By Jarrod Potter
THERE are two ways to handle relegation.
It can batter and bruise your confidence, sending your club spiraling even further down the ranks… or it can be a line in the sand.
The latter is where Dandenong Thunder’s new-look side has set its sights.
A devastating 2015 left the local side relegated from NPL to NPL2 East and with many from that side leaving the black-and-red, it forced the Thunder to rebuild entirely.
Under new coach Huss Skenderovic, the Thunder has retooled the entire list and brought in a good mix of experience and youth alike.
Former Adelaide and Melbourne A-League midfielder Kristian Sarkies, Brandon Barnes, Nicholas Modaffari, Amir Osmancevic and new goalkeeper Fraser Maclaren add to the familiar faces in Brendan Elmazovski, Veton Korcari and Safa Faisal at George Andrews Reserve.
While it’s a step-by-step process to move back into the top flight, Skenderovic and his charges brought an impressive attack to its final pre-season hit out on Saturday night.
Facing NPL side FC Bulleen Lions, neither side could hit the scoreboard – remaining nil-all through the first half.
A penalty strike from Thunder’s Osmancevic was saved by FC Bulleen – the best chance of either side before the break – but the home side managed to open the accounts first after the resumption.
Dandenong broke the deadlock early in the second half with some turnover wizardry via Daniel Bennett setting up the goal.
The Lions fought back to level the ledger but it took a bit of ageless Thunder wisdom and skill to get the side home.
Korcari timed an exceptional header at the near post to beat the Lions’ keeper and take the Thunder’s first big scalp of 2016 – and wins like that are what Skenderovic thinks the side can achieve throughout the season.
It’s not about consolidation or sitting in the midst of the NPL2 East pack for the coach – he believes there’s only one place the Thunder should reside.
“Dandenong Thunder is a big club and we know where it belongs and sometimes you take two steps back to go forward again,” Skenderovic said. “We’ve re-branded the whole club in regards to the football department and the coaching staff and the people we’re bringing here.”
Off-field change has been important to the new campaign, with Skenderovic bringing his experience from the United Arab Emirates to the transitional group ahead of next week’s season launch.
“It’s been a transition period obviously for the club moving forward and also for a new team and it has been a challenge,” Skenderovic said. “But at the same time a fruitful one as we’ve brought in some great characters and great individuals and you can see by the spirit and how we’ve built this team.
“It’s exciting times for Australian football and also within Victoria and us being a good club, we’re not looking at it thinking we’ve been relegated.
“We believe we’re an NPL team and that’s where we want to go back.”
Dandenong will host Nunawading City in NPL2 East’s round one on Saturday night while Springvale White Eagles hosts Goulburn Valley and Dandenong City is away at Murray.
