Flavio Piccinni won a silver medal with Italy at The World Games last year and hopes to go one better at the IFAF European Flag Football Championships. As he prepares to compete at the continental tournament in Limerick this week, Flavio answers some questions about the event and adjusting to a new quarterback.
Games will be streamed live on IFAF.TV throughout the tournament being played from August 18-20 and IFAF Game Centre will be live from Friday featuring score updates.
Does the result at the World Games put pressure on you to become the best in Europe?
“Winning the Silver Medal at the World Games was an unbelievable and unforgettable experience for all of us. It was a high level tournament where almost every game was decided in the final minutes, if not on the last play. That said, Birmingham 2022 is in the books. Limerick 2023 is a whole new experience and every team will have a different skillset of players and staff. Every team will have everything to prove from day one, Italy included.
“We do not feel pressure about having to win, we just want to embrace the chance to play our best football with great, talented opponents.”
How have you had to adjust, being without your regular starting quarterback Luke Zahradka?
“It's undeniable that Luke is not only a talented player but also a great leader and a friend. This is true not only for Team Italy but also for the Milano Seamen, and with the team playing in the ELF, as players we all had choices to make or contracts to respect.
“As a true leader, Luke has been a participant as a mentor for the quarterbacks in the National Bootcamps, so that he could help the team with the transition to new playmakers. As a result, Raven Ines has emerged as our 2023 quarterback. He’s a young, talented quarterback who also has both flag and tackle football experience.”
What are the main strengths of the Italian team?
“Team Italy has many talented players with a lot of international experience, ranging from the ELF to CEFL, EFL, Italian Tackle team and Champions Bowl. What’s more important than our sports CVs is the cohesion of the team and the positive environment formed by all the components of the team: staff, coaches, veterans and newbies.”
You play some opponents who are playing in this tournament for the first time – Ireland, Ukraine for example. What do you know about them and are they dangerous because they are unknown?
“We don't really know a lot about those teams yet. Both Ireland and Ukraine are countries with strong sports traditions so I wouldn't be surprised to discover that there’s some very talented players on their rosters. This is why we will face them with the utmost respect and give our best in every game.”
How and why did you start playing football?
“I started playing American football in 2008. I was 19 at the time and I had a tough, stressful freshmen year in college that took my free time away and was driving me into a dark, depression-like spot. I had always been doing some sports before and I was really missing it.
One night, I was watching The Replacements on TV with my best friend and we started talking about football. At the time, I could not tell the difference between American football and rugby. We found out there were a couple of teams in my hometown, Milan, and went there for a trial. Sixteen years later, we can assume the trial was good.
“In 2018 I started playing flag football. A couple years before I had switched from running back to defensive back after a knee surgery and I was determined to improve my skills as a cornerback. I ended up finding that I have more fun while playing flag football!”
Why should other athletes start to play flag football?
“If you love American football, flag football gives you the chance to play, no matter who you are. It is a fast-paced, strategic and dynamic sport that takes some of tackle football’s best elements but makes it available to anyone. You need less people, less equipment, less time and money to play. Since it is a non-contact sport, it’s also very inclusive for every kind of person, including those who love American football but don't want its most physical aspects.”
Photo: FIDAF
