if you look at his face he looks like a child, he has a great future and we thank Fiorentina for giving him back to us for free If we had Pisseri last year we would have been in Serie B for a year. And then Donnarumma, Prestia, Silvestri. In short, they were all very good.”
Dionigi, Cesena owes you a lot for this return to football life after failure.
“The mayor Paolo Lucchi asked me, a sort of call to arms because there was a risk of closing down with football in Cesena. I accepted and with him, Carlo Battistini and Christian Castorri in July and August we closed ourselves in the Municipality to try to find a solution. We met several groups interested in taking over Cesena, many were bluffs. We chose that group of entrepreneurs led by Patrignani and we guessed.”
Who knows how many episodes in 33 years as a journalist for Resto del Carlino, Rai, Ansa, spent with the great characters in the history of Cavalluccio?
“With Dino Manuzzi I spent the afternoon of the first promotion to Serie A against Mantua sitting on the steps of the stadium because the press gallery was full of journalists from all over Italy. Never seen so many people, the president massacred my arm out of happiness. To Edmeo I suggested Azeglio, he didn’t believe it, but I had spoken to Vicini that morning in Cesenatico and he didn’t reject the possibility of coaching Cesena after the national team. If Azeglio had arrived in February and not late March we would have gone to Serie A, that’s all what a salvation.”
There will also have been a great disappointment in this extraordinary ride.
“An immense one. We lost the play-off in Cremona against Padova after having dominated the championship and deserved to win that match too. Hubner and Dolcetti missed sensational goals and the Venetians went to Serie A.”
Finally, the figures who made the great history of Cesena possible.
“How can we not think of the three founders Piraccini, Pantani and above all Count Rognoni, an important figure also in the following decades”.
