The future: “I could continue playing, and after that I would like to stay in this sport.” Bortolami? “He will take care of the physical work more”
Silvano Focarelli / TREVISO
It is not easy to say goodbye to 11 years with the same shirt (in rugby and in today’s sport it is a lifetime), to 3 championships, an Italian Cup and two Super Cups. And a Rainbow.
It is hard to forget 185 appearances in green and white and 29 in blue, the captain’s armband, the esteem of the fans. All this and more was for Benetton Rugby Alberto Sgarbi from Montebelluna: this year Albertone said stop. At least with the Lions, with Monigo, with the Celtic League. Even though it had recently disappeared from Crowley’s radar, a piece of this Rainbow belongs to him by right. And now that he leaves the club, he doesn’t know whether to be more sorry for it or happy for the trophy.
«I am torn between two feelings. Clearly, to conclude a season in this way that, due to its problematic notes, is not very pleasant to define as ugly. And I also say this for the other guys who are leaving Benetton: it was the ideal farewell. On the other hand, the sadness of leaving is accompanied by the awareness of a career full of satisfactions, perhaps even some disappointments but with many memories. On the contrary, I feel privileged. Saying enough is not easy but I am thrilled now to start something else ».
What does it mean? Will he keep playing?
«In the meantime, I rest, then yes, I’m fine and it is possible that I will play again, since in the last year and a half there has been little good. But I will also carry on those projects that rugby has given me the opportunity to cultivate. I would love to stay in this sport ».
What are the differences between the rugby you played in the Italian league and that of these Celtic years?
«Benetton had already started that path when he was playing in Italy, and I am talking about the quality and intensity of the training, which would have brought him to Europe. As for the differences, above all the rules have changed and then, of course, the fact that now they are all high-level matches. But in Italy there was still a great competition and they were playing to win something, the Scudetto. This is something we have experienced again this year with the Cup: Crowley has changed the philosophy at Benetton, the method and the approach to things, increasing the responsibility of the players and their growth ».
What should we expect from coach Bortolami?
«I believe that he will take great care of the physical preparation, the management of the players. That is to bring the whole group to work in the same direction ».
What future do you see in this post-Rainbow Benetton? Could the Cup change many perspectives?
«Winning it was a fundamental fact but I think we shouldn’t linger too long. At Benetton, of course, with all the friends I have, I wish the best possible, but now we should strengthen what is already there and it will be a rather delicate, important and difficult job. And here you will see the ability to work on the group, to convey the right mentality by creating the right environment. Having brought home the Rainbow Cup will be a great incentive to reconfirm yourself at a certain level, but it should not be a point of arrival but a starting point. And that is to continue working on our bases and on the rugby culture: in recent months there have been so many problems related to Covid, of course, but also to other situations that have affected performance. We will have to do a very careful job to create an even stronger team ». –