Villacidrese in the upper floors of the D Series; Olbia, Tavolara and Tempio safe without great apprehensions; Arbus last breath to keep the category; Selargius demoted to Excellence. These are the verdicts of the 2000-2001 season for the six Sardinian teams involved in the Serie D national championship. A year that sees the Selargius Piludu striker score 15 times and that of Olbia, Rassu, 14: they are the best scorers among the island teams involved in a group, the "G", with the Campania teams. A combination that in the end led to too many problems: forays on the pitch, fights on the pitch and in the stands, games played behind closed doors. So much so as to make the president of the Serie D league, William Punghellini, say, with no bowls: «In the most absolute way, Sardinia will never again be combined with Campania».
The protagonist
Once again, for the second consecutive year, it is the Villacidrese trained by Bernardo Mereu, to play a leading role among the Sardinians, also pursuing for a while the dream of fighting for the C2 series. Fifth place finish (like the 1999-2000 season) and 51 points, a new record. Without a real top scorer, there were several players who scored: Manunza (9 goals), Fadda and Atzei (7), Cirina (5), Illario and Mele (4), Rallo and Hervatin (3), Porcu (2) . Closing behind the battleship Palmese (68 points to fly in C2) and behind Virtus Unitis, Terzigno and Casertana, in the end is a result of great importance. «I am very happy», Bernardo Mereu's words at the end of the season. "The strength of Villacidrese, a company not rich but full of great professionals, has always been the group, solidarity and help, everyone's commitment". And it is precisely a Villacidrese player who is chosen as the best among those of the Sardinian teams by the coaches of the six island "sisters" in the referendum carried out by L'Unione Sarda: Nicola Manunza, 22, midfield winger and fruit of the youth sector of Cagliari.
Nine goals, great technique and a lot of running.
The great salvation
Those who suffer until the last minute, however, hitting a salvation that is worth a promotion is Arbus: the 1-0 victory at Scafatese in the final round of a difficult season was decisive. Mileddu's goal, at the 26th of the second half, breaks the tension and starts the party of an entire town.
«It is a result that pays us back for everything. The boys showed attachment to the shirt especially in the darkest period. But above all I want to thank the public who have always followed us with affection. It was crucial ». Thus the president of Arbus, Moreno Fosci, with salvation conquered. He had to make some difficult decisions, like that of sending away the coach Beppe Martinez, entrusting the team to Gianluca Boi, in the double role of coach and player, together with the other senators. "In seven days a united group was created and we managed to reach salvation", comments Boi.
Happy are the other "big names" of the team, from Pierpaolo Piras to Mauro Tiddia, from Oscar Erriu to goalkeeper Andrea Capitta, and again Sogus and Mileddu.
Relegation
Season to forget for Selargius, the only one among the sardines to retreat several days before the end. Bitterness in the words of president Antonello Carta: "We want to get back to Serie D immediately. We will confirm this framework that gives guarantees based on the youth sector".
Many mistakes made during the season, the change of coach and the arrival of Gabriele Rendina that did not help to reverse the course. «If I had arrived earlier», the coach's opinion after the last championship match, «we could have saved ourselves».
The others
For the other island teams a more or less peaceful championship and a salvation without worries. The same goes for Olbia, Tavolara and Tempio. The "whites" paid a final tournament with two points in five suffered, before the final two consecutive victories: with a few more points they could have contended with Villacidrese for the title of best among the Sardinians. Tavolara closes with 44 points, one less than Olbia. Just further down the Temple: safe but not happy for an anonymous championship.
"Considering the difficulties of the Temple after the relegation of the previous year, we could not do much more," explains the coach Gianni Addis.
Difficulties
The 2000-2001 season goes on file as particularly complicated for the coexistence between Sardinian and Campania teams. Especially when it was played in Campania. Referees and opponents besieged in the locker room, threats, tension, fights, games played behind closed doors due to public order problems and matches postponed by the prefect.
"No criminalization of a Region, it has been repeated several times, but some clubs, some groups of fans and some managers have created serious problems", underlines in an interview with L'Unione Sarda the president of the Serie D league. , the Sardinian teams the following year will be in one of the groups with the Lombard teams.