By Jarrod Potter
DANDENONG Thunder has been granted a licence for Victoria’s newest, top-tier soccer competition – the National Premier League.
The Thunder, 2012 Victorian Premier League and State Knockout Cup champions, were granted a licence by Football Federation Victoria to join the top tier competition this week.
Details of the finalised NPLV structure and which other teams have received NPLV licences are yet to be confirmed by the FFV – with an announcement scheduled for today (Friday).
Dandenong Thunder chairman Sezar Jakupi said the club was thrilled to receive the licence and it helped validate their status as one of the best teams in the state.
“We were informed yesterday and put it on our Facebook,” Jakupi said.
“We’re very pleased and excited to get the licence with the understanding that we’re going to be playing in the top tier of the NPL.
“We’ve put in a tremendous amount of work to put the application together and it was acknowledged that our coaching list – Dean (Hennessey), Stuart (Munro) and Melvyn (Wilkes) among others – is the best coaching list bar none in the state.”
The Thunder’s junior program is also booming with over 300 juniors attending trials recently.
“That’s a great achievement – we’ve been having 300 plus juniors trialling and we’ve got our junior registration day on Sunday,” Jakupi said. “Next week we start the trials and training for all the small sided teams and the girls team so it’s a lot of exciting things happening.”
Dandenong Thunder Soccer Club is hosting its Junior Registration Day for season 2014 on Sunday afternoon.
The club invites all parents and children who want to register their boys and girls from the ages of 6 and above to play for the Thunder this upcoming season.
The registration will run Sunday 9 February from 1-3pm at Springers Facility, 400 Cheltenham Road Keysborough.
Small Sided Football/Soccer (SSF) Ages 6,7,8,9,10,11 Boys and Girls as well as SAP – Skills Acquisition Program with fun activities and prizes and show bags for the children who participate and wish to register.
