SAFINIM Youth Tournament

A youth football tournament in the heart of Sannio

The SAFINIM Youth Tournament is the annual spring event that A.S.D. Pontelandolfo dedicates to the children and young players of the Sannio football schools. It takes place in Pontelandolfo, a village of nearly two thousand inhabitants in the province of Benevento, Campania. Nestled at 525 metres above sea level on the hills overlooking the Matese mountains, roughly halfway between Naples and Campobasso, the village's sports field transforms for a day into a bustling football hub, with simultaneous matches, families in the stands, and dozens of young athletes in their team kits.

The seventh edition: Sunday, May 10, 2026

The most recent edition, the seventh, was held on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at the Cincinnato Carpinelli sports ground. It was supported by the CONI (Regional Committee of Campania and Provincial Committee of Benevento), CSEN, the Municipality of Pontelandolfo, and the local Civil Protection. It was a full day, starting at 9:00 AM with the team welcome and concluding in the late afternoon with an awards ceremony for every participant.

Categories and match format

The tournament is tailored to different age groups, using smaller formats that encourage more ball touches and active play:

• Under 14 and Esordienti (born 2013 and 2014): 7-a-side matches;
• Pulcini (born 2015 and 2016): 6-a-side;
• Primi Calci (born 2017 and 2018): 6-a-side;
• Piccoli Amici (born 2019, 2020, and 2021): 6-a-side, the category for absolute beginners.

Participating clubs

In 2026, thirteen local clubs accepted the invitation from A.S.D. Pontelandolfo, providing a faithful snapshot of the Sannio youth football scene and surrounding areas: Erga Sport, Union Cerreto Sannita, Pol. Juventina Circello, A.S.D. Farnetum, F.C. Guardia Sanframondi, Green Boys Rotondi, Football Club Matese, La Bruja ASD of Pago Veiano, Sportivamente Oratorio S. Agnese, Scuola Calcio Intercolline Ceppaloni, Diomede Soccer School Benevento, A.S.D. Cesare Ventura, and Scuola Calcio Benevento. Beyond the matches, the gathering served as a networking opportunity for coaches and managers from across the inland Campania region.

The Cincinnato Carpinelli pitch

The facility hosting the tournament is named after Cincinnato Carpinelli (1893-1936), a beloved figure in Pontelandolfo. Born in Brazil and decorated with a bronze medal for military valour during the First World War, he returned to the village in 1925 and coached the local first team for a decade. The municipal field was dedicated to him in the early 1980s. For the young players, competing here means stepping onto a piece of the sporting history of the Municipality of Pontelandolfo.

More than just a competition

The spirit of the SAFINIM is clearly stated by the organisers, who accompany the tournament with mottos such as "Just give them a ball and they will understand" and "Football is the art of dreaming together behind a rolling ball." There are no league tables to defend at all costs: every team and athlete is awarded, with an emphasis on respect for the opponent, fair play, and team spirit. For many local families, it is also a day of socialising, with shared lunches by the pitch.

Youth football in Pontelandolfo all year round

The activities of A.S.D. Pontelandolfo do not end with the May Sunday. In the summer of 2026, the club also hosted an evening youth tournament on July 27 and 28, from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM, on the 5-a-side pitch on Viale Europa, featuring randomly drawn teams in Junior, Kids, and Baby categories. It is a sign of the consistency with which a small town of two thousand people keeps its grassroots movement alive.

When to go and what to expect

This is the ideal time for the upper Sannio region: May brings mild temperatures and lush green countryside. A trip to Pontelandolfo can easily be combined with a stroll through the historic centre or a gastronomic stop in the villages of the Valle Telesina. Visitors from outside the province will find an event that is free in spirit and informal in organisation, far removed from large international tournaments, and all the more authentic for it.