Coach sacked

By Gavin Staindl
DIVISION Two side Dandenong City has sacked coach Vadil Muriqi after “long-standing issues” climaxed on Wednesday night following City’s shock loss to the Southern Suburbs.
The 5-2 loss, which meant Dandenong City is no longer eligible for promotion, was enough to trigger a need for change in president Tony Dorotic’s mind.
“We lost the catch up game and there have been a number of long-standing issues … (but) had we won the game he would most likely still be in a job,” Dorotic said.
Ex-Dandenong Thunder player Marcos Stergiopoulos has taken over the helm at Dandenong City, and led the team the following Saturday to a 3-0 away win over Morwell.
After playing for three years at Thunder, Stergiopoulos was approached by City at the start of the year to become it’s coach but due to playing commitments he turned it down.
But after falling out with the Premier League club midway through the season, Stergiopoulos was in a position to take the coaching job when City came knocking again.
“I can only name the players I know personally on one hand and I arrived on Thursday night in difficult circumstances but I haven’t switched off since and I’m still thinking of ways we can improve and win games,” Stergiopoulos said.
“I am a student of the game. I don’t know much else outside football and I’m just looking at bringing passion, commitment, enthusiasm and communication back to the club,” Stergiopoulos said.
Also in Division Two, Meldin Klehic’s first-half goal was the winning difference for Heatherton as they topped Berwick City 1-0 at Jack Thomas Reserve.
The Southern Stars had to resist injury and red cards to come back from a goal down against the Eastern Lions to maintain its undefeated season. The struggling Lions were not supposed to trouble the Stars but an early goal and two red cards put the Stars on the back foot and only a 93-minute goal by Berkan Sakaci kept the record alive.
There was no such luck for Division One side Springvale White Eagles who also had their own set of problems taming the Lions.
The white-hot White Eagles had only lost one game for the season but were pipped by the winless Preston Lions 2-1 at BT Connor Reserve. After losing in round two, Springvale rattled off eight straight wins and were tipped to make it nine, but a spirited effort by the underdogs ended the run.
In Division Three, Noble Park was also unexpectedly beaten 3-1 by Mornington at Parkfield Reserve.
Springvale City’s Jusuf Pekmezovic scored a hat-trick to lead his team to its second to a 3-0 win over Brandon Park at Freeway Reserve.
South Springvale had reclaimed top spot on the Division Three ladder by edging out North Caulfield 5-4 at Caulfield Park.