MILAN – Italy U17 coach Daniele Zoratto has named five Nerazzurri youngsters in his squad for the forthcoming international friendly against Hungary.
Goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, defenders Fabio Dalla Giovanna, Federico Dimarco and Giorgio Piacentini and striker Federico Bonazzoli will all be in the Azzurri party for the youth match to be played at the Stadio Granillo in Reggio Calabria on Wednesday 19 February (11:00 kick-off).
APPIANO GENTILE – Walter Mazzarri opened his press conference today by looking back to the game against Sassuolo before quickly turning his attentions to tomorrow’s match against Fiorentina at the Stadio Franchi.
He began: "Winning last Sunday was definitely good for us but I’ve tried not to place too much importance on it when speaking to the lads. Subconsciously though winning puts you in a different frame of mind. Now we need to start stringing together results and performances more consistently. It’s not going to be easy because Fiorentina are a great team and they know exactly how to cause problems for you."
The Nerazzurri boss continued: "Fiorentina are doing magnificently and they’re buoyed by enthusiasm too. They’re also playing at home. We’re up against them at a time when they’re on a wave. It’s clear to everyone just how hard tomorrow is going to be."
Mazzarri was also probed about his relationship with Vincenzo Montella: "I’m not going to discuss private phone calls with you but there was nothing to clear up. Things were said on both sides and it finished there and then."
He was also invited to comment on recent remarks by Aurelio De Laurentiis. "It’s Valentine’s Day, perhaps he loves me too much. He tried to keep hold of me until the very end. I guess he was too in love," the coach smiled.
Speaking
about his team selection, Mazzarri then explained that he tries to stimulate competition among the players. "You need that. I
want to keep everyone on their toes and I tell them it’s not only
what I see in games but in training too. I prefer to see intensity and tackles in
training, because then you’re more likely to see it in a match situation too. I want everyone to maintain a high level of fitness and form."
MILAN – Ivan Ramiro Cordoba’s Fundación Colombia te quiere ver is supporting and promoting the Fundaciòn La Divina Providencia de Cali Colombia‘s Ponte la Camiseta (Wear the Shirt) initiative to help raise public awareness about cancer in children. The event has been organised to tie in with the International Childhood Cancer Day, held annually on 15 February since 2002 when it was established by the International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organization (ICCCPO).
The main aim of La Fundaciòn la Divina Providencia de Calì is to offer aid with housing, nutrition, recreation and medical care to impoverished children with cancer or non-communicable diseases who don’t live in Cali but are undergoing prolonged or outpatient medical treatment.
The Ponte la Camiseta initiative aims to raise awareness about the plight of these children and their illness while raising funds to continue the ‘treatment access’ campaign, targeted to alleviating symptoms and making appropriate, accurate diagnoses.
La Fundación Colombia te quiere ver is inviting everyone to take part in the initiative. All you have to do is send of a photo of yourself wearing a white T-shirt with a yellow ribbon on the left-hand side (symbolising childhood cancer). It might be a photo of an individual, a group or an association (you can show who you are with a board or a banner).
Photos can be emailed to italiaporcolombia@tin.it. We’ll put together a video showing all the photos you’ve sent in, add an introduction by our president Ivan Ramiro Cordoba then send the video to La Fundaciòn La Divina Providencia de Cali Colombia. It will also be used to promote this wonderful initiative via social media such as Facebook and Twitter.
The Fundación Colombia te quiere ver committee is organising a charity auction as well, with shirts signed by Fredy Guarin, Javier Zanetti, Rolando and Matteo Kovacic, Samir Handanovic‘s gloves and Fredy Guarin‘s Colombia jersey.
These prizes will go to the people who make the most generous donations. You can send your donations to our email address: italiaporcolombia@tin.it.
All the proceeds from this initiative will go to charity.
MILAN – Inter youth striker George Puscas has been called up to the Romania Under-19 team. The 17-year-old, part of Salvatore Cerrone’s Primavera squad, could feature in the friendly match against the Italy Lega Pro side on Wednesday 19 February.
