(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by K73 / Oldmanagency / FIBS & Marco Stoovelaar)
 Marco Mazzeri new President of Italian Baseball & Softball Federation
Nederlands
...Marco Mazzieri addressing the Assembly...
...during his candidacy-speech...
(© Photo: K73 / Oldmanagency / FIBS) |
 PIEVE DI CENTO (Italy) -
Former National Baseball Team Manager Marco Mazzieri, who turns 62 in four days, was elected as new President of the Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball on Monday (December 16).
During the 37th Ordinary National Elective Assembly of the FIBS in Pieve di Cento, which is located 25 km (16 miles) north of Bologna, Mazzieri succeeded Andrea Marcon.
The former softball-umpire led the Federation since November 2016 was eligible for re-election.
Besides Marcon, there were three more candidates for the position of President (or Chairman), Marco Sforza, Maurizio Condipodero and Marco Mazzieri.
Before the election took place, several supporting speeches by (former) players, coaches, administrators and representatives of different regions preceeded the presentation-speeches of the four candidates.
Hereafter, the four candidates delivered their speeches, which included their plans for the coming four-year period, up to 2028.
The order of speeches was decided by draw.
During the folliwing election, Mazzieri and Marcon proved to be the favorites.
Mazzieri received 56.04 percent of the votes, Marcon got 42.70 percent.
1.26% of the ballots were blank.
With that, Mazzieri was elected as new (and ninth) President to lead the Italian Baseball Softball Federation in the coming four years.
Mazzieri was fourth (and last) to address the assembly.
In his speech as candidate, Mazzieri underscored that listening and supporting the Societies must be the Federation's priorities.
,,We must aim to be the best we can be'', Mazzieri said, as reported by Marco Landi.
Mazzieri said that he had heard many times in the previous eleven months since announcing his candidacy that he is not a politician, but a man of the field.
He added: ,,I am proud to be a man of the field.
There, you earn respect every day with results and chatter is worthless.
It is not at all said that someone who comes from the field cannot be a good administrator.
After all, in the last 20 years, those who have administered FIBS were umpires, they came from the field, even if in another sector''.
...Former President Andrea Marcon...
...during his speech...
(© Photo: K73 / Oldmanagency / FIBS) |
Mazzieri also added:
,,What we need to ask ourselves is What kind of movement do we want to be in the next four years?
For us it is time to take a step back to consolidate what we have, starting from the youth sectors.
FIBS will have to become a partner of the clubs''.
After being elected, Mazzieri reacted:
,,If someone had told me 50 years ago that I would be President of this movement that has given me so much, I would not have believed it.
We truly want to be the Federation of everyone, we do not want to leave anyone behind and we want to put the entire movement in the conditions to work at its best.
Thank you very much to everyone''.
After the election of the President, the other members of the Federal Council were elected.
Kevin Senatore also covered the election and reported that the following persons were elected to the Federal Council: Ettore Finetti (representing coaches), Andrea Sgnaolin, Emanuela Giovinazzo (both representing athletes), Pierluigi Bissa, Stefano Sbardolini, Federica Morri, Marina Centrone, Sabrina Olivero, Marco Mannucci, Sergio Piccinini and Federico Loda.
As outffielder, Marco Mazzieri played for Grosseto (1980-1990), Casalecchio (1991), Fortitudo Bologna (1992-1993) and again Grosseto (1994-2000).
He won the Italian Championship-title with Grosseto in 1986 and 1989.
...Marco Mazzieri (right) with Gilberto Gerali as...
...Manager and Pitching Coach of Italy during the...
...2007 World Championship in Taipei (Taiwan)...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
From 1985 through 1990, Mazzieri played in the Italian National Team, with whom he participated in the European Championship in 1985 (in the Netherlands), 1987 (in Spain) and 1989 (in France, winning the title) and the World Championship in 1986 (in the Netherlands), in 1988 (in Italy) and in 1990 (in Canada).
Overall, Mazzieri appeared in 73 games for Italy.
After he had retired as player in 2000, Mazzieri turned to coaching and he then led the team of Grosseto in 2001-2003.
Hereafter, Mazzieri headed the Italian National Junior Team for three years. (2005-2007),
In September 2007, Mazzieri was named as Manager of the Italian National Team, succeeding veteran coach Giampiero Faraone.
He then made his debut in November 2007 during the World Championship in Taiwan.
Mazzieri would be the Manager of the Italian National Team for ten years.
He stepped down after the World Baseball Classic in March 2017.
Mazzieri was succeeded by Gilberto Gerali, who had been a member of his coaching-staff in most of his ten years as Manager.
As Manager of Italy, Mazzieri led the team during three World Baseball Classics (2009, 2013, 2017), three World Championships (2007 in Taiwan, 2009 in the Netherlands and Italy and 2011 in Panama) and four European Championships (in 2010 in Germany, in 2012 in the Netherlands, in 2014 in Czechia and in 2016 in the Netherlands).
Mazzieri led Italy to the European title in 2010 and 2012.
In his three World Baseball Classics, Italy was eliminated in the First Round in 2009 and 2017, respectively finishing in tenth and twelfth place.
In 2013, Italy advanced to the Second Round, then was eliminated and finished in seventh place.
(December 16)
| FIBS Presidents |
| # | President | Period | # | President | Period |
| 1 | Principe Steno Borghese | Jan. 1950 - 1961 | 6 | Everardo Dalla Noce (interim) | 2000 - 2001 |
| 2 | Giuseppe Ghillini | 1961 - 1969 | 7 | Riccardo Fraccari | 2001 - 2016 |
| 3 | Bruno Beneck | 1969 - 1984 | 8 | Andrea Marcon | 2016 - 2024 |
| 4 | Mario Pescante (interim) | 1984 | 9 | Marco Mazzieri | 2024 - current |
| 5 | Aldo Notari | 1984 - 2000 | |
|
