THE FOURTH FATTORE CAMPO WINNING PROJECT TAKES SHAPE

There is no two without three… and the fourth speaks for itself. A very special day was organized by BKT, Serie BKT Title Sponsor for six years now, to celebrate the inauguration of the fourth winning project of the Fattore Campo Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, the aim of which is to donate new spaces for sports in the cities that are the protagonists of Serie BKT.

Reaching its fourth edition this year, Fattore Campo is taking on an increasing significance on the Italian football panorama, thanks to BKT’s concrete commitment to the winning projects. Over the years, the leader company in the production of Off-Highway tires has financed the upgrading of a five-a-side football pitch in “Zone 167” in Lecce, an inclusive multi-activity park in Cosenza and an area devoted to calisthenics in Como. Added to these is the brand new five-a-side football pitch inaugurated at the Sperone in Palermo, the city that won the 2022-23 season, located inside the Valentina Renda sports complex, which is often at the centre of initiatives devoted to young people from the local schools and the most challenging neighbourhoods. The recently completed project has led to the creation of a modern artificial turf surface, line painting and the positioning of new goalposts.

For BKT it is important to be present in the territory through initiatives that leave their mark and go beyond urban regeneration. So it was that, working in concert with the Municipality of Palermo, they decided to offer the surrounding schools - and not only - the possibility to use the new sports field free of charge during certain hours of the morning. This is an initiative in line with the values of BKT and with the company mission: Fattore Campo promotes social interaction, inclusion and sporting activities inside school curricula to encourage healthy, balanced lifestyles and positive change.

As well as financing the upgrading project, BKT also wanted to provide concrete support and enter the social fabric of the communities of Serie BKT, giving participants a day of festivities, inclusion and socialization. So it organized an afternoon of fun and sport, inviting along not only the city’s residents but also the young footballers of the Palermo FC football school, the boys and girls of the Rete SAI project in Palermo and the nearby Sperone Comprehensive Institute, run by head teacher Antonella Di Bartolo, who was present at the event.

The cutting of the ribbon was followed by a moment devoted to playing games: the youngsters took part in matches and games of skill organized by the five-a-side football team of the Rete SAI project, which reached the final of the “Rete! Refugee Teams 2024” Tournament, and a four-way competition between the Palermo FC under-15s and the students of the institute. To accompany the whole thing, a picnic area was also prepared, with gifts of BKT gadgets, to share in the festive spirit of the initiative.

Also among the most exciting moments of the day was that in which the footballers of Palermo FC, Francesco Di Mariano, the winger and nephew of the great Salvatore Schillaci, together with Palermo goalkeeper Manfredi Nespola, attended the event to hand over and sign BKT footballs and be available to all those present for selfies and autographs.

And on the occasion of the upcoming match between Palermo and Salernitana BKT will pay homage to the former striker, at the same time underlining the social commitment of Totò Schillaci which has led to the realization of a sports centre for youngsters from the most challenging neighbourhoods of Palermo. This vision is shared by BKT, who will remember him together with Palermo FC, inviting 50 or so guests coming from Rete SAI and Sperone Comprehensive Institute to watch the match. When the teams walk onto the pitch, the youngsters who accompany the players, who will be the same ones who inaugurated the pitch this afternoon, will wear a number 19 shirt with a special stamped graphic devoted to Totò Schillaci on it.

Present during the cutting of the ribbon were the Councillor with responsibility for Sport, Sports Facilities and Tourism, Alessandro Anello, Managing Director of BKT Europe Lucia Salmaso, as well as the Head of Communications at Palermo FC Gaetano Lombardo, together with the coordinator of the youth sector Fabrizio Giambona and museum manager Giovanni Tarantino, and finally Guido Surci, Managing Director of Havas Play, the agency that has accompanied BKT in the world of sport ever since their arrival in Italy. The event was facilitated exceptionally well by the satirical comedian from Palermo, Stefano Piazza.

Lucia Salmaso, Managing Director of BKT Europe, said: “The inauguration of this new ‘Fattore Campo’ project is confirmation of the concrete commitment that BKT makes to local communities, especially the most disadvantaged, and of the desire to make sport accessible to all and inclusive. The new pitch inaugurated in Palermo pursues this precise objective: to give everyone the possibility of enjoying a new space for playing, leisure time and fun”.