TMW Exclusive
“Last year we were the protagonists of an extraordinary championship, despite starting with a thousand difficulties, just think that at the beginning the team trained on a rugby field: but the boys never gave up, they always trained hard, guided by an excellent technical staff, and the results arrived, we won the play-off to go up to Serie D and also the Super Cup against Terracina. Nobody expected the epilogue that then arrived, least of all me: I was on vacation when I received the phone call from the president, I had already set up the team, always moving in advance”: thus, exclusively to the microphones of TuttoMercatoWeb.comthe now ex Sports Director of Amatrice Rieti, Mattia Of Loretowhich retraced the crazy summer experienced by the club.
A club that had conquered Serie D on the field, but then gave up on enrolling in the fourth division tournament: “The strength to continue was there, the president has financial solidity, and I am convinced that if the path had continued, Amatrice Rieti could have become the new Castel di Sangro, Serie B would have arrived in time. But logistical and facility problems interrupted the dream, for president Capriccioli it was impossible to continue without suitable structures”.
A problem that affects many places, and not only among amateurs. Is the main responsibility of the municipal administrations or the clubs?
“This is a widespread problem in Italy, it’s true, but I believe that every situation has its own criticality, you can’t tar everyone with the same brush, the various situations should be analyzed individually. And it’s not right to point the finger at one side or the other, each one acts according to conscience and bureaucratic rules to be respected. It is certainly one of the aspects of football that needs to be reviewed”.
How did the public react to this bitter disappointment?
“There was a moment of total disappointment, but in the end even the fans understood the problem: and in fact we couldn’t have Serie D without a stadium and without a fixed field in which to train. However, the disappointment also comes from the fact that we had rekindled the passion for football in a city that lives mainly on basketball, it hurts to lose everything again”.
Coming to his personal, how did Mattia Di Loreto decide to start again?
“Waiting for the right project for me, something that can resemble what has been done. At Amatrice Rieti the role of DS was put in first place, I had carte blanche on everything, I would like something similar, to be able to continue to grow professionally. In the meantime I am also studying to be able to take the qualification for the role and also practice in the higher categories”.
Where he also worked as a scout, in the ranks of Imolese and Sambenedettese. Are you continuing to follow them?
“Of course. Imolese started well, and in this case I think the facilities make the difference, the team is meeting expectations, with the aim of having an improved championship compared to last season, while Samb obviously has the pressure to win. In a difficult category. But they must return to the pros”.