By JARROD POTTER
COMING home after two seasons at Oakleigh, Dandenong Thunder championship captain Veton Korcari is ready to put the past behind him and focus on football once again.
Korcari returns to George Andrews Reserve after spending a year-and-a-half with NPL side Oakleigh Cannons since leaving the Thunder in the 2013 mid-season transfer window.
“It’s basically good to be back home,” Korcari said.
“Dandy Thunder is more of a family home for me.”
Before his departure he captained Dandenong to the rarest Victorian soccer treble – winning the Dockerty Cup, the Victorian Premier League (VPL) minor premiership and the championship in 2012.
“It was unbelievable,” Korcari said of the treble.
“Something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
“A great bunch of boys – couldn’t be happier for the club as they put in so much effort over the years.
“In 09 when we ended up losing to Altona in a penalty shootout… was pretty devastating, but it was good to win a title a few years ago.”
Even with the treble success, it went pear-shaped for Korcari at the club in 2013 as he was told he wasn’t needed in the red and black, but has put the past behind him with the change of faces at the Thunder.
“It was a bit disappointing, but basically I was told to move on – so I went down to Oakleigh and obviously I’m thankful they gave me the opportunity to prove myself again,” Korcari said.
“There were obviously certain people at the club at the time that I didn’t really get along with, so you just move on and it was good that other doors opened and I made the most of that.”
His time at Oakleigh was fruitful as the striker helped push the Cannons to second place in last year’s inaugural NPL Victoria competition.
He’s ready and roaring to start a new chapter with the Thunder from 2015 and cultivate the younger Thunder recruits.
“I’m just helping Stuart at the moment on the coaching side of things – helping out where I can and making sure I do my part on the pitch as well,” Korcari said.
“We’ve got a lot of young players this year so I couldn’t be happier to help push those guys along and make sure they’re doing the right thing.
“As a team we’ve set our goals to make the finals – it’s good that this year there are finals and it allows other teams to get in there and keep the season going.”
His hopes for his inaugural NPL season with the Thunder are simple: work as an on-field leader, assist where he can with the coaches and help current captain Alan Mulcahy to push Dandenong back up the ladder.
The Thunder’s season began on Sunday in its NPL 2015 opener against Werribee City.
Round 2 in the NPL kicks off with Dandenong Thunder hosting Bentleigh Greens on Saturday night from 7pm.
In other NPL results, Dandenong City fell 2-3 to Eastern Lions in their season opener.
David Dilorio – fresh to the club – combined well with Keegan Ziada at the front to create havoc for the Lions’ back four.
Dilorio struck his first for City to keep the margin within a goal before Ricardo Gonzalez stepped off the bench to thread the other goal for the Endeavour Hills-based soccer club.
The Lions however opened the scores first through Tommy Falconer before two to Phil Ajao put the match beyond dispute.
