November 28, 2021 to January 22, 2023: that’s a sixty-week period. In between, lots of bad luck, a few tears, liters of sweat poured in the gym, tons of sacrifices. But now those dates, so distant in time, have finally approached. Indeed, intertwined. Because Giovanni Candeago has rediscovered the joy of putting the ball on the ground. And to score a point: a sensation that the spiker from Da Rold Logistics Belluno hasn’t really tasted since that cursed Sunday at the end of November.
«I’m not yet at the top of my performances – says “Candy” – but I’m starting to see the light, to touch the progress. And the physique is supporting me well ». The point came at the end of the fourth set against the Mirandola Stadium: «It’s worth a lot to me. It applies to the awareness of still being a volleyball player, ready to make a contribution to the team. Now I feel like an athlete who, after suffering a lot, sees the fruit of the path he has taken. Yes, it’s a turning point.”
Candeago had to train his body. And the mind: «I experienced ups and downs, with various ups and downs. But I’ve always tried to give myself small goals to achieve, without focusing too much on the final goal linked to my return. Of course, I’m still far from my old standards. However, I try to be proactive and positive. And in this, the small goals that I slowly reach help me. I won’t deny having had some difficult moments: physical stress, coupled with everyday life, led me to throw myself down a bit. And it’s not always easy to manage certain phases: it fits, it’s part of the process. In the meantime, I’ll settle for entering, putting a few points on the scoresheet. In short, to progress ». A new “Candy” stands out on the horizon: «I feel changed, as a volleyball player and as a person. I am different, more mature and introspective. And I know myself better both from a physical point of view and from a character point of view. I also believe that I have become rational: I tried to leave the emotional sphere aside a little because it risked confusing me along a path that is still ongoing”.
