Visiting Ambri star Pestoni: “Family is a balance that just does me good”

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Kylie (6) has just come home from a birthday party, Sofia (4) is sitting at the table with dad Inti Pestoni and is painting. Mom Carolina Gigantelli holds son Jaden (19 months) in her arms, who has just woken up from his nap. Now life returns to the Ambri star’s family home. He likes it that way. “The family is a balance that is just good for me.”

These are the words of 32-year-old Inti Pestoni, who has arrived and found his place. In his home country, where he once moved to further develop himself. As a player and as a person. His fiancée, who accompanied the Leventine on his journey, confirms that he has this.

The couple met in a karaoke bar immediately after the last match of the 2014/15 season. When it turns into love, Pestoni tells his girlfriend that there is the possibility of switching clubs. “We knew each other for almost a year when Inti signed with ZSC,” recalls the 33-year-old from Ticino, who said yes this spring when Pestoni unexpectedly asked her to marry him.

Matured, back to the roots

The striker is aware that challenges await him abroad. Because Pestoni is a name that committed itself early on. He grew up just a few hundred meters from Valascia and will be the center of attention as soon as he makes his National League debut. A lot of pressure for a young player who also feels a strong obligation to lead his club out of the crisis time and time again.

The prejudice that he can only function in his comfort zone drives him to German-speaking Switzerland. Zurich, Davos, Bern. Pestoni was able to cope with being relegated to fitness training in the middle of the season at ZSC, partly thanks to his loved ones. She stands by his side during all his club changes and moves with him. Kylie will be born in Zurich, Sofia will be born in Bern, Jaden in Bellinzona in 2022.

Because Pestoni has returned to his roots and has been playing for his heart club Ambri again since 2021. But he no longer takes everything to heart like he did when he was “giovane Pestoni”. He has matured. He can classify the pressure from outside when, as recently after matches, he has to answer the question why he did not score a goal. He can only laugh when his eldest daughter asks him the same question at home.

Loving and careful Papa Pestoni

The Biancoblu is running this season. They underlined their ambitions with important victories in November against Lugano, Davos, Bern and Ajoie. And Pestoni is once again doing things on the ice that only Pestoni can do. Because not only has he changed, “Ambri’s mentality has also grown since I left the club.”

The assistant captain only has to get used to one fact: that he is one of the oldest players on the team after Dario Bürgler (35). “When Cereda says during training that the elders have to choose the teams for the chat, I don’t realize he is talking about me,” he says with a smile.

Pestoni laughs a lot this afternoon. “I’m at a point in my life where I’m happy.” His daughters love being around him, especially Kylie, who is almost the same as her father. “Inti is a very loving and present father who likes to play a lot with the children,” says his fiancée. “But I am also very careful. I am constantly afraid that they will hurt themselves,” the Ambri leader admits. At the moment, his biggest challenge is not the next exciting Ticino derby on Friday, but getting the three lively children in the family photo at the same time.

Source : Blick