The journey continues among the football sporting excellences at the youth level of Bari and the province. In this case, the top of the class in the under 16 category were the boys from Levante Azzurro who train at the “Levante Center” in Bitritto. President Raffaele Cesario’s ASD, which for years has been one of the most watched youth clubs by professional clubs in Puglia (and beyond), has also reached the bottom of the competitive competitions this year. This is certainly thanks to a club that, with its technical staff, allows it to work in a certain way, but also to the director and technical manager, Leo Gironda and all the corporate components. A triumphant ride from start to finish.
Constant leadership
At the provincial stage, Levante Azzurro gained twenty points resulting from 8 victories, no draws and only one defeat, ahead of Invictus Lam, four points behind, and the third, Olimpia Gravina, while the fourth and fifth, Toritto and Gravina Academy. The following stood out in the scorer rankings of the same provincial phase: Matteo Lorusso, author of 11 goals and Pietro Maggipinto with 6, Michele Intini, Antonio Manzari and Nicolavito Gravina with 4 goals. “Monster” numbers that were repeated in the regional phase in which Levante Azzurro won with 25 points accompanied by 8 victories, a draw and a defeat, placing themselves ahead of Virtus Calcio Foggia and Virtus Palese, the first direct pursuers who however they scored 17 and 16 points respectively, while the others were more distant, namely Accademy Andria, Cosmano Sport and Invictus Lam. In this second tranche of the tournament (regional, ed.) among the scorers of Levante Azzurro the following stood out: Manzari and Maggipinto (both with 8 goals) and with 6 goals, Angelo Soldano and Michele Intini with 4. A leadership that was also repeated in the semi-final, defeating Real Putignano 6-0 on aggregate (over both legs). In the final they won 3-0 against Pro Calcio Bari, with goals from Pizzo and two from Bernardis.
Leo Gironda, technical director
The director and head of the technical area, Leo Gironda said: «We had a team that from the beginning gave the impression of being able to do something important. A group that has been built for some time and this year has been integrated with elements of great value that have been added, some since the beginning of the season, others during the construction. Over the years, the guys who were already with us have grown a lot technically and have developed as men. A notable contribution was given to him by the new coach who joined our club. There was a clear path already from the first phase which continued in the second and also in the final phases where objectively we did not give space to any type of dispute, but always respecting our opponents. Naturally happy with how the final went which is a bit of a reflection of the entire season of which we are proud and satisfied. I am convinced that for some of them but I believe that there are many ready to join professional and semi-professional clubs. Some companies have already appeared and one more reason to congratulate our staff: thanks to mister Vito Gernone, to prof. Leo Fasano who has done a commendable job as an athletic trainer and to the goalkeeping coach Nicola Di Mario, who we will reconfirm within our club.”
Mister Vito Gernone
The coach of Levante Azzurro, Vito Gernone «The boys were very good at embracing our technical project as I did because I was new. Our athletes followed all the technical-tactical dictates, also thanks to a great staff with whom they were highly professional and united in all decisions as well as having a company that did not let us miss anything and gave their support without interfering in the choices techniques, because heartfelt thanks to our technical director to the president also extended to those who have given their contribution. The even greater satisfaction goes beyond the victory of the regional championship, but the exponential growth of the group and individually of the boys. This value and result is the real victory for us, the technical staff and the club, because many of these boys will be able to land in professional football and in my opinion, beyond the title won, they are among the best in Puglia, in terms of technical planning and who have grown since human and behavioral point of view which is no small thing, if they want to aspire to a leap in quality that they richly deserve. I will be their first fan when they join professional teams, a deserved achievement for and by the club.”
«Many of our athletes will make the leap in quality, between series C and D»
The club’s number one, Raffaele Cesareo, said: «Beyond the victories that come when you sow and have also come over the years, I strive to go further. This year we reached the bottom of all the competitions, with three teams in the final and one under 14 team reaching the semi-final. We can only be satisfied and proud. There is a very good chance that many of our kids will be able to play in the amateur and professional ranks. In Puglia there is a big push to launch boys in professional clubs and the most present are Lecce, Bari and Monopoli and little else. But I hope we can overcome this step too and overcome the amateur reality in which we find ourselves. Thank all my team, staff, parents and especially the kids for what they have accomplished. ‘This is football'”. me
