It is a big year for the fans of Napoli as their team is on the verge of winning their third Scudetto title this season. Halfway through the campaign, Napoli are 13 points clear on top with their Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen having scored 14 goals.

During my trip to Naples last weekend, I met with fans at the stadium and they spoke of their expectations. Neapolitans are superstitious so they don’t want to jinx it. But they are confident that it is their year.

“Victor is the best striker in the world,” one fan told Soccernet.ng in front of the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

“Hopefully, hopefully, hopefully. We are Neapolitans, we are superstitious. What do I have to tell you? Forza Napoli is that this dream will clearly come true this year,” another fan said.

Napoli is in Southern Italy, a region whose economy is poorer than its northern counterparts like Milan, Juventus, Inter and Roma. Homeless people can be found in large numbers in the city centre. Beggars are a handful, asking for 50 cents and one euro coins to help them get by.

Football brings joy to the city. It is why they worship Diego Maradona, the Argentine genius who chose them instead of the bigger teams, and led them to their two Scudetto titles in 1987 and 1990 as well as the UEFA Cup in 1989.

This year they have hopes that the title is reachable. With Osimhen firing on all cylinders, Napoli is closer than ever to returning to the top of Italian football.

It will mean more than a football title for this city and its people. It will give the people of Napoli a deserved place in global affairs.