Rockdale Ilinden’s new 2020 signing Samuel Gulisano was left one frustrated footballer after COVID-19 put a halt to what was a promising start with his new club.

The 22-year-old was slowly finding his feet playing some decent football following his move from APIA Leichhardt FC until the NPL was put on temporary hold in March this year.

Returning back to Illinden, a club he spent time with as a junior before playing for the likes of APIA and the Marconi Stallions, COVID-19 viris rocked the rising NPL star’s progress to the top.

“We worked so hard during pre-season to get off to the start that we did.

“Head-coach Steve Zoric and his assistants Jane Talcevski and Gary Deprato had done such a professional job in getting us all fit and playing a really nice style of football which I was really enjoying.

“I felt like I was getting into a groove with my new club and with the confidence shown in me by Steve, Jane and Gary, I was just starting to showcase what I could do, and then it all just came to a halt, which was disappointing, but looking forward to hopefully being able to pick up where we left off.”

Now with training sessions only brought back into play as Level 1 restrictions take centre stage, Gulisano was eagerly anticipating the next steps in getting the sport back to normality once more.

“It definitely did put a smile on my face I won’t lie when we were told training sessions were back on.

“It’s been pleasing to see that as a community we’ve been able to work together to follow and maintain social distancing to allow for this to happen.

“Working on training on my own has kept me sane but knowing we’ll be heading back to training with the first-grade squad any day now is a great feeling. Nothing can compare to it.

“I’ve really missed the healthy competition; being able to grow around quality players; and getting smashed at training by head-coach Steve and his assistants.

“I’ve also missed the banter being around the boys in the change rooms and just the passion of playing football and competing for three points week in week out – something we hope to get back as restrictions ease even further.”

Keeping the body and mind occupied in a positive manner was something Gulisano has continued to do especially throughout the isolation period – that and keeping up his status as an apparent FIFA 20 Champion.

“We got given programs from the coaching staff at Rockdale which I’ve been following in keeping the legs ticking over.

“I have also been getting together to train with a couple of the other Rockdale boys like Patty Savor and keeper David Bradasevic to stay fit although at the end of the day, it can never replicate match fitness.

“I suppose every player in our league will be in the same boat once we kick off again.

“Outside of football, I’ve just been spending some quality down-time with my family.

“My girlfriend has also been trying to get me to learn how to cook.

“I can’t say that you’ll be seeing me on MasterChef anytime soon but I will say my butter to toast spread ratio is spot on.

“I’d also be lying if I said there haven’t been any late-night FIFA tournaments and Call of Duty online parties with the boys.

“I’m a self-proclaimed FIFA champ so I’m happy to put a challenge out there for anyone who thinks they can take me on.

“I’ve found it hard not having the usual sports to follow during the lockdown period such as the EPL and other European Football Leagues, so I’m just happy that the NRL is finally back at least, as outside of football, I’m a massive Parramatta Eels fan and would love to see them win a Premiership while I’m still alive.”

Following on with the theme, the talented attacker picked up a couple of new hobbies during his new-found down-time that included FIFA 20 of course as well as the purchase of a fire-pit!

“Other than the attempted cooking skills mentioned earlier and FIFA challenges, my girlfriend and her family bought a fire-pit which we like to sit around and chill together while playing a few card games – It’s been a nice way to relax and kill time.”

Playing football since he was five, the current Rockdale star also had a couple of jobs that kept him busy, that is until COVID-19 came into play, although he managed to bag himself a gig at Woolworths.

“Before COVID-19 hit I was working for a business called “Play-on”- we teach sport and resilience in primary schools which obviously had to stop due to restrictions.

“However I was lucky enough to be provided ‘JobKeeper’ by my other employer, “Aussie Pacific” – a wholesale clothing company, and massive shoutout to them as they’ve always been so accommodating and understanding of my football commitments.

“As “Play-on” work paused, I managed to pick up a job at Woolworths to help during this time.

“I guess you could call me essential now.”

Back to the NPL, Gulisano was asked what the message behind his famous goal celebration was during Rockdale’s round 2 clash against rivals Sutherland Sharks meant after scoring his maiden goal for the club.

The image itself captured by Football NSW photography Jeremy Ng went viral as it showed Gulisano making what appeared to be a phone call using one of his shin pads.

“To be honest there wasn’t really much behind that celebration!

“I’d spoken to my friends and some team-mates about some possible funny/different post-goal celebrations in the past and suggested that one because I’d never seen it done anywhere around the world of football before, so was good to get the opportunity to crack a goal and have that celebration with my team-mates.

“The goal happened to break the deadlock in a really tight match at a crucial part of the game towards the back end of the second half and at that moment the goal celebration just felt right.

