The relaxed faces of those who spent a peaceful holiday after last season’s ride, which ended with an astonishing (because completely unexpected) semi-final of the Serie A play-offs. But also the curiosity and excitement of the (so far few) new signings, immediately inserted into the group of veterans strengthened by some Primavera players and returning loans.
Another adventure began yesterday evening and, considering everything that has happened in these forty-nine days (since the Cremona match on May 25th), it was about time. Because never like in this period are the fans’ expectations and hopes overlapping with their fears for the start of a new cycle, with the contextual comings and goings that always accompany situations of this kind.
The Giallorossi met at the Benny Hotel, on the outskirts of the central-northern area of the cityfor the pre-season gathering. Some after a day at the beach (Antonini, Curcio and Pontisso, for example, were on the beach in Soverato), some returning directly from their holiday headquarters or from home, Catanzaro was reached one by one by the time set for the rendezvous (7 pm). Some arrived alone (Scognamillo), some others in tandem like Brighenti and Sala, Iemmello and Brignola, welcomed by the club staff, by a few inevitable fans hunting for photos and autographs, by their teammates who were already in the hotel.
Fabio Caserta and his collaborators were already inside, in a meeting, to plan the work for the next few days: this morning medical visits, in the afternoon (5.30pm) at the stadium for the first training session which from tomorrow will become double until the departure for the retreat in Morgex, in the Aosta Valley, on Sunday 21st.
Sudden absences in light of the many possibilities that the market can open from now on? None. Of the players not yet officially sold, there would only be Sounas, not called up and therefore justified because between tomorrow and Wednesday he will undergo medical examinations in Avellino, where he will sign a three-year contract with an option for a fourth season. The Greek however stopped by to greet his now ex-teammates and perhaps wish good luck to the new entries, such as the already announced Volpe and – present although not yet official – Bonini and Morleo.
Last season’s squad included Antonini, Biasci, Borrelli, Brighenti, Brignola, Iemmello, Krajnc, Petriccione, Pompetti, Pontisso, Sala, Scognamillo and Situm plus the Primavera goalkeeper Rizzuto and Curcio, Piras and Megna returned from loans (respectively to Casertana, Sarrabus and Cavese). There were also four Primavera aggregates, the midfielders Edoardo Lafauci and Francesco Maiolo, the defender Paolo Rizzo and the striker Gabriel Giacinto Rafele.
Around 8:00 pm, shortly after the arrival from the nearby social headquarters of the general manager Paolo Morganti and the secretaries Nazario Sauro and Salvatore Conti, everyone in the restaurant hall for the first dinner together. The Catanzaro season began at the table, from today it will also begin on the field.
