Mt Druitt Town Rangers’ well admired number one custodian and club captain Carlos Saliadarre is quite simply over it.

No football thanks to COVID-19 has really tested one of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s keeper’s patience with the 31-year-old hoping to play some kind of football this season.

“What can I say, I really miss my football.

“I miss the change room, I miss the banter, the laughs – there’s just nothing quite like it, especially when you have Pav in your team.

“I miss the competition, from the training games to game day. All of it.

“I miss pushing myself. I miss the thrill of an action packed game. The highs the lows. The smell of freshly cut grass.

“There’s nothing quite like the freedom of game day that for ninety minutes nothing else in the world matters, just the game.”

Now do you believe me?

Now can you see how much ‘King Carlos’ feels without having his football fix around.

Be very careful when throwing the word COVID-19 around to Saliadarre – the unfortunate pandemic threw the keeper and the rest of the world for that matter out of routine in more ways than one.

“COVID-19 has been tough to deal with, its honestly taken me out of my routine that I’ve worked on for so many years that consisted of work, school pick up the kids, gym, then home and off to training.

“So of course it took a while getting used to it but I didn’t like it.

“I’ve played every year of my life since I was three so you can imagine how much I’ve struggled in regards to missing the game.

“I’m missing the boys and especially the competition of game day and training. I love that.

“I love training hard and competing, so it’s definitely been tough.”

His body is his temple to anyone that knows Saliadarre really well, the three plus months of non-competitive football hasn’t slowed the shot-stopper down who was fortunate enough to have put together a gym in keeping him in check – with his physique at least.

“During the full self-isolation period, no gyms were open and obviously training was cancelled so that was tough to initially deal with.

“I was lucky enough to have put together a little gym set-up at home with my brother in law though.

“We’ve made it a daily ritual of using it every day after work in the afternoon.

“I can’t say I’ve touched a football in months though or my boots and gloves, a part that I haven’t really enjoyed but with restrictions easing and training’s allowed, they’ll be getting a work-out very very soon.”

It wasn’t the best of starts for Saliadarre and co in the NPL NSW Men’s top tier competition as after two rounds the club suffered two defeats.

Redemption is something the club will be looking for should any form of football take shape this season with the Rangers hoping to better their performances should they get given another opportunity in 2020.

For Carlos’ sake and sanity, we hope they do as this footballer is really missing the world game.

Mount Druitt Town Rangers’ crafty attacker Toufic Alameddine was to the point when he said what he missed most about our beautiful game as the NSW football public awaits to hear the hopeful news of the game recommencing soon.

“That winning feeling for sure is something I am definitely missing.

“It’s a great moment winning a match for your club and teammates and seeing the smiles on their faces after getting three points home or away.

“I also miss just getting onto the pitch on a weekend and having a good performance.”

During the holy month of Ramadan, Alameddine, a devout Muslim, has had plenty to think about as the world itself transitions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Asked what the holy month meant to the talented star, Alameddine replied.

“God says in the Quran that fasting has been prescribed upon us like it was prescribed upon the people before us so that we may increase in piety.

“Ramadan is kind of like a boot camp for the soul!

“Abstaining from food is one thing, but as Muslims, we also increase in worship and prayer throughout Ramadan, and although we are all sinners, we put more effort in abstaining from sin in this month.”

The 25-year-old has been busy away from football running his family business, Hala Constructions mastering in excavation, one of the many businesses that has thrived during the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Thankfully I work in construction, so my work hasn’t been affected.

“If anything, it probably has gotten busier over the past month.

“Although not having the responsibility of going to training and games has been a big change for me, I’m not used to having so much free time after work, which has taken me some time to adapt to.

“My whole life has consisted of me going from work or school to the training grounds, for the time being, its everything minus football.”

Focusing on ensuring his work commitments come first, Alameddine was upfront when asked if he kept himself ticking over fitness wise during the sudden break.

“To be honest I haven’t touched a ball since the last training session I had with Mount Druitt which was just before the news came that the football season was set to be temporarily suspended.

“I’ve trained 2-3 times going for runs since the lockdown but at the moment, I don’t believe the season will resume this year, I hope I’m wrong though as I miss playing football.

“To get to that level and playing once more my message to the footballing community is be safe, be strong and take the advice of the experts when they advise us to keep a safe distance and uphold good hygiene.

“Also take this time that you have in isolation to bond with your family members.

“Unfortunately nowadays, everyone is caught up on their phones and computers or televisions that people have forgotten how to socialise.”

Let’s hope we can watch Alameddine and co at Popondetta Park and the rest of the football family playing the game they love within the next few months.

