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In my previous article, I wrote about Liverpool and the passion fans like Liam Harker have for the team. This time I’m looking at other inspirational players, and reasons why every time ...

Stefano Borgonovo: An Inspiration to Our Beautiful Game

by Michelle Alves (Senior Writer)

45

718 reads

Opinion

November 12, 2008


In my previous article, I wrote about Liverpool and the passion fans like Liam Harker have for the team.

This time I’m looking at other inspirational players, and reasons why every time someone gives up on football, something new comes their way and sheds light on the beauty of the sport.

Starting his football career at the age of 17, Stefano Borgonovo began with Como Calcio and soon moved to AC Milan. He was loaned back to Calcio, and spent two years playing for them. 

Following that he was loaned to Fiorentina, where he excelled in Serie A and won three caps for his country, Italy. Later he was given a chance to play for Milan again, but was unsuccessful and moved back to Fiorentina.

It came as a shock in September this year when Borgonovo was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease—named after the famous baseball player who was hit with the condition at just 36 years of age and died two years later). The same disease killed Gianluca Signorini in 2002.

It is a motor neurone disease that a surprising number of ex-footballers suffer from. The disease affects muscles, leading to a weakening in movement and, eventually, to complete paralysis. It also makes it difficult to breathe and talk.

The disease slowly eats away at muscles, leaving you with a lifeless body awaiting the cruel whisper of death. 

Borgonovo cannot talk and has to use a computer-generated voice that tracks his eye movements in order to communicate. He vowed to fight this condition, saying, ''What if I became the first to cheat this?''

When told about the disease affecting a lot of footballers, Borgonovo replied, ''I love soccer too much to believe this is a football disease," refusing to believe that the one thing he loved the most could kill him.

Spoken like a true football fan, like a candy-loving child who couldn’t believe that something so nice could be the reason for so much pain.

On Oct. 8 in Florence, a game called "Everyone for Stefano" was played to honor the footballer. The charity meeting was organized to support research to find a cure for the illness. The event tugged at heart strings and was warm and touching. He smiled through the game; his strength and heroism were an inspiration to all who watched.

At the conclusion of the match, Stefano Borgonovo had a message for every one of the individuals in his situation. “I wanted to say to those who suffer from what I suffer, believe in yourself, believe in football, and believe in the players and the football leagues that will help to find a cure for our illness.”

Many of the players had to fight back tears, so overwhelming was the night.

Investigation is still going on regarding the spread of this disease among Italian soccer players. So far more than 40 Italian ex-football players have been victims of ALS. One theory suggests the link of pesticides on the stadium grass, but so far nothing has been confirmed.

Fabio Cannavaro said, "If you look at the statistics for the number of players affected, there is reason to be worried."

Borgonova has brought awareness to this issue. His bravery and courage to accept this disease and fight it, and at the same time attempt to prevent the spread by speaking out is worthy of applause.

The charity game will help give Borgonova and many others affected even more strength to move ahead.

At the moment of his definitive exit, a five-minute round of applause accompanied him on his way off the pitch. A perfect ending to a perfect day.

It is a difficult time in football, some would say, yet it brings the sport back to what it was before some (mild, would you say?) form of corruption took place.

It put out of mind all the "dirty games" going on surrounding football lately. The mind games, the fixing, the accusations, the racism, the money talk, and the distraction. This is what football is about. This is what is meant when they say "Joga Bonito." This is what it should be all about.

I can only thank people like Borgonovo and Liam for constantly reminding me what it’s all about and why I still watch this breathtaking game.

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45 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Shyam Parthasarathi 7 months ago

    Great article Michelle.. what can I say? Whatever happened to Borgonovo is sad.. glad to see that he's fighting it.

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  2. Rahul Basu 7 months ago

    It's shocking to know that a lot of ex footballers are suffering from this disease. I only knew about Jason Becker (a great guitarist who was diagnosed with ALS aged 19) and Stephen Hawking and that it was extremely rare.. I hope this guy wins his battle, and a cure is discovered...

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  3. Tanade Mohamed 7 months ago

    ''I love soccer too much to believe this is a football disease,"

    Borgonovo is an inspiration for everyone to never give up on life and football

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  4. Ryan Burns 7 months ago

    good read this kind of stuff goes above and beyond sport and into life...great work!!

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  5. Tim Oates 7 months ago

    POTD. Superb. The story really touched me.

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  6. Maire Ofeire 7 months ago

    Nice article Michelle, you really are doing your best to make me cry aren't you?!

    Read about this in the Sunday Times and it is a bit scary for those in Italian football - some of the players seem very worried.

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    • Michelle Alves 7 months ago

      I've done my share of making people laugh, now its time for the opposite ;) hah!

      Yeah i know, I'd be worried too... wonder why only Italians... seems fishy.

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    • Maire Ofeire 7 months ago

      As you mentioned in the article they seem to think it may be something to do with the stuff they use for painting lines on the pitch!!

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    • Michelle Alves 7 months ago

      Yeah but its not fully confirmed is it, it could be something else.

      How would a baseball player get it, a non-italian one?

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    • Maire Ofeire 7 months ago

      Oh yeah that was years ago though...

      I just thought that the Italians are worried that more players may be showing early signs of the disease, hence they think it may be something they use???

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    • Michelle Alves 7 months ago

      Ok. forgive me for this but I have to say it.

