I never thought I would be writing about football… But this post is not really about football… This post is about Italy… About its nuances, its imperfections… And before I begin talking about my trip to Milan, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the victory of the city of Naples… Yes, indeed! It’s the victory of the entire city, not just the team!
Naples’ triumph was met with opposition, but the Neapolitan people had waited too long for this victory to worry about what others thought! This victory belongs not only to the team but to the entire city, including those who have no knowledge of football!
33 years of waiting, 3 league titles (scudetto), and it finally happened in 2023! The magical number 3! Neapolitans are a superstitious people… The number 3 will forever be ingrained in them, and I’m sure they will play it often in the lottery… The fact that Naples would win was known for a while, but the Neapolitans held their breath until the final goal, refraining from uttering the word “victory”… To avoid jinxing it… Perhaps Naples will win again soon, or maybe sooner than we think, but this team of young and lesser-known footballers truly deserved this victory! It was evident as early as January that Naples was striving for triumph, but it was somehow “not meant to be”! The newspapers remained silent, giving preference to northern football teams! And it continued until it became undeniable that there was no turning back! Naples couldn’t be stopped! But let me share the words of writer/journalist Roberto Saviano to provide a clearer picture.
Roberto Saviano is a journalist and writer (originating from Naples) who gained worldwide fame with his non-fiction novel “Gomorrah” (2006), translated into 42 languages. Saviano has been under round-the-clock police protection for many years since the Neapolitan mafia organization, the Camorra, issued a death sentence against him. This occurred shortly after the publication of his famous book “Gomorrah” and the release of the film based on it.
“The scudetto (Italian league title) ‘against’ the northern business groups
Over the past twenty years, all the winners of the football championship have been northern teams, and there have been only three: Juventus, Milan, and Inter. This has led to a sort of ‘Southern problem’ regarding the scudetto. Without detracting from anyone’s merit or referring to specific cases, it is worth noting that the scudetto is an easier goal to achieve when significant financial investments, complex social structures, and even politics are involved alongside the players on the field. It would be foolish to deny that northern Italy is wealthier than the south. It would be foolish not to understand that this wealth spills over into football, as it does in any other sport. Historically, the teams winning the championship belong to the most powerful business groups on the peninsula. Today we are witnessing a miracle. A miracle that De Laurentiis (president of the Naples team) created such a team while remaining distant from debt, refusing to let himself be choked by the men in suits, attracting banks and Middle Eastern funds, and most importantly, not allowing the ultra-fan gangs, often dangerously linked to the criminal environment, to dominate the situation.
It feels like we’re always at the bottom because we were born with initial disadvantages. Naples is not just a team from the South; it is a southern team supported solely by southerners. Due to historical reasons, mainly linked to emigration in our country, many residents of the South cheer for northern teams. This is a unique victory because winning such a trophy in Naples means much more than just sporting enthusiasm. The city sees it as a confirmation of its existence. It’s funny to hear the repetition of the legendary phrase by Don Pietro Savastano in these days: “We will take back what is ours,” but that’s how it is. It feels like we’re always at the bottom because we were born with initial disadvantages, realizing that either you leave and abandon your city, your family, your loved ones, or you settle for what you have: struggling public services, dilapidated schools, administrators who consider themselves kings, untouchable even by national politics. Today, even those who aren’t interested in sports, even those who have never watched a football match, feel part of this game; joy when Naples plays well, impatience in the case of unfair defeat, disappointment in case of failure, elation in case of victory. The mood of the city, its atmosphere, is shaped or shaken by the team. No one is excluded from this life that extends beyond the boundaries of the sports field and engulfs the entire city. It seems that Naples is not just the team of the city, but rather the city belongs to the team…
When my child discovered the world of football, he chose this team, and we never understood why. My husband, not a football fan, but his initial reaction to Samuel’s choice was, “Why Naples? Why not Milan or Juventus?” Of course, my husband wanted our child to celebrate victories rather than defeats, but it was impossible to convince Samuel otherwise. There were tears for losses and joy for every goal. But without explanation, he chose his team and believed it was the best. He is the only one in his class rooting for Naples, and he often finds himself arguing and defending his friends, but he doesn’t back down. And so, our entire family gradually caught his love for football and the Naples team. We have always had a soft spot for the city of Naples and its people, but now we also wholeheartedly rejoice and take pride in this victory!
FORZA NAPOLI!
