When Isili and Sinnai played in D
On the bench was Gianfranco Pau, who is 74 today: "My football was passion"
Gianfranco Pau (Andrea Serreli)
He has occupied many benches in his career. He also coached Selargius, albeit for a short time. Gianfranco Pau is now 74 years old and is a building contractor: he spent his magical moments above all in Isili and Sinnai. With him, the two countries experienced magical moments with presidents such as Dessì and Cosimo Perra. Very distant times. Today of football and the golden years, in Isili and Sinnai, there is not much left: the teams are getting by between the third and second categories. In Sinnai there is also an attempt to recover the youth sectors, which once made history. A Sinnai youth team also played nationally at the Foligno tournament in the 1960s, with coach Antonio Cappai (who passed away years ago), known as Herrera. Then, with Gianfranco Pau the trips of the Allievi (1990s) also to distant Kaliningrad, an enclave of Russia. Unforgettable times, also embellished by an extraordinary friendly match of Sinnai first team with Bayer Monaco of Trapattoni, Rizzitelli and Mattheus. Times in which the teams of A and B trained in Sinnai and were to play against Cagliari the following Sunday. Or when Sinnai played a friendly match against Cagliari of Gregorio Perez, an Uruguayan pupil of Tabarez. Times light years away. Perhaps unrepeatable dreams.
The technicians. Those of Isili and Sinnai were the most prestigious benches on which Pau sat, between Excellence and Serie D. But it was not the only one, at least in Sinnai: unforgettable seasons with Toto Maglione technicians, protagonist of vintages and extraordinary promotions, Mario Orrù, who launched several young people, Mario Mirtillo, Rino Varsi and managers such as the principal Cosimo Perra, such as Mariano Pinna, Pasquale Deiana, Salvatore Cinus, Salvatore Atzeri, Vittorio Monni, Salvatore, Andrea Delpin, Mariano Giglio, Peppino Argiolas, Salvatore Puddu and many other executives who have given so much to the Sinnai cause. In Promotion Sinnai had a female president: the entrepreneur Anna Maria Cannas. Now in the village there is the Pineta, which plays in the Second category: Sinnai football with president Olla has been focusing on young people for years.
The enterprise. The masterpiece Gianfranco Pau - who, in addition to being the coach, was president for years - did it as a very young coach at the beginning of the Eighties, bringing Isili to Serie D. The opponents of that time? Torres, Calangianus, Rufina, Foligno, Angelana, Viterbese, Velletri, Terracina, Iglesias, Carbonia, Orbetello. The players, Salvatore Porcu, Bibo Meli, Antonio Porcu, Luciano Serra, Roberto Lai, Giovanni Dessì, Pinuccetto Incani, Roberto Porru, Francesco Boi, Antonio Trudu, Gigi Catzula, Bruno Canetto, Giorgio Simbola. An unforgettable experience for the whole Sarcidano. Times light years away, with Isili then quickly came back and with Pau who then made a leap to Sinnai where for several years he was a coach but also one of the patrons. "They were incredible years - remembers Pau - at Isili it was a miracle strongly desired by our president Giovanni Dessì and some of his collaborators. I remember those truly extraordinary players. Trudu after Isili also played with Torres and Ternana. A true football miracle. . I have wonderful memories of Isili and that great team. " In Sinnai other seasons to be framed between Serie D, Excellence, the national Italian Cup. To remember the trips to which fields of Frattese and Sestrese. "Other wonderful years - remembers Pau -: we got great satisfaction, playing and excelling against great teams like Tempio, Olbia, Calangianus, Tharros and Iglesias. It was a football that knew how to give satisfaction, but for which I also made many sacrifices and not just technicians. I remember the presidents who had joined me in this adventure at Sinnai. I haven't coached for years. Today's football is different, I don't follow it very much live. For me it was a great passion. "
