Cultures Collide in Sydney Olympic vs Rockdale Ilinden NPL Clash

By Joshua Montoya

04/05/2025

Rockdale, NSW – The air is tense as the Rockdale Ilinden ultras raise their flags and banners. This isn’t just about football; it’s about Macedonia. Across the field, their rivals from Belmore carry the weight of Greece. Today’s match is more than a game; it’s a clash of identity, pride, and history. 

For decades, Sydney Olympic and Rockdale Ilinden have been vessels for Australian migrant identities. Both cultures divided by history overseas use football as a form of expression, but as time has moved on, the rivalry has shifted, and identities have changed.

“It’s a little bit difficult because they were born in Australia,” says Takis Triadafillou, current Greek Herald and Sydney Olympic photographer. “Now it’s more polite as you would say. Back 20 years ago, it was very tough.”

Yet on the pitch, many players still feel the weight of the game.

“It’s always more intense. They always want to win against Sydney Olympic,” says Blake Ricciuto, a Rockdale Ilinden centre-back of Uruguayan heritage. Ricciuto has played for Peñarol in Uruguay, one of the oldest clubs in South America, and knows what historic rivalries feel like. “I’ve played in several of these games, and we know how much it means to the club and the fans.”

As the final whistle echoed through the Ilinden Sports Centre, the scoreboard told a clear story: 4-0. But it wasn’t just the result that mattered. Red smoke from flares filled the air as the Rockdale Ultras celebrated with the team, young fans and families. For a few moments, club, culture, identity and community became one.

The old cultural tensions may have slowly softened, and the younger generation of Rockdale Ilinden and Sydney Olympic players may not feel the same political fire, but scenes like this show that the heart of these cultural derbies still beats loudly. Maybe now, it’s less about division, and more about pride.