“The Football NSW photographer did a great job in capturing that moment and it will definitely go down as a highlight for me.

“When people have asked me what it was about, I just tell them I was calling the missus.”

Self-Isolation and a lock on football operations for now has resulted in one of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s lethal attackers in Nikola Taneski to return home to Canberra to be closer to his family following his strong start to the year with Rockdale Illinden.

Canberra born and bred, Taneski has spent most of his footballing career playing for clubs in the bright lights of the big smoke in Sydney.

COVID-19 changed that however, prompting the 26-year-old to pack his bags albeit temporarily to spend time with his family.

“For me personally COVID-19 has had a fairly big impact on my day to day life.

“Obviously the lack of football has been driving me crazy but being born and raised in Canberra, I moved to Sydney to play in the NPL so for the first time since I was 17, I’ve been able to head home and really spend an extended period of time with my family.

“So as hard as all these adjustments have been, its kind of been a blessing of sorts being able to come home, see family and take a step back from what’s been a pretty hectic eight years in Sydney and the current events in the world.

“It’s been a really positive thing for me being able to spend a considerable amount of time around my family especially with my two young nephews Oliver and Sebastian who come up and watch my games in Sydney every other weekend.

“It’s been perfect timing also with my father preparing for retirement and beginning renovations on our family home so I’ve been able to dedicate a good portion of my time with him and the house.”

Taneski has not let this sudden halt to the football season stop his progress in training and keeping in shape with consistent sessions organised in getting the attacker ready for a hopeful return to NPL football.

“I’ve thankfully been able to get daily sessions in at my old junior club’s facilities during the time off.

“It’s been a bit surreal coming back and being able to train in an environment I hadn’t seen in so many years.

“It’s been an adjustment and incredibly frustrating at times being so limited with the availability of training facilities and gyms but it’s made me appreciate the level of professionalism and quality that the standards of our training sessions and facilities have become.”

Thankfully for Taneski, the Rockdale star has been able to upskill himself academically, continuing his University studies during this down period.

“That’s correct, after I found out that the league was being put on hold temporarily, I shortly found out after that work would be suspended as well.

“This left me with only my University degree to keep me occupied so I’m thankful that the online classes are still running.”

Telling a footballer who is chasing his dreams with the game he loves but having to wait till restrictions have been eased has been a tough action to follow for most players.

Taneski was no different stating to Football NSW what he’s missed most about the world game.

“I miss so many aspects of the game, the team and the league.

“I miss coming into a Monday session and preparing for the week ahead with the boys and of course I miss competing the most.

“With our club’s mindset this year, we were hungry for the season to start and for success, so it’s been a bit of an adjustment having to be patient so we can then continue on as a team towards our goals for the season once it all restarts.

“I also understand that with everything that we are seeing around the world, a lot is happening with COVID-19 which is bigger than the game, so it’s important we all take the necessary safety measures so that we can get the league going again hopefully better and stronger than ever.

“I do miss my football very much though.”

Rockdale Ilinden’s inspirational skipper Daniel Petkovski has made no secret about his personal struggle with COVID-19 locking down almost everything in society but has remained up-beat on keeping himself fit and healthy to continue the charge in the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition when it kicks off once more.

The proud lllinden clubman stated that the club under new manager Steve Zoric had a great 2020 preseason but this unforeseen interruption has certainly hit the squad.

“I won’t lie, this has affected me mentally more than anything.

“We had such a great preseason and worked extremely hard to get to where we are at.

“We started our NPL NSW Men’s season very promising as well.

“For it to be taken away from us so suddenly really hurt me, my teammates and of course the whole of football.”

Asked what he missed most about our beautiful game, Petkovski replied.

“Training with the boys and going into battle with them every single week against our respective opponents is what I really miss most.”

Petkovski has been busy, like so many other footballers in the same boat, training on his own.

“I’ve continued to train on my own and that’s consisted of running at my local park as well as doing plenty of laps in my pool which has kept me in shape.”

Away from football, Petkovski is a kindergarten teacher and luckily for him, his job has not been affected as much as so many others who have been put in an unfortunate situation.

“I am lucky at the moment my job hasn’t been affected as of yet as I work at a public school.

“There will obviously be down time but that gives us more opportunity to spend time with loved ones as well as keeping fit and healthy.”

Petkovski had a simple message to the NPL NSW public about staying safe and staying at home.

“We are all dying for the football to come back, however our priority is to keep healthy and safe, make sure we are doing the right things to avoid the virus spreading and supporting one another through this tough period.

“Stay calm, stay at home and keep a positive mindset.”

Petkovski shown keeping himself fit and training at his local park