GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Yesterday, a team comprised of Roma legends drew 5-5 in a charity match with a team of Formula E drivers at Stadio Tre Fontane.
Among the headline acts for the Giallorossi were Simone Perrotta, Marco Delvecchio and Vincent Candela, while for the opposition, ex-Formula 1 stars Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella (himself a Roma fan) were involved. The main attraction, of course, was the chance to see Francesco Totti on the pitch again, and Il Capitano played all 90 minutes, understandably in second gear, as he demonstrated his range of skills, nutmegs and long-range passes. Even if he laughed about not getting on the scoresheet, the number 10 showed that he hasn't lost his footballing brain, and likely never will. But perhaps there was a sight to behold on that pitch even more valuable than being able to see Totti play. For Romanisti of a certain generation, it gave them their first chance to see an all-time great in Bruno Conti in action. Whilst my receding hairline indicates otherwise, I'm not old enough to have lived through Conti's playing days. However, having watched highlights videos of his great skills and goals on YouTube, and reading about his importance to the Giallorossi side that won the Scudetto in 1983, I have gained a huge admiration of the former Italy ace. If I had the chance to travel back in time to see any former Roma player in his prime, it would be him. His magnetic control of the ball, shooting technique and Roman passion, forming such a big part of Roma's heyday in the early 1980s, must have been great to witness first-hand. Thanks to that Legends match, I no longer have to dream about being able to watch Conti play. For the first time in my life, I was able to see him play in a match as it happened. Sure, it may have been through a computer screen, and it certainly wasn't him in his prime, but it was something valuable to all Romanisti, that I never thought I'd be able to witness. And what a joy it was to watch. Somehow, at the age of 64, Conti moved about the pitch easier than men 20 years younger than him. Always on his toes and with a smile on his face, he epitomised what football, at its most simple level, is all about. And, unlike many of his teammates, he actually took the game pretty seriously. There were skills, impressive touches, ambitious long-range shots... Conti was relishing every minute of being back in that Roma shirt. Every time he touched the ball brought a smile, laugh or a cheer. There was almost something surreal about it. Here he was, one of the best players in the club's history, kicking a ball about nearly 30 years after he retired, making fools of people a generation younger than him. He was loving the experience, and so were the crowd. I'll never be able to see Conti play live, in his prime, but watching him in the Legends match was the next best thing. He remains a symbol of Roma's glory days, one of the most recognisable faces to have represented the club. He's a player that every Roma fan, young or old, should appreciate, and yesterday, for one more time, there was the opportunity to do just that.
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samuel bannister
Founder and editor of Giallorossi Yorkshire, who is also a columnist for Roma's official website about the women's team. Categories
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October 2019
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