October 16th, 2012

Luciano Bonetti, Foppapedretti Bergamo’s president, finally broke his silence and defended Picci by releasing this statement:

“I think Piccinini had first to talk about the problem she had: she was accused as traitor cause she didnt go to NT, but the truth, WE CAN CONFIRM, she had serious problems that the national team tried to hide, not only from us but also from the athlete. This to me is immoral, when Lo Bianco had her problem, Piccinini and everyone was close to her, I don’t understand why she had to be criticized. She is for sure a great girl, that used to represent volleyball’s image, and you ladies must know, a bit jealousy happens, and so Gioli, Del Core and Lo Bianco had a bit of jealousy. I can speak freely cause Piccinini is no longer our player, so I’m not defending our player, but Im defending an amazing person”.

In case you didn’t know, Bergamo was Piccinini’s club team for 13 years.

Any Thoughts?

October 11th, 2012

Piccinini drops more bombs!

The Italian outside hitter has shared more details of her saga versus Coach Barbolini and teammates like Eleonora Lo Bianco. In her most recent teary interview with Corriere della Sera, Italy’s major daily newspaper, the controversial world champion shared these:

“The relationship with some of my teammates from the National Team has always been difficult. Since I was 19, when I was the first Italian volleyball player to ever go abroad and play in Brazil, they have always been annoyed by my visibility and fame. But Volleyball is my life, I love it, and I don’t want anyone else to be treated like me in the future. I am 33 years old, I have won everything except the Olympic Gold, and I feel like this is the time to speak. I have been silent for too long.”

July 2011

Francesca is in NT but she feels always tired and she doesn’t know why. “Am I finished? I asked myself” She has blood tests done and though results are not good, the NT doctor Fabrizio Terrazza reassures her that she’s okay. “It’s just stress, nothing serious.” says Terrazza.

But the situation got worse, Francesca became a shadow of her former self.

October 17th, 2011

Test results arrived to her club team Bergamo, she discovered the shocking truth. “The thyroid tests were all messed up. 7 times out of the standard. In the meanwhile my right ankle was swelling without a reason. I was very worried, I thought the worst: cancer, or leukemia. At least the problem was detected so I started to cure my thyroid. How could Ferrazza tell me that I was OK?”

October 18th, 2011

Francesca decided to skip the 2011 FIVB World Cup (which Italy won) and called Coach Barbolini.

“I told Massimo I don’t feel good and I want to cure myself. That health conditions don’t allow me to help the National Team. “No problem” he answered. So this is how my “personal interests” started, as captain Eleonora Lo Bianco previously stated. She makes me look like the one who didn’t go to Japan for laziness. But she knows how much I was suffering for her when she had her health problems.” Picci revealed.

During that period, the National Team didn’t care about Francesca’s health problems. “Maybe I became too uncomfortable with Barbolini. Somehow I did him a favor by voluntarily taking me out of the NT” according to Picci. Without Picci, Italy won the World Cup for the second consecutive time. “And winners are always right” she added.

Between February and March 2012, Francesca tried to contact Barbolini but failed to get a hold of him. She then called Magri, President of the Italian Volleyball Federation, who tried to keep the situation calm.

London Calling

Coach Barbolini called Piccinini for the 2012 Olympics in London. Picci stated that she realized that it’s going to be a nightmare already. Coach B sent her to camp for 4 months with the team’s youngest and new players which she felt was disrespectful because the other “veterans” were not asked to join the camp. However, she obeyed the coach without any questions. “I did it all because I wanted to go to the Olympics, I wanted that Gold Medal we still missed.” per Francesca.

London Disaster

The Olympics was disaster. Italy lost the Quarterfinal match versus Kim Yeon Koung Korea. “In order to win an Olympic medal we had to play like a team, but we were not a team. Barbolini has a weak character, he is influenced by the players who are now in Istanbul with him (Lo Bianco, Del Core and Gioli). The truth is that uncomfortable people get kicked out of the team and now I hope some other players will find the courage to speak. I have never been an hypocrite person: this system is wrong. 5th place at World Championships, 4th place at Euro Championships, 5th at the Olympics. And we could have won everything.”

We wonder if Barbolini, Gioili, Lo Bianco and Del Core would respond to Picci’s claims.

Take note, the more people joining the mess, the dirtier it gets and the more difficult to resolve.

(Verena G contributed to this story. Source: Corriere della Sera)

October 4th, 2012

Never ever bite the hand that feeds you…

But in Francesca Piccinini’s case, she decided to and now she just ignited a MAJOR DRAMA against her coach and teammates from the Italian National Team.

A few days ago, the outside hitter decided to open a can of worms open up to the press on why she and her teammates FAILED to win an Olympic medal despite being among the top favorites to win.

Picci bravely confessed her post Olympic thoughts.

