Toninho Cerezo
Magica Roma
Campioni d'Italia 1982-1983

Jacques' Palio dig following Roma's terrible defeat at the hands of modest Siena and Rizzo's trip down Super Hero lane brought back memories of many things.

It's all about the time I reluctantly (already then!) returned to Malta after three blissful years in Oxford (snowmen in the University parks, Guy Fawkes' night, playing Atari computer games at James Bannister's place, my first girlfriend, Elizabeth (aged 5) and watching Italy beat Germany in the 1982 World Cup Final at Andrew and Louise Muscat's house and NO HOMEWORK AT ALL).

Grade 3 Stella Maris College was the destination. Jacques' mum was my first teacher in Malta. And a good one too. Rizzo, although not in the same class, was also knighted "a Blue" which meant that our fate was sealed as the winners of every single football tournament and relay race at Stella Maris College.

And now for a small admission of guilt - I was a Juventus fan for about six months (Platini was playing for them after all). Until Roberto Pruzzo, Paolo Roberto Falcao, Franco Tancredi, Agostino di Bartolomei, Seba Nela, Bruno Conti, Ubaldo Righetti, Odoacre Chierico won that great campionato. There was no turning back. With hindsight, of course, it would have been wiser to stick to the team from Torino which has dominated Italian football over the past 20 years in the most unforgiving manner (especially in games against Roma). But strange things happen to a boy's mind when he falls in love with a team. I mean does anyone remember Toninho Cerezo being the most exciting sticker in the calciatori album? (apart from Tufigno and Soler perhaps...)

It's been a painful ride with the occasional moment of sheer extasy. But I wouldn't change it for allegiance to La Vecchia Signora. Anyway, I don't have a choice, do I?  ¶ 9:44 AM