There is a place, in the Sardinian hinterland, where two names now resonate like an echo of values and memory: Gigi Riva and Antonio Bandino. Esterzili, a small town in Barbagia di Seulo, celebrated yesterday a day that is much more than a simple naming: it was a hymn to identity, passion for sport and love for one's land.
Despite the biting wind and the incessant rain, the large community gathered to inaugurate the new “Largo Gigi Riva” in Taccu , the plateau that overlooks the town and looks at the majesty of Santa Vittoria, like two silent giants protecting a people. A space that, from today, carries with it the indelible mark of two legends: the football legend of Gigi Riva, “Rombo di Tuono” and the unforgettable figure of Antonio Bandino, historic president of Esterzili Calcio.
The event, organized by the Municipality, was a dive into the past and an embrace of the present. "Sport as a gym for life," said the mayor, Renato Melis, summarizing the theme of a day full of emotions, where memories were intertwined with gratitude.
Present at the ceremony were Mauro Riva, Gigi's son, with his family and a delegation of former rossoblù players: Gigi Piras, Mario Brugnera, Renato Copparoni and Ciro Formisano . Acting as a glue between the present and the past, Giacomo Deiana, owner of the famous Stella Marina restaurant in Montecristo, the legendary restaurant.
Next to them, the family of Antonio Bandino, from Esterzino, a symbol of unparalleled dedication: his wife Teresa and his children Massimo, Paolo, Giulia and Stefano. With their presence, the memory of the president has transformed into a living tribute, which has filled the hearts of the Esterzilesi.
The naming of the sports field after Antonio Bandino and the square after Gigi Riva represent the deep bond between two stories of football and humanity . Gigi Riva, a legend of Sardinia and the entire world, and Antonio Bandino, the man who made the dream of many young people from Esterzino possible between the Seventies and Eighties.
Bandino was not only a president, but a visionary. Thanks to him, football in Esterzili became a school of life, a place of meeting and growth . With him, men like Piero Boi, Vincenzo Spanu, Fernando Puddu, Francesco Deiana and Severino Caredda shared the dream of bringing football and its values to every corner of the country. And today, his field tells this story: a place that is not just grass and white lines, but a symbol of identity and belonging and that traces a hope for the future.
The road leading to the sports field is now “Largo Gigi Riva”, a tribute to the greatest champion that Sardinia has ever known. Two murals, the work of artists Agnès Zimmermann and Luca Cocco, immortalize the exploits of Rombo di Tuono . They are images that speak, that tell not only of the talent, but also of Gigi’s humility and love for this harsh and beautiful land.