The Dinamo Sassari are approaching their Serie A2 debut in Serie A2 with a team still under construction. Two weeks before the start of the championship, the two friendlies played against Brindisi highlighted an uneven level of fitness and the difficulties linked to the numerous absences, but they have not shaken coach Luca Vitali’s confidence in the path being taken.
“It’s a marathon—the championship is very long, and the pre-season serves to help you understand what level you’re at,” explains the coach, in his first season as head coach on the Biancoblù bench. The games against Brindisi, one of the teams expected to challenge at the top of the division, provided useful indications about a tournament Dinamo had not played in for 16 years.
The injury list is still crowded
The list of unavailable players remains the main obstacle to the team’s daily work. Kajami-Keane and Pisano will have to wait a little longer before returning, while Michele Vitali is expected to undergo further tests after the hand problem he suffered in the September 10 game against Brindisi. Riismaa, dealing with an intestinal problem, should instead gradually resume training. Nze and Brooks have also had to miss part of the preparation.
The final test before the championship is scheduled for Saturday in Olbia against Omegna. The staff hope to recover at least a few players and increase intensity, mental toughness and consistency. For updates on the Canadian point guard, see the feature Dinamo Sassari, injury for Kajami-Keane: the point guard returns to Sardinia.
A new group to bring together
Vitali stresses that the team seen so far does not yet represent Dinamo’s definitive identity. The roster includes ten new players and has never managed to train at full strength. The coach nevertheless praises the group’s character: “It’s a wonderful group, healthy in terms of character,” he says, highlighting the players’ willingness to share the ball and their room for growth, both individually and collectively.
The additional contract with Stefano Longo also fits into this context, rewarding him for being ready when the emergency arose. The arrival of Brandon Young, brought in to provide options at point guard, instead broadens the alternatives following Kajami-Keane’s injury. Young has different characteristics, but he has already begun working with the team: to learn more about his integration, read Dinamo Sassari, Brandon Young officially joins: new reinforcement after Kajami-Keane’s injury.
Jeff Brooks will also be managed cautiously. Having recently undergone surgery and gone six months without playing, the forward will have to gradually regain his fitness. “What matters is not today, but what it will be during the season,” Vitali notes. The priority, therefore, is to reach the debut with a more complete and better-prepared group, without rushing the process: the new Dinamo has set off, but its real journey will begin only when it can train and play together.