Verona toasts its young talents
The toast at Enoteca Zero7, from left Lorenzo Cortesia, Gian Andrea Marchesi, Rok Mozic and Adi Lami FOTOEXPRESSO SERVICE Gold and silver at the European Championship Lorenzo Cortesia and Rok Mozic
The toast at Enoteca Zero7, from left Lorenzo Cortesia, Gian Andrea Marchesi, Rok Mozic and Adi Lami FOTOEXPRESSO SERVICE Gold and silver at the European Championship Lorenzo Cortesia and Rok Mozic
Gold medal and silver medal at the European Championship. Lorenzo Cortesia and Rok Mozic, the rival friends of the Italy-Slovenia final (even if they lived it off the bench), are now teammates. They arrived in Verona for what they are worth and lay the foundations for a great future. The 202-centimeter Treviso plant from 1999 and the 200-centimeter spiker from Maribor from 2002 were presented to the press at Enoteca Zero7. Gian Andrea Marchesi, the sporting director and partner, is proud. «It is an honor to have two guys here on the top of Europe, two young people who clashed for the continental title. Lorenzo and Rok are two great athletes who will be a point of reference for our season ». Talents Two players who, in addition to their young age, have another characteristic in common: goals. Courtesy, which has always been considered a talent, has not yet had the opportunity to express itself at its best. Last year in Trento he had little chance to enjoy the field in front of two monsters like Lisinac and Podrascanin but this year he wants to take flight. While Mozic, at his first experience in Italy (last season at Maribor), despite the age of 19, was already in the crosshairs of many top clubs but he chose Verona because he wants the starting shirt and continue his growth path. The power plant in Verona for its value. Courtesy will not miss this opportunity. “This is an important year for me,” he says. «After a season of learning from the great champions, I want to finally understand if this talent that has been talked about so much will also be seen on the pitch. I want to be able to see if this year will be the right year for me and I think this is the ideal place. I am very energized and motivated. Happy to work with Stoytchev and this staff ». And he adds: “We have an excellent group, very young, but we have also learned from the national team that being young is not always a demerit and could indeed be a strength and my goal is to be able to achieve my potential together with my teammates”. Courtesy, as mentioned, he got an incredible gold medal around his neck at the European Championship, a source of great pride. «I was not expecting the first call in blue for the VNL», he reveals, «it was a wonderful surprise. A great emotion. A very special competition ”, he recalls,“ we were in a bubble and we were together for a month at a fairly high pace. Great opportunity for me and other young people and he gave me a great hand for the following calls ». And confess. «Going to the European Championship is not that I expected it, but there was more awareness of what I had done. Spirit? I met him at VNL and I have a wonderful relationship with him, being in tune with the setter is already fundamental ». As for the other teammates of Verona Volley, however, he says he has known them mostly as opponents, such as Mozic. But what excites him is being part of a young team. “It’s nice because relationships are easier, there are more things in common and we work very well. The first few weeks here were great and I got a great impression from the environment. This will do us a lot of good, like having an experienced player like Rapha who will be able to give us a great hand since he really has the mentality of a champion ». The season will start with Trento, the former team. «A very difficult match, a rejuvenated but very high quality team like Michieletto, Lavia, Sbertoli, Pinali. Not to mention the power plants. It will be a great thrill for me but I think I will do well », he assures. The hitter He already has all the spotlight on him. Arriving in Verona he immediately integrated with his teammates and in the Tournament of Tours, in France, won by Verona, he went wild: in three games he scored 88 points that earned him the MVP title of the event. There could not have been a better start and now the hope is that it can be confirmed at these levels also in the championship. “I was very happy with how it went. This is my first year abroad but I have often played with the national team and so what to expect, ”he says. «I hope to continue like this also in Superlega. So it will be tough but we are all young and we will only grow year after year and I can’t wait to start ». There are high expectations of him, but the feeling is that the boy is very calm and sure of his means. «I only think about playing volleyball and having fun on the pitch. He is not afraid of anyone. I just need to know I’m doing my best to try and win. Of course, mature I know that it will not be easy in this team and in this club and I am convinced, but to do very well ». Many clubs lined up for him, even top clubs like Perugia. But the young Slovenian hitter chose Verona. “Yes, I wanted to play,” he explains. «I would not have liked to go to a squadron and then remain on the bench. I want to play. For the first year, it is much better for me to start with a team where I can be a starter. Otherwise it would have been very hard. Where I’ve played I’ve always been a starter and I needed to continue being on the pitch and Verona is perfect for me. An ideal team, young but with an element of experience like Rapha that will help us a lot. I know this season will be very tough for us but let’s think about one game at a time starting with Trento which has an element like Michieletto who is incredible. But we will fight. ”•.