The question about the replacement for the suspended Costanzo in the derby to avoid relegation against Costa Orientale Sarda will be answered by Ze Maria – also suspended – tomorrow (hopefully) in the usual pre-match press conference in Olbia.
The Brazilian coach is spoiled for choice, having tested the anti-Cos formation during the week with a substantially complete group. On Sunday in Tertenia, on the occasion of the challenge of the 12th day of the return leg of the Serie D championship, the whites will face an opponent hungry for points. Second to last in the standings at -4 from the playouts, the Sarrabesi will give their all to stay in the running for the play-offs, but Olbia is equally motivated, in the knowledge that a result other than victory could cost them a slip into the relegation zone.
Against Cos, the best possible Olbia will be needed, and so Ze Maria will have to be good at preparing the derby tactically and mentally, and focus his attention on the field while outside, at a corporate level, the economic and financial difficulties already experienced other times during the season are resurfacing. A lack of funds that has forced the club to postpone the payment of the February salary for another week.
On Wednesday, the technical area manager Manuel Gonzalez would have met with the players after training to inform them that the outstanding monthly salary will not be paid today, as promised by president Guido Surace a few days ago. The hope is that the liquidity emergency will be resolved immediately: to save the category, serenity is needed.