APIA Leichhardt FC’s number one shotstopper Ivan Necevski has vowed that COVID-19 restrictions will not stop him from continuing to play on in the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition.

At 40, Necevski, who has been playing football from the age of eight, stated to Football NSW that as long as he is fit and healthy he will be continuing on with the game he loves.

“Without a doubt, as long as I am fit and APIA are happy to have me, I will keep playing the sport I have been playing for, for 32 years now.

“This break has given my body some rest, but I am buzzing and raring to go when the NPL restarts.”

News of a return to the game across all age groups filtered through on Wednesday via the NSW State Government, a decision Necevski was delighted with.

“Of course, to hear that football in general is returning to normal has been a breath of fresh air as I am sure many will be anticipating the 1^st of July when the pitches across NSW become active once again.

“I know we are awaiting final details on what will be happening with the NPL but I honestly cannot wait to get back into it.

“I’ve missed the game very much and everything associated with it especially being in and around the boys and having that changeroom dynamic back again at APIA, nothing beats that.

“I’ve missed just feeling free out on that pitch with the boys, that’s an emotion that cannot be described unless you’ve played the sport.”

The self-confessed ‘rev head’ has kept himself sane during the COVID-19 football break fine tuning his unique Mazda RX-8.

“I’ve always been a keen car enthusiast, so I’ve been working on my Mazda RX-8 and built a custom turbo setup on it.

“It’s the first of its kind in Australia so pretty proud of that having done most of the work myself, other than some custom fabrication and tuning with the help of some mates.

“Apart from my car hobby that’s kept me busy, I work as a Portable Fire Equipment Technician for DEM Fire and Essential Services Group and fortunately this continued throughout the COVID-19 period.

“The only part of life I have lost out on has been the temporary suspension of football but other than that it’s been normal work as per usual although I did have to home school the kids which was a good experience as both are quite academic and enjoyed it.”

Necevski shown with his beloved RX-8 below, something he has been working on during the Football lockdown. 

APIA Leichhardt FC’s cool and chilled defender Themba Muata-Marlow is all but over COVID-19 and what it’s done with the postponement of the leagues amongst many other things.

The 26-year-old is looking forward to returning to how life was pre-COVID-19 or as best as possible, following restrictions placed in keeping the pandemic at bay in Australia.

“Personally, this whole situation has affected me I guess more emotionally than anything which is probably how most other people would describe it.

“I’ve been living alone through it all, so it’s been really boring and frustrating at times not being able to do normal things or see friends and family.

“I was already someone who was pretty comfortable in their own company most of the time but this has all just taken it to a new level, I am really looking forward to living life the way it was, or as best as possible.”

Like many, Themba was relieved to have seen the message of teams gaining the green light in the return to training only message last week on Football NSW’s social media channels, giving him more faith that the return to competitive football is not too far behind provided the Virus does not reappear.

“For sure, every time you hear that another set of restrictions have lifted you feel a sense of relief and progression that we’re all regaining a little slice of normality again.

“Over the last few weeks or so I’ve been able to go and visit my family a lot more and of course without games and set training schedules, I’ve had more time to do things on my own.

“More recently I’ve been able to see my close friends as well so that’s been great for the moral considering everything that’s gone on but definitely looking forward to playing some kind of football in 2020 once more.”

Muata-Marlow has honed in on his inner pro gamer feels as he’s spent a considerable amount of time perfecting his skills on the box during quarantine amongst learning a bit of Spanish.

“Since football stopped and quarantine started, I’ve definitely become a pro gamer.

“There’s been lots of COD Warzone and even more FIFA 2020 but I’m getting pretty sick of the soundtrack to be honest. I find myself being able to sing all of the foreign tunes word for word now.

“I’ve also scratched the surface of starting to learn some Spanish too, since I was reciting the lyrics to the songs, I figured I should at least know what I’m saying.”

Born in Sydney to an Australian mother and a Jamaican/English father, Muata-Marlow grew up on reggae and soul music but its been English Grime and alternative Hip-Hop that has also provided a good release of energy during the self-isolation period.

“Correct, due to my father’s influence I grew up on a lot of reggae and soul music but nowadays I predominately listen to UK artists like Skepta and AJ Tracey along with a lot of alternative Hip-Hop from the U.S. really mostly chilled out vibes.”

Work wise, the big APIA marksman has been fortunate that his role relating to the building Architectural Industry has continued much to his relief.

“I have been fortunate enough to keep my job through these difficult times and I’m grateful for that.

“My work relating to the building Architectural industry hasn’t really stopped but it’s gotten quite busy at the start of lockdown to be honest.
“I guess people just had more time to upgrade things around the house.

“They’ve had us working from home for weeks now which does also become pretty boring and not as engaging as it normally would be, but I guess it is what it is in that regard.”

With plans on picking up back to back NPL NSW Men’s Championships put on hold for now, Muata-Marlow used the football lockdown as an opportunity to revitalize his body but has picked up some training sessions with a few of his close friends and teammates in getting him back to his prime once more.

“With training stopping initially I kept ticking over for a week or so but then knowing everything probably wouldn’t be back to normal for a while, I just took a few weeks off initially and took advantage of the time off just to rejuvenate the body after pre-season and a few games to start off the season.

“Over the last month I’ve been able to refocus and get going again with a new hunger having really missed being out on the pitch.

“I have engaged in training with teammates and mates, me and Kouts (Michael Kouta) have gone for a kick and a few runs over the past few weeks which had been good.

“I’ve also done a few Gym sessions with my good mates Niki Loe, who plays over at Hakoah and Brandon Lundy who I used to play with at the Newcastle Jets and APIA before he went down to Avondale FC in the NPL Victorian league.”

