Belluno Volley will have the honor of being represented at the Paris Olympics. And the credit goes to Matteo De Cecco, a coach who has been sailing internationally for some time now: he “flies the Slovenian flag”, he is a fundamental member of the staff linked to a national team fresh from European bronze and fourth place in the last edition of the Nations League. And he’s ready to have a thrilling moment. Indeed, a dream: «It’s my first time, it’s not long now. On Wednesday 24th we will enter the Olympic village and only then will I realize what we have done and what awaits us.”
VAGABONDI – The official debut, in the five-ring competition, is scheduled for Sunday 28th (9pm), when Slovenia will face Canada. Then it will be the turn of Serbia and the hosts, as well as reigning Olympic champions, France: «It took our team a decade to qualify, there is no shortage of motivation. For many it is the only and perhaps last opportunity: having no tomorrow, we will play to death.” De Cecco works closely with the technical commissioner Gheorghe Crețu: «We have been working together for three years. Plus, when we were both coaching in Russia, we were adversaries. And we have a past as players that led us to “wander” for the love of volleyball.”
AMBITIONS – The emotion is palpable. And even if the Rhinos coach is focused on current events, looking back, once you have felt the heat of the Olympia flame, is almost inevitable: «The Olympic experience is the reward after so many sacrifices, mine and my family’s» . The wait is about to end: «We don’t hide our ambitions. From the first match we will play with only one goal in mind. The calendar? It will be challenging in particular for our management, who will have to organize the initial trips in the best possible way.”
KNOWLEDGE AND ADVICE – De Cecco does not lose sight of the Dolomites even in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower: «To Belluno I will bring everything I have shared with the best coaches in the world. A wealth of knowledge and advice that is priceless.” But now it’s time for the Olympics: to be experienced on the sidelines, as a protagonist. And perhaps, if commitments allow, in the stands of the Saint-Denis stadium: «I would like to be at the stadium for the final of the 4×100 relay, cheering on Italy».
