Tomaso Palli
Victory and salvation for E-Work Faenza, who triumphed in the «beautiful» match at Pala Bubani, winning the series against Battipaglia (2-1) valid for the first round of the playout. Coach Seletti’s girls thus maintain the category at the end of a season that was not without difficulties but which, all things considered, led to the desired result. «We are all still very full of adrenaline – comments the beaming president Mario Fermi reached by telephone – because we have been in A1 for three years and for us to have managed to confirm ourselves once again… I’m not saying it’s like winning the scudetto, but it’s certainly another miracle sporty”. A fan, even before being president, at the siren Fermi burst into liberating tears: «I realized that, as I get older, I get emotional more easily and so, watching the film of the entire season again during the race, I let myself go into an outburst. of pure joy and I cried like a child.”
President, has it been a more complicated year than expected?
«No, as expected. We made many bets on a small budget and won almost all of them. Some mistakes were made, but there was awareness. Could the regular season result have been better? Maybe yes, it would have been the icing on the cake. But we eat this cake anyway and it’s still very good.”
What is the outcome of a season not without difficulties?
«Absolutely positive. And the credit for all this goes to the clubs, players, staff and all those who have given body and soul for this reality, aware of being in the top national championship. Well, the latter is something we must never forget in Faenza. And I repeat this with pride but also with a little controversy. Having said that, it remains a year of suffering and complicated, but, as mentioned, absolutely positive. Better than last season, if we have to make a comparison: a year ago, with a clearly superior team, we saved ourselves in the same way.”
What image of the season do you carry with you?
«That it represents satisfaction and pride in representing this club and this team. I therefore want to mention our captain, Franceschelli: even in game 3 she demonstrated what it means to be captain in a reality like ours where everyone must give their all to get to the result. Here, this more than anything else: the great response that all my players have given to me and to the club. Something that moves me and makes me proud of them.”
The field has spoken but… will it still be A1?
«This is the most difficult question. Because the joy of salvation is great as is the desire to continue in the category that we first conquered on the pitch and then, still on the pitch, we defended this year too. But it is also true that the sacrifices made in recent years are many and therefore a budget like ours can only lead to championships like this year’s. Therefore, rationally, some thought is right and honest to be done.”
Are resources needed?
«I have to thank all the sponsors, from our E-Work, without which we wouldn’t be here, to the little ones. Many are from Faenza but three of the four main ones are not. I would say: Faenza, if you want the A1, get a move on (he smiles, ed.). It’s not an appeal, let’s be clear, but a fact. Because, if we still want to see the women’s A1 in Faenza, perhaps even taking a few steps forward that those who don’t know the dynamics often demand, more resources are needed. In these three years, despite some difficulties, we have managed to remain there and therefore, if on the one hand the desire to remain in the category that we have earned and defended is total, on the other I don’t know if I will be able to go over the same problems again, with many sleepless nights over the years.”
However, the intention is there: are we therefore already working on the future?
«We are already working for next season. We hope to be able to create a market that allows us to do the A1 but for everything, as I have reiterated several times, resources are needed. And if we wanted to do the category with a few more expectations, we would need a higher budget.”
One last thing: will coach Seletti still be on the bench?
«I would like, first of all, to congratulate Paolo for the great professionalism shown this year. It wasn’t easy to put together a new group, he came from a different environment, while here he had to create the group trying to get people to accept his way of playing and who he was. He succeeded and we achieved the goal. Having said that, he also has a contract for next year so… there’s no need to say anything else.”
