Calcio Estate, Roberto Di Maio wins the Crystal Ball

In the setting of the press room at San Marino Stadium, the 17th edition of Calcio Estate took place last night – the event organised by the FSGC that rewards the best performers of the 2021-22 football season. Opening proceedings was Secretary General Luigi Zafferani – invited onto the stage by host and San Marino RTV journalist Elia Gorini – who presented the Koppe Award, dedicated to the best foreign player of the season. The trophy went to Bojan Gjurchinoski, who enjoyed an excellent campaign with Tre Fiori. The player thanked everyone for the award and invited all fans of San Marino football to come to San Marino Stadium for the crucial and imminent UEFA Europa Conference League tie on Thursday 14 July (the yellow-and-blue side won the first leg against Luxembourg’s Fola Esch). There was also room for the Best Goal award: as per tradition, the audience in the San Marino Stadium press room enjoyed a montage of the thirty best goals of last season, from which Imre Badalassi of Tre Penne emerged as the winner. His splendid overhead kick in the highly charged clash with Libertas earned the striker the prize. Badalassi then doubled up, also claiming the next award, the Bombardino d'Oro: the forward – who was unable to attend the ceremony for club-related reasons – was the season’s top scorer with 26 goals across the Campionato Sammarinese and Coppa Titano. Another record for Badalassi: he is the first to win it three times, and with three different shirts (Tre Fiori, Folgore and Tre Penne). Federal Councillor Gianluca Angelini then took to the stage to introduce the Career Oscar and present it to Daniele Ciavatta, a long-serving Cailungo official. Attention then turned to futsal, with the Golden Bench award presented by Federal Councillor Valeria Canini. The best coach of the season is Massimiliano Spada, the all-conquering Folgore boss. He is the architect of the club’s yellow-and-red-and-black doblete, for a coach who had already scooped up several titles a few years earlier with Tre Fiori. Then came the time to honour the best futsal players of last season. The "Futsal Talent" award, dedicated to the best Under-23 player, went to Lorenzo Cecchini of Domagnano Futsal (presented by Vice President Simone Grana). The MVP title for last futsal season instead went to Massimiliano Bernardi. After winning Best Young Player in the 2020 edition and the Bombardino d'Oro last year, he is now the winner of the Futsal Best Player award – presented by Federal Councillor Luca Albani – thanks to an almost flawless season with Folgore. The Falciano club also took home the Bombardino d'Oro Futsal: Federal Councillor Jessica Guidi handed the award to Danilo Busignani, who scored an impressive 48 goals between league and cup. Naturally, there was also recognition for the refereeing sector, with three awards presented by Federal Councillor Simone Grana: Andrea Piccoli won the Futsal Golden Whistle, Giacomo Cenci was named Best Football Referee, while Cristiano Ernesto picked up the Golden Flag as best assistant referee. The evening then continued with the Communication Award. This year it went to Simon Pietro Tura – press officer of Virtus – who, although unable to attend the event (the award was presented by Federal Councillor Filippo Bronzetti and collected by Virtus president Pier Domenico Giulianelli), sent a video message of thanks. In addition to his work with the Acquaviva club, Tura also played a leading role in the audio commentary service for blind fans at UEFA EURO 2020, delivered through a course organised by the FSGC. The night then moved on to youth and women’s football awards. Federal Councillor Stefano Bevitori presented the San Marino Best Coach award to Giacomo Piva, coach of the Under-15 girls’ team, who enjoyed an excellent season and even reached the final stages of their league. Ilaria Giorgi – goalkeeper for the Women’s Futsal side and a key figure in their great escape from relegation in Serie A2 – then collected the "Top Woman" award, given to the best player in the senior women’s teams (football and futsal) and presented by Valeria Canini. In the youth sector, the standout performer was Swami Giuliani, a Primavera midfielder, who received the "Top Lady" award (presented by Stefano Bevitori). The evening concluded with the trio of the most coveted prizes. The Golden Boy award, reserved for the best San Marino player Under 23, went to Samuel Pancotti. The youngster, awarded by Filippo Bronzetti, was a key figure not only for La Fiorita – he also scored one of the two goals in the league final – but also for the Under-21 National Team and Victor San Marino. Oscar Lasagni, La Fiorita’s head coach, was named the best coach of last season and won the Golden Bench (award presented by Simone Grana). As tradition dictates, the ceremony closed with the presentation of the most prestigious award: the Crystal Ball. The prize – presented by Secretary General Luigi Zafferani and reserved for the best San Marino player or resident – was won by Roberto Di Maio. The defender, who played for La Fiorita last season, finished ahead of his former team-mate Danilo Rinaldi and his current one, Alessandro D'Addario (who was with Tre Fiori in 2021-22). At the end of the evening, Secretary Zafferani then announced the key dates leading up to the 2022-23 season. In chronological order, the campaign will kick off with the fixture draw, to be held by mid-August; this will be followed by the Supercoppa Sammarinese clash between La Fiorita and Tre Fiori (scheduled for 30 August) and the start of the Campionato Sammarinese on the first weekend of September.  

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