Martina Franca started the off-season strong with the signing of this season’s top spiker : Rodrigo Pinto ‘Rivaldo’. The spiker- outside-hitter played for Pineto until March. Born in 1980, 202 cm tall, the Brazilian gem played in all the best ‘carioca’ teams and had a brief spell in Japan.
“Three seasons ago, he was offered to us but then the signing did not go through because we went for more high-profile players – explained chairman Bongiovanni – It’s a shame because he would be one of the most prolific stars of the Italian league by now”. However it went, Martina Franca has beaten the competition of three other clubs to bring the big gun home and the chairman warned “It won’t end here”.
