Parisi has eyes on clinching the NPL Men’s NSW Championship

Ahead of the blockbuster NPL Men’s NSW Grand Final, we spoke to APIA Leichhardt head coach Franco Parisi about their biggest game of the season. 

After finishing second in the regular campaign, APIA qualified for the Grand Final with a 2-0 win over Italian rivals Marconi Stallions, thanks to goals from Dredon Kelly and Presley Ortiz.

“Total credit to Marconi,” Parisi said after the Semi-Final.

“They’ve played 120 minutes on Wednesday night and they’ve come here and the first half was a very tough battle both ways, and then the game opened up.

“Both teams are desperate to get to the big dance next week, and we’re very happy that we’re the side that’s made it through.”

APIA have enjoyed a strong 2025 campaign, finishing second in the league, making the HAHN Australia Cup Round of 16 and reaching the Waratah Cup Semi-Finals.

But, for Parisi – who has won a major trophy in both his previous seasons as APIA coach – the finals campaign is what means the most to the club.

“When you set out to play this competition, the Grand Final’s the main event,” he said.

“Total credit to Spirit for the Premiership, but everyone signs up to play in the Grand Final.

“That’s the main event, that’s the main prize that you start the season to play for.

“The HAHN Australia Cup’s been a great run for us, in the Waratah Cup we made the semis and we’ve had a great season, but now it comes down to the final game.”

Meanwhile, when asked about what it would mean to bring home the trophy, Parisi spoke of the vindication his side would get for their hard work and quality that’s been present since his time in charge of the famous Italian club.

“It’s been six years we’ve been waiting for this moment,” he said.

“2019 was the last time we played in the Grand Final, where we beat Sydney United 58 at CommBank Stadium, and two years ago, there was no finals format when we were first past the post.

“It’s something the club’s been waiting for – the amount of support on and off the field, the players that we have, the development of players we’ve been doing.

“To get the recognition of winning the competition is, in our mind, exactly what we’re looking for; it’s the just reward for a lot of great effort.”

APIA Leichhardt will take on Rockdale Ilinden at Jubilee Stadium in the biggest game of the NPL Men’s NSW season on Saturday evening, kicking off at 6pm.