Apia Leichhart Tigers’ Youth Arrive In Italy

This is Apia’s ninth consecutive year the Club’s Youth squad has competed in the Viareggio Cup.
Immediately upon landing in Rome, the Club’s Chairman, Tony Raciti, guided the travelling party of some 36, to a 5 hour cyclonic crusade of Rome before embarking on the 5 hour gruelling bus journey North, to Viareggio.
In rapid succession, the Apia squad flash-visited the historic structure of the Collossium, the romantic, but chilly Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, the exclusive, (but outrageously expensive),the Ferrari Shop.
The Squad then rapidly meandered through the narrow cobbled streets of Rome to visit the World’s only ecclesiastical Municipality of St Peters to witness, and hear, the Pope deliver his liturgy in no less than six languages- including of course Latin, Spanish and English ,from the Pope’s towering window sill at his place of residence adjacent at the Vatican.
Then it was back on the bus for yet another flash visit to the Rome Olympico Stadio before setting off on the 5 hour gruelling drive North to Viareggio on the North-Western coast in the Tuscany region of Italy.
Last Monday morning the Apia Youth squad played a practice match between themselves, with the so-called ‘reserves’ displaying a credible, resilient performance before gallantly going down 3-2 to the older players.
Last Tuesday afternoon Apia had a friendly hit-out against a very young, (but poor) Rep side from Carrara for a 1-1 draw after Apia’s skipper and right midfielder Andrew Vitucci scored a late-leveller having earlier seen his penalty shot surprisingly saved by the Carrara ‘keeper.
Wednesday rained all morning forcing the Club’s Chairman/tour Coach Tony Raciti, to re-schedule a light work-out in a gym to sustain work-rate on the travelling squad.
Apia’s travelling squad although in total numbers 25, embraces 5 Youth guest players from Melbourne, plus a lanky goalkeeper from Perth.
Apia’s phlegmatic captain, Andrew Vitucci , making his second tour to Viareggio, reflected after the first two practice games:
“It’s a bit early on the tour to make solid judgments and forecasts. However to date, the younger members of the squad are showing greater development, plus a serious willingness to improve their individual, as well as their collective game”.
Last night (Wednesday) the Apia squad played it’s 3rd friendly match in as many days against San Marco Avenza, a team in a division just below Serie D on the same thick lush-green Generation 4 synthetic surface at the Carrara Stadio.
The home side opened the score in the first half following a precision cut-back into Apia’s box which was slotted home.
Apia ultimately scored a valuable late equaliser following a well-measured corner slung in from the left by midfielder Josua Colosimo. Apia’s lanky central defender Mark Vangelli, bulldozed his way through a stacked penalty area to crash his shot into the target from close-range and thus share the spoils with San Marco Avenza.    
Apia’s Group 4 Viareggio Cup Tournament matches are scheduled as follows:
vs Inter Milan: Monday February 21st @ 5pm.
at Pistoria Stadio.
vs Rapp Serie D: Wednesday February 23rd @3pm.
Suverto Stadio.
vs ESP Viareggio: Friday February 25th @ 3pm.
Perigano.
-By John Economos