PARK and San Marino: small country, big impact

Building on the successful experience of the first year of collaboration, the San Marino Football Federation has once again chosen PARK as the official match ball supplier for national competitions. Only a year ago, Titanico739 was created and launched – perfectly reflecting the unique culture of the Republic of San Marino and carefully customised to showcase the iconic features of our country. "The Titanico739 turned out to be an excellent ball," comments Alessandro Golinucci, Virtus midfielder with whom he was crowned San Marino champion last season. "I remember that when we tried it for the first time, it felt very light and that initially left us a little puzzled. In fact, it pleasantly surprised us, proving to be very compact when struck and giving us great sensations on the ball. Over the course of the season it proved to be a very reliable tool and it also contributed to scoring many fine goals – not least the one that allowed us to win the league. For this reason alone it will always have an enormous sentimental value for me and represent a wonderful memory. I hope the next ball confirms this level of excellence, if not actually manages to be even better". FIFA Quality PRO certified, the striking and instantly recognisable ball enhanced the Campionato Sammarinese throughout the entire season, and was also used in several home fixtures of the San Marino Under-21 National Team, including the match against Italy. "What I can say about the Titanico739 is that it proved to be extremely reliable and suited to all playing surfaces. Whether on artificial pitches, natural grass or the hybrid surface of the San Marino Stadium for international matches, it was highly appreciated – both by outfield players and goalkeepers. This latter aspect, in particular, is what really defines the quality of a ball," explains Matteo Cecchetti, Head Coach of the San Marino Under-21 National Team and coach of the San Marino Academy Under-22. "Easy to strike but at the same time very stable. We were pleased to be able to rely on it last season, and we also received very positive feedback from the national teams who used it for the first time here in San Marino during the Under-21 European Qualifiers". In the upcoming season, Titanico739 S2 will make its debut – incorporating design elements that are even more sophisticated and detailed, while maintaining the essential top-level quality that guarantees the highest performance. Alongside the sky blue of the Republic of San Marino that already characterised the first version, dark blue elements have been added to create an immediate, richer and deeper feeling with the ball. Fine curved lines and organic shapes provide stylistic continuity, while the addition of laurel and oak leaves aligns perfectly with the official logo and flag of our country. Interwoven among the leaves you can also read the names of the nine Castelli of San Marino. Shining a spotlight on each of them, through Titanico 739 S2, means celebrating the diversity within our territory while at the same time highlighting the common thread represented by the world’s most beautiful game. "Renewing this collaboration with PARK for the creation of the official ball of the Federation, for the 2024–2025 Sammarinese competitions, is fundamental for many reasons," states Andrea Nardoni, Head of Marketing and Commercial Area of the FSGC. "Last year we were delighted – confident that we had embarked on a promising path with carefully weighed risks, since even before the design phase (developed jointly by FSGC and PARK), there had been an important testing phase on the ball, which was awarded the FIFA Quality Pro standard. At that time only the ‘litmus test’ was missing, namely the feedback from players and fans first and foremost. In this respect, the outcome was outstanding: the players rated it very positively, speaking in enthusiastic terms about the structural quality of Titanico739. And that’s not all: the ball, which had – and still has – a clear high-profile branding objective, also won over – as we had hoped – fans and followers of Sammarinese football. Put on sale in a very limited quantity, it literally sold out, earning great appreciation among all our stakeholders. Therefore, we started work on this season’s ball with even greater enthusiasm, deliberately taking up the 2023–24 design again in order to properly close the graphic circle. At the same time, we added some truly intriguing details: from the ball’s name in the foreground to the mention of all the Castelli of the Republic of San Marino – since the ball (from a footballing perspective) is the common denominator for all those who share a passion for the game. For this reason, too, I would like to thank Sam Davy and PARK SSC for the great work which, as we know, is not at all simple: behind the finished product there is a bespoke production carried out exclusively for FSGC, as well as an important environmental sustainability project that we have fully embraced. Finally, my thanks go to our Federal Council, which enables us to continue this wonderful journey". With the purchase of one thousand balls, San Marino can truly be described as a small country capable of generating a big environmental impact. This is thanks to PARK’s Pass-a-ball project, under which for every ball purchased, another is donated to a player in need anywhere in the world. This is how PARK, and by extension the San Marino Football Federation, aim to guarantee access and participation for everyone in the beautiful game of football. It means that a further one thousand balls will be sent to players who do not have one, making it possible to start – on average – one hundred thousand matches that otherwise could never have been played. All this while remembering that PARK balls are carbon zero: a total of 10 tonnes of carbon (CO2e) will not be released into the atmosphere, which speaks volumes about the eco-friendly approach that PARK and FSGC have tangibly embedded in their business strategy.