Perth Glory striker Eugene Dadi is relieved to be back training in Western Australia after a chilly time both on and off the pitch at FC Vaduz.
Perth Glory striker Eugene Dadi is relieved to be back training in Western Australia after a chilly time both on and off the pitch at FC Vaduz.
Having scored 10 goals in 16 matches for the Glory last season, Dadi went on loan to the Lichtenstein-based Vaduz as it battled relegation from Switzerland’s top division.
Dadi, though, was released from his loan arrangement a fortnight before the club’s relegation was confirmed after falling out with club management.
The final straw for Dadi coming after he was suspended from training for two days after warming up on the sidelines, during freezing temperatures, but hadn’t received the correct permission to do so. Vaduz coach Pierre Littbarski, Sydney FC’s former mentor, took offence to the warm-up run and imposed a hefty penalty.
The 35-year-old said the treatment was the opposite of what he expected at Vaduz after hearing only good things about the club from Glory team-mate Jamie Harnwell, who had a loan spell there at the end of 2007-08, helping gain promotion to Swtizerland’s Super League for the first time in its history.
“Before I went there I was full of expectation, full of desire,” said the dreadlocked Frenchman, who was granted an Australian residency visa last February.
“Unfortunately everything for me started to be a little bit difficult with him (Littbarski) when I told him one day that I have to come back to Australia for my visa.
“He couldn’t understand why it was so important for myself and for the club (Perth) and for my family.”
“And then everything started to be a little bit difficult,” he said.
Returning to Perth Glory training after a fortnight’s holiday to clear his head, Dadi remained at loss to explain what happened, the striker saying it may have come down to a personality clash or simple stress as Littbarski tried stopping Vaduz’s run to relegation.
“What I can tell you today, is just that it was unfortunate for the off season (that I went there), that was for me a wrong destination.”
But Dadi said the experience just made him appreciate the camaraderie between players and coaches at the Glory.
“It’s very important you know, coming back and everyone’s just all happy to see each other.”
“We’re all happy to look forward to the new season and work hard and we all know what we’ve got on our shoulder for this season and we’re just looking forward to it.”
“Personally, I’m happy that I’ve left Vaduz earlier, it brought me a couple of days to recover from what’s happened,” he said.
