Summer Football 2024: Virtus sweep the board, Tosi and Chezzi named best Under-23 players of the year

In the press room dedicated to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Athletes, the traditional Calcio Estate event took place – dedicated to the work of managers, players, coaches and referees in San Marino’s football and futsal movement. For the first time combined with the draws for the Campionato Sammarinese and Coppa Titano fixtures, Calcio Estate saw the presentation of twenty-three individual awards. The dominant force in San Marino football was Virtus. The Acquaviva club, with three finals and one league title in the space of twelve months, celebrated the recognition of Alessandro Golinucci, Luigi Bizzotto and Ivan Buonocunto. The San Marino midfielder picked up the Crystal Ball, while the coach retained the Golden Bench he won last year. Buonocunto, for his part, received the Koppe Award – given to the best player who is neither Sammarinese nor resident in the country. The Virtus playmaker also secured the Assist Award, which he had already claimed last year. Matching him in the past season, Luca Righini (Tre Penne) also delivered eleven assists, earning him the prize ex aequo. Spotlight also on the goalscorers: Imre Badalassi, last season at Tre Penne, won his fourth Bombardino d’Oro, while Aziz Niang finished as top scorer in the Coppa Titano wearing the shirts of Fiorentino and La Fiorita. In futsal, Danilo Busignani confirmed himself as the season’s leading marksman. The National Team captain also received the individual Futsal Best Player award. From quantity of goals to quality. The poll hosted on the FSGC website chose Salemme’s (Fiorentino) strike from the halfway line as the best goal of the 2023-24 season. For the first time, an award was also given for the best save: out of thirty clips shortlisted on a weekly basis, Gennaro Del Prete (Libertas) came out on top. On the coaching front, Claudio Zonzini (Folgore) received the Futsal Golden Bench – thanks to the two titles won in his debut season in charge of the Giallorossoneri. Within the San Marino Academy set-up, it was Matteo Cecchetti (San Marino Academy U22) who took home the coveted prize. Finally, Filippo Dolci (Pennarossa) was presented with the Duilio Felici Award – given to the fairest coach. Referees were also recognised: Michele Beltrano, San Marino’s international referee, received the Golden Whistle. The equivalent futsal award went to Laurentiu Ilie – also newly appointed as an international official. Among assistant referees, Gianmarco Ercolani stood out; like his fellow award-winners, he is part of San Marino’s international refereeing team and the recipient of the Golden Flag. Staying with emerging talents, Alessandro Tosi (Victor San Marino) and Matteo Chezzi (Folgore) received the awards reserved for the best Under-23 players, for football and futsal respectively. In the women’s game, Anna Benedettini – captain of the newly formed Under-16 National Team and a mainstay of San Marino Academy’s Under-17 side – was honoured with the Top Girl award. Raffaella Barbieri, the first team’s prolific striker and a long-serving biancazzurra, received the Top Woman prize. Last, but by no means least, came the Communication Award and the Lifetime Achievement Oscar. Nicola Petricca, reporter for TITANI.TV and press officer of Juvenes-Dogana, claimed the first distinction. Fabiano Piscaglia, President of Domagnano, received the historic tribute celebrating the tireless and invaluable work of club officials in San Marino.

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