Trieste Victory Academy Launches Women’s Football Team to Fill Critical Gap in Local Sport
A new era for women’s football in Trieste is underway as the ASD Trieste Victory Academy officially announced the formation of its first women’s team on August 8th. The team is slated to compete in the excellence championship beginning in the 2025/26 season, stepping in to address a significant void left by the recent dissolution of the city’s only other top-tier women’s football program.
The initiative aims to provide continued opportunities for local athletes who faced uncertainty following the previous team’s closure. The academy has already secured commitments from players, including four athletes from the Goriziano region – specifically from Grado, Monfalcone, Aquileia, and Pieris.
“For us to welcome these girls doesn’t just mean setting up a team,” explained Francesca De Bossi, founder of the women’s section. “It is a commitment to protect a sporting and human movement and legacy, giving continuity to a story that has been written in the years spent by those who have had the courage and vision of bringing women’s football into our territory.”
Rapid Development Amidst Tight Timeline
The academy is operating under a compressed timeline, having begun building the team’s infrastructure just days after the fate of the previous local women’s sector became clear on August 4th. This involves establishing the entire technical, administrative, and organizational structure, completing championship registration, and actively seeking economic resources.
“It is an intense work, which requires total dedication from all the staff,” a senior official stated. The company has launched a public appeal for support from citizens, institutions, and local businesses, acknowledging the organizational and financial risks involved. “Together we can transform this courageous choice into a beautiful page of Triestine sport,” they added.
Camilla Pinatti: A Local Talent Returns
Among the players joining the new team is Camilla Pinatti, born in 2003. Pinatti’s football journey began at age 12, inspired by her father and brother’s involvement with Gradese, before progressing through Tavagnacco and Triestina.
“I had come back to play and I was fine with the group, I was sorry to have to give up,” Pinatti shared. “This opportunity allows me to continue without having to go too far, because the other teams that had contacted me were really distant.” She expressed disappointment at the previous team’s collapse, calling it “a big step back” for the sport in Italy, and highlighted the ongoing challenge of achieving greater visibility for women’s football.
Pinatti currently trains three times a week while completing her studies. She is set to graduate with a degree in Motor Sciences in October from Gemona and plans to pursue a master’s degree in Psychomotricity in Padua, with a career goal of working with children with motor difficulties.
The ASD Trieste Victory Academy’s swift action demonstrates a strong commitment to sustaining women’s football in the region, offering a vital pathway for athletes and promising a bright future for the sport in Trieste. The academy is actively seeking community support to ensure the long-term success of this ambitious endeavor.
