«I tried to do my best as a footballer, I tried to give my all to my performance, then, if I consequently gave something to Sardinia I am proud of it and I am very happy about it».

With these words Gianfranco Zola commented on the awarding of the "2024 Golden Onion Award" which the community of Banari - on the occasion of the festival of the same name dedicated to gastronomic excellence capable of attracting a large number of visitors every year - awards to personalities who have given prestige to the image of the island in the world.

Visibly moved, "Magic Box" proved to be an ace even off the pitch, a true champion of humility and friendliness, staying for a long time and making himself available to take selfies and sign autographs especially with children, visiting the country and stopping off at numerous art exhibitions followed by a swarm of very young, enthusiastic people, with the Zola writing on their yellow and red Banari shirts.

«I am very happy because children have always been part of my life – he continued –, I care a lot about them and then I remember that many years ago I too was like them, and I looked towards people who I tried to emulate. I'm happy and I hope to be able to give these guys what I received in my time from the various Gigi Riva, Platinì, Maradona, who were fundamental because they gave me the inspiration, the desire to work hard to establish myself."

Zola then took the stage in Piazza Umberto I to the applause of the audience to answer the questions of journalists Salvatore Taras and Enrico Gaviano, alongside the mayor Francesco Basciu and the president of the proloco Luciana Sassu.

Introduced by Taras and prodded by Gaviano, the champion native of Oliena retraced the salient stages of a great career, sharing some anecdotes never told before. The Banarese artist Giuseppe Carta then presented the 2024 Golden Cipolla Award, donated by him and specially made in lost wax bronze. The master initiated the propitiatory ritual of conferring the work, a living sculpture that allows the metal filaments that symbolize the roots to take on the desired profile.

Zola created a heart shape: «Certificates of this kind make me very happy also because I stopped playing football more than twenty years ago and therefore, that people remember me with affection is something that fills me with joy and pride. It was a wonderful surprise, also because Banari is really nice and I promise that I will return as soon as possible to find this hospitable and generous community." The great footballer finally greeted the public with a goodbye and a wish in the Sardinian language and, before leaving, he immersed himself in a real crowd of people so much so that, barely moving among the fans, the police had to “escorting” the guest of honor to whom everyone wanted to give a hug and shake hands.

The evening continued with the first public performance of the "Su CuncorduBanaresu" choir and the official opening of the food and wine stands set up by the proloco of Banari, Usini, Uri, Thiesi, Porto Torres, Villanova Monteleone and by the San Lorenzo Martire committee, with live music in a square packed with people. The "Largest onion award" was won by the Molineddu farm of Alessio Derudas from Ossi, for a bulb weighing 1.594 kg. During the evening, another important milestone was made official: the inclusion of the golden onion of Banari in the regional agro-biodiversity register, thanks to the collaboration with the Agris and Laore agencies. packed with people.

The “Largest onion award” was won by the Molineddu farm of Alessio Derudas from Ossi, for a bulb weighing 1.594 kg. During the evening, another important milestone was made official: the inclusion of the golden onion of Banari in the regional agro-biodiversity register, thanks to the collaboration with the Agris and Laore agencies. With the latter, land development programs in the agricultural field are being implemented, dedicated to the production of onions.

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