There is a lot of Liguria in Genoa’s youth sector. The imprint is quite clear: the zero kilometer market is valuable, despite the opposite being believed in the past due to territorial difficulties. From the narrowest region of Italy, where the mountains slope down to the shore, several talents have emerged, from El Shaarawy to Cambiaso, just to name a few: it was particularly exciting to see them both wearing the national team jersey at the European Championship that is being played in Germany. Among the Ligurians of the Under 18 Genoa champions of Italy is Stefano Arata, from Orero, Val Fontanabuona: the Via del Sale passes through there, which connects Portofino to Varzi. People in those areas are used to walking and cycling on steep slopes. Even when life places a sudden climb in front of your eyes. Arata lost his mother Elisa a week before the championship semi-final. An unprecedented pain that forces you to grow faster.
Football is an inexplicable subject. Whoever tries, fails. In fact, the inscrutable football gave Arata a ball that fell from the sky: the sender doesn’t sign himself, but it’s certain who he is. Goal. And final. «I cannot fail to mention the woman who dedicated a large part of her life to me, making enormous sacrifices to take me to training even just so I wouldn’t miss an hour of religion. Mom, I never told you but you were, are and will be the person from whom I will take an example in every step of my life. This victory is dedicated above all to you, who thanks to your help I even managed to score a goal in the 120th minute which earned us the victory in the semi-final. I want to make you proud one day, I don’t know how exactly, but I will fight with all of myself to achieve my goals, which have now become yours too. Thanks mum, I love you” writes the rossoblù Under 18 captain on social media.
Arata’s goal allowed the dream to come true, of that “madness” title that came out of the rossoblù locker room and which distinguished the players’ celebrations, which are deservedly still underway. These guys wrote a page in Genoa’s history, not only by winning the third youth scudetto in fourteen years. «From day one I not only found teammates but a real family, who always managed to come out of difficulties with a smile. Winning the title of Italian Champions is something that not even we could have imagined, but it was everyone’s dream and mine too. Being able to lift the cup as captain of this fantastic club and this extraordinary group is an indescribable emotion, because I know all the work and sacrifices that went into this success” concludes Arata.
