Geppi Cucciari: La mia passione per il Cagliari e il desiderio di tornare a giocare a basket.

Geppi Cucciari, a television presenter, recently spoke about her love for football and sports in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

When it comes to football, how do you stand?

“Well… I’m stuck in the times of Gigi Riva, an absolute legend. I support Cagliari, that’s for sure. I’m Sardinian and I love my region, my territory. It’s very important that Cagliari has returned to Serie A, thanks to Claudio Ranieri. He gives so much to the city. I hope they can avoid relegation.”

Let’s play a game: name five football players you remember.

“Well, first of all, Bisoli, then Matteoli, Pancaro, Chiti, and Nainggolan. They are all people who played for Cagliari. But let me tell you more: they were all loyal to the club, and I love that.”

Now, name a current player.

“Easy, Barella. I really appreciate him. He’s from Cagliari, he’s connected to Cagliari, and he’s incredibly talented.”

Let’s go back to Pierpaolo Bisoli, who is now the coach of Südtirol in Serie B. Why did you mention him first?

“Because when I used to play basketball in A2 for Virtus, if we won on Saturdays or Sundays, our coach Beppe Muscas would make us play football on Tuesdays. It was a way to skip training… I saw myself in Bisoli because I was very aggressive in defense.”

Basketball plays a fundamental role in your life.

“My dearest friends, Stefania Cinus and Lucia Sechi, live in Milan like me. Lucia was my classmate in Macomer, and we played for the Pleiadi team. Stefania played for San Salvatore in Selargius. We have spent our lives together, and it’s great that we can still reunite. Although Stefania has betrayed me a bit by getting into marathons. But I’m still obsessed with basketball. In fact, I want to play, I want to train, I want a team where I can continue playing basketball. I miss it so much. In the gym, I watch the clock to see when I finish my program. That doesn’t happen on the basketball court. It didn’t even happen when my coach Gigi Usai wouldn’t let me shower if I hadn’t made a certain number of consecutive free throws. Basketball is unpredictable, it creates magic.”

Today, the basketball championship starts, including the women’s league. You have a favorite team: Dinamo Banco di Sardegna in Sassari, of which you are the godmother.

“I have a wonderful relationship with President Sardara and General Manager Pasquini. They are two miraculous men. The club has three teams in the top leagues: men’s, women’s, and wheelchair basketball. All three teams compete in cups. I have been following Dinamo since the time when Emanuele Rotondo was the leader. Today, I admire the example set by Jack Devecchi, who has just retired, and Stefano Gentile. They are true legends. Dinamo brings joy, anxiety, and pride. I even went to Wurzburg for the Fiba Europe Cup final in 2020. And I’m proud that two Sardinians, Marco Spissu and Gigi Datome, were part of the national team in the last World Cup. It’s a great source of pride.”

You can also meet Datome in Milan.

“Yes, if we can, we do. He came to see me at the theater with his partner Chiara Pastore, who is also a former basketball player.”

You often end up with your co-host Giorgio Lauro, a big fan of Olimpia.

“It’s fun. But I never disrespect Milan and Bologna, great rivals. They are different realities. There’s one word that matters: budget. Theirs is disproportionate compared to Sassari’s.”

Quick question… Marcell Jacobs or Gimbo Tamberi?

“I say Tamberi because Gimbo and I are ambassadors for Airc (the Italian Association for Cancer Research). We have done things together in this field. I only met Jacobs once at the Gazzetta Awards, and he seemed delightful.”

Federica Pellegrini is about to become a mother. After the birth of her daughter, could you host her on “Splendida cornice”?

“The show is not primarily for athletes. But why not? We’re talking about a symbol who has had great success and has pursued her career with passion.”

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