By Anthony Segaert
Mitch Duke always knew he wanted to be a professional footballer but having such a big dream wasn’t always easy in a family of nine siblings.
“He’s always the one we take the mickey out of,” admitted older sister Kimberley Vatos. “We always have a lot of banter given we’re such a big family and we usually try and target him.”
But it’s all part of the love they have for their younger brother, who has gone from strength to strength representing the Socceroos in Qatar, scoring the side’s only goal in its match against Tunisia.
Primed for action: (from left) Andrew Duke, Melissa Williams, father William Duke, Amanda Duke, Nicole Duke, Sharon Treuer, Kimberley Vatos and members of the next generation. Credit:Wolter Peeters
The Duke family – the seven siblings in Sydney, a brother on the south coast,dad William, mum Arlene (who is in Qatar) and their 17 grandchildren – will be cheering loudly for the Australians as they take up the fight to football behemoth Argentina on Sunday morning.
For Duke and his family, it’s been a long time coming.
“He was always dedicated as a young kid,” said Vatos. “I remember sitting in the loungeroom and Dad was like, ‘If this is what you want to do, [then do] 100 sit-ups, 100 push-ups.’ It was just what he wanted to do.”
Duke’s athleticism meant he was gifted at both cricket and football, and he had to choose early on in life which he would commit to.
If coach Graham Arnold’s comments during the World Cup – “I always know when he walks over that white line he will give more than 100 per cent for the team, but also for the jersey and the nation” – are anything to go by, he chose well.
How Sydney is watching Sunday’s match
- Australia plays Argentina 6am Sydney time, Sunday 4 December
- Official live viewing site at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour
- Free public transport across Sydney from 4am to midday
- Opera House sails lit up green and gold on Saturday night
- Viewing sites also at Macquarie Mall, Liverpool, and many pubs and cafes
“It was unbelievable seeing him score,” said sister Sharon Treuer. “I don’t think there are actually words to say how proud we are of his accomplishments.
“It comes from mum and dad. They’ve been his biggest supporters from day one and he wouldn’t be where he is today without them.”
The family also has faith in the Socceroos as a unit.
“If they’re on game, then anything’s possible,” Vatos said. “They’re a good team, a good squad, and they’ve got the drive and the passion to want to win. They’re not just doing it for themselves, they’re doing it for their family and their country. So, we’re all supporting them and we know they can do it.”
The Dukes aren’t the only ones not-so-quietly confident. Green and gold fever has spread across the city.
The Socceroos fans responsible for the Sacky-Roos rebrand, led by Jaxon Carr. Credit:Flavio Brancaleone
From Leppington to Rozelle and Manly to Matraville, fans are preparing for an early morning of edge-of-your-seat action. The inner-west cheers will be led by the only pub in the country to have received multiple shout-outs from two of Australia’s most important leaders: the prime minister and the Socceroos head coach.
For the duration of the World Cup, Rozelle’s football-crazy Sackville Hotel has been rebranded to the Sacky-Roos. From the awnings to the front door sign, the pub has been transformed into a hub for Socceroos fans.
And it’s the preferred watering hole of coach and local Graham Arnold, who said hello to his crew from Qatar.
“I could feel all my mates at the Sacky in Rozelle cheering and drinking those beers,” he said immediately after the Tunisia match. That led to some quick thinking from die-hard soccer fans and pub staff Dave Faint and Jaxon Carr, who got together for a beer and nutted out a plan.
Carr, a marketing specialist, and Faint, a graphic designer, came up with the idea of renaming the pub and got straight to work.
“As soon as Graham Arnold called us out in the post-match interview, we met up and had a couple of beers and for 20 minutes we were just talking about how we were gonna do it,” Faint said.
The logo was redesigned, and the awnings made into a sea of green and gold. It made the perfect venue for the Thursday morning match against Denmark.
“The vibes were immaculate,” Jaxon said of the 2am event. “Last game, I was DJing at a wedding so I had the match on my computer while I was playing. This was a lot more fun.”
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