From Ischia to Sant'Egidio: Mister Enrico Buonocore, the winning heart of rebirth

Francesco Fiorillo | There is a piece of Ischia that now beats strongly in Sant'Egidio alla Vibrata. And that beat has the name of Enrico Buonocore, the man of the Giallorossi rebirth. After resigning and closing his experience in Gialloblù, the island coach was one of the great protagonists of the rise of Santegidiese.

The playoff final against Angizia Luco, played last May 25 at the Comunale, crowned the Vibratiani as champions of Group A of the Abruzzo Promotion, giving the city and its fans a deserved return to the Eccellenza championship. A victory that has the face and signature of the Neapolitan coach, who arrived in Abruzzo with the desire to get back into the game after the turbulent farewell to Ischia.

And Buonocore's impact on the new club was decisive: the former Gialloblù coach, with his winning mentality, shaped a tenacious, solid and hungry team. In a few months he rekindled the passion and built a group capable of dominating the crucial phase of the season, culminating with the victory in the playoff final in front of a warm, noisy and emotional audience.

Two years after the last time, Buonocore is the architect of another incredible promotion. At Mazzella he succeeded in the spring of 2023, when he brought Serie D back to the rock. The message of the ultras, which appeared on the sidelines on an eloquent banner - "Tu sì o' Bono Core Nuostr" - is the symbol of an already consolidated love between the coach and the fans. It is more than just a finish line reached: it is a football rebirth. Now the goal shifts, the thought already goes to next season.

The will is clear: to confirm the good things done in the last period and to raise the bar even further. There are also the first market rumors that would highlight a possible direct bridge between Ischia and Sant'Egidio alla Vibrata. Two players could return under the guidance of Buonocore: these are the center Gabriele Pastore and the winger Giovanni Ballirano, fresh from the stint with Real Forio.

The two, irreplaceable elements in the yellow-blue rotations when the coach was at the helm, are followed by the Abruzzo club to reinforce the team. They are in fact two pawns who know Buonocore and his philosophy well, and who could be fundamental to face the Eccellenza with ambition. Meanwhile, in Sant'Egidio alla Vibrata there is celebration: chants, hugs, banners and tears of joy. After years of waiting, disappointments and hopes, Santegidiese returns to where it deserves to be, thanks to the "core bono" of a coach who has been able to take everything, on and off the field. And this, perhaps, is just the beginning.