“I have a lot of affection and gratitude for this club. I have fulfilled a dream. Now I want to continue here, in Italy, at Trissino, making history and proving my ability as a coach. This is the perfect challenge at the right time in my life,” João Pintoi told Lusa news agency.
At 38, he took over the Trissino team in the final stretch of the season, after the departure of fellow Portuguese Tiago Sousa, and led the team to the title, with the support of assistant coach David Pereira, in a squad with several players who have played in Brazilian hockey, such as Alvarinho, Reinaldo Garcia and Giulio Cocco.
“When they offered me to take over the team, I made it clear that I would only do it with this group. These are players I know well, some of whom are friends, and that made all the difference in helping us win the title in such a demanding situation,” he confessed.
Winning the ‘scudetto’ at the Trissino came after an epic comeback in the fourth game of the final, against Lodi, in which the team recovered from a 5-1 deficit and took the match to penalties.
The victory is not only a collective achievement, but also a moment of personal affirmation and overcoming for the coach, who is still recovering from the emotions of the last challenges.
“I have been here in Italy for several years and I have never felt so many obstacles as I do at this stage. They changed the rules regarding player-coaches in the middle of the play-offs, but that only gave me more strength to continue and to believe even more in the group I lead,” he said.
For this reason, João Pinto chose to focus solely on training in the last two play-off games, leaving his skates aside after a 20-year career.
“The decision to stop playing was difficult, but necessary in order to be fully focused on what the team needed”, explained João Pinto.
Next season, it is already confirmed that the Portuguese-Agolan will be the coach of Trissino, after five seasons as a player, continuing a career that included spells at FC Porto, Oliveirense, Óquei de Barcelos, Espinho, Juventude de Viana, Sporting, Académica de Luanda and Amatori Lodi (Italy), and with over 30 international appearances for Angola.
“As an athlete, I have had a career that makes me very happy, but I had already decided some time ago that I was going to stop playing. Taking this step, with this opportunity and after winning it, could not have happened even in my wildest dreams, especially because I am surrounded by people I know and trust”, he stated.
Trissino won the Italian roller hockey championship on Wednesday, in the fourth game of the Serie A1 final, played against Lodi. The team repeated the 2022 duel, winning again and claiming its fourth title in history.
After a drought that lasted since 1978, the Italian club now has three championships in four years (2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25).
João Pinto contributed as a player in previous seasons and now also as a coach in this final stretch of the 2024/25 season.
