Fermo, 12 May 2024 – Sport, solidarity, friendship. These are the protagonists of ‘The Cage’ to be held in Petritoli in the days from 28 to 30 June, in memory of Roberto Stracciathe young man from Moresco who disappeared from Pescara and was then found lifeless in Bari in 2011. On the one hand, the long legal case brought forward by the family for seek the truth about Roberto’s death, on the other the will of the young people to never forget Roberto’s life. The ‘The Cage’ project was presented yesterday in the presence of all those involved in the format. The group of young people who created the initiative represented by Ferdinando Verdecchia, the mayor Luca Pezzani and the councilor Marco Vesprini always linked to Roberto Straccia and president of the Association that bears his name (‘On the way with Roberto Straccia’) the councilor Andrea Putzu and Roberto’s father, Mario Straccia.
‘The Cage’ will be one three-on-three football challenge which will be played in a sort of cage set up in Piazza Primo Maggio in Valmir di Petritoli, with rules different from those of 5-a-side football. In addition to lots of sport, the three-day event also includes tastings of food and wine products organized by the Valmir Family Center chaired by Maria Teresa Curti and lots of music. The format ‘The Cage’, with attention to every detail, also saw the involvement of the Petritoli school. In fact, it was the seventh grade student Ilaria Vitali who created the logo of the event.
The presentation of the event for Roberto Straccia
“It can only be proud of so much youthful enthusiasm – said Pezzani – which expresses how much our country loves football and social issues. It is no coincidence that the initiative coincides with the victory of the championship which brings Asd Petritoli to the First Category”. “The idea was born among three or four boys – said Verdecchia – today we are a group of around 15. We expect a large registration and we invite everyone to participate”. Moderator of the meeting, who dedicated a lot of effort to the realization of the initiative, was Vesprini, a link between the boys and the Straccia family, to whom he has always been very close. “When the guys came to me to propose the initiative to dedicate to Roberto – said Straccia – I was enchanted by so much beauty preserved in their humility, kindness and genuineness. For many years we have faced legal odysseys to seek the truth about my son’s fate, always remaining disappointed by certain roles played by adults. At the same time, I have discovered and today I confirm, the greatness of ‘young people’ who have so much to teach in the most important aspect of life: respect for others.”
