New role of Women's National Teams Coordinator assigned to Gionata Arcangeli

The creation of the first San Marino women’s national team naturally also required the establishment of a dedicated management structure ad hoc. The FSGC identified in Gionata Arcangeli the ideal profile to take on the newly created role of Women’s National Teams Coordinator. It is a key position for a project setting itself ambitious goals. “This is all extremely stimulating and exciting for me - Arcangeli says - We are carrying out work aimed at giving continuity to a vitally important project, which has enabled us to create the experimental Under-16 national team but which does not intend to stop there. We are very focused on the base of our football pyramid, seeking to offer encouraging and inspiring prospects to the girls who play football today or who might start tomorrow. Until now, young girls have only been able to dream of reaching a women’s national team. Our efforts are aimed at ensuring that, from now on, this dream becomes a concrete prospect.” In a few months’ time will come the historic debut of the experimental Under-16 women’s national team in the home Development Tournament. “The Under-16 group can’t wait to make their debut – the new Coordinator explains – The girls are impatient; they would like the tournament to be played already. But they know they must prepare properly and work hard, and that is exactly what they are doing. Tough challenges await them, but wonderful ones because of their historic significance. They can’t wait. And neither can we.” It is not only the players who have welcomed with joy the birth of the first women’s Selection in San Marino football. “Families have shown great enthusiasm right from the start, because they clearly feel the pride that runs through the girls, who in April will be called upon to represent their country in an international tournament. We are delighted with the response we have had from parents, who immediately made themselves available to help and support us. This too shows us just how much the women’s game is growing, and how much room there is for it to develop further.” As mentioned, Gionata Arcangeli will be the coordinator of the women’s national teams. National teams, in the plural. “The plural stems from the fact that this is a newly born project but one that is ambitious in its desire to expand – the man directly involved explains – It is clear that we do not want to stop at an experimental Under-16 side, but to climb the ‘ladder’, reaching the higher age categories as well, starting with the Under-17s. We are very optimistic and eager to grow. The girls transmit more and more enthusiasm to us, and so do the families. The national teams have a huge power of engagement, which is a factor we intend to leverage strongly in order to further increase our numbers.”

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