Cagli teens pass the ball before a game of Calcetto, 5-on-5 soccer. Photos by Sylvia DuBeau
Kickin' it in Cagli
By Nicole Frail
On a small, enclosed field in Cagli, males of all ages gather to play soccer players with one goal in mind: to have fun. With one tap of a simple, black and white ball, any difficulties the real world may hold begin to melt away. Without the stress of organized leagues or the
frustrating need to secure a win, these soccer players are free to goof around, learn new skills at their own pace, and, perhaps most importantly, establish a sense of brotherhood.
Calcio (soccer), is the dominant sport throughout Italy. Since the 1930s, Italians have held their heads high when speaking of their country’s soccer teams. Having won four World Cups, they have certainly earned the right to do so.
When Luca Magini was a child in Cagli, his entire family went to the soccer fields every Saturday to watch his father play. As his father grew more involved in the sport, Magini’s passion for calcio grew as well. Son of the president of the first official fan club for the Milan professional team, Magini attended many professional games and helped sell merchandise to thousands of fans across the country.
Magini didn’t just sit on the sidelines, however. Having admired his father’s abilities on the soccer field from the time he was four, he soon developed his own. Throughout his teen and young adult years, he played for numerous soccer clubs, both in and out of Cagli. Today he owns the bar Oratorio il Campetto (House of the Fields), which lies between a basketball court and soccer field which cater to Cagli’s youth.
He is typical of boys growing up Italy. As they watch their fathers, uncles, older brothers and cousins play soccer, their own desire to play and love for the game grows as well. Weekend tournaments only increase love for the national sport.
While playing for an indoor league in 2003, Magini broke his tibia. After many unsuccessful surgeries, he was told that he would never play soccer again. Seeing his son’s determination to get back on the field, Magini’s father took him to see the trainers and doctors that work with team Milan. Three years later, Magini was scoring and defending goals once
again.
Though he has experienced much pain in the process, Magini values calcio above all other activities. At 30, he continues to play on many teams and is the owner of Oratorio il Campetto, a bar that lies between the local basketball and soccer fields that cater to both children and adults. His eyes light up when he speaks of traveling to Milan to cheer on his favorite professional team. Even though he has attended Milan’s home games since he was a small child,
goose bumps cover his arms each time he enters the stadium.
Magini's collection of calcio keepsakes.
Although the excitement of playing and the thrill of winning are important to Magini, the friendships he has formed through his involvement in soccer matter most. He has many friends simply because he plays soccer. Having played on numerous teams and clubs, he has made many valuable connections in other cities and regions around Cagli.
In his playing days Magini came to know players from various parts of the country, but he spends time with his childhood teammates. Many of his closest friends are those he met when he began playing soccer. Though the teams they played for did not always have winning records, Magini still fondly recalls those earlier memories.
“The weaker the team; the stronger the friendship,” he adds.
Problem solving and learning how to work together as a team are two of the most valuable skills one can learn while playing soccer, says Magini.
Though Magini has played for teams outside of Cagli, he has remained a Cagli resident his entire life. Others, however, have taken their passion for soccer and moved away to pursue semi-professional careers.
Un ’esperienza mitica
At 16, Matteo Barzotti is a member of Milan’s youth soccer team. Like Magini, Barzotti grew up watching his father and older friends play. When he was 7 years old, he joined his first team. He soon realized that all his friends were also his teammates. At school, they saw each other in class, and in the evenings and on the weekends, they spent time together at the soccer
field.
At 14, however, he was approached by a scout and asked to try out for Milan’s youth team. At tryouts, he performed well and later received word that Milan wanted to recruit him. Although it seemed as if his dream of becoming a part of the professional world of calcio was coming true, the decision was difficult to make. Playing for Milan meant leaving Cagli.
At first, he was homesick. Without his family and friends, Barzotti was alone in a new city. It didn’t take long to feel as though he fit in, however. Although the other boys in the program had different backgrounds, they all had a passion for soccer. Their love of the sport and their drive to succeed pulled the group of teenagers together, creating a bond that Barzotti is proud to be part of.
For the past two years, Barzotti has lived in Milan from August through June. During the day he attends school in Milan with his teammates; at night he joins them in training. While the youth program consumes much of his time, Barzotti returns to Cagli for two to three days each month. Though he checks in with his family, he can be found with his Cagliese friends at the soccer field next to Oratorio il Campetto on these rare days off.
Video by Michael Movido
This coming August, he will return to Milan to continue his training and proudly represent Cagli in the youth league.
Being involved with soccer has enabled Barzotti to grow into a responsible, independent young adult. With his New York Yankees hat pulled low over his dark eyes, he admits that leaving his family, friends, and home to follow his dreams was difficult, but he still believes that no matter where he ends up, it will be worth it in the end.
While Barzotti has taken a more serious approach to playing soccer and Magini has incorporated the sport into his business, many of Cagli’s young men join clubs or teams simply because soccer is fun to play.
Che divertente!
At seven, Matteo Chiuselli joined his first calcio club. Unlike Magini and Barzotti, his father did not play soccer. Like many Italians, he watched his favorite teams play games on television. As the number of boys around him who played soccer increased, Chiuselli found himself wanting to play as well.
Seven years later, Chiuselli wears a red, white, and navy blue jersey with a yellow armband. He is captain of team JAM, one of the eight youth calcio teams in Cagli that play in tournaments. As a striker, the lanky teenager provides his teammates with direction and strength during games, but off the field, he’s just one of the guys – one of the hundreds of guys who play soccer in Cagli.
“All of the people I know play soccer,” confirms Chiuselli, with a slight shrug and a laugh. Those he considers his best friends are among the players of team JAM.
While winning comes with certain perks and pride, simply being involved in a team activity can affect life in various ways. In Italy, soccer is that team activity. Players gain confidence in their abilities, learn lessons in humility, and form friendships that may last a lifetime.
On a warm Monday night in June 2009 fans gathered in cafes and bars throughout the Le Marche and the rest of Italy to watch Italy beat the United States 3-1. They sang songs, drank beer, and taunted those cheering for the American team. Most importantly, however, the event helped to reinforce friendships and may have even led to new bonds between fellow fanatics.
In Cagli, soccer is more than just game—calcio is a way of life.
Web production by William O'Brien
