The new home of the Torino Fc on an indelible date in Granata history, May 4th. 75 years after the tragedy of the invincibles of Superga, the Robaldo Sports Center. After having acquired the land in 2016 and implemented the practices in 2019 with the project of the architect Stefano SeitaUrbano’s Turin Cairotogether with the work of the Municipality of Turin, of Mayor Stefano Lo Russoto the RCS and Giro d’Italia manager Paolo Pretty and councilor Mimmo Cart, kept the promise made on the day of the press conference on 15 December 2023 to present the new plant. In fact, Cairo had set May 4, 2024 as the opening day of the gates of the new Sports Center with a symbolic match of the Football School. So it was, promise kept.
Despite the overwhelming Covid effect, the downsizing of the original project which envisaged the presence of five playable fields and the bad weather, the process for the construction of the Sports Center proceeded at a slow pace, but thanks to the tenacity of President Cairo and the impeccable work of the companies that have worked to set up the new jewel of Turin, the objective of making the first field practicable has been made possible.
The new Robaldo Sports Center is an avant-garde gem: four fields with latest generation synthetic grassof which a smaller one will be made available to the 2 District of Turin, while the other three will be regulatory based on the standards of the FIFA. Furthermore, the Center will be equipped with photovoltaic panels, contributing to ecological and environmental sustainability. All this in a space of approximately 4,500 square meters.
The first to speak to the newspaper microphones is Mayor Stefano Lo Russo, who focuses on the importance of the club for the city of Turin: «We have worked for this project, I am very happy to be here today and happy that on this important date (4 May ed) we can inaugurate this field. It is the beginning of a phase of relations with Torino FC. Turin is the heritage of our city.”
A few minutes later here is the great awaited person of the garnet colored morning, obviously President Urbano Cairo: «We do not lay the first stone, but the first field. Together with our children who will come down to play a family match, it is a great opportunity to inaugurate the first new one. Now we have three more and everything else will follow.” President Cairo returns to the words spoken in the presentation conference, proudly reaffirming the objective achieved: «The nice thing is that we kept the promise made on 15 December during the presentation press conference. I am happy with the mayor’s presence for this inauguration, as he does us a great honor.”
The main purpose of the new Robaldo Sports Center is to become a prestigious showcase for all the kids who want to establish themselves in the world of football. According to DNA, Torino FC is a club that focuses on young talents, a concept that Cairo was keen to underline: «For us the youth sector has always been fundamental, as it was in the 80s and 90s in which notable talents were produced . We have returned to having competitive youth teams, with a Primavera team that in recent seasons has won a championship, two Italian Cups and two Super Cups and has produced many young players; Good morning represents the emblem of our youth sector, which has returned to producing strong players.
Cairo cannot miss a comment on the First Team who, with three days to go and after the goalless home draw against Bologna, sees them in tenth place in the standings: «I believe this Taurus is the strongest of my 18 years of presidency, Gianpiero Ventura also says so. We kept the best players and bought others who contributed to strengthening the squad such as Zapata and Bellanova, also Ilic in the past who was a very important investment. Next year we will start again from this hard core, perhaps with some additions where necessary. We have three points from eighth place, everything is still possible and I wouldn’t rule out twists even with the new European format.”
The questions from the newspapers following Juric’s statements were inevitable. Will the Croatian still be on the Torino bench next season? Cairo replies: «Contracts end at some point. After the purchase of Ilic, Juric wanted to keep the doors open.” Declaration that smacks of farewell at the end of the year, on the possibility of another coach the president leaves carte blanche to sporting director Davide Vaguealso present on this day of celebration: «Vagnati, who will renew the contract with us, will think about future moves, I will leave it up to him and when he has made his assessments, we will evaluate together».
Finally, Urban Cairobefore saying goodbye to go and give the symbolic kick-off in midfield together with the children of the 2013 season, responds to Sprint and Sports on the question centered on the three youth sectors Under 17, 16 and 15who secured the pass for the playoffs: «I am happy with the progress of the three Under (15, 16, 17 ed.), it is confirmation of the fact that we are investing in the youth sector, thanks also to our manager Ruggero Ludergnani who is working well and is building the teams from the bottom, not just focusing on the Primavera.”
The entire corporate organization chart is the field for giving the kick-off, a new beginning. Cairo hits from the midfield circle and puts the seal on the completion of the first pitch, on which a family match will be staged with the 2013 boys who will score the first official goals of the new Granata gem.
During the practice match, RCS and Giro d’Italia manager Paolo Bellino spoke on the sidelines, focusing on the dedication of the club and the companies, setting a new objective: «The very rainy spring delayed the timing, but in any case I am happy to have reached our goal. I thank the companies that have worked and are working to close the camp for this day. Making it fall on May 4th is not just a symbolic choice, but rather it was our commitment that we wanted to respect. Taurus does not have to become a great reality because it already is. This is our first step for the Sports Center for our Academies. All fields will be completed by June 30th, we aim to complete the system on May 4th 2025. This is the second promise we want to keep.”
Following the inauguration of the Sports Center, Torino FC is expected at Monumental cemetery of Turin to commemorate the Greater Turin on the day of the 75th anniversary, and then stopping at Superga.
