The 2023-24 season ended a few weeks ago for Motta Volleyball, an initial assessment from President Antonio Buso was inevitable:
“I would say it was an excellent season that seriously put us to the test once again. Given how it started, at a certain point I admit I had doubts. Analyzing over time it is clear that the problem was not technical but more psychological. I would like to compliment Milo for how he managed the team last year, but the boys this season were different and needed other stimuli, and Marco succeeded in this work. We can count the few games which however did not allow us to have a different path even in the playoffs. But with hindsight I can also say that we probably weren’t the team that should have counted for promotion. I have a small regret, because with a little more at the start of the season, perhaps we could have played for the Italian Cup. And this would certainly have helped on a moral level. In conclusion, I can confirm my satisfaction with the season
What does it tell us about the good response from the public, which was second in terms of entries into the white group?
”Well, the return to Motta, with the public, was exciting. The first match, I wanted everything to work perfectly and I think I only saw a few exchanges: I went around the stadium far and wide. And I noticed that everyone liked the show they saw, beyond the match! In the end, the real PalaGrassato audience had only seen Serie A for a few months in our first historic season in A3, in 2019. Seeing the entries in recent weeks, I have the greatest regret of not having been able to show that 2021 season to our audience live, because the numbers would have been crazy. But we, on our green and white hearts, have always counted on it and we knew that in addition to the hard core who followed us everywhere in recent years as wanderers, the many more territorial enthusiasts would be added. We had no doubts and certainly part of the excellent results were also born thanks to their support of the whole group.
In your opinion, what could have been improved and what went right?
“As I told you before, we probably didn’t make completely wrong technical choices. However, choices that we managed to correct in time. I think the group gave everything they could. There was a bit of bad luck this year too with a few too many injuries in key positions. But it must also be said that we had the chance to find a young opposing player who should have been on the bench and instead exploded (Mazzotti obviously) and discovered after years of knowing that we also had a team that, without knowing it, could also do the job. ‘opposite to. I think there were no things to improve on a technical level. Maybe, if I have to be honest (I’m very self-critical), on an organizational level something could have been done better, inside the arena, but these are details that only I know… and I certainly won’t make them public!”
There is a lot of talk about the first team but good results have also come from the youth sector
“It was nice to see the youth players always present (when sporting commitments allowed) at Serie A matches and doing field duty (fundamental for the success of a good match). The youth numbers are constantly growing and little by little we will start to see important results (we have already seen the basic ones). In our territory there are many companies that aim, much more than in neighboring territories, to achieve results in the Under categories (and above all we do not hide the fact that we also have some real excellence in the province). This means that the competition is fierce, but we have gained a lot of satisfaction (The U13 3×3 category is ours in the province and the regional final phase awaits us). In general, a small revolution is underway in this sector too, but we will see it in a few weeks. The inclusion of some key figures will allow us to achieve those technical results that we aimed for over the next three years. For now I can only say to the kids and parents: stay tuned, don’t miss anything in the next few weeks, because we have a fun captivating future in store. And one last note: I sincerely thank all the parents, as well as the youth sector staff, for the time they dedicate to looking after their children. Unfortunately, the spaces and times were not optimal this year, but this did not mean that their support and commitment was lacking. Personally, I’m sorry, because I know the difficulties of families, and for this reason I take the liberty of thanking them all from the bottom of my heart”
Any previews for next season?
“For next season I won’t hide some doubts from you. We have some positions already clarified. But many aspects are still being defined. We are working, and DS Alessandro Carniel in particular, to whom I thank him for his commitment, to find a perfect balance between our ideas. I cannot hide the fact that there are many difficulties for a company like ours, fresh from important investments with the sole aim of being able to afford the Serie A2 outside the friendly walls, with important and historical roots, to find companies in its territory at this time that want to support the project. The main sponsor, Senini, joined us from the province of Montichiari (and this should serve to demonstrate how much we believe in our work) because he believed in our work and in the opportunity that we can give to companies to make themselves known on the national territory. Certainly, with other companies in our district supporting the project and seeing the development opportunities that we are implementing with the new strategic plan, all planning for the next three years would be much easier”
So you’re making an appeal?
“Yes, I admit that I am making an appeal to the entire territory. Unfortunately, in recent years many sports clubs have abandoned the Serie A circuit. We are constantly looking for new partners who come to know our corporate projects and our strategies on how to truly support theirs. I really hope that the appeal serves. Our projects are ambitious, I would say very ambitious, but at the same time we have learned to keep our heads on our shoulders and the length of our legs. Territorial companies, whether large or small, can benefit from commercial but also welfare benefits with us and which they have the opportunity to exploit with minimal investments, not only in the first team, but also in the entire youth sector”.
