Catania – For everyone it was “The voice”. Because when the rossazzurra team scored, his voice shook the stadium and everyone was waiting for the magic phrase: “For Catania he scored with the number …” Stefania Sberna was one of the icons of city football and for exactly thirty years he read the formations and announced Catania’s goals and successes, in Serie A but also in the other categories.
Stefania passed away today due to an incurable disease, leaving a void that, as the fans write, cannot be filled. Yes, they called it “The voice” for the unmistakable tone it had, because its scream exceeded the roar of twenty thousand fans who celebrated the champion of the day and dragged the crowd by making everyone repeat the surname. A non-player captain who dominated from the stands as the playmaker does on the pitch.
From 1990 until a few weeks ago, Stefania was in her place, in the Massimino booth used as the speaker. And for her it was a matter of boasting, of pride. The fans loved her, but also presidents, players, managers considered her one of the family. A good luck charm. After all, how many successes he announced, how many memorable goals.
But Stefania Sberna was also a journalist, TV commentator in many broadcasters: from Telecolor to Sestarete, from ReiTv to Video Mediterraneo. His comments were the result of passion and great competence. For this reason, she, a woman in a world of men, had gained enormous consideration. And it wasn’t easy. Yes, she made everything simple with a smile, with a joke, with the encouragement that she renewed to her Catania even when things were going badly.
On the social networks Catania Calcio, many footballers and technicians, organized groups, simple fans and many journalists, even at national level, have remembered those who wrote the history of this club with immense love and with a voice that had no borders. Tomorrow, at 4 pm the funeral will be held in the church of S. Luigi, but from 11 am to 1 pm, whoever wants to can give the last farewell to the unmistakable red and blue “voice”.