Enrico Obletter, Italian Women’s National Softball Team Head Coach, dies at 61
The softball world mourns the loss of Enrico Obletter, head coach of the Italian National Softball Team who earned the ticket to this summer's Tokyo Olympics, leading his squad to win the WBSC Softball Europe/Africa Olympic Qualifier in 2019. Obletter, 61, passed away yesterday (22 February) in Italy due to complications resulting from COVID-19.
Una terribile notizia ha sconvolto il mondo del softball italiano ed internazionale, il manager della Nazionale Enrico Obletter non è più tra noi. A Giovanna e a tutti i suoi cari le più sentite condoglianze
— FIBS (@FIBSpress) February 22, 2021
Il ricordo 👉 https://t.co/fEeV8mwMpa pic.twitter.com/tCeO73ndF5
Born in Sydney, Australia in 1959, Obletter landed in Italy in 1984 to play professional baseball. He later became a coach for Parma in Serie A before accepting a softball coaching position with the Italian National Softball Team for the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Obletter became manager of the Azzurre national softball squad in 2007. As the manager for teams in Macerata, Caserta and Bussolengo, he ranks first all-time in Italian softball club history for most national championships and European titles.
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Obletter and the Italian squad had a perfect season in 2019, steering his team to win the European Softball Championship and the Europe/Africa Olympic Qualifier. He was also the head coach of the Italy's team that finished 11th at the WBSC U-19 Women’s Softball World Cup 2019.
“Talking about you is not easy, because in my role, I should remember the great coach, the leader who more than any other in Italy was able to bring the teams he coached to triumph,” said FIBS President Andrea Marcon in a farewell letter. “But I can't think of the league titles, the cups, the titles with the national team and the Olympic qualification. I can't do it because in my eyes I only see you as a generous man with a big and genuine heart.”
