U20 coach Marcel Jenni sounds the alarm: Ambri talent is in danger of missing the World Cup due to naturalization plague

class=”sc-29f61514-0 dXbCZE”>

Ambri youngster Tommaso De Luca recently raved about his important goal to make it 3-2 in the derby against Lugano. The 18-year-old has already been given responsibility for the Biancoblu in terms of ice time, and has even been used in the power play. With his talent he would even be one of the top players of the U20 team. But the heart of the matter is: De Luca is still Italian.

U20 coach Marcel Jenni (49) had the striker firmly on his list for the next World Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden (December 26 to January 5, 2024). The starting point was that De Luca could have applied for a Swiss passport last August. But that didn’t happen. The reason: a misunderstanding in communication between the family and the responsible authorities.

Therefore, the procedure is postponed

Tommaso De Luca has lived with his parents and brother in Biasca TI since 2017. Father Paolo De Luca is head coach at Ascona, younger brother Jacopo (16) also plays in the Ambri youth team. Tommaso De Luca is said to have met the requirements for naturalization this summer. In Ticino you must have lived in the canton for at least five years, three of which in the same place, plus a total of ten years in Switzerland. But for young people, the years between 8 and 18 are counted twice. The junior can also demonstrate the required five years of training.

What will be the downfall of Tommaso De Luca now? His 2022/23 season in the Canadian Junior League WHL with the Spokane Chiefs (Washington). The seven months he spent in North America do not count for him here. The family had discussed this with the authorities in advance. But there was a misunderstanding during communication, the De Lucases say.

The striker returned from Washington after one season, mainly to apply for a Swiss passport. But now the procedure is postponed. The new date for this: March 2024. Then the U20 World Cup will be a thing of the past. That is why coach Jenni, who had already called up De Luca for the preparatory camp last August, is sounding the alarm.

Important decision for De Luca’s career

“He is one of our most important players with the attacking power needed at this level. Tommaso has a future in the Swiss national team.” According to Jenni, he already missed the U18 World Cup as a showcase. He was already in contact with the Ambri player with a view to this U20 World Cup. Jenni therefore wants to leave no stone unturned for his talent and hopes that the relevant authorities will take another look at the matter.

Because De Luca is now in a dilemma. The Italian association is aware of the passport problem and is putting pressure on the striker to play for Italy instead at the next U20 tournament in Hungary in mid-December – however, this is only the B World Cup and is therefore not in the same spotlight.

Nevertheless, he would not be able to change countries after that. This great hockey talent has to rethink this and probably make one of the most important decisions of his career so far. Although he has already assured both Jenni and Ambri that he would like to play for Switzerland.

Source : Blick