Ciro Immobile, the prolific striker turned football ambassador, made waves in his hometown of Torre Annunziata on March 20, 2025, by inaugurating the second location of his Immobile Academy at the remodeled Franco Parlati Sports Center. This endeavor aims to provide a nurturing space where children can cultivate their dreams and values through the love of football.
With a personal attachment to the area, Immobile expressed his desire to create opportunities for local youth, resonating with his own experiences growing up. "When I was little, playing football helped me have a future. That's why I'm pleased to think that, even through the Academy, kids can look to their future by seeing themselves in what I have done," he remarked during the inauguration. Such sentiments are particularly poignant for the families of the more than 300 children aged 4 to 15 who will benefit from the program.
The Franco Parlati Sports Center is not merely an athletic facility; it is designed to be a beacon of growth and development for young athletes. Immobile has envisioned a place where children can embrace the fundamentals of sportsmanship—teamwork, respect, and inclusion. "This facility will be a center open to everyone who wants to approach this sport," Immobile stated, emphasizing the importance of personal development alongside athletic training.
The new academy location comes under the umbrella of a larger initiative that has already seen success with its first location in Boscotrecase. The renovated center features cutting-edge facilities, including a next-generation synthetic turf field and energy-efficient technologies featuring solar panels and LED lighting. This modern infrastructure aims to provide a safe, sustainable environment promoting physical activity and healthy living among local youth.
At the event's official opening, local officials expressed their enthusiasm and support. Mayors from surrounding municipalities, including Torre del Greco and Boscotrecase, were present to demonstrate their backing for initiatives that aim to elevate the local community through sports. The academy's focus on social inclusivity has also been a point of pride, as plans to provide after-school programs and resources for less affluent families are set to unfold soon.
In a world where distractions are plentiful, Immobile's goal is also about bringing kids back to the fields instead of the screens. "Football is friendship, family, discipline, but also a game: here, kids must play without thinking about the competition, because it's the best way to learn football," Immobile explained, highlighting a core philosophy of his academy that prioritizes the joy of the sport over rigid competitiveness.
The investment made in the Franco Parlati facility was substantial and aimed at revitalizing an area often overlooked in terms of sports infrastructure. By addressing both athletic and social needs, the Immobile Academy stands out as a model for how sport can be leveraged as a vehicle for community development and personal transformation.
Local parents and children alike have celebrated the opening, seeing it as a fresh start for youth sports in the region. With the grassroots nature of this initiative, it reflects a larger narrative of how professional athletes can positively impact their communities. Immobile's journey from a local child with dreams of football glory to a professional player making those dreams attainable for others will not only inspire the young attendees of his academy but also foster a sense of hope and possibility within Torre Annunziata.
As Ciro Immobile continues to build on this foundation, the future looks bright for the children of the Vesuvius area. His commitment to creating an accessible, high-quality training environment demonstrates a belief in the potential of every child to achieve greatness, both on and off the pitch.
