By JARROD POTTER
THE speculation is over – top tier Victorian soccer is confirmed for 2014.
After another off-season full of controversy, this time with Football Federation Victoria (FFV) and its Victorian Premier League (VPL) clubs at loggerheads over the implementation of the National Premier League (NPL) model, the dispute has been resolved and all parties will now gear-up for the initial NPL season next year.
Dandenong Thunder is set to put its name in the hat for the National Premier League in Victoria – after joining with the other 47 clubs to backlash against the FFV’s initial model.
Thunder committee member Sezar Jakupi said the club is pleased with the outcome decided by the clubs, the league and Football Federation Australia (FFA).
“We were always confident of getting the FFA to understand and pretty much that’s what it came down to – when the FFA finally came on board they realised what we were trying to do was reasonable,” Jakupi said.
“We were just trying to ensure that we could bring up the best model for everyone, so we’re very happy.”
In a press release, FFA CEO David Gallop has commended Football Federation Victoria (FFV) and its member clubs for pushing ahead to get the NPL set up for 2014.
“The NPL is an integral part of our national elite player pathway and a hugely important reform of the semi-professional tier of Australian football,” said Gallop.
“FFV and its clubs have worked through many issues and agreed on an NPL model that’s now a benchmark nationally in many areas.
“Australia wants to be among the elite nations in Asia and beyond, and that means developing the next generation of stars. I’m delighted to say that Victoria will be at the forefront of that challenge.”
In other Thunder news, redevelopments on George Andrews Reserve have started with the renovations set to finish sometime around February.
“It should be great, it really should… it will be a bit of a new look Dandy Thunder – the pavilion, facilities, coaches and players and so forth, so we’re looking forward to it.” Thunder’s Jakupi said.
