Giorgia SOTTANA : "I want to see what I could do out of my comfort zone."

Her signature has been announced few days ago but it is now official. The moment was therefore unique and ideal to ask Giorgia SOTTANA for her first interview, just few days between that signature and her debut in the EuroBasketWomen in Prague.

· Giorgia hello, how are you ?
I AM VERY GOOD, THANK YOU !

· So that’s it, it is official, you arrive at the BLMA ? How many years did you sign ?
I’VE SIGNED FOR ONLY ONE YEAR. I ALMOST ALWAYS SIGN FOR JUST ONE YEAR.

· I suppose that you did not miss of proposals. Why BLMA ?
I’VE GOT OTHER PROPOSAL IN ITALY AND OTHER TEAMS IN EUROPE. WHY BLMA? I’VE TALKED WITH THE COACH AND I FELT WHAT HE SAID AND HIS VISUAL IS WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. ALSO I TALKED WITH ELODIE GODIN, WHICH I PLAYED WITH HER IN TARANTO AND SCHIO. SHE TALKED NICELY ABOUT THE CITY AND THE CLUB. SIMPLY, I FELT IT WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR ME.

· What can you tell us which describes you the best for those who may not know you ?
I AM A SIMPLE PERSON, I AM EXTROVERSE AND EASY GOING. I KNOW I CAN LOOK DIFFERENT WHEN I PLAY BUT IS JUST BECAUSE IM FOCUSED IN WHAT I AM DOING. BASKETBALL TALKING I THINK I KNOW HOW TO PUT MYSELF IN THE POSITION TO BE USEFUL FOR THE TEAM. I TRY TO DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO.

· Excepted a mini-raid in Treviso and iTaranto (less than a year each time), you knew only two clubs : Venice during 8 years, Schio during 5 years. Is faithfulness one of your qualities ?
ACTUALLY, TREVISO IS THE PLACE WHERE I GROW UP. AND I’VE PLAYED IN TREVISO FOR A LOT OF YEARS. IN TARANTO I’VE LEFT PART OF MY HEART, WAS HARD TO LEAVE BUT WAS THE BEST CHOICE FOR ME. I DONT KNOW IF WE CAN CALL IT FAITHFULNESS BUT FOR SURE IF I FIND A PLACE THAT CAN GIVE ME WHAT IM LOOKING FOR, I DONT SEE REASON TO LEAVE. I GET ATTACHED BECAUSE IS MY WAY : I PUT MY FEELINGS AND MY GUT BEFORE ALL THE REST.

· At the age of 28, it is your first experience outside Italy. What urged to you to try an adventure abroad now ?
I FEEL READY. IN THE PAST YEAR I THINK I’VE IMPROVED A LOT PERSONALLY AND I WANT TO TEST MYSELF AND SEE WHAT I CAN DO OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE. ALSO, I’M LUCKY ENOUGH TO DO A JOB THAT GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE ALL AROUND THE WORLD. I KNOW BLMA IS A TEAM WITH A BASKETBALL TRADITION AND IS WHAT COUNT THE MOST TO ME. I WANT TO DO GOOD.

· In the opposite direction, why not to have left earlier ?
I WAS ALWAYS IN THE TOP TEAM IN ITALY AND I REALLY DIDN’T SEE THE POINT TO LEAVE A PERFECT SITUATION FOR AN UNKNOWN. I WAS CLOSE TO MY FAMILY, IN A GOOD AND SERIOUS TEAM (SCHIO IN THIS PAST 5 YEARS), WITH MY FRIENDS. BUT AS I SAID, I’VE CHANGED A LOT IN THE PAST YEAR AND NOW I’M READY TO PROVE MYSELF. I WILL FOR SURE MISS HOME, BUT THIS IS PART OF WHAT I DO.

· In a general way, when you think about France or french people which is the first idea which comes to your mind ?
HONESTLY ? LA BAGUETTE (in french in the text).

· And what are you afraid of the most upon your arrival ?
FOR NOW, WHAT SCARES ME THE MOST IS TO PACK. BUT I KNOW LATER I WILL FOR SURE HAVE OTHER FEARS COMING. I TRY NOT TO THINK ABOUT THE BAD : I AM EXCITED FOR THIS NEW EXPERIENCE AND I WANT TO ENJOY IT.

· Do you speak some words of French ?
ABSOLUTELY…NOT. BUT I WILL LEARN. I’M ALREADY THINKING TO GET SOME CLASSES.

· I know you since the Euro of Chieti in 2007, you were 18 years old and you had your headband "Giorgia". In what did the player evolve since 2007 ?
OH. I’VE TOTALLY CHANGED SINCE THEN. I WAS A KID, UNAWARE. I WAS JUST GOIN WITH THE FLOW AND SOMETIMES I MISS THAT. I THINK I’M MORE COMPLETE NOW, OFFENSIVELY AND DEFENSEVELY I’VE WORKED A LOT. I’VE PLAYED IN SO MANY DIFFERENT SYSTEMS AND PLAYERS THAT I’VE LEARNED DIFFERENT WAYS TO PLAY. AND NOW I KNOW HOW TO BE USEFUL EVEN IF I’VE TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS NOT WHAT I KNOW HOW TO DO BEST. I FEEL LIKE I’M KIND OF A SOLDIER : I DO WHAT COACH ASKS ME AND I TRY DO IT AT MY BEST. WHEN I WAS 18 I ONLY KNEW ONE WAY : MY WAY.

· And the young woman outside courts, in which way did she change ?
I AM MORE POSITIVE, FOCUSED ON WHAT I AM DOING AND ON LIVING THE PRESENT. WHEN I WAS YOUNGER I WANTED ALWAYS TO HAVE THINGS UNDER MY CONTROL AND GET STRESSED IF I DIDNT. NOW I’M MORE OCCUPIED TO CONTROL MYSELF AND THE THINGS I CAN DO. I JUST FOLLOW MY WAY AND I TRY TO FIT IN IN EVERY SITUATION. LET’S SAY I’M NOT A KID ANYMORE.

· Speaking about Eurobasket, what are Italia’s goal next week ?
WE ARE A GOOD GROUP AND WE WANNA DO GO. THERE IS A LOT OF EXPECTATION AROUND US, AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF TALENTED AND YOUNG PLAYERS THAN CAN RISE AND SHINE. AND I HOPE THE OLDERS (ME INCLUDED) CAN HELP TO PUT ALL OF US TO ANOTHER LEVEL. WOULD BE NICE TO REACH THE FIRST SIX PLACES AND QUALIFY FOR THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

· A few years ago, you told me that you liked photography "because with a camera, you can freeze real moments". Is it always the case and do you find some time to make photograph ?
OH, IM TOTALLY STILL IN LOVE WITH IT. PLUS NOW I’M INTO VIDEO MAKING AND IT'S A REAL PASSION. DURING SEASON IS HARDER TO FIND THE TIME, BUT FOR SURE MY CAMERA WILL COME IN MONTPELLIER.

· I leave you the last word, Gio…
NOW I’M TOTALLY FOCUSED TO DO GOOD WITH MY NATIONAL TEAM, BUT I CAN’T WAIT TO LAND IN FRANCE AND START THIS NEW SEASON AND CHALLENGE.

Thank you Giorgia for your confidence. Can't wait september to see you with your new jersey. Happy EuroBasketWomen now and all the best !

> French version here...
> Version française par ici...