‘Father figure’: Community raises $47k for beloved Rockdale soccer coach Borče Jazevski

The Rockdale Ilinden Football Club community has been left shattered after popular soccer coach and huge supporter of women’s football, Borče Jazevski, died suddenly last week, aged just 53.

Borče Jazevski and his 19-year-old daughter Jascinta. Picture: Supplied

A beloved father and popular soccer coach in Sydney’s south has died suddenly, leaving behind a community in mourning.

Rockdale man Borče Jazevski died on Thursday at age 53, and is being remembered as a “father figure” to many in the community due to his work as a coach with his daughter Jascinta.

Family friend Emily Milenkovski said the Rockdale Ilinden Football Club (Rockdale City Suns) community has rallied around 19-year-old Jascinta after the loss of her father.

Borče Jazevski has been remembered as a dedicated volunteer in the Rockdale community. Picture: Supplied

“They were best friends, he lived for her and she relied on him,” she said.

“We’re very grateful, we are really proud of our community.”

Mr Jazevski and his daughter began coaching an under-5s soccer team together five years ago as a bonding exercise, and had continued with the same team since.

Ms Milenkovski said the young girls he coached, and their families, saw Mr Jazevski as “like another dad”.

“When you’ve got someone that has been coaching you from the age of five to 10, they just really looked up to him like another father figure,” she said.

Jascinta Jazevski with her father Borče. Picture: Supplied

“It’s all volunteer work which is amazing, he’s given up his time. It’s not even work for him, it’s just his passion.”

A spokesperson for Rockdale Ilinden Football Club said the group was “saddened by the sudden and tragic passing of our beloved member Borče Jazevski”.

“Borče was heavily involved around the club over many years, from coaching grassroots girls teams to security work and general maintenance of our facilities,” the spokesperson said.

“His chatty pleasant nature will be sorely missed.”

Mr Jazevski worked as a fabricator, where Ms Milenkovski said he collapsed and was unable to be revived.

Ms Milenkovski met the Jazevski family through playing on a soccer team with Jascinta, and said Borče had played a big part in the Macedonian soccer community around Rockdale.

“Nobody in the soccer community didn’t know him,” she said.

“He just loved soccer, helping out female football and the club which was amazing.”

Ms Milenkovski has continued to fundraise for the Jazevski family, with a goal of $50,000 to support Jascinta.

A GoFundMe set up to help collect donations has so far raised $47,000.