Totally Home Grown - Valerio Zuppiroli
What countries have you played cricket in: Germany, Greece, Argentina, Ireland, South Africa, Namibia, Denmark, England, Malaysia, Holland
29-May-2000
Full Name:
Valerio Zuppiroli Known As:
Vale Date Of Birth:
17 June 1974 Place Of Birth:
Bologna, Italy
Valerio Zuppiroli Known As:
Vale Date Of Birth:
17 June 1974 Place Of Birth:
Bologna, Italy
What nationality are your parents?:
Italian
Italian
Clubs?:
Pianoro
Pianoro
What are your specialities?:
Middle-order batsman, fast-medium bowler, both right-handed, occasional wicket-keeper
Middle-order batsman, fast-medium bowler, both right-handed, occasional wicket-keeper
What countries have you played cricket in:
Germany, Greece, Argentina, Ireland, South Africa, Namibia, Denmark, England, Malaysia, Holland.
Germany, Greece, Argentina, Ireland, South Africa, Namibia, Denmark, England, Malaysia, Holland.
How were you introduced to cricket?:
At school by my headmaster Professor Arcido Parisi who is also the President of Pianoro.
At school by my headmaster Professor Arcido Parisi who is also the President of Pianoro.
What do you like about cricket the most?:
I like everything about cricket - it's a great game. It has also provided me with an opportunity to represent my country, and given me the chance to travel.
I like everything about cricket - it's a great game. It has also provided me with an opportunity to represent my country, and given me the chance to travel.
What can be done to make cricket more appealing to Italians?
Shorter versions of the game will attract people here. Also I think coloured clothing and night cricket will be popular.
Shorter versions of the game will attract people here. Also I think coloured clothing and night cricket will be popular.
What do you think is the biggest difficulty in getting Italians to play cricket?:
The lifestyle. Everyone is very busy with no time, and most young people have very demanding jobs or study commitments.
The lifestyle. Everyone is very busy with no time, and most young people have very demanding jobs or study commitments.
What do your non-cricketing Italian friends think of you playing cricket?
They envy the travelling I have done, and they respect my love of the game, now that they learnt to understand it a bit.
They envy the travelling I have done, and they respect my love of the game, now that they learnt to understand it a bit.
What do you think is their impression of it, if they have one?
They think it's a bit of a waste of time, it takes too long to play, not like soccer. They don't have any knowledge of the game, and this is worse here, because we have very little cricket on television.
They think it's a bit of a waste of time, it takes too long to play, not like soccer. They don't have any knowledge of the game, and this is worse here, because we have very little cricket on television.
Is there anything that is particularly unique about Italian cricket?
Perhaps the language. Also it is played very passionately here, lots of noise and gestures.
Perhaps the language. Also it is played very passionately here, lots of noise and gestures.
What should be done to spread cricket globally?
Definitely television. That's the decisive factor. Also in other forms of the media, newspapers, etc, we get little exposure. We also need help from the bigger cricketing countries and the ICC.
Definitely television. That's the decisive factor. Also in other forms of the media, newspapers, etc, we get little exposure. We also need help from the bigger cricketing countries and the ICC.