Gigi Riva, Gianfranco Zola’s grief: “A reference for everyone.”
Gianfranco Zola’s grief for the passing of Gigi Riva
Gianfranco Zola was also among the many people present at Gigi Riva’s funeral: an important presence also because, just like Riva, Zola himself è was a symbol of Sardinia sports and, in the final part of his career, also of Cagliari. Zola entrusted to the microphones of the reporters present his feelings on the sidelines of the last farewell to Rombo di Tuono.
"There are no words to describe a character like Riva,” said the former Rossobl'captain. “He was a reference for all of us, for the behavior he kept on and off the field. It's impossible not to remember and appreciate his qualities, we learned so much from someone like him and it's right to recognize the value of a man like Gigi Riva".
Zola was one of a large number of personalities linked to the world of sports, and of soccer in particular, who were present at Riva’s funeral: among others, the technical commissioner of the national team Luciano Spalletti, the president of CONI Giovanni Malagò, Gianluigi Buffon and with him a delegation from Italy’s 2006 world champion team (among them Fabio Cannavaro).
Also in the church was Cagliari Mayor Paolo Truzzu along with other first citizens of the island, as well as Sports Minister Andrea Abodi. "Riva found in this people warmth and respect, here he wanted to share his path and the smell of the sea. He è felt part of this people who acollected him as a favorite son, and loved him with devotion and respect. Now the heart of Cagliari è here and greet him" said, in his homily, the Archbishop of Cagliari, Monsignor Giuseppe Baturi.
