"Fortitudo, you have to believe in it". Ballandi, jerseys and passions: "Caja is a leader. And the PalaDozza is a fortress"

Fashion and basketball, Kontatto the company he founded and of which he is the sole director and Fortitudo, are the passions of Federico Ballandi. Creative, passionate, never banal, he divides his time between work in the company based in via dei Cardatori at Centergross and his passion for Effe, which he follows assiduously at home and away and which he expertly comments on Radio Sportiva in the show Calciaccio with 'Pillole di Fortitudo'. A story between Ballandi and Fortitudo that began at the time of the Seragnoli presidency, main sponsor and shirt partner.

"I look back and see so many great memories. Basketball at all levels excites me, Fortitudo is a true, unique passion that involves me."

Caja returned to the saddle at Fortitudo and the team has strung together 11 wins in 13 games.

"He is a great coach, the leader to get to the end and achieve what we all want. He has the team in his hands, you can see it also from the changes and rotations. An example? Someone like Panni with Verona and Cantù maybe plays less, but when he comes in he knows how to make the three-pointer, the right pass that the team needs. The credit goes to the coach who praises the team for the victory against Verona, but then in the first match criticizes the team for how they faced the challenge with Piacenza. A perfectionist who keeps attention and pressure high".

Could this be the right year?

"The team is stronger than last year's, it has a longer bench with high-level alternatives. The championship has changed a lot with the reform of A2. Given the strength, the prestige and the quality of many teams I would call it Serie A bis rather than A2. The season is long, Rimini is there, Udine, Cantù are high-ranking teams, it will all be to play for until the end. We just have to think about winning, about climbing the standings which would give us the advantage of the home field advantage, and we know how important it is at PalaDozza".

There is still some regret for the final with Trapani last year.

"Absolutely yes, if we hadn't had the problem of Aradori's injury in game one and Ogden's mistake with that punch, I think we would have given Trapani even more trouble than we actually did and with a Caja like that, who knows".

In the last two years, great strides have been made on the pitch and also in society.

"Caja is the right person to continue our journey. At a corporate level I see that in these two years great things have been done. Stefano Tedeschi is the right person in the right place. I don't know the other members of the board very well, but they have given a good boost to a restart process that began in B, and with the first roots laid by Muratori and then improving the basic structure. Furthermore, when it was necessary to move on the market they did it immediately and well".

Contact and Strength, a long bond.

"We have always been close, this year too we are shirt sponsors. We have always given our contribution out of great passion and we will do it again".

Have you ever thought about taking on a corporate role?

"We haven't talked about it recently. There was the possibility in the past, but then we always stayed as a sponsor."

The player you are most attached to?

"Many, too many one might say. The first ones I'll mention are Mancinelli, Pozzecco, Basile, Aradori whose attitude I really like. I fondly remember all those who embodied the Fortitudo spirit and always had the right attitude on the pitch.

And the match you remember?

"Derbies are special. I also remember the Epiphany derby in 2017. The cheering and warmth were top notch."

The derby is always special.

"We know it well at Basket City. Rivalry generates enthusiasm. I have always experienced it with passion, as with teasing between friends. The game is the highlight of a much longer show".

Years later, people still talk about the polka dot sweater. How did the idea come about?

"In the past years I have seen even more extravagant jerseys in the Euroleague. We were precursors. That year we had a polka dot collection, so also on the instructions of the then managers, a jersey like that was made. The design and production were done quickly with passion and skill and the result were those jerseys that are still talked about".