The prospect of facing a global pandemic rather than his new-found Riverside Olympic family has prompted popular import Luca Vigilante to stay on for another season at Windsor Park.
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The 26-year-old said choosing his adopted home of Tasmania over his actual home of Argentina was a sensible decision.
"I stay this year because of the people. I have found a family here and that's not easy to find," he said.
"This year was difficult because of corona but I'm excited to see how Riverside can lift up a level and be more competitive because I think we can do really well. I like the way they are trying to grow as a club and become more professional."
Three games into his second campaign with the NPL Tasmania new boys, Vigilante suffered a season-ending broken ankle. After being a frustrated spectator on crutches for much of the season, the holding midfielder is back on his feet and working as a barista at Sweetbrew.
"It was so hard. It's another life without soccer. When I don't play, I am lost and sad. I don't know how to deal without it. The one thing that motivated me was to recover to play again.
"In the next couple of weeks I should be able to start running again with pre-season in January."
With housemate and fellow club import Nil Sanz exploring options in Queensland, the South American admitted he is missing fellow Spanish speakers.
"I am missing home so much but it is so sad because of corona. By next November it will be two years since I was home. I thought about going for Christmas but it was the wrong decision if I could not come back. If everything is ok in March my mother will come here again."
Riverside this week announced the reappointment of Alex Gaetani as its NPL coach and technical director.