The Volpi Rosse Menarini are once again setting their sights on the net, as the wheelchair basketball team takes to the court for the start of a new season in the Serie A FIPIC National Championship (Italian Federation of Wheelchair Basketball) and this year they are opening the season with a new line-up and an exceptional coach.
Founded in 2005, the Wheelchair Sport Firenze was the first wheelchair basketball team in Tuscany where integration came through playing sport together and setting an example of passion, talent, and determination, all of which the team continues to show on court in every game they play. Since reaching the top division in 2021, their desire to win and have fun has not waned. Menarini has been supporting the team as title sponsor since 2011.
Town councillor for Sports in Florence, Cosimo Guccione and Ivano Nuti, President of the team, spoke about the team’s history during a press conference held in the Michelozzo Courtyard of Palazzo Vecchio in a ceremony to present the new 2023 Volpi Rosse Menarini team. An event, set in one of Florence’s most important locations, which highlighted how a connection to the city is a fundamental part of the team’s identity.
“We are always pleased to participate in the presentation of sports teams in our city, and today we are honoured to present the Volpi Rosse Menarini – said Cosimo Guccione, town councillor for Sports in Florence – We have always stood by the team and we would encourage everyone to support them. The Volpi Rosse Menarini will be representing the city of Florence not only in Serie A but also at the Eurocup 3 games in Europe. Today, the message we wish to convey is that nothing is impossible. Sport is one of the best examples of how obstacles can be overcome if faced with courage, determination, and conviction. I would like to thank Menarini, that has been supporting this initiative for many years now and to say to the players, staff, and all those who collaborate and support the team: you are the pride of Florence”.
If you consider the age of most of the players, the team is the youngest in the league and this year the team will be led by Coach Fabio Castellucci, previously coach of the Under 22 team and former assistant coach of the first Italian national wheelchair basketball team.
“We wanted to create a team of young athletes who have tremendous potential even if they have yet to ‘mature’ and become top players – explained Ivano Nuti, President of the Volpi Rosse Menarini – The players we have this year are the strongest among all the national youth players. The presence of a new coach is also added value for the team, especially if we consider that almost everyone in the team has already had the chance to play in the national team. Our warmest welcome to him and to all the new members of the Volpi Rosse Menarini family”.
A tough test awaits the Volpi Rosse Menarini over the next few days as they debut in an away game in the province of Teramo against Italian champions Amicacci Giulianova. The match is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 21 at the Palacastrum in Giulianova.
In Europe, after qualifying in Chalon-Sur-Saône, France last spring, the elimination matches of the Eurocup 3 await the Volpi Rosse Menarini next March 6th and 7th when the team will represent Florence and Tuscany.
“For more than a decade, we have been supporting this fantastic project of sport, inclusion and independence, the same fundamental values we uphold in Menarini – commented Lucia and Alberto Giovanni Aleotti, shareholders and members of the Board of Menarini – Go for it, Volpi Rosse!”.
Here is the complete roster of the Volpi Rosse Menarini team: Jitske Visser, Riccardo Innocenti, Samuele Cini, Niccolò Bartoloni, Mehran Hosseini, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Kevin Giustino, Cosimo Caiazzo, Lorenzo Bassoli, Miguel Pinto Reis, Salim Chakir, Bilal Oujedid, Mattia Scandolaro, Giacomo Garavello, Francesco Marotta, Camilo Van Trijp.
