The powers that be in Italian football have thrown a fresh firecracker into the already tense atmosphere of the Rome derby. With the authorities fixin...
The powers that be in Italian football have thrown a fresh firecracker into the already tense atmosphere of the Rome derby. With the authorities fixing the slugfest between Roma and Lazio for Sunday at midday local time, Lazio. �s chief tactician Maurizio Sarri has made it crystal clear that he is considering drastic measures. The man who once managed the Biancocelesti. �s fiercest rivals from Naples is not a stranger to controversy, but this particular threat has sent shockwaves through the Serie A corridors. Sarri argues that a lunchtime kickoff under the unforgiving Roman sun is a recipe for disaster, a decision that could rob his lads of their full energy. He is prepared to stand his ground for the good of his squad, a stance that many in the Nigerian football community understand given our own battles with heat and fatigue. At the end of the day, the timing of this fixture could decide the lion. �s share of the bragging rights. When the dust settles on Sunday, the football faithful in Lagos and Abuja will gather in their usual viewing centres, sipping cold drinks and arguing over every twist of the game. The talk will not just be about the goals but about Sarri. �s boldness. Many will nod their heads in solidarity, recalling how similar scheduling issues have affected our own local derbies. They will say that a coach must protect his players like a father protects his children, and that the Italian authorities should have known better. In the scheme of things, this is a battle of principle as much as it is a battle for three points, and our fans love nothing more than a story with spine.
