Academy project and valorisation of the youth sector are two of the key points that the Messina Racing Group wants to carry forward with determination and professionalism. It is undoubtedly an ambitious program which, in these latitudes, has hardly taken root in a past (especially recent) made up of empty steps and limited if not absent foresight.
Football, training, youth growth and territorial marketing: this is the cornerstone on which the ACR’s challenging project is developed. «Precisely in these days, our manager, Vincenzo Battiato, together with our testimonial, Chloe Logarzo – explained Sofia Prugno, International manager of the Giallorossi Academy – are in Korea to promote our activities. The Messina brand circulates around the world and this makes us very proud. We have already received over 100 requests to participate in the Academy, so much so that we are looking for other structures to host these kids who will come here, in particular from Australia, the USA and Canada, with a lot of enthusiasm and desire to learn. We were inspired by the Spanish Academies, especially that of Rayo Vallecano.”
At the moment there are twenty young people who study and train in the city, based at the university center (thanks to an agreement with Ssd Unime and Unilav), and who have reached Messina after the internship phase carried out in their countries of origin. «Kids who dedicate a good part of the day to studying, including the Italian language, and then improve their football skills with highly trained instructors», added Prugno.
In parallel with the Academy discussion (the one that travels on the “local” track are affiliated with Castanea, Messina 2006, Scuola Calcio Sicilia, Garden Club, Sporting Club and Stretto Academy) we are trying to structure and strengthen a fundamental youth sector for a club like Messina and which has been, inexplicably, set aside for too many years. In this sense, Messina is participating in the Junior and Under 14 regional championships, while at provincial level it will take the field with the Giovanissimi. It was thought that it would also be possible to take part in the Under 17 provincial and Under 16 regional tournaments, but timing and system problems did not allow the establishment of these two realities.
«For us it is a zero year – said club manager Maurizio Mantineo -, given that the transition from bankruptcy receivership had practically canceled all activities due to the need to contain costs. Regardless of the sporting results we achieve, the important thing was to reactivate the machine and start a new path.”