INTERNATIONAL COACH
Giovanni Capacchietti
Giovanni “Gianni” Capacchietti is a prominent figure in the Italian tennis scene, known above all for his commitment to organizing youth tournaments. In 1996, he founded the Kappa Tennis School, a sports association dedicated to promoting tennis among young people. In the same year, he created the Lampo Cup, an international invitational tournament for Under 14 athletes, which saw the participation of teams from various nations.
In 2002, Capacchietti created the Lampo Trophy, an international competition for Under-12 teams, held annually in Brescia. This tournament attracted the attention of Tennis Europe, which in 2007 launched a similar competition, the Nations Challenge by HEAD, inspired by the Lampo Trophy format.
In addition to his role as an organizer, Capacchietti has had experience as an international coach. In 2000, he collaborated with the Moroccan Tennis Federation, conducting training camps in Casablanca and contributing to the training of young local talents.
On a personal level, Capacchietti has also participated as a player on the ITF Senior circuit, highlighting his continued passion for tennis both on and off the court.
A look at the Lampo Trophy and Capacchietti's commitment to organizing the tournament
Giovanni Capacchietti in visita a Basilea alla sede di Tennis Europe
Interview with Giovanni Capacchietti – Organizer of the Lampo Trophy and the Nations Challenge by HEAD
During a visit to the Tennis Europe headquarters in Basel, we had the pleasure of meeting Giovanni Capacchietti, the historic organizer of the Lampo Trophy Under 12, one of the most unique events of the Tennis Europe Junior Tour. The tournament attracts teams from all over the world every year, standing out for the quality of its organization and the unique atmosphere it manages to create. Capacchietti is also responsible for a qualifying phase of the official European Under 12 team competition, the Nations Challenge by HEAD.
We asked him to tell us something more about his passion for tennis and the commitment he dedicates to organizing events dedicated to young talents.
Giovanni, in addition to organizing tournaments for young people, you also happen to play on the ITF Senior circuit. How and when did your passion for tennis begin?
My passion for tennis began very early, I was only eight years old. Like many children, I started playing on the street, with whatever I could find. Then I moved on to real courts and started getting good results, becoming one of the best players in my city. Over time, to keep this passion alive, in 1996 I decided to organize an international team tournament for Under 14s. It was a fantastic experience, which was a great success and gave me the impetus to continue on this path. Today, for 17 years, I have been organizing the Lampo Trophy, a tournament that I consider one of the best managed on the Tennis Europe circuit. And as long as the passion is there, I will continue to carry it forward – already in 2019 I was determined to propose it again.
Can you tell us more about yourself and your career?
By training I am a physical education teacher and tennis coach. I have always had a very complete educational and sports approach, and I believe this has also helped me in organizing tournaments, where attention to detail and young people is fundamental.
You have always been very involved in team tournaments. Is this the reason why you chose to organize a phase of the Nations Challenge by HEAD as well?
Absolutely. The team format has always excited me. In fact, I directed the first edition of the Nations Challenge by HEAD in 2007 and was the director for the first four years. Then, a couple of years ago, we started organizing it again. It is a project that is really close to my heart. Every year we try to improve the organization, adding something extra: for example, today we welcome participants with gifts and high-quality local products, such as wine, oil and pasta. Small gestures that make the experience even more special.
You have hosted teams from all over Europe and even from countries as far away as Canada and Mexico. What do you like most about organizing these events and what are the main challenges?
What I love most is definitely the technical level that the international teams bring. Canada, for example, came with a very strong team. Mexico, which has been participating for two years, also showed a truly impressive level of tennis.
The biggest challenge, however, is linked to the costs that the federations have to sustain to participate: not all of them can afford it, and this can limit the presence of foreign teams a little.
For me, the relationship with the coaches is also fundamental: they are people who travel all year between tournaments and circuits and their point of view on the organization is always very useful for growing and improving.
Organizing such a big event requires a lot of teamwork. How is your team structured? Do you have people ready to take your place one day?
Yes, fortunately I work with a very professional and close-knit team. The success of the Lampo Trophy and the Nations Challenge is also thanks to them. To give a concrete example: this year the Bulgarian team appreciated the organization of the tournament so much that they sent the registration for the next edition the day after the end of the competition. It is a great satisfaction, and an important recognition for all the work behind it.
Acknowledgments
TENNIS ASSOCIATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA
awards this
CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION
to
GIOVANNI CAPACCHIETTI
in recognition of the exceptional commitment
in helping tennis during and after
the floods in the Republic of Srpska
in May 2014
President
Drasko Milinovic
