The Scopigno Cup World Football Tournament Under 17 returns to L’Aquila. The announcement was made by the President of the ASD Scopigno Cup Fabrizio Formichetti: “this year one of the groups will be played in the prestigious setting of the Gran Sasso stadium, following the promotion of L’Aquila 1927 to Serie D, a fantastic rebirth”.
No rounds this year in Amatrice, due to the imminent start of the expansion works of the Paride Tilesi Stadium and it is no coincidence that the organization chose L’Aquila, which was also seriously affected by the 2009 earthquake: just after the earthquake dell’Aquila was organized by the ASD Scopigno Cup at the Manlio Scopigno stadium in Rieti, during the event, an immediate collection of clothing and foodstuffs in favor of friends from L’Aquila affected by the earthquake, with the intention of giving immediate help”.
Furthermore, L’Aquila has already hosted the tournament in a past that evokes emotions and many memories. “We had no doubts in choosing L’Aquila, almost a passing of the baton with Amatrice. I remember the opening match of the 19th Scopigno Cup in 2011 (L’Aquila 1927 – USA national team 0-4) at the Fattori stadium, when they gave the the parents of Luca Lunari, who died in Rieti following the collapse of the Casa dello Studente, kicked off.Then again the 2016 edition played at the Fattori and the 2017 edition played at the Gran Sasso always with a qualifying round.Let’s go back to L’Aquila thanks to the fundamental help of the municipal administration and of L’Aquila 1927: we expect a large audience and a lot of affection which we have always reciprocated”.
While waiting to establish the definitive locations of the sports facilities and stadiums where the 2023 edition of the tournament will take place, the dates have already been known for some time (from 22 to 25 August 2023). “Our hope -concludes Formichetti- is to return this year to our Manlio Scopigno Stadium, the natural venue and home of the event”.
“We can only express great satisfaction with the choice of the Gran Sasso Stadium as the venue for the matches of a group of the Scopigno Cup, one of the most prestigious youth football tournaments on an international level – declares the president of L’Aquila 1927, Massimiliano Barberio – A acknowledgment of our ascent towards football stages more suited to a regional capital and to the relevance of a sports facility that we have had the courage to take over and that we are trying to further improve in concert with the municipal administration to make it a point of reference in central Italy”.
“This is an important recognition for our city, for its sporting tradition and the attention that the administration has paid to the Gran Sasso-Acconcia stadium and to the city’s plant engineering, for which significant resources will be used of the Complementary Fund to the Pnrr intended for strengthening and modernization. We are pleased that the organizers have chosen the L’Aquila structure for an important event for youth football and the talents that will be able to show off in the context of the event” declared the mayor of L’Aquila, Pierluigi Biondi.