“It was disappointing, there are no other words. We were NOT a group, there was NO harmony among us and sadly NOTHING has been done to improve this situation. How many months have passed since then? Still nobody has done an analysis of our final result, nobody taking responsibility of it or trying to explain why. This is at least weird.”

When asked if she ever spoke about their disappointing performance…

“It wasn’t the case to waste time, I knew it couldn’t go better than this. I spoke with some of the people and told them what I thought, that’s all. We were NOT well prepared for London and we were NOT concentrated.”

Press then reminded the 33 year old that she was just a bench player in London and she could be saying these things because she’s bitter.

“I behaved like a professional player, despite I wasn’t considered. I tried to resist and I avoided to create more troubles, the truth is that everybody was going its own way.”

As for her future.

“I wish so. We’ll see what happens, so far it’s not even sure whether the coach will be confirmed or not.

“Although I feel like I still have a lot to give to the NT, I’d be happy if there will be new young players who can take my place. I’m not like some of my team-mates who make a psychological war against the new youngsters as soon as they join the team. I don’t fear competition. This is what I meant before. There was a very bad climate in London, but I don’t want to make the names now. For me it would be enough if somebody looked at our failure and realize that this didn’t happen by chance.”

Bottom line is that Piccinini wants Coach Barbolini to resign and allow the women’s team to start fresh for the new Olympic cycle.

“Now he works in Turkey, we’ll see what happens. If he’s confirmed it wouldn’t be a good idea for me to stay. I love the Italian NT and I think new fresh air is needed, by making a mix of old and new young players and regaining some enthusiasm.”

She ended her interview by giving an example from the past involving former star setter Cacciatori.

“When there was Cacciatori our dualism wasn’t real, it was something artificial built-up by medias. The truth is that we were very respectful of each other and I looked at her career with a big admiration. I wish all rivals were like this. But actually female locker rooms are not so complicated. Maybe you don’t make true friends in there, but I have found great complexities.”

Dang Picci!

Thanks for sharing the info on why Italy did NOT any medal in London. Even though it took you almost 2 months to dish about what was going on, we give you 2 thumbs up to be this gutsy.

Unfortunately, Picci’s words have reached Coach Barbolini, Lo Bianco and Del Core’s camp and none of them is a happy camper.

The Backlash

Coach Barbolini has led the women’s team to 2 consecutive World Cup titles in 2007 and 2011 BUT has no luck when it comes to the Olympics. Italy finished 5th in 2008 and 2012.

Despite the poor Olympic results, Coach Barbolini – who now coaches Turkish club team Galatasaray – has these words to say:

“I don’t feel bad on how my team performed in London but I was not too happy with Francesca’s attitude during the Olympics. She isolated herself from the team. Let me ask you this Francesca, what did you do in London? Where were you when the team was sinking?”

MEOW!

Barbolini’s CLAWS are out! Better get your nails done Picci because it looks like 2 of your teammates have joined Team Barbolini.

“What happens inside the National Team must stay in the National Team!” says outside hitter Antonella Del Core who was among the starting players together with Carolina Costagrande which left Picci as a Bench Model.

Finally, the respectable Eleonora Lo Bianco who will play for Coach Barbolini in Turkey speaks up:

“As captain of this national team, I felt compelled to express my thoughts on the statements of Francesca. I totally agree with her that this team should have get a medal. But the analysis of a defeat is always a sensitive and highly complex. Everyone has the right to have his own explanation, more or less right, but not enough. To make a summary of everything in one or two reasons would be nice but somewhat simplistic.

I think Francesca has expressed her discomfort. I want to emphasize “her” because, though respectable, is a subjective thought and not reality. I also think that, two months after the Olympics, a statement of this kind is not a heroic act.

On the contrary, I find it distasteful and especially not very respectable for a group, of which she was a member, which in recent years has given and collected so much with this national team and, not least, towards our coach which at the moment do not know his future (with the NT).

The reason why I’ve always found unfair that an individual player speak to the press is because the result will be a partial and incomplete vision of the things. The outside world, even if want, could never be able to understand the many dynamics that arise within a team.

Sadness, anger and disappointment are certainly feeling alive in everyone. But even more sad is read in the newspapers so heavy words from a player like Francesca, probably the only athlete who, after having given up this shirt for his personal interest, was always drawn and called again to dress her one up.”

MEOW again!

Looks like we’re going to be reading and hearing more from these girls BUT we strongly suggest to just stop the bickering and the fighting publicly because it will NOT help resolve the ongoing issues they have for each other.

Take note, Picci was also involved in nasty rumors a few years ago saying that she was the MAIN reason why Cuban-turned-Italian Aguero left the National Team. She didn’t like the fact that Aguero was stealing her thunder and all the recognitions were showered only to Aguero.

Rumor has it too that in London, none of the young players felt comfortable with Piccinini on the team. Therefore, Picci is no stranger to such drama involving her and her teammates.

Do you have any THOUGHTS to share?