Wilson, a blue-and-white river for the last farewell to the Captain. Immobile: “I’ll put the band on him”

Lots of ordinary people, older fans, but also the very young, who have heard about his deeds from their parents. With a touching and moving crowd this morning, Rome gave its last farewell to Pino Wilson, the captain of Lazio, the 1974 Italian champion. The Church of Cristo Re, in the Prati district, where the funeral took place in the past of other protagonists of that winning and unfortunate team, he struggled to contain all the people who came to pay homage to the “captain”, as everyone called Wilson. Lots of ordinary people, it was said. But also well-known personalities, such as the deputy of the Five Stars Alessandro Di Battista and the former minister Cesare Previti. Obviously, some of Wilson’s teammates were also present, in particular his close friend Giancarlo Oddi. And then Bruno Giordano and Andrea Agostinelli. There was, however, also today’s Lazio. Led by captain Ciro Immobile (who next Monday, on the occasion of the championship match with Venice, will wear a red sash, the same color as the one Wilson wore on his arm). With him also Danilo Cataldi and Manuel Lazzari. Then there were the ds Igli Tare and the spokesman of the club Roberto Rao.

The words of Immobile

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“I am happy that the League has accepted the proposal to let me wear the red headband in the next match – said Immobile -. I will be proud of that band, Pino was the history of Lazio, his sudden death was a great pain, there left everyone very sad. We dedicated the victory in Cagliari to him, even if it took place before his death. We hope to remember him in the best possible way also against Venice. Pino taught us to fight and win, we must take an example from people like this “. In addition to the red sash to be worn by Immobile, Lazio will play with mourning on the arm and are preparing a series of initiatives to worthily remember the captain of the 1974 team-championship before Lazio-Venice.

The memory

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The funeral ceremony reached its most moving moment at the end, when Wilson’s closest friends and children ascended the altar to read brief, poignant thoughts. The pastor of the Church of Christ the King, a personal friend of Wilson’s, had already underlined his great human talents, who wanted to remember how Pino was always at the forefront when there was some charity initiative to be carried out. Even more touching were the testimonies of Wilson’s sons, Gilda and James. They read a letter of greeting to their father, in which they told how he was a true champion not only on the field, but also within the home, in everyday life. Then Massimo Maestrelli, the son of the coach of the ’74 Scudetto team, gave his testimony. Massimo recalled how, after the death of his father, Wilson has always been close to him and his brothers with gestures of affection and a constant presence in difficult moments. Wilson’s body will be buried right in the Maestrelli family chapel, next to those of Tommaso and Giorgio Chinaglia.