Livorno The news of the passing of Manrico Vaiani aroused emotion in the many who had had the opportunity to know the coach from Livorno, in the city and in the rest of Tuscany. Hundreds of memories and messages of condolence reached the family yesterday, also through social media.
The body of Vaiani, former physical education teacher at the Calamandrei institute and then at Cecioni, who passed away at the age of 71, is exhibited at the Lupi cemetery. Cremation on Wednesday 15 May at 3.30pm. Us Livorno, Manrico’s last club, promoted a collection for palliative care in his memory.
Gianfranco Morelli, an engineer from Livorno known nationally for his ground penetrating radar research, recalls: «Manrico Vaiani was not just a teacher and a basketball coach. He was a person who followed each of his students with attention and seriousness, sympathy and humanity. He directed the critical 5 years of my growth, and he did the same for hundreds of boys and girls. Livorno should dedicate at least one day to this person who dedicated his whole life to others. A day in which everyone, regardless of the color of their shirt or skin, finds themselves under a basket.”
Marco Sodini, Serie A coach, now coach of the under 18 national team, writes: «Have a good rest Manrico, thanks for teaching basketball in an intelligent way! Thanks from basketball.”
«Ironic, shrewd, brilliant, frank», remembers Marco Del Re, coach of Gema Montecatini, Serie B: «A one-of-a-kind coach and instructor, you were an important reference for many kids, players and coaches, for their growth , not only sporting, and also for me.” While Federico Campanella, who played in A2 with Piacenza, talks about the special bond with Vaiani: «You were my first teacher in the world of coaches, you dedicated yourself to my growth day after day, training after training, correcting me a lot and often, they were the first steps of my journey. Thank you for everything you did for me and the way you did it, I will be forever grateful.” A particular thought is that of Maurizio Mondoni, basketball master, the guru of Italian youth basketball, with whom Vaiani had a very close relationship: «True friendship makes you inseparable and not even death can separate true friends. Nothing will be able to change the affection that bound us and our friendship will always remain alive”, he writes.
Alongside Vaiani, in the years of the PL’s climb to B1, there was Stefano Corsini, now coach of the women’s Firenze Basket: «When I thought I was great you made me lower my crest, when I was down you highlighted to me what good I was doing. You made me become a coach and hopefully also a better man.” While Izio Giusti, head of the Libertas youth sector, remembers him as “a master who taught me the world of basketball”.
Among the players, Tommaso Giannini remembers «the incredible year at the PL, together with the great Francesco Bufalini. At the beginning of the year Superbasket gave us like a team, thanks to its tactics and technique we all improved as players and as people, winning practically all the championship matches, winning the final against San Marino with an easy 2-0, now you will find the our Captain Checco Bufalini.”
Giorgio Niccolai, former Serie A linesman, engineer, remembers Vaiani as «my beloved physical education teacher», while Riccardo Rossato, president of PalaLivorno, thinks of «your dedication, your love for this sport and the great teaching that will remain imprinted forever in the boys who were lucky enough to meet you.” L
