The raid in the Ritiro gym had widespread resonance in the city, so much so that there are numerous messages of closeness to Asd Castanea Basket, which was directly involved in the affair. For their part, the carabinieri of the Messina Centro Company, particularly the Giostra Station, are investigating the serious episode, in order to close the circle as soon as possible and bring those responsible for it to justice. The military has gathered information through some testimonies and is also examining the footage recorded by the surveillance cameras present in that portion of territory. The description of what happened was entrusted, first of all, to the basketball club itself. The theft was committed last Monday night and the following morning, some members of the association noticed that there was no water in the municipal structure. «When checking, we realized that there was quite significant damage to the water system and that there were several things missing. We thus understood that we had been the victim of a theft, and that it almost certainly took place during the night”, we read in a press release. And again: «We are tired, because we believed that we would no longer be faced with such episodes, which moreover largely nullify the huge renovation work that we are carrying out inside the plant. We are disheartened, because we believe that such a structure, which stands in a “difficult” urban context, should be seen by the community as something to be protected and not vandalized.”
In fact, in recent months, the gym has hosted many activities, from basketball to basking, from dance to skating and karate, and even parish groups, receiving acclaim and compliments. «All this has helped and favored, among others, even the weakest groups, creating inclusion, leisure and entertainment. We are demoralized, since the theft of which we were the victim will also represent enormous damage to “our pockets””, thousands of euros in damage and theft. And the hands of the inconsiderate were also fierce against an electrical substation, for which the company had requested its removal numerous times, because it was dangerous.
The Asd Castanea Basket asks for the help and intervention of the institutions («the councilor Massimo Finocchiaro and the mayor Federico Basile, people who have always been close to us and who over time have also wanted to check the progress of the work in person , and from whom we received many compliments”), from the police force, from the police commissioner and from the prefect. Therefore, an appeal, because «we think that it is not the time to be alone anymore but to be helped and understood. We cannot give victory to a few idiots and criminals, we don’t want to do it, we believe it’s time to receive serious, sincere and concrete help beyond the usual solidarity, we are frontier activities and we try to bring sport and its ethics everywhere we go and live, but now we rely on the sensitivity of the institutions we bring into question.”
Meanwhile, the sports club – which obviously filed a complaint – has started initial recovery interventions, to allow part of the activities to be carried out.
For the president of the V Municipality Raffaele Verso, what was done was “an unfortunate act”. The Council of the same Municipality will ask councilor Finocchiaro to call a meeting, inviting the managers of the ASD Castanea Basket 2010, so that together we can find solutions to make the gym safe and the club can continue its sporting activities in a peaceful manner.” Even the CISL Messina, with the general secretary Antonino Alibrandi, expresses deep regret and is close to the Asd Castanea Basket 2010 «for yet another episode of vandalism. The realities that operate in the area, in a difficult context but with an important social objective and under everyone’s eyes are only to be praised, supported and preserved. In that gym – adds Alibrandi – they play basketball but not only that, there is baskin, there are other activities in which several kids from the neighborhood are also involved. The damage is not only to the basketball club but to the entire community. Institutions and law enforcement agencies are more present in the area, so that citizens also have the legal response they ask for.”
2024-04-18 01:39:38
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