The Italian men’s national volleyball team is a great protagonist on the banks of the Strait with the friendly matches between Reggio and Messina as part of the Fipav Cup Men Elitè. Among the blue ranks, the two Calabrian standard-bearers, the spiker Daniele Lavia and the libero Gabriele Laurenzano, are breathing the air of home in the South.
Daniele Lavia is now a veteran: at the age of 27 he has been living in the Italian orbit since 2019 when, still 19 years old, he was called up to the national team for the first time, having a great summer between the Volleyball Nations League, the qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the European Championships. Today, as a multiple champion with the blue shirt, the spiker from Rossano wants to return to playing an absolute leading role with his gaze now set on the next European Championships.
Between Reggio and Messina, is the warmth of the Calabrian and Messina people the right boost to get to the next European Championships in the best possible way?
«Well, these two cities have certainly shown a lot of warmth, a lot of closeness to us and to our team. These great friendlies are important for us for the European Championship. We’re excited, let’s finish this championship and then we’ll think about the European Championship.»
How much energy is there in your heart and mind, even after all the long journey you’ve made this past year, to return to the national team?
«Well, I have a lot of energy and I want even more. I’m very proud of the path I took to get back to playing first and then at level. It was a bad injury last year, unfortunately I wasn’t able to participate in the World Championship and it was a blow to my heart, but being here means a lot.”
We remember you when, as a pre-teen, you played on the Calabrian fields in youth tournaments. An incredible climb both at club level, reaching the top flight and the strongest clubs in the world, and in Italy. If you rewind the tape and think back to your journey at the age of 27, what assessment do you make?
«Well, very positive, in short. It has been a long journey, not an easy one. I believe I have sweated a lot, made many sacrifices and that I have earned what I have done and who I am. With the national team we have won a lot and we hope to continue to win; with the club the same. The desire is there, the desire to continue winning is there and I can’t wait to continue playing certain tournaments, such as the European Championship or the World Cup with the national team, and then the championship and all the other competitions with the club.”