Cult Kits meets the Napoli fan who takes pictures of Napoli Fans. But these aren't your usual pre match fan photographs. Because the pictures Gae Bastone take, run deeper as they look to capture the unbreakable passion of a Napoli fan.
Born and raised in the historic centre of the city, Gae lived and studied in Naples for 24 years, before a small 2-year experience in Milan, saw him move away from his beloved home city. "Being born and growing up in Naples is a privilege," – Gae states with beaming sense of pride. "I feel lucky everyday to have been born in a city full of ancient history, distinguished people and amazing landscapes." – Gae continues... "However, the thing that most distinguishes Neapolitan people from the rest of Italy is the sense of belonging to our land and origins. "Difendo la città" (I defend the city) is the motto we carry with us throughout our lives. So, the passion of Napoli fans for the city and the jersey is a consequence of this motto."
It is something the Team reflects and to become a Napoli fan having been born in this city, is as certain as the sun rising and setting each day – the passion for football and for Maradona is overwhelming.
Cult Kits caught up with Gae having stumbled upon his social media channels. After being charmed by his Napoli fan photography, we simply had to reach out.
Cult Kits: So, where did it start? Who introduced to the world of football and a love of Napoli?
Gaetano Bastone: I fell in love with this sport since I was a child. I’m a Napoli supporter. The reason is easy: my father is a Napoli supporter, my uncle is a Napoli supporter, my grandparents are Napoli supporters, everyone in my family supports Napoli. The football love for Napoli is something special for me, supporting the team is like supporting the city, being at the stadium every Sunday is a life necessity.
"My heart said Naples, the passion that my father passed on to me led me to have Roberto "El Pampa" Sosa and Emanuele Calaiò as idols."
CK: What's your earliest footballing memory?
GB: I still remember my first time with my father at San Paolo stadium (before the Maradona’s death), it was magic. 16/01/2005, Napoli vs Fermana. I was 11, my legs were shaking, my voice was struggling to come out, my heart was beating fast. Napoli was in third division and, with a last minute goal, won 1-0.
From this match, I went to the stadium with my father to all the home matches of the two years of the third division, those of the year in the second division and those of the first year of Serie A. Today, like father in son, I taking my father to the stadium with me and, even if many things have changed over the years, the emotions continue to remain the same as the first time.
It was not easy to a young fan to become a Napoli supporter during third division days. Napoli had gone bankrupt and was sent to the third division. My schoolmates supported Juventus, Milan, Inter or Roma. Their idols were Alessandro Del Piero, Javier Zanetti, Paolo Maldini and Francesco Totti, all great champions who played in Serie A and their respective national teams.
I too could have chosen to support one of these great teams, yet my heart said Naples, the passion that my father passed on to me led me to have Roberto "El Pampa" Sosa and Emanuele Calaiò as idols. I hold many emotions and sufferings from those years and I think that thanks those difficult years that my passion and love for Napoli football are now so strong. Without them I would not have fully appreciated last year's historic victory.
"It all started in 2014 when, with the money from my first salary, I purchased the Napoli shirt with Buitoni sponsor from the 2000/2001 season at a flea market. From that moment a journey was born in the continuous search for the most iconic jersey."
CK: Tell us a bit about your photography...
GB: Football photography really inspired me. My idea of football photography is to capture instants inside and outside of the stadiums. The subjects of my photography are the craziest fans, the fantastic colors of the stadium torches, the passion of the various sectors during the stadium chants. My idea is to move this kind of photography also outside from Naples in order to create new connections with football fans from all over the world.
CK: How would you describe the style and it's origins?
GB: The vintage style of my photos helps me to best describe my vision of football: I have been following Napoli at home and in Europe for years, I have always brought my camera with me but only in the last year did I decide to publish my shots on social media. But I have also another passion: collect Napoli jersey. And it was precisely by combining my 2 greatest passions that “Azzurra come il mare" (blu like the sea) was born, my latest photographic project. Photographing ordinary people around the city is something that makes me feel as good as photography at the stadium. I started working on the project in the last months of 2023 but it has deeper roots.
It all started in 2014 when, with the money from my first salary, I purchased the Napoli shirt with Buitoni sponsor from the 2000/2001 season at a flea market. From that moment a journey was born in the continuous search for the most iconic jersey. “Azzurra come il mare" allowed me to meet many beautiful people, in the most beautiful neighborhoods of my city, wearing the Napoli jersey that were with me throughout my entire life.
"Photographing ordinary people around the city is something that makes me feel as good as photography at the stadium."
CK: What are your plans for the year ahead?... Is there anything in particular you'd like to focus on?
GB: My next steps are: Azzurra come il mare 2.0 and create one or two photographic projects with some friendly football fans in Europe.
CK: Have Napoli ever reached out to you?
GB: I have never had the honor of being contacted by the Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli.
CK: That's surprising, we need to try and make this happen! What about about dream projects? Is there one that stands out?
GB: My dream project would be to take shots with an analogue camera and film. pitch-side during, 4 or 5 Napoli home matches. I'd like to take some shots of the players upon arrival at the stadium (perhaps with some vintage shirts), during the warm-up and during the match.
But above all, many shots of the Napoli fans, the twelfth man on the pitch. My cultkits friends, can you help me make this dream come true? Shall we try to get in touch with Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli?
CK: We'll do our best, Gae.
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You can view Gae's photography of Napoli fans and follow him here.