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Reno Piscopo is counting the days until his Wellington Phoenix teammates can join him on the other side of the Tasman.
Piscopo trained alone over 2,500 miles from the rest of the men’s A-League squad in the first weeks of the preseason after returning to Australia after the Olympics to spend precious time with his big boy. -father before his death.
“I wanted to see him one last time before he left, and that was my reason,” he said.
“It has been very difficult the last few months for me so I needed my family and I think it helped me a lot; be back in Melbourne where my family is.
Faced with the prospect of spending another fortnight in managed isolation if he returned to Wellington for preseason training due to current Covid-19 border restrictions, Piscopo was cleared by the Phoenix to stay in Melbourne and to be with his family until the end of October.
That’s when the Phoenixes are expected to arrive in Australia to continue their preparation for the new season.
They will be based in New South Wales for at least the first six matches, as current restrictions make it impossible to host matches without having to quarantine.
“Unfortunately, I can’t be with the team in this crazy scenario right now, but I’m doing everything I can to be in the best possible shape when I meet the team,†said Piscopo.
“I hope I can play a few friendlies before the first game and I hope I will be 100% by then.
“I just trained individually and asked boys to do group sessions. To be honest it went well, I feel great and pushed hard, and that’s the main thing.
“Training alone can be difficult at times, but if you have people around you who know what you’re doing and can motivate you, that’s an extra boost. “
New recruit Nicholas Pennington is in the same boat as Piscopo, but even further from Wellington.
Unable to secure a place in a managed isolation that would have allowed him to fly to New Zealand, Pennington is still in Italy and, like Piscopo, will have to reunite with the rest of the squad in Australia.
Piscopo know Pennington relatively well, having previously played against him when Piscopo was at Inter Milan academy, when they were once team-mates for Australia’s Under-23 national team.
Piscopo was excited about what the attacking midfielder could bring to the Phoenix in his debut season in the A-League Men.
“It will bring creativity. He wants to get on the ball. He’s not afraid to get on the ball and look for those passes forward, that’s what we want, â€he said.
“I hope he can have a good season with us and show what he has, and make the Wellington fans happy.
“It will be good to have another Italian on the squad so I can’t wait to catch up with him again.”
Being in Melbourne, Piscopo was not present when veteran defender Steven Taylor addressed the rest of the Phoenix squad last week and said he was retiring with immediate effect.
He said he only learned of his captain’s explosive retirement from teammate Jaushua Sotirio.
“I was a little shocked. I expected to play with him this season, â€he said.
“I hadn’t seen it coming, but at the end of the day he had a great career and it’s his choice with what he does in his life.
“If that’s what he wants to do, I wish him all the best and hope he has a good retirement and enjoys it.”
The upcoming men’s A-League season is shaping up to be a big one for Piscopo, 23, entering the final year of his three-year contract with the Phoenix.
While the club have struggled to bring in players from overseas, Piscopo is expected to fill the creative void left by Johnny Warren medalist Ulises Davila, who signed for first-round opponents Macarthur.
Piscopo was presented with the No.10 shirt, usually worn by a football team’s star playmaker, after Davila left.
“I believe if I stay injury free I can do more; I create more, I can help more, I can score more.
“Unfortunately last season I had a lot of ups and downs from injury, but this season I hope it doesn’t happen again because I know what I can bring.”
Piscopo attended the Tokyo Olympics with Australia’s Olyroos but was unable to enter the pitch after injuring his calf after participating in a warm-up match against the New Zealand OlyWhites.
He said it was heartbreaking to watch from the sidelines after playing a key role in helping the team to qualify.
“I pushed him because it’s the Olympics and I want to play, but maybe I should have rested, missed the first two games and I would have been there for the game against Egypt, but we tried to get me back as soon as possible and unfortunately that was not going to happen.
“I went through a lot being there but not being able to play, not being able to help my team or my country. I was waiting two years to go to the Olympics and play and it was taken away from me because of a injury.
“I was very disappointed but that’s what it is, there are things you can’t control in life and I’m now focusing on having a good season and hoping I can be called up to the Socceroos.”
After a rough patch, Piscopo said he was happy to have the start of a new season to keep him going.
“I can’t wait to be with the team again and to finally be able to start,†he said.
“It’s been a few long months for me and being there doing what I love helps me take my mind off things.
“This is where I am happiest; when I’m on the pitch and playing football.
“Right now, I’m staying strong for my family and loved ones, and I’m there for everyone while I’m here.”
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