The day 18 soccer players lost their lives

 

On May 4, 1949, a plane carrying the Torino football team crashed into the Superga hill, killing all 31 people on board, including 18 players, coaches, and journalists. The team, known as "Grande Torino," was one of the greatest in Italian football history, and the crash had a devastating impact on the city and its people.

Umberto Motto, a local boy and captain of Torino's youth team, had always dreamed of playing for the club. On the day of the crash, he was giving a tour of the city to two clients of his parents' factory when they heard the news. Motto remembers the dense fog and heavy rain that day, which made it difficult to see or hear anything. When they arrived back in the city, they were met with cars honking their horns, and Motto thought something good had happened. But when they arrived at the Torino FC headquarters, they were met with the devastating news.

The crash was a disaster for the club, which didn't have the money or resources to rebuild the team. Other Italian teams loaned players to Torino, but not their best players. The club's president, Feruccio Novo, tried to rebuild the team, but it was too difficult. Torino has only won one first-division title since then, in 1975-76.

Motto and the other youth players were asked to finish the season, playing against the youth teams of their remaining opponents. Before the first match, Novo came into the changing room and hugged each player, telling them, "Your masters are watching you." The referee also encouraged them, saying, "Forza ragazzi" (Come on, boys). Motto led the team out onto the pitch, fulfilling his dream in unimaginable circumstances.

The team played with heart and determination, winning all four remaining matches. The fans were supportive, and as many as 700,000 people lined the streets for the players' funeral procession. Today, the club still honors its heroes, and on the 75th anniversary of the disaster, there will be a service at the Monumental Cemetery, a mass at the Superga Basilica, and a service at the Torino FC memorial.

The crash of the Torino team plane was a tragedy that had a lasting impact on the city and its people. It's a reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of honoring those who have come before us. As Pennino says, "They are still remembered every year. On May 4, the names are exclaimed on the Superga Hill. It's a worthy tribute to those great players."