APIA’S Apprentice X1 Defeat Italian Naval Academy

The excitement of Apia’s victory however, was totally swamped by the overall pageantry and highly disciplined respect extended to the Sydney Club touring party by the entire Naval Academy.
An hour prior to kick-off, strictly dressed Italian Naval Officers were already waiting at the front steel gates of the spacious Academy to greet and welcome the Apia team bus as it slowly meandered through the magnificently manicured gardens of this amazing complex.
Then two more Naval officials, (one a female officer who had studied English two years ago at a Sydney college), escorted the touring party through the Academy’s prestigious Italian Naval Museum which embraced many large but scaled-down replica models of ancient Italian Navy sailing ships.
This magnificent Academy houses no less than 1,000 trainee and senior Naval cadets and officers.
Later before the actual kick-off, Apia’s travelling party were absolutely stunned by the pageantry that unfolded in the next 15 minutes before their eyes.
A squad of some 80 naval officers,(including many extremely well-groomed female cadets), all impeccably dressed in navy blue Italian Naval uniforms, adorned with white naval caps, slowly marched into the grandstand to await the start of the match.
Still before kick-off, two other special incidents occured that rocked the touring Australians.
Four Naval senior officers rigidly marched into the grandstand area, all flanking the Comandante l’ Academia Navale,(the Naval Commander of the Academy), Mr Pierluigi Rosati.
Mr Pierluigi Rosati, is a tall, powerfully broad-shouldered aristocratic looking person, possessing an image of a man of great authority.
But there was more to come.
In front of each team entering the pitch, two sets of four flag- bearers, carried a stretched out flag of Italy, in front of the Italian side. Behind the Italian side the very same was done in front of the entering Apia team- but with an outstretched Australian flag to the healthy applause from the grateful crowd.
This amazing colourful scene resembled nothing short of a mini Opening Ceremony of the Olympics.
The extreme discipline, respect plus spotless appearance of the entire Italian Naval Academypersonnel left one and all speechless.
Now for the match. Yes, there was one.
It was played in fine spirit with the Apia youngsters very eager to give a good performance.
Understandably, despite the intensity of the tackling being toned down to suit the spirit of this match, the game proved entertaining.
By the 38th minute Apia took the lead when central midfielder Vicente Leto let fly with a low drive from just inside the box that cannoned off the base of the left upright and crashed into the net.
Five minutes later Apia doubled the scoreline through striker Luke Lombardi who raced into the box to easily beat the Italian goalie.
The match became even more open in the second session with a good display of inter-passing by both sides.
On the hour mark, Apia trebled the scoreline when defensive midfielder and captain for this match, Josh Symons ripped into the penalty area and as the goalie was dropping to the floor, delicately lobbed the custodian to end all scoring. 
Apia’s coaching staff was pleased with the overall performance of their young lads with skipper Josh Symons and central defender Brian Griffith-Colls edging out the rest.
At the end of the game, the Naval Comandante Mr Rosati came onto the pitch to give a speech of encouragement and good wishes to the Apia squad for their last Viareggio Cup match against a Select Viareggio XI  to be played on Friday afternoon.
Apia officials concluded proceedings by handing out Australian souvenir presents to some of the high-ranking Naval Officers. 
APIA LEICHHARDT TIGERS’ Apprentice X1 line up: Cachia: Severino, Griffin-Colls, Brooker,Caltabiano: Feller (Casali 69th), Leto (S.Symons 62nd-Josh Colosimo 63rd)) Sabag (Creighton 62nd-Schiavello 69th): Lombardi.
–By John Economos (From the Italian Naval Academy in Livorno, ITALY.)