Exactly seventy-two years have passed since that terrible crash in the clouds that on May 4, 1949 had hidden the hill and the basilica of Superga, but for the grenade fans the emotion, the pain and the pride for the Grande Torino do not age.
THE VIDEO
First of all there are always them, the 'Invincibles'.
And every 'old grenade heart' is ready to remember that it is never a simple ritual.
The Superga tragedy.
The three-engine that brings the multi-champion Italian team of the Torino Football Club home from Lisbon crashes on the Superga hill at 17.03 on May 4, 1949. In the tragedy 31 people lose their lives: 18 players, 3 managers, 3 coaches, 3 journalists and 4 crewmen.
The team, proclaimed winner of the Championship at the table, plays the remaining games by deploying the youth formation, as well as the opponents on duty.
On the day of the funeral, May 6, 1949, over half a million people descend on Piazza San Carlo, in Turin, to give the players a last farewell.
Figc: 'The Grande Torino symbol of national unity'
FROM ANSA ARCHIVES
The interview with Sandro Mazzola: 'My tender dad who took the ball away from me' (May 2, 2019).
"I still don't know how that day will pass, I usually don't think about it: as always, I will decide at the last minute." Among the many football lovers in love with the myth of Grande Torino and saddened by the memory of Superga, there are a special one. Who for 70 years has relived that memory made up of epic deeds and a tragic crash every day. Sandro Mazzola was 7 years old on May 4, 1949, his father Valentino was the captain of an unbeatable team, if not by destiny. 'plane carrying the whole team back from a trip to Lisbon for a friendly match with Benfica, 31 people died: the players, the managers, the crew members and three sports journalists. historical memory will never be lost - assures Sandro Mazzola - It is impossible.That team was different from all those of its time, it was a modern team, very fast and that occupied all areas of the field. I don't know if any modern team can make young people understand what that Turin was. Actually no, maybe it can be compared to Sacchi's Milan for its modernity, maybe .. ''. As happens with every child who has lost his father, even more so if it was a tragic and unexpected event, Sandro Mazzola has imprinted on his mind some indelible memories: `` The last image that has remained in my mind - he tells ANSA - is when I went to play football secretly in the street with my friends: dad didn't want us to bother. At first he pretended nothing happened,but I remember well that day when he came to remove the plastic balloon. Then I also remember when I went on the pitch hand in hand with him and he made me take penalties in Bacigalupo, and he, the Grane Torino goalkeeper, always made me score. So I was very happy to score and to hear the applause of the stadium. '' Among the best memories after the tragedy - concludes Mazzola - "that of all those people in Philadelphia for my father and the Grande Torino". Less beautiful, perhaps, what happened much later, the worst of the fans in the scarring of memory: '' Abroad - closes the former Inter champion, referring to the tragedy of Chapecoense - I think there is more respect than what happens with us ''.Then I also remember when I went on the pitch hand in hand with him and he made me take penalties in Bacigalupo, and he, the Grane Torino goalkeeper, always made me score. So I was very happy to score and to hear the applause of the stadium. '' Among the best memories after the tragedy - concludes Mazzola - "that of all those people in Philadelphia for my father and the Grande Torino". Less beautiful, perhaps, what happened much later, the worst of the fans in the scarring of memory: '' Abroad - closes the former Inter champion, referring to the tragedy of Chapecoense - I think there is more respect than what happens with us ''.Then I also remember when I went on the pitch hand in hand with him and he made me take penalties in Bacigalupo, and he, the Grane Torino goalkeeper, always made me score. So I was very happy to score and to hear the applause of the stadium. '' Among the best memories after the tragedy - concludes Mazzola - "that of all those people in Philadelphia for my father and the Grande Torino". Less beautiful, perhaps, what happened much later, the worst of the fans in the scarring of memory: '' Abroad - closes the former Inter champion, referring to the tragedy of Chapecoense - I think there is more respect than what happens with us ''.always made me score. So I was very happy to score and to hear the applause of the stadium. '' Among the best memories after the tragedy - concludes Mazzola - "that of all those people in Philadelphia for my father and the Grande Torino". Less beautiful, perhaps, what happened much later, the worst of the fans in the scarring of memory: '' Abroad - closes the former Inter champion, referring to the tragedy of Chapecoense - I think there is more respect than what happens with us ''.always made me score. So I was very happy to score and to hear the applause of the stadium. '' Among the best memories after the tragedy - concludes Mazzola - "that of all those people in Philadelphia for my father and the Grande Torino". Less beautiful, perhaps, what happened much later, the worst of the fans in the scarring of memory: '' Abroad - closes the former Inter champion, referring to the tragedy of Chapecoense - I think there is more respect than what happens with us ''.'. Less beautiful, perhaps, what happened much later, the worst of the fans in the scarring of memory: '' Abroad - closes the former Inter champion, referring to the tragedy of Chapecoense - I think there is more respect than what happens with us ''.'. Less beautiful, perhaps, what happened much later, the worst of the fans in the scarring of memory: '' Abroad - closes the former Inter champion, referring to the tragedy of Chapecoense - I think there is more respect than what happens with us ''.
