The Argentinian Franco Domè has docked at FC Obermais.

New FCO goalie: A bit of tango in Obermais

FC Obermais got a 2-2 draw in the top game against Lavis on Sunday. The South Tyroleans' goal was guarded by a player from Argentina who has not (yet) appeared in South Tyrol. The origin story is curious.

16 October 2023

From: cst

FC Obermais, third in the Oberliga, has been without its goalkeeper for two games. Luca Tenderini, the undisputed number 2 in coach Flavio Toccoli's team, has injured in the ankle and therefore has to take a break. In the 3-3 draw against Partschins a week ago, young homegrown player Nathan Laimer was in goal. However, the youngster wasn't there for the big game against Lavis and that's why the club quickly "picked up" a new goalkeeper.

Franco Lionel Domè, 26 years old, around 1,90 meters tall and from Argentina, was Obermaiser's support for the first time in Lavis. The goalkeeper (he comes from the eastern Argentinian city of Paranà) has been in Italy for four years and is currently working as a barist in Merano city center. Before Domè came to South Tyrol, he played in Campania, Sicily and Savona - and collected appearances in the top and regional leagues. The experience was not new for the goalkeeper. But how did the commitment actually come about?

“This happened at short notice. He’s only been training with us for a week.” Michael Höller, sports director Obermais

“That was a very short-term action,” says Michael Höller and explains: “Franco Domè contacted our long-standing Argentine youth coach Mario Gallo a few days ago and expressed interest in coming to us.” The sporting director of the Blue-Whites originally had Long-time FCO goalkeeper Patrick Wieser was on the list as Tenderini's replacement, but he had to decline. And youngster Laimer is expected to have a good role in the future, but he is currently not training regularly and is not always available on the weekends. That's how things got rolling with Domè.

Tenderini is still missing for a few weeks

For now, the South American is scheduled to play at Obermais until Tenderini returns, after which we will see. The FCO's number 1 is expected to be canceled until the beginning of November - but according to Höller, there is no exact forecast.

Franco Domè in action for his Argentinian hometown club Atletico de Paranà.

In the meantime, they trust in the Argentine catching skills and hope to stay close to the top favorite and current league leader from Lavis. “The equalizer on Sunday was pretty bitter because we could have won the game. Overall, it was a really high-class league game with two teams that played good football,” says Höller.