Roma welcome back midfielder
Gianluca DelPriore has been a welcome addition to the St. Catharines Club Roma Wolves.
The 22-year-old Saint Francis graduate, who has a long history with Roma dating back to their first season in League1, started this year playing in a summer league in Los Angeles.
“It was a team full of UCLA kids and it was really competitive,” Del Priore said.
DelPriore feels the increased level of play will aid in his development.
“It helped a lot. I plan to move out there hopefully some time, and seeing the competition, I know the level I need to be at,” he said. “Seeing them with your own eyes, I know this is a level I want to be at and I just have to keep working.”
While DelPriore enjoyed his time out west, he jumped at the chance to return to St. Catharines when Wolves technical director of soccer Davide Massafra called and offered him a spot.
“I was over there for about a month-a-half and Davide called me and told me some guys are coming back. They’ve been my coaches for years and wanted me back. I had a good time out there but I didn’t feel I was playing enough to get ready for my season at Niagara,” DelPriore said.
DelPriore feels he made the right decision.
“I wanted to come back,” he said. “It’s really good. You see the new restaurant (Sala 61 Bar and Social) and my teammates from a couple of years ago who are back. The team is stronger than ever and the bond with all the teammates is a strong as it’s ever been.
“I’m blessed to be back. Sometimes you’re at a point where you love it here but you always want more and then you realize what you have sometimes is enough.”
Massafra said the DelPriore’s addition had made a positive impact on the team
“He came back after training in the US and playing D1 and I think that makes him a lot more mature than last year. He has given us that physicality, the run for the ball in middle we were missing. The players on the team are confident because Gianluca is there and he’s going to win the ball. Everybody feels more confident.
“He’s a Roma player, he has played here every year. We were missing him very much.”
DelPriore, who is majoring in computer science at Niagara University, had a strong freshman season for the Purple Eagles.
“I played in every game and started as a freshman which is really good and they plan to use me next year as one of the key guys,” he said. “I went in there and wasn’t expecting anything and I played right away. They liked me and put a lot of trust in me and that gave me a lot of confidence I needed. From there on out I finished the season strong.”
The Wolves edged Master’s FA 2-1 to climb toward the .500 mark at 4-5-2 Wednesday night at Roma.
Damola Akanni and Ronaldo Homenszki scored for the Wolves.
Massafra is satisfied with the way the club has progressed this season thanks in large part to a significant turnover in the roster.
“We brought back seven players, all local players, and they feel that Club Roma is unique. We have the best coaches here, the best facility,” Massafra said. “We grew up. We were a young team and now they are listening to the coach and doing it in the game. You have to give them time to make mistakes.”
The Wolves host London Friday at 8 p.m.
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