You may have seen Blake Thompson running around Popondetta Park with the Mount Druitt Town Rangers for the last couple of years, or maybe on previous channel 7 episodes of the Proposal, the swashbuckling stopper has not doubt pulled all stops in ensuring he keeps up his fitness during this COVID-19 crisis.

Thompson was fortunate that he was able to make it back to the Gold Coast to see his family prior to the borders shutting in Queensland.

“It’s been pretty full on having my family on the Gold Coast including my 93-year-old grandmother who is living there and not knowing if I was able to fly back and be with them.

“Luckily I was able to pack a small bag and get one of the last domestic flights available to be with them.

“We are pretty much in shutdown mode apart from doing the essentials, but I have been ticking over fitness wise.”

Asked what his training routine has consisted of up in the ‘Goldie’, Thompson stated to Football NSW.

“I have been doing my own training daily, that includes going for runs, doing work on the pitch and finding ways to keep my strength up since the gyms have been shut-down.”

Thompson has also credited his girlfriend Bec Williams who has assisted in training alongside him keeping him fit and raring to go.

“My girlfriend has become quite handy in the fact that I have her assist with some workouts when I’m in and around the house.”

Work wise, football is Thompson’s main source of income but that hasn’t dampened the tough tackling defender’s spirits.

“Well I am quite lucky in the fact that football is my main source of work but at the same time now it’s really tough mentally at times as I am not doing that or playing any games.

“We will get through this tough period though I am confident of that.”

With restrictions coming in from everywhere from Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the message was clear that the safety of every citizen was on top of the list.

“We have to respect the current situation and follow all guidelines that are being outlined by the government, as frustrating as it is for us in the football world for both players and fans we have a bigger situation on our hands and at this time we need to focus on keeping our family healthy and safe.”

Football bonds everyone together and there’s nothing better than playing with your mates, especially in this case, at NPL level with the Rangers boys which is what Thompson has missed very much since the lockdown.

“It might sound a bit cliché but I miss all of it, the training, playing games and being competitive and the mental stimulation I get from this beautiful game.

“We will be back better than ever you can be sure of that but until then, be safe, healthy and keep smiling.”

Blake showing off what he is up in the clips below in keeping himself fit on the pitch as well as having his girlfriend Bec assist with various tasks keeping it fun as well as serious.

Huseyin Jasli was an ever present footballer in the top tier NPL NSW Men’s competition for both Sutherland Sharks and Rockdale City Suns that is until  he left for the NPL 2 and spent a couple of seasons in the lower leagues. 

“It’s nice to be back in the top flight after 6-years away,” he said.

“It’s good to be back but you definitely notice the difference in levels and how they’ve improved.

“I haven’t played first grade at Rangers (Mt Druitt Town) yet but I’m working on my fitness and hope to be pushing for a spot on the bench or a start soon.”

Jasli spent time with Canterbury Bankstown FC as well as a season with Bankstown City FC before getting the call up to join the Mt Druitt outfit.

“The standard of the top tier NPL has always been up there but I can certainly notice the difference since coming back.

“The fitness levels are a whole new ball game at the moment and I’ve seen a far more technical aspect to the game now also.

“It was always more of a physical battle back in the day, you’d come off the pitch bruised and battered and knew you’d been a tough match every week but the passing game and tactics have come on leaps and bounds which is great to see.”

Although awaiting his first appearance for his new club, Jasli is eagerly anticipating his debut with the Rangers.

“Obviously I’m hopeful it will be in the next couple of weeks but we’ll see how it goes.

“I can only train harder and hopefully catch the coach’s eye but I’ll keep working hard for that.

“I’m happy at the moment to be getting a good solid ninety minutes under my belt in the 20’s and building up my fitness levels but obviously I’m itching for a first team outing.

“If I wasn’t looking for that I shouldn’t be at the club but after having  six months off at the end of last season, I know, I need to get up to match speed before I get my opportunity.”

Jasli readily admits he thought his NPL Men’s top tier days were over.

“Of course those thoughts go through your head and as the years pass you put it to the back of your mind but I’m grateful to all the guys here at the club for giving me this opportunity.

“It’s been a good thing for me, perhaps mentally more than anything and not just physically, as it’s a challenge I’m happy to accept and we’ll see where it leads.

“We have a great bunch of guys at this club, a really close tight knit group who are always ready for a good laugh but always pushing each other on to do better and I couldn’t have asked for more.”

Round 3 of the NPL Men’s competition approaches and he is still to make a first team appearance which could, as he hopes, be sooner rather than later and it will be great for the player to turn back the years and give it a real go for the remainder of the 2020 campaign.

By Football NSW reporter Micky Brock