The cool calm and collected defender reiterated what most footballers have stressed during these periods of lockdown that it’s been the absence of being able to hang and enjoy the dressing room banter he’s missed most at APIA.
“I guess what I miss most about playing is of course the change room banter we have at APIA, it’s probably the best changeroom I’ve ever been a part of in that regard, there’s too many characters that can make you laugh it’s hard not to miss that culture.

“Things like Josh (Symons) harassing the referees every weekend, Sean (Symons)’s dire pre game speeches, Ucchino offering everyone pretzels which no one else ever takes.

“Corey (Biczo) being late to every single session, Payney asking Johnny (Calleja) if we can go home before the session starts if he hits the crossbar (never happens)

“Davey (D’Apuzzo) shouting at everyone when he’s on the losing team.

“And of course Kouta including duck in his pescatarian diet because they like the water.

“But along with that, just the competitiveness we have during sessions, particularly the little cage possession games.

“To put it simply, just the feeling of striking a ball in a game is something I will never take for granted.”

Not being able to play our beautiful game due to COVID-19 has affected our NPL players in different ways, in Paul Galimi’s case, it’s the APIA Leichhardt dressing sheds and the great banter that the tough tackling defender has missed most since football went into shutdown mode over a month ago.

“I miss everything about football, who wouldn’t?

“But the biggest thing I miss would have to be the great banter in the APIA changerooms.

“We have so many characters in our dressing sheds that keep us ticking and sane, I miss those laughs.”

The NPL NSW Men’s version of the ‘Crazy Gang’, a term used by the English media to describe Wimbledon FC during the 1980s and 90s, its little wonder the 2019 Championship winner misses being a part of that.

Coronavirus has hit our proud sport of football hard across the globe but as Galimi stated to Football NSW, it’s the simple things in life that he’s felt the absence of more than ever since self-isolation went into top gear.

“Like everyone else, my usual daily routine has come to a halt due to the closure of many business’ and restrictions on social gatherings due to COVID-19.

“I have honestly come to appreciate the smaller things in life such as going for a simple walk around the block.”

The no nonsense defender has been fortunate that work wise its been business as usual with his job as Project Manager of Lowa Lighting deemed essential by the Federal Government.

“For me not much has changed in the job aspect of things.

“Fortunately, my profession is considered an ‘essential’ service which has seen me operate as normal.

“But like most industries, things have slowed down and less projects are running, something I’m hoping will flip around soon in seeing people regaining their jobs and businesses once more.”

Galimi however has used his spare time since lockdown appropriately on things that he had put on the back-burner due to football taking priority with the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season in full swing.

“I have had a lot of free time on my hands to do the things I enjoy most which includes cooking, reading and spending time with my dog Jasper.

“Training three days a week with a game on weekends is quite hectic so to be able to slow down a bit has been a pleasant surprise.”

The APIA star has ticked over during this sudden break keeping fit and healthy albeit with a little help from the club’s assistant coach Nick Stavroulakis as well as some help from Sean and Josh Symons’ father Scott.

“I am quite lucky that I live close by my teammate and assistant coach ‘Stava’ who has pieced together ball work sessions each week at the local park close to us.

‘Stava’ has asked me to call him Diego Simeone during each session which I have found a bit weird.

“To maintain my cardiovascular fitness, I have been fortunate enough to train with Scott Symons once or twice, which involves a lot speed and agility work.”

With APIA hoping to light up Lambert Park soon playing the game they love, Galimi has urged that the football public continue to exercise caution with social distancing rules..

“Continue to follow the advice and guidelines set by the government which will allow us to return to football sooner rather than later.

“At the end of the day, our health is more important than football, so I encourage everyone to be smart and stay safe.”

APIA Leichhardt FC’s legendary star Franco Parisi has conquered and accomplished many things in his footballing life – He has won individual honours, Player of the Year awards, played in the A-League, played overseas, represented his country, but one thing the 37-year-old has never faced like everyone of us has been a delay to our beautiful game due to a pandemic crisis happening around the world namely COVID-19.

“You can say that again,” stated Parisi to Football NSW.

“Football is a huge passion of mine, so no football is a challenge both personally and professionally as it serves as an important part of my work-life balance I have been able to achieve for most of my life.

“Diet and sleep become even more important during such critical times.

“The focus at the moment has been going for a morning run/walk along with a strict diet and sleep with the suspension of football until the 31^st of May.”

The wise head of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition has been fortunate that ever since football went into lockdown mode, the APIA maestro has been able to continue on with his work as he continues to run his family’s successful business as the Chief Operations Officer of one of this nation’s major suppliers of luxurious bathroom furniture, bath and doorware – fittingly named after his surname, PARISI.

“I have been blessed that even though football has stopped for now, I have been able to continue to work for my family run business.

“It has been ridiculously busy and has kept me ticking along thankfully.”

Parisi has managed to keep himself fit, albeit with various methods in ensuring he stays in shape for when the competition hopefully kicks off later in the year, but has also kept himself sane via working as well as winding down the ‘Franco way’ in these tough times.

“Correct, I have been maintaining my fitness through a number of activities I have undertaken personally via self-isolation.

“I have also focused on critical work-related activities and have had the opportunity to drink wine as part of unwinding,” ala like one of the Italian football greats Andrea Pirlo, whose love for wine has been well documented over the years.

The current NPL NSW Men’s Champions have formed a strong family unit at the club under the watchful eye of John Calleja for the last few seasons but stated to Football NSW that it’s the team camaraderie, the buzz on match day and that winning feeling he misses most about our amazing sport.

The cool head of Parisi was simple but poetic with his words of advice for the NPL NSW Football Family currently coming to terms with doing their bit in controlling this awful virus that has broken many hearts and minds.

“Show kindness and understanding to others.

“When “I” Is Replaced By “We” – Even Illness Becomes Wellness”.