A1 M - La Florentia ready for the home debut
A prominent figure in Italian water polo first as a player, then as a coach, and now as the technical coordinator of youth national teams, Riccardo Tempestini, on the eve of the match that will see Minetti's team making their home debut against Roma Vis Nova, assesses the state of form of Italian youth water polo.
“Judging by the second place at the Under-16 World Championships in Malta, fourth place at the Under-18 World Championships in Argentina, and sixth place at the Under-19 European Championships in Bulgaria, Italian male youth water polo is in excellent health,” comments the former coach of Florentia, Brescia, and Pro Recco, who adds, “The work of scouting for new talents is very demanding and complex, but I find it very stimulating. Having stood up to the biggest European and World powers, this summer I would say that at the youth level, the clubs and our national teams are working very well. Perhaps there is something missing in terms of technical skills in some key positions, like goalkeepers and center-forwards, but this is a long-standing problem, and we are already working with the coaches to solve it. The same goes for the level of image and promotion of this sport, already on the table of the technical sector of the Federation and the regional Committees already oriented in this direction.”
Back to tomorrow's match, the former Italian star praises the work of the two clubs for making their youth sectors a true strength.
RICCARDO TEMPESTINI
Born in Florence on October 9, 1961, Riccardo Tempestini links his entire playing career to Rari Nantes Florentia, with which he became Italian champion in 1980 before sitting on the bench after his aquatic experience, which was marked by over 200 appearances for the national team, silver at the 1986 Madrid World Championships, bronze European medals in Strasbourg 1987 and Bonn 1989, and participation in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
As a coach, on the white and red bench, he came close to the Italian title twice, reaching the final and winning the Cup Winners' Cup in 2001, a European success repeated in Brescia on the Leonesse bench in 2006, with the LEN Cup that paved the way for him to Recco, where he practically won everything first with women and then with men, collecting two league titles, two European Super Cups, the Champions League, and the Italian Cup.
RARI NANTES FLORENTIA VS ROMA VIS NOVA
Having secured the first point of the season, Rari Nantes Florentia is preparing for tomorrow's home debut in Bellariva against Roma Vis Nova, the last team to have beaten the white and reds in a regular season match, back on January 28, 2023 in A2. Since then, only victories and three draws for Minetti's team, which will try to defend this undefeated streak that has lasted for 35 consecutive rounds. Cardoni on one side and Mr. Roberto Tofani, assistant coach of the Romans, the former counterparts, lead the duo Colombo-Nicolosi, kick-off at 6:00 PM, the match will be broadcast live on the ITAIA7 broadcaster's Facebook page, a media partner of the Tuscan club.
At the start of the game, a parade of honor for Caterina Banchelli, former goalkeeper of Rari and the Italian women's national team, and for the Paralympic Florentia team, fresh winners of the fourth consecutive Italian Cup.
Gianluca Rosucci
Press Office Rari Nantes Florentia
Photo by Daniele Mealli
