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| | Week 13 Spotlight: Tom given thumbs up | Monday 28 November, 2005 |
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 Player of the Week: Tommasi (Roma)
"He’s an example for all to follow. He’s a great professional and a great man, one who thanks to his determination, desire and great passion for hard work, has shown everyone that he can still be useful after a very serious injury." Those were the words of Roma boss Luciano Spalletti on Monday morning, just hours after Damiano Tommasi started his first game for the capital outfit since his knee was destroyed in the summer of 2004.
Tommasi was handed a surprise start against Fiorentina in Week 13 and repaid the faith of his Coach with a performance that few would have expected - given his year’s absence from the game. After netting within 100 seconds against the in-form Viola, the crowd favourite was rewarded for his incredible off the field efforts over the last 12 months with a display to be proud of.
There were justified fears that the former Verona midfielder would never play again. After all, medics stated that player’s knee had practically exploded during a pre-season friendly against Stoke City in July 2004. Everything that could have been damaged was affected on impact.
While some players would have given up hope, Tommasi exhumed blood, sweat and tears in an effort to recover from his problems and resume his career in the Italian capital. But recovering physically was not the only obstacle which was blocking his future at the Stadio Olimpico, given that his contract was only set to run until June 2005.
With Roma understandably uncertain about whether to offer a player in his condition a new deal, Tommasi took an incredible step. He personally approached the hierarchy with the proposal of a minimum wage contract in return for a chance to prove himself again. Roma, who have still not forgotten his vital contribution and impact during their 2001 Scudetto triumph, agreed.
In a time when many footballers are re-baptised as mercenaries, Tommasi’s gesture did come as a massive surprise – even for a player and a man as noble as himself. Pocketing a measly £1,070 a month, Tommasi’s estimation amongst fans and the Italian public in general has risen to a new high.
"I must say thank you to a host of people," the modest Damiano stated after last night’s game. "To my wife and all those who have helped me in my work recently. It was a great feeling to be told that I would be playing from the start because it shows that there is great belief in me. Today was a sort of an official debut and it was nice to celebrate it in the way that I did."
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Goal of the Week: Bonetto (Empoli)
Riccardo Bonetto’s goal for Empoli against Lazio on Sunday was his first Serie A strike and he’s unlikely to net any better. The 26-year-old defender, who started his career as a midfielder, grabbed a superb equaliser at the Stadio Castellani when his dipping 30-yard screamer was just too loud for Lazio’s veteran ‘keeper Angelo Peruzzi to stop. |
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Number of the Week: 8
Cagliari’s 2-0 win over Sampdoria was their first in Serie A for eight months. In their previous 22 games, the Sardinian outfit collected 12 draws and 10 losses. The Rossoblu’s last victory was on March 13 when they comfortably beat Roma 3-0 at the Stadio Sant’Elia. Sunday’s triumph was netted thanks to David Suazo. His brace means that he has now scored 70 per cent of the club’s goals this term. |
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| Words: Antonio Labbate |
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