When Hume City face Dandenong Thunder in this week’s FFA Cup fifth round clash, one member from the visitor’s squad will no doubt be given plenty of respect from the Thunder faithful.
Shane Rexhepi captained the 2012 treble winners to unprecedented success that campaign, with his overall committment and determination for the club cause making him a fan favourite over the course of his time at George Andrews Reserve.
However, he has since moved on and now finds himself at Hume City, where he plays an important role in commanding the centre of the defence as the 2015 FFA Cup semi-finalists hope to reach new heights in the league this season and replicate their cup success of last year.
Lou Acevski’s side have made a respectable start to the season and sit in sixth place, although their defensive talisman affirms that higher stands have been placed within the squad at ABD Stadium.
“By our standards, we have not started the season as we would have liked given the three losses we have suffered so far,” Rexhepi said.
“However, we are only three points off second place with 18 games to go, so it’s still early day.”
Following on from their FFA Cup success of last season, the national competition is once again top priority for the club formerly known as Coburg United.
A second-half strike by Hernan Espindola was the difference in their narrow Round 4 victory over the spirited Brunswick City, and Rexhepi believes that fellow second tier side Thunder will also be no pushover.
“I think that every team we play in the FFA Cup are going to come out and give everything to beat us due to the fact we had the dream run last year and made it to the semi-finals of the competition,” he said.
“Dandenong Thunder have a great squad this season and are very well coached. It’s going to be a very hard game and we won’t be taking it lightly and are definitely looking forward to the challenge.”
Rexhepi spent five seasons at George Andrews Reserve, where he accumulated 112 league appearances and scored eight goals, and reveals how he found out about drawing his former employers in the fifth round of the competition.
“I was at work and didn’t really know the draw was on when I got a call from my good friend and Thunder legend Veton Korcari,” he said.
“I immediately thought he was joking, but upon realisation that it wasn’t a stich up, I was pretty happy with the draw because I love going back there as I have a lot of friends there and plenty of great memories.”
The North Sunshine Eagles junior began his VPL career at Richmond in 2007 under Phil Stubbins – where current Thunder supremo Huss Skenderovic was assistant coach – making 38 appearances over the course of two seasons at Kevin Bartlett Reserve.
He moved to the newly promoted Thunder in 2009 and was a regular first-team fixture across the backline throughout their successful season, which saw them clinch the minor premiership before experiencing a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss in the Grand Final at the hands of Altona Magic.
Two mid-table season finishes followed, where points deductions took their toll on the club founded by Albanian migrants.
However, by the time Rexhepi took over the captain’s armband in 2012, Thunder had assembled a star-studded squad under the tutelage of Chris Taylor.
A Dockerty Cup triumph was followed up by a Premiership and Championship success as a 2-1 victory over the Oakleigh Cannons at AAMI Park saw the Dandenong South-based club clinch the treble.
Rexhepi spoke about the trials and tribulations the squad faced during that period and the overall experience, which he hopes to replicate at his current employers.
“There were a lot of ups and downs during those five years, more ups of course,” he said.
“Captaining the club to its first piece of silverware in winning the Dockerty Cup was absolutely amazing.”
“But finishing the season winning the league and the Grand Final was definitely the highlight of my career. I hope that I can have the same success at Hume City as we certainly have that potential.”
With the majority of the 2012 treble winning squad departing the club the following season, Rexhepi would also walk out the departure door at the end of the 2013 season, although logistical considerations played a part in that.
“To be honest it was the hardest thing I’ve had to do in my career, as I was leaving a club where I had great friends and great memories and one I called my home,” he said.
“Living in Epping and traveling to Dandenong got harder and harder once I got married and had a child. The club totally understood my decision which made everything easy.”
The Thunder’s loss turned to be City’s gain as the Broadmeadows based club immediately took Rexhepi on board for the 2014 NPL season, and two years down the track, the 29-year-old is happy with the decision he made.
“I didn’t bother speaking to other clubs. Louie had spoken to me pretty much every pre-season that he was coaching but I was loyal to Thunder and told him when the time was right, I would become a Hume City player,” he said.
“It’s been a great move for me and my family and now I’m looking forward to helping Hume win some trophies.”
Come Wednesday night though, Rexhepi will have to put aside his love for his former club as he goes in search of helping Hume get one step closer to the national stage of the competition for the second successive season.
One player that whose threat will need to be contained by Rexhepi and his defensive partner and former Thunder player Ramazan Tavsancioglu is his good mate Korcari, who has grabbed four goals in seven outings this season, and the Hume City vice-captain is looking forward to the challenge of coming up against his former teammate.
“I hope Vets doesn’t start as it will make our task in defence much easier,” Rexhepi said.
“But jokes aside, both Vets and I have respective roles to play for our clubs, so we will both give it our all for the win while having a bit of fun along the way.
“The banter has already started and my former Thunder teammate Fitim Ibraimi has reminded me to bring my shin pads.”
Rexhepi, who is one of the most popular figures in Victorian football, also spoke about his SR13 cancer fundraising appeal is after a successful inaugural season in 2015.
He launched the campaign following the death of his father Qamil in 2014, and the Thunder now play an annual cup named in his honour with Rexhepi’s former club North Sunshine.
“The SR13 Appeal has had such a great reaction in the Victorian football community,” he said.
“I cannot thank everyone enough for their donations and all the help along the way. Raising $21,000 last year was amazing and I know my dad would be proud of that.
“I’m hoping to beat that figure this year and will have a few events organised over the course of the year, starting with the SR13Appeal 2016 Golf Day on May 22.
“I already have 50 people participating which is fantastic and once again I really appreciate everyone’s help.”
Whatever the result come the full-time whistle on Wednesday, Rexhepi’s esteemed position in the place of the Thunder faithful will always remain after five memorable years of service for the proud club.
His loyalty to his former side will be put aside as he aims to help Hume reach new heights in 2016, following on from a memorable 2015 for the committed defender both on and off the field.
The clash between Dandenong Thunder and Hume City will be at 7:30pm on Wednesday April 20 at George Andrews Reserve.