After 13 years, Naples has found the top flight of basketball. After several futile and very cabaret attempts in some cases, this management led by the president Federico Grassi looks solid and last Sunday’s victory against the Virtus Bologna galvanized the environment. The reconstruction path was born with the purchase of the A2 series title from Legnano in June 2019, the purchase made the ascent path easier.
We have tested the Neapolitan enthusiasm first hand. On Sunday we attended the match against the Italian champion Virtus Bologna at PalaBarbuto. Napoli of basketball responded with the sold-out. I 2500 Tickets on sale were snapped up and the company’s next sponsors responded present. A bit of nostalgia was felt, because we had the show of the maxim and we lost it without being able to object. In Naples there is the intention to create a product, an ambition confirmed by the desire to structure the club, which as marketing manager he called Nicola Tolomei. In the past he held the same role for the National Basketball League and the FIP.
- The Pal argento seen from above
The former president of the FIP regional committee is enthusiastic about the return to Serie A in Naples Manfredo Rifle, one of the icons of Neapolitan basketball, who with the jersey of Partenope Naples in 1970 he lifted the Cup Winners’ Cup. «We lacked basketball – says Rifle – in Naples besides basketball there are other important sports and basketball is one of them. Now we can see great teams, great champions and that great basketball that until some time we saw in Avellino and Caserta ». Compared to the unfortunate experiments of the recent past, Fucile has confidence in this new project, because it is closely linked to the territory. “There is an organized society and compared to the past there is an indigenous property, linked to our territory, a bit like it happened in the past at the time of Fides of Salerno or of Naples of De Piano, which despite being Irpinia has done a lot for our city bringing us players like Walter Barry or the team of Maione, which gave us the Italian Cup and Euroleague qualification ».
Passion, organization and also that economic solidity that doesn’t hurt. Grassi’s name is linked to Confindustria, so there is the possibility of approaching entrepreneurs and bringing the name of Naples up in the wedge ball. The connection of these entrepreneurs with the city is the first step, but a lot could revolve around the PalaArgento. The former building of the Neapolitan city is now an open-air landfill. For over twenty years it has been in a state of complete abandonment and all modernization and reconstruction projects have been aborted. In 2002 there was the first attempt, then 2005 started with a first demolition, leaving the stands intact. Due to variations and the increase in costs, the works were interrupted and now the Mario Argento remains a construction site. The municipal administration does not seem to have the financial resources to put it back on its feet, private individuals want to see clearly and understand if there is the possibility of a business. Grassi and the new Napoli of basketball have hit the first goal, the Serie A, the second concerns the building itself. The PalaBarbuto, however adequate and welcoming, cannot be the layout of a square like Naples.
- The Pal argento seen from the street
«Whoever has the structure available starts with a competitive advantage – says Rifle – when I played there were always eight thousand spectators, even during the darkest periods. When it was dismantled it had to be rebuilt, it didn’t. The new municipal administration of Naples has to deal with Mario Argento, there must be the possibility of rebuilding a historic plant, just as the Scandone swimming pool has been renovated, redeveloped with funds from the Universiade thanks to De Luca. For Mario Argento the same could not be done, because the funds were not sufficient and it was decided, correctly, to improve other facilities ». Fucile also hopes to review the other squares in Campania at a high level, to re-establish that Campania Felix that was talked about ten years ago with four squares between Serie A and Serie A2.
«Just as I hope to see Mario Argento again, I would like to see Caserta, Naples, Avellino and Scafati all together and among these I also include Salerno, penalized by the absence of a noteworthy building in the city. The presence of more teams from Campania in the top league would be a great satisfaction and would increase the political power of our region ».
Rifle before abdicating as regional president followed the events of Avellino basketball very closely. A very clear idea of what happened in the recent past has been made. «My idea was quite clear, we had to proceed with the wild card operation, but there was the nostalgic fan who did not want to give up the Scandone and the freshman. Now the B series is back for the acquisition of the title and I must say that the mayor Festa has done a lot, then you can disagree or not, the commitment on his part has been there. Avellino today must restart, reschedule as happened elsewhere with local entrepreneurs and we must be happy not to have lost basketball in the city. One day the name Scandone will be able to return, although the code, to which it was romantically linked, will never return. Now there is this new club and we need to trust in some good results ».
