At 21, you would think Steve Musico values his Saturday nights out on the town.
But you won’t find Musico, coach of Mill Park Football Club’s under 15s, out with the revellers in the wee hours of Sunday morning.
“You’ve got to be up and ready to go and coach,” he says.
Musico’s commitment to his role at Mill Park is astounding.
Despite his age, he decided to give up playing at the end of last season to focus on coaching.
“I was playing with South Morang until the end of last year,” he says.
“But I discovered that coaching meant more to me than my own personal goals.
“I figured I was at an age where it was past me to do anything with my playing career.” Musico began coaching at age 18.
Far from finding it a walk in the park, he says it has been the most rewarding challenge of his life.
“When I started I didn’t expect it to be very tough,” he says.
“You just rock up at two training nights during the week, play Sunday, go home, that’s the end of it.
“But after doing it for a while it blew my mind how intense and full-on it is.
It really affects you mentally and plays a massive part on your mind.” It’s astonishing to hear that from a coach, particularly one so young.
But Musico says he quickly became addicted to leading junior players on and off the field.
“I fell in love with seeing the boys grow,” he says.
“I’ve worked with them for a while now and I’ve become very emotionally attached to them and want to do everything I can to make sure they succeed.
“I dedicate a lot of time to it, at work, at home.
When I go home on Sunday after a disappointing loss, I sit there very upset and down.
“But when we have a good win and the boys play the way I want them to, I just get this awesome sensation of happiness, seeing the boys smile and get around each other.” Musico is known as the Pied Piper for the way his players follow him at training.
One player, Adrian Pitruzzello, says Musico has been an “inspiration”.
“He shows me how to play the game, he taught me how to kick the ball properly, he taught me how to be a leader,” he says.
“He encourages me a lot and makes me feel better about myself, he’s just inspirational.”
