Insights
By Salvatore Emanuele
04/29/2024 10:05 am
“’Mbare Saretto, ma ‘u viristi ‘u calannariu? Even if you’re staying with me, if you’re manuzza…”
The voice is that of Tino ’46, the Elephant who in my “Divin Catania” embodies Calcio Catania 1946. Saretto, for the less attentive, is instead his heir: Catania FC. Let’s clarify right away: this is not the incipit of the sequel. It is not and could not be, also because in a few days it will be time for the second scheduled editorial presentation Saturday 4 May 2024, at 5.00 pm, at the “Vincenzo Bellini” Library. What is it then? It’s the instant comment that the good Tino ’46 would have made after reading the new Serie C Play-off calendar, made official a few hours ago by the third series League.
In this new calendarpartially modified compared to the previous one due to the outcome of the appeal brought by Taranto (a random team…), there are dates that for history enthusiasts recall important days of Catania in the past. From the debut of the first round of the national phase, up to the return match of the double final, which in many ways represents the pinnacle. Eight dates, filled with forty-six. Just read them, one after the other…
The first, to be honest, isn’t exactly the best. Fourteenth of May, an unfortunate date which in relatively recent times recalls the Play-off match at Juve Stabia in 2017, which ended with a 0-0 final which condemned the Rossazzurri (with ten men from the 31st minute of the first half, due to Tino’s expulsion Parisi) of Mr. Giovanni Pulvirenti eliminated in the first match. Sure, if If the chosen date had been May 13th it would have been much better – Gangi, 1995 and return to the professional ranks – but we will have to make a virtue of necessity. So: May 14, 1961day of first victory over Napoli in Serie Awith network of Memo Prenna.
The rest is a carpet of red-blue roses…
May eighteenth, return match of the first round of the national phase. What does it remind you of? Year 2008, Catania-Roma 1-1 with a Serie A-saving goal scored by Malaka Jorge Martinez five minutes from the end. Let’s move on, with the first leg of the second round of the phase: Tuesday 21 May. Eighteen years ago it was a Sunday, a Sunday of exodus, a Sunday of hope and dreams of glory, a Sunday however marked by tears and blood which over the years has then become Remembrance Sunday. Twenty-first May 2006the tree of Roseto Capo Spulico, where the lives of the rossozzurri fans were shattered Fabio Seminara And Carmelo Li Greci. May twenty-fifth, return match of the second round of the national phase. Forty-four years ago it was a Sunday of joy, smiles and fainting. Reggio Calabria, 1980: Catania beats Reggina 1 to 0 with a decisive goal by Marco Piga. It is the victory that establishes the promotion to Serie B of the rossozzurri of mister Lino De Petrillo and the president Angelo Massimino.
Let’s move forward, with a leap towards the semi-finals. The first leg will be played Tuesday 28 May. Another iconic date, symbol of the last promotion to Serie A. The year is always the 2006that of Catania with Pasquale Marino on the bench, De Zerbi, Spinesi and Mascara in attack, with Umberto Del Core ready to enter the field and score the goal of history. The return semi-final? Another “Massimino” full of crowds and hope, even if twenty-two years ago it was still simply called “Cibali”. Sunday 2 June 2024Sunday as in that 2002 when Michele Fini he scored in the goal of destiny, the one under the south curve, the ball that earned promotion to Serie B. And here we are at the last two dates, those of the finals. The first leg will be played on Wednesday 5 June. Vico, my friend, don’t we have anything interesting in your archive? There is something. June 5th 1960, Brescia-Catania 4-2. Ok, it’s a defeat, but made painless by the simultaneous 2-2 draw between Parma and Triestina which catapulted Carmelo Di Bella’s Catania to Serie A, starting the first golden age of red and blue football. Last but not least, the date of the second leg final: Sunday 9 June. What to add? It would be enough to pay attention to the banner displayed for over twenty years in grandstand B, have a chat with mister Michele Zeoli or who was present that day 22 years ago in the guest sector of the “Erasmo Iacovone” stadium in Taranto. Well, the answer would always be the same: NOPAQUIE.
“’Mbare Saretto, go: now it’s time for ‘attia!”
In detail:
14 May 1961: Catania-Napoli 1-0
18 May 2008: Catania-Roma 1-1
21 May 2006: Catanzaro-Catania 1-3
25 May 1980: Reggina-Catania 0-1
28 May 2006: Catania-Albinoleffe 2-1
5 June 1960: Catania-Brescia 4-2
9 June 2002: Taranto-Catania 0-0
Salvatore Emanuele he is the expert on red and blue history. For CalcioCatania.com he takes care of the columns of the former players, of the precedents between the teams and the re-enactments of meetings or events linked to the Rossazzurri’s history. In the editorial team since January 2006. Freelance journalist since October 2016. Since 17 August 2019 he has been the director of the site. . For CalcioCatania.com he is the author of 2196 articles
