Il Vicolo dei Sogni - The Alley of Dreams

A group of youngsters moves along a very narrow street, an alley in the historic centre of Naples. They knock on doors asking for some change for their mission. It's March 2023, and the "scugnizzi" refuse to see other neighbourhoods adorned with banners and flags of Napoli football while their alley, ‘San Mandato’, remains bare. They rendezvous on their WhatsApp group, "La famiglia del baffo" (The Mustache Family). It feels like a treasure hunt in the labyrinth of staircases in buildings that, although in their alley, they've never seen before. Places with a different style, in a different economy. The ‘scugnizzi’ (street kids) of Via San Mandato collect money for brushes, paint, white and blue ribbons. The victory of the Napoli football team seems achievable this year after 33 years since their last triumph.

However, in March Naples was on the usual dark page. A twelve-year-old was stabbed and an innocent eighteen-year-old was killed by a gunshot in a clash between gangs. Carlo, Rayene, Alberto, Rafael, Amir, Francesco, Andrea, Mattia, and Ivan know these problems, and some of them were already involved. In Napoli’s victory, they see a chance, perhaps a fleeting joy, but something they never imagined they could experience. It's proof that they can be happy without risking their lives, leaving behind the discrimination they face due to the limited opportunities they have in the alley where they are growing up.

They've only heard about the championship celebration from grandparents, parents, and uncles, with Maradona's exploits passed down as mythical stories. Turning the alley into a celebration is their mission. With their stories of resilience and brotherhood, they stay away from trouble and live in the alley and on their little pitch. Even calling it a pitch takes imagination and creativity— it’s just a ventilation shaft above the ‘Salvator Rosa’ metro stop, the only space they could find in their alley. There, the nine boys play football, meet up, and grow together. And it's from there that they set off to buy decorations, starting to paint the posts, hoist the ribbons, wait for the day of celebration, catching up with the other neighbourhoods of the city. In the waiting, there is hope, disappointment, and then the explosion of celebrations that take the boys far from the alley, to Piazza Plebiscito, a place they never visit. But on the day of celebration, it belongs to everyone. Nothing is far away on May 4th, 2023, for the boys of "Il vicolo dei sogni" (The Alley of Dreams).