Soccer Promozione, Maestrelli plays the charge: “Sezze? We’re looking forward to Sunday.”

Tommaso Maestrelli easly wears a high-sounding name. Anyone who knows the history of Italian football, in fact, associates it with that of his grandfather, who died in 1976, two years after leading Lazio to the first, historic championship. So, football is part of his genetic make-up. It’s no coincidence that it’s a pillar of our team, which will face Vis Sezze on Sunday in a match that’s decisive for the fate of the promotional league. A game in which, if he could, grandfather Tommaso would have gladly assisted from the stands. From there he would have admired – certainly full of pride – his nephew: a smart boy, at ease both on the playing fields and in the university classrooms.

Tommaso, on Sunday you will face the leader Vis Sezze in a very important direct clash. What do you think will be the keys to the challenge?

The first key is to train well, because everything passes from there. If we do, we’ll be ready for the match. After that, we’ll have to be focused and play as we know. Sacrifice and work will lead to the results we want to achieve: we’re very busy and we’re looking forward to Sunday.

Yours is a very united group, do you think that this is one of the secrets that has allowed you to obtain the excellent results achieved?

Definitely. Apart from the technical aspects, you don’t go anywhere if you’re not friends before you’re teammates. Rowing all in the same direction, you can get results otherwise unattainable. We’ve been doing it for months because we have clear goals.

Can you tell us a bit about your experience with AS Luiss and the differences with previous teams?

I start from the past: being a professional footballer has always been my dream and playing in Serie C made me feel close to my goal. So it wasn’t easy to move to AS Luiss. For a number of reasons, however, I chose this path and I’m really happy about it. I’ve been on the team for two years, but it’s as if I’ve been on the team for a lifetime. Everyone here has welcomed me with open arms and there’s a family spirit. Old and new people integrate well. As far as the differences are concerned, the main one is the university commitment: until now nobody in the University was interested in me playing football at a fairly high level. Equally in the team no one was interested in me studying. I was the one who had to bear the burden of the double commitment. Instead Luiss takes care of the students-athletes and this is one of the reasons why I’m happy with the choice.

How is it possible to reconcile study and sport? What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a student athlete?

As I said, reconciling the two careers is much easier than before. Now the tutors – and the environment in general – help me a lot. As for the advantages, being a student allows me to have more concentration and to be more lucid in difficult times. Being a sportsman, on the other hand, facilitates above all group work: you are used to dealing with other people, you tend to be less selfish, to see the group first and then yourself. In addition, when there are obstacles, you are used to react and not to break down, trying to overcome the difficulties.

What do you think of the educational model of the University, which allows you to pursue two careers in parallel?

I’m very happy that Luiss is going in this direction and just as proud to be part of the Athenaeum’s sports family. Here, with a bit of organization, you can carry on two careers at excellent levels. I attended the last year of Economics and then I started the Master in Management. The teachers are very helpful and attentive: I can also say that I am satisfied with my studies, as well as with my sporting career. I feel in the best conditions to do my best, both on the pitch and on the exams.