Speaking at the press conference for the second edition of the `Calcio Comunità Educante` (Football Educating Community) festival, Fabio Capello shared his thoughts on the sport. The esteemed coach stated, “Football is a team sport that unites people. Everyone participates, whether they are called upon to defend or attack. The ability to play together is a truly wonderful thing. I had the great fortune of working in youth development for five years, and witnessing the young players support each other and grow was incredibly beautiful. Some went on to achieve extraordinary careers; you could see players with more natural talent and others with less, but they all helped each other, demonstrating remarkable altruism.”
Capello drew a distinction between the professional game and the simple act of playing: “Professional football should be reserved for professionals,” he asserted, “but playing `pallone` (referring to the ball game in general) should be for everyone, and our goal must be to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to play. This includes blind people playing with a ball that makes noise, playing on the beach, playing in any manner possible. The beautiful essence of playing the game is the unity it fosters; it should always be sporting. Go into challenges determinedly, then shake hands and embrace – that is the spirit of playing `pallone`, and professional football ought to embody this too.”
He continued, “Every sport presents a challenge against oneself, but football is fundamentally a team challenge; you must support your teammates if you aim to win. I consistently emphasized to young players that the outcome is not the most crucial aspect, but rather the improvement gained through consistent daily effort. In this context, coaches play a vital role, though unfortunately, coaches often become solely focused on results.”