The Cucine Lube Civitanova players reveal the reasons that led them to choose their respective shirt numbers for the 2023/24 competitive season. The red and whites didn’t rely solely on chance for the distribution of the jerseys made by technical sponsor Joma. At the basis of the decisions there are bad luck, significant dates, family traditions, recurring symbols and tributes to sports idols. Newcomers quickly addressed the issue, in some cases opting for a plan B when “their number” was busy.
Only one among the confirmed wanted to change. We are talking about the central Barthelemy Chinenyeze, who wore the 10 because the 1, or his lucky number, was taken. With the departure of Gabi Garcia, the transalpine has returned to his origins. For the Scandinavian setter Jakob Thelle the 2 is not only the first choice of his career, but a “trademark” in the States with the ad hoc chorus “Thelle on 2” before his state-of-the-art brushstrokes.
Center back Jacopo Larizza, who in the year of his return to Civitanova will wear the 22 as his day of birth, was tempted by the vacant 10, already booked by striker Adis Lagumdzija. A family matter for the best scorer of the Regular Season 2022/23, fresh winner of the European Golden League. In fact, the 211 cm giant wanted the number worn by his mother, a former basketball player, also because his father’s 12 was already on the back of center back Enrico Diamantini, who has been fond of that number since the days of the cantera. 12 was also the number of Mattia Bottolo’s father. Out of respect for the legitimate owner of the shirt, the fullback reversed it using the 21. The fullback Alex Nikolov kept the 11 of his father Vladimir, who worked his magic in Trento and Cuneo. Even the opposite Matheus Motzo, a new entry, was inspired by affections, his 4 is the father’s date of birth.
Like Diamantini, the other veterans remain faithful to their numbers, starting with the free Fabio Balaso, who holds on to the 7th of his first career dives. For years now Ivan Zaytsev has been wearing the 9 which represents the number following the 8 worn by his father, which has remained in the hearts of sportsmen. Attached to the 15 for no apparent reason, then made epic by a career full of successes, setter Luciano De Cecco proudly holds his number and captain’s armband. For the moment, the cabal prevents central Simone Anzani from changing his 17 … an infinite honeymoon that is renewed after each important success.
If many fans come to the arena to support Marlon Yant, even the Cuban spiker sometimes puts himself in the role of a fan when he leaves the field. His penchant for NBA basketball leads him to confirm the number 23 of the sacred monster Michael Jordan on his shirt. The landing of the free Francesco Bisotto at Lube widens the discussion, the Piedmontese athlete wanted the 6 worn in recent seasons by LeBron James. Among the reasons, however, there is also the gratitude and esteem for the former Libero from Cuneo Daniele Vergnaghi, who used the 6 as a player, before coaching and becoming an important point of reference for Bisotto’s sporting growth.
Cucine Lube Civitanova 2023/24:
1 Barthelemy CHINENYEZE
2 Jakob THELLE
4 Matheus MOTZO
6 Francesco BISOTTO
7 Fabio BALASO
9 Ivan ZAYTASEV
10 Adis LAGUMDZIJA
11 Alex NIKOLOV
12 Enrico DIAMANTINI
15 Luciano DE CECCO
17 Simone ANZANI
21 Mattia BOTTOLO
22 Jacopo LARIZZA
23 Marlon YANT
