By DAVID NAGEL
TOORADIN’s number one import, Larenzo Breschi, wore the Green, White and Red of his native Italy with pride on Saturday as he finished his football career in grand style in the Seagulls under-17 win over Hampton Park.
Larenzo – who had never seen a game of football before arriving from Florence on February 2 – kicked a goal with his last kick, in his last game, before he flies back to Tuscany this Saturday after a five-month stay as an exchange student.
The 18-year-old Kooweerup Secondary College student said his first trip overseas had been a life-changing experience.
“To live through this experience has been like living someone else’s life and I will take with me so many good memories and thoughts,” he said.
Larenzo’s ‘mother’ for the last five months, Jan Sabbatucci, said Larenzo had fit in well with her own four boys, but took time to adjust to the noise.
“He’s not as loud and boisterous as the others,” she said. “The only thing I told him was to not tell his mother he got a black eye playing football.”
But it was Larenzo who had the last word.
“I want to thank the Sabbatucci family, they are a great family, very loud, but a great family and I really enjoyed my time with them,” he said.
I also want to thank Tooradin, my friends, and everyone else who has helped me get good enough to kick three goals for my career.”
But he saved his best Aussie tribute, in a strong Italian accent, for his coach Greg Bethune.
“My coach … he’s a really good bloke.”
