By ADEM SARICAOGLU
FORMER soccer star turned highly-potent EDFL goal sneak Fabio Di Lizia promised coach Steve Kolyniuk at least six goals on the eve of the Division Two grand final.
By game’s end on Saturday evening, Di Lizia had eight goals to his name and a premiership medallion around his neck.
“It’s pretty surreal,” Di Lizia said amid the on-field post-game celebrations.
“I kind of got off to – not a shaky start – (but) just a bit of a nerve-racking start in the first half.
“In the second half the coach had a few words to everyone and (I) pretty much come out here and got a bit of the ball and kicked a few goals, so the confidence was up.
“It was a pretty good second half. I’m very happy with it.”
Di Lizia got himself onto the scoreboard with his opening goal early in the game but then went goalless for the remainder of the first half.
With the game on the line and a half-time rev-up from Kolyniuk still ringing in his ears, Di Lizia dazzled the Windy Hill crowd with his sublime natural talent, kicking four goals in the third quarter and three in the last.
Having already represented Australia as a decorated junior in his former life as a soccer player, Di Lizia admitted taking part in Hillside’s inaugural senior premiership ranked highly among his sporting achievements to date.
“It’s up there … it’s not bad,” he said.
“I’d never played footy and it’s the first premiership (in my) first year of football – so it’s up there.”
Seeking a mental spell from soccer, Di Lizia was talked into joining Hillside by close mate Sam Sarkis.
Having never played a competitive game at senior level, Di Lizia went on to kick 68 goals in his 13 games for the year.
Though he wasn’t definitive with his response, Di Lizia indicated he will stick around for a crack at Division One EDFL football in 2014.
“It’s a good question – I should,” he said when asked if he’ll remain at Hillside.
“At the moment I’m thinking that I might play again and like I said, I’ve got a few of my mates here.
“So if we continue to stay again, I guess we’ll all stay.”
