He could only be the top scorer of one of the five best teams in the last group ranking, the first market success of theOmifer Palmia company working hard to realize the grand ambitions of an entire city.
It could only be a Calabrian, the first Crotone to climb the Olympus of the Superlega, who accepted the suggestive challenge of taking a team from his own region as high as possible. He could only be a big boy, 198 cm tall, who grew up on bread and volleyball, the reinforcement opening the dance of the blue and gold market.
And so he ends up here in the bays of the Costa Viola, the titan Franz Konrad, Mr. 456 points, last year, with Maurys Com Cavi Tuscania, and many of the “PalaSurace” who admired him greatly last year know it well. Born in 1997, the strong Pythagorean Spiker started playing volleyball at the age of 10. He made his Provolley Crotone debut and then switched to Tonno Callipo at sixteen, where he was used in B2’s formation. In 2015 he was called up to the Italy U19 national team and in 2016 to the U20 national team. Also in 2016, he was included in the Serie A2 squad and won the Italian Cup in the same year. For the next two years he played in the Superlega, always in the Tonno Callipo jersey. Corrado’s long career, despite his young age, has been enriched by experience in Serie A2, first with Catania and then Lagonegro. Finally the return to base, with the last season in the A1 still being played in Vibo Valentia, the year of the fifth place and the championship play-offs. In 2021-22 the decision was made to marry the Aurispa Libellula Lecce project in A3 and last year to defend the colors of Tuscania (A3).
Now Konrad is a new player of the glorious “Franco Tigano”. “What made me choose Omifer’s suggestion? In the meantime – highlights the athlete from Crotone – the great enthusiasm, which almost overwhelmed me, from the coach, the technical director and the president. I have to say that for the past three years we have always been close in almost every market session. – reveals Corrado – and I’ve always felt great enthusiasm, especially from the President, who this year pushed me to adopt the proposal. Firstly, because it is an important project, made up of what I believe to be a very strong team, and because for me, as a Calabrian, it is also a source of pride to go back to a city in my region and try to do something important: I would be happy. Without even going too far in superstition, – he adds – I’m expecting really big things from next season, but we have to be good, we have to work in the gym every day, because at the end of the day, teams can’t just be made up of names: that’s what you need to play volleyball and you need to play it well too. So we have to work hard; I know almost all the guys that will make up the team and I know that they are all serious professionals, so I’m expecting great things. What about coach Gianco D’Amico? I haven’t had a chance to work with him yet – continues Corrado – But I know he is a very well prepared technician and is certainly the right person for the team that will be in Palmi; I know he’s a hard worker and certainly has a long career in higher categories too: I’m very excited to see him at work.”.
OmiFer’s signing can only end with a thought for Palmese fans: “last year – remember – I came to Palmi to play at Tuscania and it wasn’t easy at all: well, I would wish that this atmosphere would be restored next season, if not more, because at the end of the day there is such a warmth important when you have a small building and the psychological aspect of the opposing team weighs heavily, so my invitation to the fans to come to the arena every game, support us, cheer, shout and believe in us because we can achieve great things, but only if we are all together”.
(Source: press release)
