Rocco Issa had a choice to make when he was 10 years old.

“Are you going to keep playing soccer, or are you going to take up footy?”

It may have seemed a difficult choice, especially considering his ties to both sports. His parents, Lebanese and Maltese migrants, grew up in countries where soccer dominated. But Rocco’s Saints-mad father made sure his son got a taste of the game that he himself loved, but never had the chance to play.

In the end, it was a relatively simple decision for Rocco.

“No, it wasn’t hard. I love footy,” he smiled.

A member of the St Kilda’s Next Generation Academy, Rocco started playing the game with Noble Park FC before being invited to try out with a St Kilda Development squad after the club held a clinic at his school.

“They came down to Heatherton Christian College and held a session. From there, I started to train a bit with the development squad in that region, and it went from there.”

Rocco is now into his third year as an NGA member and holds a scholarship through the Moorabbin Airport All-Nations program, an initiative aimed at supporting multicultural youths through their football pathways.

“The scholarship program has been awesome,” he said. 

“It has been a pretty cool experience. I’m a St Kilda supporter so to be able to use the same facilities and train at RSEA Park has been great.

 “Learning about things such as nutrition, and how to properly fuel your body has been interesting. I’ve enjoyed a lot about the program.”

Rocco is one of 16 recipients who hold a scholarship with the All-Nations program in 2022.

“We’re incredibly proud of the program, which not only continues to grow multiculturalism in the game, but also allows kids like Rocco to continue to enhance their personal development on and off the field,” St Kilda Diversity Coordinator Goy Lok said.

“It is important to keep growing diversity within the AFL and footy in general. We are doing this through eliminating barriers and supporting our community in achieving their goals both within footy and outside of it.

Supported by Moorabbin Airport, the All-Nations program looks to grow the skillset of players, with training and education sessions, match-day experiences and exhibition games against other clubs.

Paul Ferguson, CEO of Moorabbin Airport, said that these initiatives would help provide connections between healthy, motivated positive youth with higher education and employment opportunities.

“All kids have a right to live great lives and have access to opportunities,” he said.

“The South-East has one of the highest concentration of multicultural kids in Melbourne so we can make a real difference in the area.

“We hope that the participants will identify their core AFL skills such as leadership, team building, confidence and decision making.” 

Now heading into Year 11, Rocco is hoping to attend SEDA college with hopes of joining their AFL development program. 

“I’m just looking to get better. The program has been great so I’m hoping to improve and make the most of the opportunity.”