The sight of Luke Dimech playing on the right of AEK Larnaca’s defence on Thursday may have been met with a few raised eyebrows but the stocky defender has never shied away from a challenge.

AEK Larnaca’s pairing with Floriana in the second qualifying round of the Europa League gave Dimech the chance to show his detractors that the adversity that engulfed him in season 2009/10 had only made him stronger.

Dimech seized the moment as he produced an assured performance in a one-sided match that saw the visitors canter to an 8-0 victory at the Hibs Stadium.

Although AEK Larnaca were always seen as favourites to knock out Floriana, Dimech admitted that they didn’t expect to win so easily.

“We thought the game was going to be difficult,” Dimech said.

“We expected Floriana to put men behind the ball and make it difficult for us to open them up but we got an early goal and that made a big difference.”

On Thursday, Dimech ex-perienced a new situation, and a rare one in the history of local football for that matter, as he was part of a foreign team that humi-liated a Maltese side.

A colossus of Malta’s defence in his prime, Dimech confessed that the experience left him with a strange feeling.

“I’m a professional player,” Dimech observed.

“That said, it was difficult for me to play against a Maltese team. I felt a bit awkward to be honest, especially as my family is from Floriana, but in these circumstan-ces, you have to put these things to one side and focus on your game.”

It is testament to Dimech’s positive impact on AEK Larnaca last season that he has earned a new one-year contract.

Optimism about Dimech’s chances of securing a move to a professional club was in short supply after his acrimonious exit from Valletta in the final weeks of season 2009/10 but his switch to Cyprus put his career back on track.

On the eve of Thursday’s match, AEK Larnaca coach Ton Caanen spoke in glowing terms about Dimech, describing him as “a strong player who gives everything and always plays with passion”.

“I had to work very hard to achieve what I did last year,” Dimech said. “I set myself a number of objectives and the first was to win a place in the starting team.

“This year, I have to do the same. Our squad has been strengthened and that means more competition for places but I will continue to give my all to stay in the team. It’s an on-going challenge.”

AEK Larnaca are not regarded as one of the top clubs in Cyprus but they are on the up as shown by their qualification to the Europa League.

“Our main target last season was to avoid relegation and we finished fourth,” Dimech enthused.

“This year, our aim is to gain a top-four position and try to produce a strong challenge for the league and trophy. We also want to advance in the Europa League.”

Throughout his career, Dimech has always represented his country with pride and passion but his last season in Maltese football ended on a very sour note.

His omission from the national squad in August 2009 due to differences with national coach John Buttigieg was a blow for Dimech who then endured further anguish with Valletta.

He missed the final weeks of season 2009/10 after being suspended by the club following a spat with a minority of fans during a league match against Sliema.

The defender, who was also sent off at half-time for removing his shirt, apologised for his behaviour but he didn’t make another showing in a city shirt that season.

It could be said that Dimech’s involvement in Thursday’s match, the first time he set foot on a local pitch since April 2010, completed his redemption mission.

When it was put to Dimech that he must be very pleased with his success at AEK Larnaca after his trials and tribulations in 2009/10, he replied: “It was not my best season in Malta. I had some personal problems and they were affecting my football.

“Then I had some difficulties at Valletta but I regret a lot of things that happened. It was nice to be back and play in Malta this week.

“I sort of vindicated myself. I went through some difficult times in my last season here but it was just a phase. I put it behind me and came back stronger.”

National team

Capped 66 times, Dimech had no plans to quit the national team but, childish as it may seem, his refusal to change the colour of his hair led to him being jettisoned from the squad for the friendly against Georgia in August 2009.

Having been overlooked for subsequent matches, Dimech decided to retire from interna-tional football in January last year but there’s a lingering feeling that the defender would reverse his decision if he gets a call from the national coach.

“It was absurd,” Dimech said of the circumstances that led to his omission from the national squad.

“I haven’t heard anything since then. I can’t say that the national team is a closed chapter but it looks like it is. I’m 34 now and the coach has been bringing in younger players. But the ball is still in the coach’s court.

“I felt that my omission from the squad was not right because it had nothing to do with my football but only because of the way I looked.

“Anyway, I don’t think the coach would like to take me back but it’s his call.”