The sea of the Romagna Riviera surrounds this sports season of the Citizens of the World Varesinaa season that opened in Rimini with the splendid participation in the national “Matti per il calcio” tournament in September 2023 and which has just ended triumphantly with the regional finals held in Cesenatico.
Between one sea and another, the path undertaken by patients and operators of the Mental Health Services that form the provincial team was yes long and at times challengingbut beyond that full of experiences who taught and oriented; It is on the latter that it is worth spending a few words aimed at giving value and meaning to what has been done with sports rehabilitation for years.
First of all you have to reiterate the importance of the planning dimension that lies behind this type of intervention: behind the passion that motivates us to “take to the field”, there is at a management level the desire to give space to this activity and, equally, the competence and training of operators who know how to define long-term goals and find strategies to implement them. This synergy is expressed in collaboration implemented between the many Mental Health Services involved, both of the territory of Seven Lakes (Varese and Verbano) and that of Olona Valleyan element that makes this activity unique in its kind, which elsewhere takes place in much more restricted territorial areas.
Alongside this, support for the activity that comes from the territory itself is fundamental: Varesina Calcio has been offering World Citizens facilities and resources since 2016, relieving the team of the burden of having to find another way that would allow it to train and play championships and tournaments. And then there’s the great UISP support: the Varese committee is an indispensable point of reference, not only for membership and for covering all the bureaucratic operations necessary to carry out the activity, but also in proving to be a welcoming and motivating place in which to share ideas and build paths.
I think it is right to mention the great work done by UISP Lombardia in the organization of the two annual tournaments (the winter and the spring) and the finals tournament for football of the Mental Health Departments and, in this regard, it is appropriate to point out that the football movement for about twenty years which revolves around psychiatry is characterized by inclusiveness (since before this word became fashionable), proposing championships in which it comes the barrier that distinguishes the patient from the operator has been broken down and literally putting into play different dimensions of existence united by the achievement of shared objectives.
Finally, but obviously first of all, it must be done a special commendation to the “boys” who choose to engage in this activity: because it is true that playing football is fun, but it is equally true that doing it consistently and with rehabilitative intent is challenging. The activity develops over the course of a good nine months, with two weekly meetings, one for training and one for the match, and everyone is required to take part consistently, mentally going beyond the fatigue and even the illness. This year we experienced a succession of constructive discussions, technical development, moments of high aggregation and planning of individual and team goals.
From a point of view purely sportingthe first months of 2024 saw the team emerge in play and quality; but from a human point of view, throughout the year we enjoyed the empathic capacity of all the participants, we saw aexemplary welcome towards the new ones Once we arrived, we discussed the critical issues and together found the way to face and overcome them. For a few months our goal was the Cesenatico tournament, the finals organized by UISP in Romagna: the focus was precisely on form a winning mentality in everyone which would allow us to prepare physical and mental energies for this common objective.
For the record, in the tournament matches we have met great teams undisputed in both the semi-finals and the final. There thriller win on penalties against the friends of Sunflower Treviglio it added spice to the season’s grand finale. The Citizens of the World Varesina close the year with the winners’ cup; but, you will have caught it, the real trophy is the well-being that this activity offers and will continue to deliver: a playing field can be more than just a place to kick a ball, it can be the place where dreams come true, hopes are revealed and people are fulfilled.
Emanuele Martignoni
Contact Citizens of the World Varesina
and Mental Coach CONI technical area
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