Successful training camp for Paola Volleyball Club players in Messina

A group of 26 players from Paola Volleyball Club travelled to Messina and participated in a six-day training camp organised by Italian Serie A2 club Akademia Sant’Anna earlier this week.

This training camp was made possible thanks to the ongoing collaboration between the two clubs. The Maltese contingent was led by club president Dr Kenneth Vella, general secretary Alexia Brincau, and club coaches Carmen Gauci and Antonio Borg.

Training sessions in Messina were be led by Matteo Pilieci, technical director of the camp who won the Italian national league with different clubs at Under 16, Under 17 and Under 18 level, Giuseppe Bosetti, a coach with wide experience at youth level as well as Michela Ciarrocchi, a professional player with Italian Serie A1 Roma Volleyball Club.

These were supported by Akademia Sant’Anna coaches Norma Pilota, Massimo De Salvo and Enzo Celi.

The camp was open for players of Akademia Sant’Anna, other clubs in Sicily and players of Paola Volleyball Club. They participated in both indoor volleyball sessions and beach volleyball sessions.

Commenting on the trip to Messina, Paola president Kenneth Vella stressed that this experience for junior players confirms the club’s plans to provide opportunities to its athletes at an international level.

It is also a confirmation of the club’s strategy to give the same opportunities to its nursery players as it does to the senior team.

Dr Vella also stated that this experience had an educational aim too.

In fact, during the week, the Paola players were also provided with information about nutrition and how to prepare oneself physically and mentally for a sporting event.

At the end of the activity, all participating players were presented by a certificate by Fabrizio Costantino, who is the president of Akademia Sant’Anna.

During the visit in Sicily, Vella also met officials of Akademia Sant’Anna to discuss future collaboration between the clubs and also held meetings with the local mayor, the Hon. Federico Basile and official Massimo Finocchiaro.

The Paola president thanked Basile and Finocchiaro for supporting the Maltese contingent in the logistical aspect and also for providing all the transport of the Maltese group during the week.

The participation of the Maltese players in this training camp was made possible thanks to the support of the parents and the club sponsors – Executive Security Services, Maypole, De Paola Pharmacy, Marindex Trophies, Izibet, Dragonara Casino and Brasserie, and HandsOn Systems.