BOLZANO – The European three cushion champion Marco Zanetti received an offer to sign for the PBA these weeks, but he will not leave his familiar environment in the late years of his career. The 61-year old Italian maestro of billiards is preparing for a new year with World Cups and other major tournaments and will remain loyal to the UMB cycle with Dick Jaspers, Torbjörn Blomdahl, Tayfun Tasdemir, Eddy Merckx and other colleagues and friends with whom he has enjoyed a long career. ’’I had to think about the offer for a few days,'' Zanetti admits. The European titleholder, however, is confident about the developments within the traditional federation (the UMB) and most of all doesn’t want to take the step to a new social life in a far and strange country anymore. Marco Zanetti is hoping for a future where there is room for negotiation and compromise.
The Italian player gladly accepts a request for an interview with Kozoom in these turbulent times. He speaks frankly and candidly about the choice that he himself and others are making for the Korean professional organization. Meanwhile, the world's top ten players, in order of emergence, have lost Frédéric Caudron, Filippos Kasidokostas, Jae-ho Cho, Dani Sánchez, Sung-won Choi and Semih Sayginer to the PBA. The devaluation of the championships, in the world and in Europe, is an unfortunate consequence of the current situation, thinks Marco Zanetti. ’’It is a time of great evolution, but the UMB tournaments will remain very high.’’
Marco Zanetti (61 from Bolzano, Italy, reigning European champion) takes his time and speaks respectfully about stayers and leavers. A champion in turbulent times.
Kozoom/Frits Bakker: How does it feel, Marco, to continue your long, wonderful career as the European champion after winning the new title?
Marco Zanetti: It was a moment of great personal satisfaction, an indication that the training work I do is paying off.
FB: Did you yourself expect being able to compete with the best players in Europe and the world at this age?
MZ: When I was younger, I often said I would stop playing billiards at 60, but now, having reached this age, I am still very competitive, so I want to continue for a few more years.
FB: How is Marco Zanetti doing personally at this stage of his life and career, physically, mentally, combatively? How do you look forward to the coming years, with the motivation that this era could last for a few more years?
MZ: I simply try to study the game more and more, always looking for new paths to follow. The competition is so tough, and still trying to improve is key.
FB: How do you look at this year so far as a UMB billiard player, the new, recent developments? Does it hurt that so many billiard players with whom you competed for many years are now making the move to PBA?
MZ: It is a time of great evolution. The UMB is moving together with new partners to grow the movement and offer more and more interesting prospects for the coming years. Certainly, I will be sorry not to see more players who have switched to play for the Korean professional federation, but the level at UMB tournaments will remain very high, thanks in part to the new up-and coming players.
FB: How do you feel with the colleagues and friends in their new position, can you understand them making this choice?
MZ: Choosing to go and play for the Korean professional federation is a very personal choice, a radical life change. On the one hand, there are strong motivations and hopes for strong earnings, on the other, one has to stay and live in Korea for most of the year, staying away from home and abandoning not only one’s own habits, but also the traditional billiard sports family. Certainly those who put their economic situation at the top of their priorities, can make this decision. Everyone is the architect of his own destiny, and no one from the outside can judge such an importand and personal choice.
FB: Have you yourself considered the switch in the past two years, or especially this year?
MZ: I too received a proposal from Korea, but preferred to stay with UMB for family and personal reasons and also because I believe in professional growth at UMB. And being able to continue living at home is a freedom that also has its own value.
FB: What is your main reason for not making the step, was there never any doubt?
MZ: I have been thinking hard about the Korean proposal for a couple of days, but I already told exactly what my priorities are.
FB: How do you see the upcoming UMB championships in Europe, in the world, will there be a devaluation of tournaments?
MZ: Certainly some important players will be missing from the UMB tournaments, their presence will be missed. Of course, in the future I will also watch the PBA tournaments as a spectator with more interest. But if we look at the current world ranking, the UMB competitions will still remain the most interesting. And maybe some up-and-coming players will find a few more spaces to fit into the top group. It is an exciting time for billiard players and fans.
FB: The important question that arises is: should the UMB and should the PBA make concessions to prevent this flood of transfers?
MZ: This question is difficult to answer. It is about the politics of the sport. I personally would like to see a final competition once a year where the best UMB and PBA players can play together, but I don't know if this idea of mine is feasible in practice.
FB: Do you personally see any opportunities to reach a solution?
MZ: Each of the two organizations is working to strengthen itself and think about its future. It is easy to make proclamations, but finding acceptable common ground will not be easy. The best PBA players have significant guarantees in their contracts. And for UMB players to go and play together with them without setting any conditions would be an inappropriate thing to do.
FB: The PBA has put forward a plan by its president: we want to quickly find a solution with the UMB to work together, offer opportunities to play in both leagues. Hand out wildcards, stop suspensions. Do you see opportunities to make that happen?
MZ: Let me first launch this topic: which of the two organizations, UMB or PBA, has most interest in having an event that is open to all, even if only once a year? The PBA has shown great ability to organize a show business in Korea, but limited to this country. It is obvious that they aspire to expand, but so far they cannot get out of their territorial scope. To succeed, they sould need the cooperation of the UMB and so it is logical that their statements have this purpose. On the other hand, UMB must first and foremost protect the interests of its contractual partners – they are located in Korea too - who instead want to pursue the sport independently and autonomously prioritizing sports aspects over 'show business' ones. Finding common ground to enable an expanded understanding means, first bring together all parties involved, including federated, territorial parties, and be ready to accept compromises. A big challenge for everyone to face, on my eyes.
FB: But despite all that is coming to us: hopefully Marco Zanetti can continue to enjoy that wonderful European title and career with even more successful years.
Thank you, Marco, for the interview.
MZ: Thank you also for giving me the chance to express my thoughts at this very special moment.