Bologna on my mind: Stairway to Heaven. (9 Feb)

Written by: Massimo Sampaolesi. Translated by: Carlotta Belluzzi.

The stairway to Heaven is strenuous, and filled with obstacles. The match with Napoli was just like that, it felt like stumbling upon an unexpected step on the way up: a false step that might make you fall, if you don’t hold on tight to the handrail.

Seven shots pierce through your skin and hit your ribs – they take your breath away. You stand there, shocked, and for a moment you try to convince yourself that what has just happened, didn’t actually happen. Yet it did, and your gasping breath is there to remind you of it. You try to understand why, but the more you think about those seven goals, the fewer explanations you find. It is difficult to keep clear headed while you are drowning under the Maelstrom of anger and disappointment.

And yet, we have to. We have to stay calm and rational, because our love for Bologna is at stake. This love is the only thing we cannot give up on. We then frantically look for the culprit (and each of us has their own opinion on it), even though it’s useless and barbaric, like fox hunting. When a team loses in the way that Bologna did, it’s because everyone made mistakes. Not one player, not two players, not the coach. Bologna has lost, therefore Bologna is at fault. And yes – we had many reasons to hope for a positive outcome, but one above all: avenging ourselves after the offensive words of Napoli’s Presidents, who had said that insignificant teams like Bologna should not be allowed to play in Serie A. And yet, we revealed ourselves to be the most insignificant of the insignificant teams, despite our 13000 season ticket holders are much more impressive than Napoli’s 5000.

The blow hit us hard. Knees still tremble. However, were I to see someone I love lying wounded on the ground, I would certainly not humiliate them, telling them they are worth nothing, as they aren’t even able to walk. No. I would act just like our wise and kind fan-base did: stretch out my hand and help them get back up on their feet as quickly as possible, help them forget what happened and learn from their mistakes – mistakes which need to be analysed by those who are truly experts on the matter.

With this, I do not want preach abstention from criticism – I would never! Constructive criticism works as a helping hand for those who are willing to take it. What matters is that criticism stays on point, and does not become a way for us to vent our daily worries and stresses, which should have nothing to do with the match day. 

The stairway to Heaven is strenuous and insidious, and we cannot afford to walk it individually. Saputo’s motto “We Are One” needs to echo in our hearts and minds today more than ever. It is no use if we can only shout it out while celebrating, if we cannot spell it out always, especially during difficult times.

“A new day will dawn for those who stand long”, the song goes. It’s true. We are all waiting, each one of us, including those who are handing out caresses and understanding, and those who are shaking their finger angrily. Despite us all wearing our plumber, journalist, architect, repairman, medic, or lawyer costumes, we are really all Bologna Football Club lovers, and learning to live with joy and pain is common to all of us.

The stairway to Heaven is strenuous. But it’s the one we have to climb.

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