From one Calabrian side to another. After the 1-1 draw at the Granillo, Messina is ready to host Sambiase , chasing the three points that would be crucial in the race to stay in Serie D. Striker Andrea Oliviero , coming from Catanzaro and one of the Giallorossi’s winter signings, reflects on last Sunday’s match, which revitalized the team: ” We knew it would be a difficult match, and a very emotional one for the city, being a derby. We went to Reggio with the right attitude, approaching the game well. Coach Feola, with his arrival, has had a huge impact on the team, and against the Amaranto we played on equal terms. He’s a fellow countryman of mine, we understood each other immediately, and he can give us a huge hand.”
Four points off the safety zone, after a great push that began in the summer from a 14-point deficit, Messina must now make the final step in the remaining ten matchdays to reach the top spot directly, without having to go through the dreaded playouts. “Every match is crucial, we’re giving it our all in every training session, working to be at our best Sunday after Sunday and secure safety.”
The 2006-born Neapolitan has made six appearances for the Peloritani so far. The late-game error that cost him his title against Gela is now behind him: “I’ve joined a very important club that needs no introduction. I feel at home in this city. I’m Neapolitan, there’s the sea here, you can find everything. Life is good in the North, but in the South, it’s a whole different story. The goal against Gela? These things can happen. That match wasn’t easy, but it’s over now. I’ve only focused on moving forward, trying to improve my performances. I can give more and contribute to the team to get the points needed to reach our goal.”
Despite his young age, he had a couple of important career experiences under Massimo Costantino, his coach at Catanzaro: “I spent a year at Pescara, then four years at Bologna, where I spent six months in the youth team, before moving to Catanzaro’s youth team. There, I had Massimo Costantino as my coach , and, having previously worked at Messina (at FC, ed.), he explained to me what the club was like. I would have chosen him regardless, but his words were important because they encouraged me in my decision.”
