U n A good test to get started. From the joint training session with Ozierese, which ended 1-1, Olbia can draw initial conclusions about their available squad for the next Serie D season, which for the Whites begins on August 31st with the first round of the Coppa Italia.

On this occasion, Giancarlo Favarin's team will face either UniPomezia or Monastir, who play in the preliminary round on Sunday. The Gallura team will have ten extra days to prepare for the match, and who knows, maybe Favarin will be able to secure some reinforcements in the meantime.

Olbia, who faced Ozierese yesterday, have been training since August 4th to prepare for their Coppa Italia debut against Galtellì on August 31st. Aside from the three mandatory under-18s—one born after January 1, 2005, one after January 1, 2006, and one after January 1, 2007—the confirmations are now available.

Yesterday in Ozieri, Olbia presented its "familiar faces" (from defense to attack) with Anelli, Buschiazzo, Lucarelli, Islam, Staffa, Maspero, Biancu, and Ragatzu, who will soon be joined by Ascioti and Furtado. This is a good foundation from which to build a top-tier team, in keeping with Favarin's vision. He was clear on the day of the presentation, 11 days ago: "We need to shore up the squad with players who speak the same language as Ragatzu, Biancu, and Buschiazzo, and with players who are up to the task, and quickly get back into shape to compete in the league."

The coaching staff will work on the second, but the transfer market, while retaining the involvement of new club manager Riccardo Pecchi, Favarin's trusted man, will have to be handled by the club. Or whoever currently represents them, with SwissPro out of the picture and the Swiss owners' main financial backer, Turkish entrepreneur Murat Yilmaz, who, despite collaborating with the group of local professionals working to save Olbia, has reportedly turned off the financial system pending the club's sale. Meanwhile, salaries and travel expenses loom on the horizon.

Hopes are fueled by sponsorships and the fundraising committee chaired by Giovanni Degortes, the consultant appointed to sell SwissPro's 70% stake in Olbia Calcio. While those in Olbia are working on the final two financial statements, essential for the sale, the financial resources for the first half of the season must be found while awaiting the change of ownership. The fundraising campaign, which is expected to begin in September, will be announced in the coming days.

© Riproduzione riservata