«We are a team of kids, without great physical potential. An investment has been made to let young players play because I think Serie D can be the right gym for young people». And what a gym, one might say. Speaking, when the season was just beginning, last October, was Antonio Mura, coach of the Dinamo Academy, a team that won the Serie D championship playoffs. first place of Sennori for best points coefficient), then obtained in the post season, overtaking Astro and Visionottica Carbonia.
The epilogue. The apotheosis came in Carbonia, in a game 2 won on the wire, thanks to two free throws scored by Simone Casu a few seconds from the end. «The first two quarters – says Mura – we suffered a lot. We had to sort out a few things during the break, after all a lot of the guys were in their first playoff final at senior level. In the second half we extended the defence, made a bit of a 3-2 zone and in the end Simone and Enrico Casu, Pitirra and Pisano took over the team. During the season we had many injuries, difficulties and I'm happy with the reaction we had».
Path. A very long season, which saw Dinamo's young players engaged on several fronts. Mura's work was patient, step by step. A talented group, but not only. «Until January – continues the coach – we shaped the group. From January onwards we drew a line and went straight on our way, making precise choices that brought results. A solid group, also fantastic off the field». Promotion, but above all growth of a team made up of very young people from 2003 to 2007, with the addition of a few valuable experts (Pompianu and Langiu). «The boys – continues Mura – can now say they have credibility at certain levels and in the future they will have to prove themselves. Winning in Carbonia, against a team of that experience, is not easy».
The turning point. After a start made up of building a team identity and acclimatization in the category, the coach from Sassari identifies a “key” moment: «After Pompianu's injury – he confirms – we lost 3-4 games which marked us. Sennori's defeat, after having been under the score by many points, having recovered and then lost, has nevertheless given us awareness. From that match on we practically never lost again».
Availability and Youth. The secret of the Dinamo Academy? «Each boy gave his all – the coach proudly states – and everyone put himself at the service of the team. The desire to collaborate, to play for each other was great. Not everyone is willing to take a step back; in this case they did.' Playing for each other but not only. «The secret – continues Mura – I think was also the many young people who wanted to demonstrate that they could stay in the tournament. Helped by expert players like Pompianu who, despite the injury at the beginning of the season, has always been close to the group, effectively lengthening the technical staff. All helped by the perfect organization, with Giancarlo Salteri who didn't let us miss anything».
The future. Mura has no doubts about his team's place in next season. «Definitely – he concludes – we will make Serie C. The goal will not be to be protagonists, still enhancing the younger players. We will start again from the base, with Pompianu a point of reference together with 3-4 seniors, with the young players of 2007».
