The forward coach is already at work in view of the new start «Bortolami? I’ve known him for a lifetime, he’s always renewed “
/ TREVISO
As a player for eight years in Treviso, as a coach for another five, since 2016. Fabio “Yuri” Ongaro, 44, in the Treviso oval world can be considered a kind of institution. And not for nothing, apart from Marco Bortolami promoted to head coach, he is the only survivor of the previous technical staff headed by Kieran Crowley: he has the task of continuing to make the forwards and the scrum perform at their best.
Ongaro, it’s time to leave.
«Staying is just a pleasure, we will face a season where our ambitions will increase and where we need to grow. And that’s okay with me, otherwise I wouldn’t have stayed ».
Growing up after a successful cup will be very challenging.
«The result was excellent, no one doubts it, but we have to evaluate the whole season and then I go back to saying that we will have to do better, especially at the beginning. A qualitative leap awaits us. Let’s not forget that, together with quality foreigners and Italians who have already been tested, there has been the insertion of 12 new young people, who obviously will not be ready immediately. This is a long-term project: their growth will coincide with that of the team. Then it is clear that Benetton will also have to have immediate results, but, as mentioned, we must see the group improve ».
The rally is Monday but you have already started.
«We have been working since last week, in fact I would say that we started during the last championship through Zoom. It is a continuous reunion. Now on the field we are following the recovery of the injured and establishing the program to follow starting from next week ».
First impressions of the new staff mates?
“I already knew Masi and Gustard. Among other things, I had already had Gustard as a coach in my last year at the Saracens and then I collaborated with him in the English national team. So for me I am not certain of strangers, I know what they are worth ».
And Marco Bortolami?
«I’ve known him for a lifetime: already as a player he was super professional, now as a coach as well. We are all young, we all have to learn, including him and no one feels like he has arrived. But Marco has a good starting point, the experience he made in the field, he brings the baggage of these five years with Crowley. And he is always committed to renewing himself with everyone. We will see the results ».
Too bad that one of your columns, Paolo Garbisi, left you to go to Montpellier.
«Certainly an important loss, but once a Pope dies, another is made. I’m sorry, not desperate, it will be one more reason to work even better ».
Of course, from now on, the winners of the Rainbow Cup will be expected at the gate.
«After those playoffs we had a period of decline, but today Benetton is a reality and everyone will respect us. Which can only please us ».
And this new URC extended to South Africans?
«An even more interesting championship: the Board wanted to renew and this was a necessary step, there was the risk that it would become a tournament, I don’t say monotonous but perhaps not up to par. And we hope that Covid will pass, also to see the fans in Monigo again ». –