Fortitudo, Caja's charge for the big leap

Certainly the military jargon used by coach Attilio Caja (pictured) in Sunday's post-match ("We need soldiers who are always ready", "War is not done like this", "Every game is a battle and nobody gives anything away") is the mirror of the self-denial required for the goals of this place. Goals that, without beating around the bush, were reiterated in November after the return of the coach from Pavia, who has given himself until next season to take the top division after three years in the second division. Certainly making Vigevano coach Lorenzo Pansa happy too, who, again on Sunday evening, did not spare a dig at Caja after the recent friction between the two: "Honestly, they have everything to make the jump in category, also crowning a forty-year career of coach Caja, with the first title won". Friction aside, the numbers of the EF they only partially tell the state of the art of a patched-up team, not always constant, maybe not always brilliant, but certainly on the rise given the trend of 7 consecutive victories (12-14 is the record since Caja's return to date) without two key players like Gabriel and Sabatini and a ranking that is tempting.

Especially considering the calendar between now and the end of the regular season: Effe (sixth) still has to face Rieti (fifth), Cividale (third) and Rimini (second) on the PalaDozza parquet, in addition to the key away match against Udine (first), all appointments that could overturn the fortunes of the championship.

But the road is certainly still long and the team, which returned to training today in view of Sunday's away match in Brindisi, will have to deal with Caja's recent dressing down in terms of mentality and dedication to personal work, starting with that in the gym.

On the positive side, there is the exponential growth of Vencato, better evaluated in the match against Vigevano and with Fantinelli more in the shadow than in the light, and of Aradori, in the role of sixth man of great luxury in view of the final rush of the season. But the coach asks something more from some. Even - in his words - to walk on burning coals.