A relationship linked by basketball between the common experience on the court and the hard periods of distance: «I’m really happy with his choice»
From Reggio Emilia, the city where they were born and raised, passing through Manchester until their return to Italy, albeit at two different times. The basketball and life paths of the Anumba brothers enjoy many common stages but also hard periods, made up of distance and solitude. Having left England for college in the United States, Micheal will return to Italy to wear the Pistoia shirt, thus reconnecting with his brother Simon, who has been a pillar of Rinascita Basket Rimini for two years.
A strong relationship, closely linked by the segmented ball since early adolescence. And it remained so, despite the distance and the arduous challenges that appeared on their path. Again this summer, the two brothers will work side by side preparing in the UK city. Ready to face new respective challengessupporting and comparing each other.
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THE RETURN TO ITALY AND CONFIRMATION IN RIMINI
Left Manchester in 2017, at 21 years old Simon Anumba returns to Italy to wear the shirt of Polisportiva Battipagliese, involved in the Serie B championship. His brother Micheal in the meantime, still 18 years old, remains in England for another year. He will be the last, before flying overseas. With the excellent season in Campania with 13 points on average, Simon Anumba even attracts the attention of Serie A.
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It is the coach’s Auxilium Torino Hall of Famer Larry Brown which allows him to debut in the top flight on 13 October 2018. After the little space obtained, Anumba decides to return to Serie B again, in Faenza. In Raggisolaris the winger born in 1996 plays two years at a high level, then confirming himself also in the 21/22 season in Cesena, still in Serie B. The following year is that of category jump to A2when Anumba is signed by the newly promoted RB Rimini where he also shares the parquet with two acquaintances from Pistoia such as Jazz Johnson And Derek Ogbeide.
The qualification for the play-offs is followed by some reconfirmations of the roster for the 23/24 season, including that of Simon Anumba himself. After a complicated start to the season – complete with the dismissal of coach Mattia Ferrari and the arrival of Sandro Dell’Agnello – Rimini got back on its feet, closing thanks to a great comeback still with the qualification to post–season.
«Unfortunately, the start wasn’t the best, especially taking into account the team we built and our abilities – admitted Simon Anumba -. After a less than perfect start in November there have been some changes in the staff. We formed a circle, we remained united and this helped us. We then managed to get going and the season went much better. We won many games consecutively and completed a great comeback from last place in the first round to sixth, qualifying for the play-offs. Unfortunately in the post season we had some ailments and we went out in the first round against Rieti.” Real Sebastiani also led by the former Jazz Johnson.
«On a personal level I am quite satisfied – he continued – . I’m a person who doesn’t like to settle, I always try to do more and I know I have the ability to help further. Like every end of the season I will train to further improve my game ahead of next year. In Rimini it would be my third in a row, I would certainly become one of the veterans of the group.”
THE CALL OF PISTOIA FOR MIKE
As an older brother – in addition to being the role model ideal for approaching basketball – Simon advised his brother Micheal at various points in his career. This time too Mike he spoke to him as soon as he learned of the opportunity to wear the Pistoia shirt and his reaction could only have been pure joy.
«I knew of Pistoia’s interest and he had the intention of returning to play in Europe and in particular in Italy given his recently obtained status as a player with the Italian team. And so it was. I am very happy with his choice because having played against us I know the public, the city and the sporting culture very well of the club – he explained – . It had already happened to me in Serie A when I was in Turin, then obviously in A2. A club with good plans that was aiming hard for promotion even after having had to leave the top flight.”
«When he told me about the proposal I was really happy – he added – . I advised him to talk to Carl (Wheatle, ed) since Micheal also knows him from his time in England. He spent a long time in Pistoia and had a great time. Derek himself (Ogbeide, ed) I saw that it was very good this year. Surely a very good place for Micheal. I can’t wait to see him play, I am convinced that he will be able to showcase all the qualities of his game and have a good impact on the team».
BROTHERHOOD
The Anumba brothers were born and raised – including basketball – in Reggio Emilia. Both, albeit at different times given the three-year age difference, took their first steps in Pallacanestro Reggiana. It was thanks to Simon and his passion that Micheal approached this sportfalling in love with it equally.
«We also grew up together thanks to basketball – Simon said – . He started dribbling following in my footsteps, he saw that I enjoyed playing. So we both started the journey in Reggio Emilia until we moved to England. We played at the same club but obviously he was part of the youth team at the beginning. Since he was very good for his age, they soon added him to the first team where we had the opportunity to play together for almost two years and it was very nice. Subsequently our path split because I returned to Italy and he stayed another year in England before going to college.”
«We have a very close relationship also thanks to this sport – has continued – . We watch each other’s games and always compare notes on certain aspects of the game and moments in the games. We give each other advice and exchange opinions. We are really very close. Now that he will return to play in Italy it will be even easier to stay close without the kilometers and the time difference separating us.”
HARD PERIODS
A distance that has become one wall impassable in 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Simon And Michael they found themselves hundreds of kilometers from each other, unable to communicate except through a technological device. Solitude, then distance new heavy relapse. After a psychologically difficult period, a new one presents itself for Micheal: the rupture of his Achilles tendon. With Simon, despite everything, always ready to stay close to him and advise him at every step.
«The period of distance was partly also worrying. When there was the pandemic he found himself being completely only in the United States. Having no one around and being stuck at home wasn’t easy at all. We tried to talk every day but obviously it’s not the same on the phone”, admitted Simon.
«Then arrived instead serious injury to the Achilles tendon. That was it another hard blow to swallow. Another complicated period that she initially had to experience alone. My father then joined him to keep him company. Experiencing moments like these, completely alone, without parents and family nearby, only being able to stay on the phone to cheer him up, it was really complicated. Despite everything we managed to overcome everything and in the end we managed to get where we wanted.”
«After the injury Micheal then took advantage of the opportunity of the extra year to confirm himself in college. There was also the option of immediately returning to play in Europe but I I advised him to stay there to get used to playing again and come back stronger. In the end I think it was the right choice given that he will now play in Serie A».
THE MAN AND THE BASKETBALL PLAYER
Simon finally painted a portrait of Michael, both as a man and as a basketball player. Two different characters but also many aspects in common, both outside and inside the pitch. «Micheal and I are a bit opposite in character. I’m a more reserved and shy guy, but he’s a little more open than me. Definitely also a lad strong, this is demonstrated by the fact that he has overcome difficult moments in his career and his life. I would describe it as a great workera boy who is always ready to improve and to whom pleases train and do your best. I can already see it these days, we are training here in England together and I have noticed big motivation in him since he learned of Pistoia. Always try to get a better version of himself».
“As athleticism And physicality we are very similar, we are both big and tall, we run the field quickly and we both defend strongly. Compared to me, Micheal is a better shooter. She is indeed a winger but she can also play guard because she has a shot, she can put the ball on the ground and he can also play the pick and roll. Furthermore, we both always give 100% in training and in matches, a characteristic that I am sure will be really useful for him in his year in Serie A in Pistoia.”
The rapprochement will also allow Simon to spend a lot more time with his brother Michael and maybe even be able to follow it from the sidelines during a match. «Now that he returns to Italy, I will definitely have the opportunity to see him play. I will certainly find the opportunity whether it is at PalaCarrara or elsewhere, perhaps in some away match near where I will play.”
