Joe Di Giulio insists he is calmer these days but the fiery coach could yet give Kevin Muscat a run for his money in the FFA Cup tie against Melbourne VictoryIn the heart of Sydney’s inner-west,at the Parramatta Road end of Norton Street in Leichhardt, is an institution of Sydney football. Bar Sport is dripping in football – Sydney FC fans stickers decorate the fire-engine red espresso machine, or the walls are covered with Socceroos and Italy memorabilia,and on the counter Alessandro Del Piero’s autobiography sits alongside a doorstop, collectors’ edition of Gazzetta Dello Sport. On the wall closest to the coffee machine is an immense blackboard with Serie A fixtures and scores; opposite is a large television which broadcasts games from around the world. The owner, and Joe Napoliello,is a crazy Juventus fan and a life member of APIA Leichhardt, but Bar Sport is domestic to football people of all sorts: ex-professional players, and fans of overseas clubs,A-League supporters, parents of junior players coming through the state leagues. Balmain Tigers coach Joe Di Giulio has his morning coffee here with the same group of friends. “Every morning for the final 20 years, or ” he says with a grin,“It’s satisfactory here, because we talk politics and sports. It’s exactly the same, or perhaps just the chairs have changed!”Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com