BELLUNO. “I’m a bit out of sorts, I have to tell the truth.” Twenty years of presidency. From the third category of Seren in 2001 to the C series almost touched in 2019. Professionalism would have been the crowning of a dream. Instead, the last year as number one coincided with the most complicated championship of all. Union Feltre was saved only in the second half of the final day, also helped by the abolition of the playout. And the very tough months that have passed have advised Nicola Giusti to say enough. From there began the path linked to the merger, as the verdegranata board of directors just could not identify him. The risk was to stop the Union’s adventure. Then came the contacts with San Giorgio Sedico and Belluno for the start of a journey of which everything is known by now. The present says Dolomiti Bellunesi, but we are still in time to dive into the past. Giusti leaves his job for about twenty minutes, helping us travel in the two decades during which he wrote pages in the history of provincial football.
How can you not call her president anymore?
“It’s all very strange. In fact, I’m a bit confused. Two decades as number one in the company… I think a small part of my DNA will always remain linked to the role held ».
Ma…
“But I am tired and it is right to give someone else this burden and honor. I am a person who likes things done properly, otherwise it is better to stay still. Now it’s up to who is more motivated ».
We will arrive later at the merger, but there is a sort of accusation that someone makes: “He no longer wants to be president in Feltre, but vice president of the Belluno Dolomites in Belluno yes …”.
«I think it doesn’t take long to understand that the type of commitment undertaken is very different. I will have the delegation to supervise the secretariat. When you hold the top office of a club you definitely take on many more responsibilities. “
The last few seasons have been challenging …
«The D series had to be managed with professionalism. Among other things, beyond the sporting aspect, we have gone through changes of great importance. The merger in 2016 between Union Ripa and Feltrese, the transformation of the company into an Srl, the works on the sports facilities of Seren and Pedavena, the various daily difficulties to face… ».
And yet a disastrous year, the one that has just ended, until mid-April.
“The alarm bell was not to be ignored. The results on the ground have been insufficient and this is also perhaps due to the president’s fatigue. Let’s just save the miracle performed in the last two months. And by the way: I hope the coach Andrea Zanuttig will find a team soon ».
Can you tell us about the relationship with ds Toni Tormen? In the aftermath of her salvation, she responded somewhat harshly on Facebook, but after having defended him for a long time from the criticisms of the fans.
“A genuine disagreement: it can happen between people who know each other. He is a good manager, I know very few with a passion for football as great as his ».
The way of presiding over the company must have changed a lot, from the Third category to D.
“First of all, I didn’t even have time to realize then. From goalkeeper of a team just relegated to president of the same not even a month later. In those periods, however, we had fun, I had a group of executives next to me, many of whom are still in society now. I think the turning point came in 2009, the year in which we hired Massimiliano Parteli on the bench. We were about to face the Promotion and he had been Andreucci’s second in Belluno for two years. I realized that to play a certain type of football it was necessary to think in a more professional way ».
In the 2014-2015 season I exonerated Parteli and took Lauria. The locker room revolted and at the end of the year many players were sold. The first hard moment?
«Let’s say that there I understood how the figure of the president – friend was no longer good. Certain situations, including economic ones, required a different approach ».
The best moments?
“In order: the Third category won after a home draw in Rasai against the Mix Esse Elle, the months at Boscherai in the first year of D where you always won by scoring three or four goals per game and the period in which there was no club professional who asked to come and see Alex Cossalter. Ah, I will also remember the transfer of De Paoli to Monza last summer: my signature next to that of Adriano Galliani had a certain effect … ».
The ugliest?
«The famous return of the playoffs of Excellence in Abano. But then I had crazy energy. The next day with Parteli and Santomaso we were already preparing for the following season ».
The question that many fans would like to ask you: was it not possible to keep football in Feltre without joining it with Belluno and Sedico?
«I overturn the concept: the merger was the only way to keep football alive in Feltre. The team will play a few games at Zugni, even if the Polisportivo will be the main stadium. And we will have a top-tier youth sector playing on our fields ».
C series lens?
“Yup. But by when we reach it, it certainly cannot be predetermined. In the meantime, let’s build the company, remembering that we are structuring a project without equal in Italy ».gianluca da poian