Giovanni Scanio stretched his arm as high as it would go in order to get his microphone to Joe Cole’s face.
“So, the two signings that we have this week, what do you think about all the frequent movement?” he asked.
The 12-year-old Scanio is one of three junior reporters for the Tampa Bay Rowdies this season.
“He was very kind,” said Cole, a Rowdies midfielder. “He could have asked me why I didn’t play better in games.”
Scanio has the opportunity to interview players and attend games. He’s been playing four years and thinks a career in the soccer world would be fantastic.
"The best part? Getting to meet the Rowdies players,” he said. "There is no other way to fill a passion than to do a passion."
The other two junior reporters are 10-year-old Sadie Fontana from Trinity and 11-year-old Jacob Hoff from St. Petersburg. The trio is the inaugural crop of junior reporters for the team.
“The contest drew in some amazingly talented kids from right here in our Tampa Bay community,” said Tampa Bay Rowdies Owner and CEO Bill Edwards. “It was difficult to make a selection, but Giovanni’s dress for success and big personality, Sadie’s professionalism and Jacob’s soccer knowledge and experience impressed us. We’re excited to have them join our Rowdies staff for the summer.”
The exclusive Jr. Reporter program will give the kids an opportunity to interview players and coaches at training, be featured in social media game day experience videos, research and film feature segments and even work alongside professional sports reporters.
The junior reporters had to write a 500-word essay and make a one-minute demo video.
