The magical power of the blue color and the tricolor flag. They make us feel like a united people, if we are talking about sport. Seeing is believing the enthusiasm and brotherhood generated by “football” Italy, called on Sunday to play for the European title at Wembley. Or it is enough to take a step back a few days and relive the evening in which Italy of basketball went to take the qualification for the Olympics at the Pionir in Belgrade. In Serbia they were convinced they would board the plane to Tokyo. Instead, 12 big boys will fly to Japan led by Meo Sacchetti, our coach.
And we want to tell you about Meo Sacchetti today, in the Corriere delle Alpi. Why there is a link with the Belluno area. It has its roots as far back as the nineteenth century and is a history of migration, like many others. The paternal grandparents of the blue coach were from Castellavazzo and in the mid-nineteenth century they decided to leave Italy to move to Romania. Among other things, the surname at the time was Sachet, apparently deriving from the homonymous hamlet of Vallada Agordina. At the end of the 1940s, therefore in the immediate postwar period, Pietro Sachet, father of Meo, decided to leave Romania and return to Italy with his wife Caterina Stefani and with three children, Francesco, Gilda and Virginia. The fourth child, the youngest, named Romeo, had died as a child under tragic circumstances.
The family first passed through Udine, to the refugee sorting center. It was there that they were advised to “Italianise” the surname into Sacchetti. Then they were first transferred to Sicily, to Termini Imerese; and then in Puglia, in Altamura. There. In the refugee camp of Altamura, another child is born: it is Romeo, the second Romeo, future Olympic vice-champion and today head of the Italian national team. Pietro Sachet – Sacchetti will die soon after, leaving Meo orphan of his father just six months old. The Italian coach knows some places in the Belluno area, even if the memories are more linked to the stories handed down by his sister Gilda.
“She has always been passionate about our family’s journey around the world. He told me the events he was aware of. And I, a great lover of history in general, have always listened with passion ».
It all began in the Belluno area therefore.
“Exact. The paternal grandparents were experts in working porphyry, very good in the production of cobblestones and in Romania there was no shortage of work. There my parents were born who then, after the Second World War ended, they decided to return to Italy ».
Have you ever been to Castellavazzo?
“Sure! About ten years ago I had to go to the Domegge camp held by Dino Meneghin. So I took the opportunity to go to the town cemetery. And do you know what particularly struck me? I saw a tombstone of a person whose name I don’t remember. But I know that from the photo I noticed a remarkable resemblance to my sister Virginia, who by the way is no longer there. It stuck in my mind. Distant relative? Who knows…”.
He is passionate about history. And when one thinks of Castellavazzo, it is inevitable to associate it with the Vajont disaster of 9 October 1963.
“Seeing the valley live the first time made an impression on me. I wanted to deepen the story, I went to the dam, I watched Marco Paolini’s story, Martinelli’s film. It makes a strange effect to think about people’s unheard fears ».
For the people of Belluno, but not only, it is still an open wound. But let’s go back to the pleasant aspects of our territory to tell. He spoke to us about Domegge then, and all we need is the memories of the traditional under 20 tournament hosted at Pala Cian Toma from which international basketball talents have passed.
«I have never been to that event, but my friend Dino Meneghin hosted me at his camp I ate in incredible places and admired mountains… indescribable. But on the other hand, Italy is the most beautiful country in the world. Only sometimes we don’t realize it ».
But when we cheer on players in the blue jersey, we recover the deepest sense of the nation.
“It is actually strange. During the year there are discussions between fans of the various teams. Yet the charm of Italy that plays does not beat anyone ».
She knows something about it. He brought tricolor basketball back to the Olympics 17 years later, accomplishing a feat.
«The secret lies in the opening match against Puerto Rico. We won, yes, but in pain. And it gave us the awareness of being able to play it ».
In the final on the pitch you played with a winning lightness, unlike Serbia.
«We were very keen too eh. But we managed every situation well, facing it thanks to the strength of the collective ».
And now Tokyo.
«We will have to carry the same spirit as the pre-Olympic. We want to make a good impression and we hope these results will allow us to increase the visibility of our sport ».
A great Italian basketball, you mentioned earlier. Dino Meneghin, was born in Alano di Piave.
«I played together in the national team and my thought is always the same: the best Italian basketball player ever. He was only interested in winning, he didn’t care about individual titles, prizes and whatnot. There were games where he shot two or three times, but he captured an incredible amount of rebounds. I give him value 10. And to explain this number well, whoever arrives after him stops at 8 for me ».