The number 11 entered his life with a straight leg. As it had been for Gigi Riva. The number 11 of the shirt that his father had given him after seeing his idol-bomber play for the first time. And, as it happens, he entered the seminary at the age of eleven.
Don Carlo Rotondo, priest of Sinnai, now 60 years old, missionary in Tanzania , chaplain of Cagliari appointed by Tomaso Giulini in 2016, has always been a super rossoblù fan. And even in Africa he follows the team carefully and tries to convey his passion for Cagliari to the children he helps.
MEMORIES – The first time he went to the stadium – the Amsicora – was on 12 April 1970, the day the rossoblu won the scudetto. Upon leaving, his father also gave him another gift: «He bought me the Cagliari shirt and for many nights that shirt became my pajamas. Then I went further with the requests: I asked my dad to also buy me two leather number 1s. My mother sewed them onto the red and blue shirt: from that moment I had an extravagant, maniacal idea: to become GiggiRrriva."
A story, his, sent to the leaflet of his parish of Santa Barbara in Sinnai, over a month after the death of the champion, his idol.
He signs himself as Don Carlo Rotondo, "red and blue missionary". From Tanzania he carefully follows the events of Cagliari football. «More than a footballer – says Don Carlo, signing himself “red and blue missionary” – I wanted to become Gigi Riva. Football was my favorite sport. When they asked me where I wanted to play, the answer was immediate: "left wing". I got used to kicking only with my left foot, using my right foot as a support foot. Just like Riva. I remember my tears when Riva got injured. Back then, I was an altar boy and I prayed a lot for him so that he would heal faster. In short, Gigi Riva was truly my dream."
THE MISSION – Don Carlo's life was also extraordinary. For about ten years he was a missionary in Kenya where he founded Nanyuki football, a club that played in the Kenyan championship. Back in Sardinia, he left again for over two years, this time in Tanzania where poverty is cut into slices and where Don Carlo, so as not to give up, takes care of desperate kids who have rediscovered the joy of life. Even simply by wearing the Cagliari shirt, which has come so far.
The vocation came as a child, after serving a mass as an altar boy: «I asked the parish priest what I needed to do to become a priest? And he: “You have to go and study in a place called a seminary where they also play football. So it was". I am now 60 years old, 34 of which were spent as a priest. Now I'm overjoyed to be a missionary. As a child I dreamed of being Gigi Riva, the good Lord gave me the joy and honor of being a priest at Gigi Riva."
A PRIEST “ON THE SHORE” – «Yes, it's exactly like that, – continues Don Carlo – my priestly life is made up of incredible plays, crazy goals, legendary overhead kicks, unstoppable kicks . And, like Riva, I also had serious injuries, specifically to my left knee. And like Riva I didn't complain but I always tried to get back up. And, like Riva, I said only one "Yes": him to Cagliari and Sardinia. Me to that playful God."
Then a final reflection: «The height of my joy was when in 2016 Tomaso Giulini asked me to become the rossoblu chaplain. Today, the man Riva is dead, but his example, his style, his legend still live in the children who dreamed of him and who still dream of him: Thanks Gigi."