      It reminds me of an episode of powerpuff girls (im a cartoon addict), where the Amoeba gang goes on wet grass and stands there the whole day, and gets some sorta disease and everyone gets sick.

      Maybe some kinda bacteria from some pollution , teamed up with the weather and took effect on one particular pitch, a popular one , where most of these players have played? and it keeps multiplying?

      I dont know... I hope you know by now there are moments where I might not make sense at all ;)

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    • Maire Ofeire 7 months ago

      ha ha although I must say the powerpuff girls rule :-)

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  7. Jamie Ward 7 months ago

    Very well written.

    I think its better to get a response from someone who has no idea about the article topic.

    I never knew nothing about the player or its affect on football, i knew about the disease itself but not about its connection with the sport, so from that point of view the article did very well to inform me of the situation, the player, the cause and did so in a very good manor of writing.

    I always like to give criticisms because as a writer and a person in general, in all i do, i prefer to get criticisms to further my learning......and the only thing i didnt like was the ''leaving you with a lifeless body awaiting the cruel whisper of death. '' comment.

    It kinda felt out of place in the article and a little trashy noval-esque maybe.

    But as always thats just my opinion, im not saying take it out or change ure style, far from it.

    I really enjoyed reading this and thought it did the job it was meant to do, provide infomation in a pleasurable and professional way.

    I gave it 4 stars.....not because of your looks....because of the writing ;-)

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    • Michelle Alves 7 months ago

      Thanks Jamie.

      Your right, btw. I wasn't too sure of that, but left it anyway. At that moment, I couldn't think of a better way to put it.

      Good to know its not because of the looks. Haha

      ;) Thanks again, especially for the criticism ; its words like that that help me the most.

      cheers x

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  8. Ricky O'Neal 7 months ago

    This article was great, again good job!

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  9. Willie Gannon 7 months ago

    Lovely article Michelle,

    I read a piece in World Soccer magazine last month about Borgonovo and it's a real shame he's suffering from the disease. Hopefully they might come up with a cure but it's unlikely at this stage.

    My own theory on the disease is that it could be linked with enhancing drugs rather than pesticides.

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    • Michelle Alves 7 months ago

      Thanks Willie,

      it could be enhancing drugs, but Borgonovo denied the use of any drugs or related stuff. I don't think he would hide it if he was so bent on fighting this disease

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  10. Danny Penza 7 months ago

    Great story yet so sad at the same time. The people who came out for the friendly between Milan and Fiorentina a few weeks back just says what kind of person he is. POTD!!!

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    • Michelle Alves 7 months ago

      Thanks Danny,

      Yes , the people who came out did show how much he was loved, but also, I think even if it was a lesser known, or lesser loved footballer , there would still be people out there applauding him. Thats what makes football great.

      Thanks for the POTD !

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  11. Yoosof Farah 7 months ago

    great article michelle, as daniel said it is indeed a great story, yet sad at the same time.

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  12. Joel F 7 months ago

    This is a tragic, poignant story.

    When I read it, it reminded me of the similar investigations and research into Parkinson's/Alzheimer's and its relationship with football. Billy Liddell, a former Liverpool player whom I greatly admire, suffered from Parkinson's for over a decade before dying in a nursing home seven years ago. And, of course, Ray Kennedy's current condition.

    According to one book (published three years ago), the PFA decided to monitor and examine 24 footballers every five years to ascertain what impact football was having on a player's health. Has there been similiar studies into this disease?

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    • Michelle Alves 7 months ago

      Yeah, its sad.

      A lot of research has been done on Parkinson's , but ALS has just recently been thrown into the light.
      Yes, they are doing their research, but not I'm not sure how are they going about it.
      Their first priority, I think, is examining the grass .

      Thanks for the comment

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  13. Kara Martin 7 months ago

    Another great one Michelle, I'm in tears! God you can write an excellent article!

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  14. Marzia Hazra 7 months ago

    Great article Michelle but a very sad story...

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  15. Callum D'Souza 7 months ago

    Michelle an absouletly superb article desverves pick of the day

    such a sad story though

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  1. Nikhil Nadipelli 7 months ago

    i always thought sportsmen will always stay fit... this is really shocking. hopefully the investigation proves that football is not the cause...

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    • Michelle Alves 7 months ago

      I hope so too, but 40 Italian footballers? Its obvious , isn't it?

      Does that mean theyre going to stop playing, doubt it.

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  2. illya mclellan 7 months ago

    It will be interesting to see the outcome of this investigation. good article, sad story, there are a lot of them in the world.

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  3. Alden Sing 7 months ago

    Good article Michelle.

    Nice to see your versatility growing by the article you write.

    And nice also to know that there are people picking you here not because of how you look but how you write.

    Cheers

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    • Michelle Alves 7 months ago

      Thanks Alden!

      Good to know that its not because of my looks too (I hate saying that, its the last time i'm going to )

      cheers x

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  4. David Jacobs 7 months ago

    This is touching. Very well done to you again Michelle.
    So many writers like me just write articles about sport as if there's nothing wrong.
    Te few writers like you take time to see past all that and think for a moment about unfortunate things which need to be improved.

    I commend you greatly.

    5* + pick.

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  5. Nymkhishig Batbayar 7 months ago

    great article.., nice one. i think he'll go on and fight with it, just like Magic Johnson did.

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