QDL – Barchiesi: “This Virtus brings enthusiasm to a depressed square”

He spoke to the microphones of Those of Liberty, broadcast on Cittaceleste TV e Radio eggMassimo Barchiesi, first voice of basketball Radio Rai. Together with Alessandro Tonolli and together with Mattia Giannini and Matteo Pierangeli, two players of the new team, we talked about the future prospects for Roman basketball. Here are his words.

“With Virtus Roma 1960 a new reality is being born. Many great players have passed at the old Virtus Roma, but there is only one truly historic. A player more historic than him does not exist, I also find it hard to give him a title, if he captain or otherwise. Now he is technical director and head coach: I’m talking about Alessandro Tonolli. First I just want to say thank you. Thank you because together with the president Maurizio Zoffoli they picked up this cry of pain, as he called it at the conference, which came from the city after what happened in December. It is a page that we will never forget, even if we had already come close in the past: in the end nobody wanted to believe in the disappearance of the old Virtus. Today taking such an initiative is a demonstration of courage in a particular and delicate moment that involves the world of basketball. Having such courage is exceptional, shows a glimmer of light to the Roman fans. This goes beyond the results that will come from the field: you have brought enthusiasm back to a depressed square”

“I hope that everyone, including the institutions, will support the project. There is maximum seriousness, so the Rome of the baskets deserves a gradual return to certain levels. In Rome we also have the problem of plants, yet it is the capital of Italy. In Bologna, in the city of Italian champions, there is the historic building in the center and there is the Unipol Arena in Casalecchio di Reno. Then, Virtus Bologna also played at the Fair, creating a beautiful venue for about ten thousand spectators. And he wants to build – and will build – a new plant. In Rome, however, except for the PalaEur which costs a lot, there is practically nothing else. All the Roman teams had to go outside Rome because there are no facilities. We’ll see if the administration changes in October, but this has been going on for years. We need a person who is passionate about sports and basketball who can help the city grow again to bring it back where it deserves. The record of paying spectators in history is still in Rome, about fourteen thousand people in the historic final against Milan. There is no lack of enthusiasm in Rome”.