With the engagement of Jacopo Larizza, who returned to Cucine Lube Civitanova after his experiences in Bergamo and Taranto, the team from the Marche region can boast a well-assorted central department. In addition to two other high-profile Italians, the world champion Simone Anzani and the red and white veteran Enrico Diamantini, there is the transalpine Olympic champion Barthelemy Chinenyeze. Over the moon for the new call from the Club that launched him in the SuperLega, Larizza expresses his joy in the first interview after signing.
Two years ago you greeted everyone saying “we’ll see each other again”. There you are.
Larizza: “I really wanted to stand out to play my chances at Lube. I am happy to have forged ahead by returning after only two years”.
Were you surprised?
“Pleasantly surprised. Other good offers had arrived, but my attachment to Lube prompted me to accept. Civitanova comes before any other team”.
In these two years you have grown showing your talent, how did it go?
“After the Scudetto and the Italian Cup as an extra in a Lube of champions, I played in Bergamo in A2 feeling at the center of the project. The dream of promotion to the SuperLega vanished at the tie break in Game 3 of the Play Off Semifinal after dominating the Regular Season, but we won the category Super Cup. Also in Taranto in the SuperLega I played in the starting lineup and we earned our stay in the top flight by winning tough challenges. For us it was like winning a Scudetto given the team’s seasonal difficulties”.
How have you changed in this time frame?
“From a character point of view, you will find the sunny boy of all time, but I think I have matured as a man and on a sporting level. I face obstacles with greater awareness of my means. The two years out as owner were decisive because they gave me a lot of experience. At Lube I was surrounded by champions, I assimilated, but I didn’t play much”.
Last year, a rejuvenation project began in the Lube house.
“I have followed with interest the plan undertaken by Lube. There won’t be only the super champions of a few years ago on the pitch. I see absolute aces like De Cecco, Anzani, Zaytsev and Balaso, who is still young but already a great champion. Next to them emerging with high potential”.
So did you like the youngsters on the roster?
“There are all the bases to churn out the top players of the future. Explosive athletes with solid foundations. Marlon Yant himself, in my opinion, has already made a leap in quality compared to when we trained together in 2020/21″.
