Qormi had more than one reason to push hard for a win in their final Premier League match against Hibs on Monday.

Eager to end a disappointing season on a flying note, the Qormi players were also spurred by a desire to offer a happy farewell to one of their most affable and popular team-mates.

Keith Fenech, a household name in local football since leaping to prominence as a dynamic midfielder with Rabat Ajax some 14 years ago, told his club-mates that Monday’s match would probably be the last of his competitive career.

Leading the team out of the dressing room after team captain and close friend Joseph Farrugia gave him the armband, Fenech could not have hoped for a better send-off as Qormi cantered to a 5-2 win over Hibs.

At 35, Fenech knew that his best years in football were behind him but his passion for the game will have caused him a few sleepless nights as he pondered retirement.

“I spent endless hours thinking about it (retirement),” Fenech said.

“I spoke with my wife (Kathleen) because it is mainly for family reasons that I’ve decided to retire from the game.

“We are expecting our first child and I felt I had to make a choice.

“Football has been a big part of my life since I was a boy but I also have a job and the family business to run. I have been leading a hectic life in the last few years but now I’m determined to devote more time to my family.

“Playing for a Premier League club is a big commitment. I always looked forward to the training because football helps me to relax.

“However, in the past few years, I’d reached a stage where I was waking up at 7 a.m. and returning home late at night. When you are starting a family, you can’t spend all those hours away from home.”

It speaks volumes of Fenech’s dedication that, from an up-and-coming footballer with a modest club like Mellieħa, he went on to don the shirt of two of the biggest clubs in Malta, namely Valletta and Birkirkara, before finishing his career with Qormi.

In 374 appearances overall, he scored five goals.

“I have to admit that, in the early years of my career, I never ima-gined that I would reach the levels I did,” Fenech said.

“It was not that I lacked self-confidence but it’s hard to get to the Premier League when you’re play-ing outside the top divisions.

“Before, very few players from Mellieħa had managed to make the grade at one of the top clubs. Being arguably the first player from Mellieħa to turn out for teams like Valletta, Birkirkara and Qormi fills me with pride.”

Fenech was 21 when Mellieħa agreed to loan him to Rabat. After three seasons he joined Birkirkara, again on loan, before sealing a permanent move to Valletta.

“Signing for Valletta after one season (2001/02) with Birkirkara caused something of a stir at the time,” Fenech recalled.

“Paul Spiteri (Valletta vice-president) and Joe Caruana Curran (former president) told me that Valletta were prepared to buy me outright from Mellieħa when I was with Rabat. Valletta had a strong team then, so much so that they won the six trophies in 2000/01.

“I wanted to gain more ex-perience in the Premier League and stayed with Rabat for another two years. Then, I joined Birkirkara on a season-long loan. Birkirkara wanted to sign me at the end of my loan spell but were unable to agree terms for my transfer.

“Valletta again showed interest and struck a deal with Rabat Ajax. I stayed with Valletta until the end of season 2007/08 when the team won the league title.”

His desire to get regular first-team action, allied with Qormi’s bold interest, prompted him to join the then Premier League new-comers the following season.

“Although my priority was to be in the first team, I was still happy at Valletta because they are a fantastic club,” Fenech said.

“Silvan Fenech, an old friend, told me ‘why don’t you come and spend one year with Qormi?’.

“I decided to accept Qormi’s offer and I must say that I found the atmosphere at the club very much to my liking.

“I’ve received great support from the Fenech family. Matthew (former Qormi president) made me feel at home and his father Ninu (of Tumas Group) showed me great respect.

“Playing for Qormi was a nice experience. I was lucky to play in my second FA Trophy final with Qormi (lost 2-1 to Valletta last season).”

Highs and lows

Winning the FA Trophy and Super Cup with Birkirkara in 2001/02 is the highest point in Fenech’s career.

“I won the FA Trophy with Birkirkara (vs Sliema Wanderers 1-0) and, three days later, added the Super Cup (vs Hibs 1-0),” Fenech said. “Those were the first major honours I’d won as a player.

“I also treasure the memories of Valletta’s league success in 2007/08, Victor Sciriha’s first season as club president. The celebrations were unbelievable.

“My biggest disappointment was when Rabat Ajax were relegated from the Premier League (2000/01),” Fenech added.

“Relegation is hard to take. It makes you feel far worse than after you’ve lost a final.”

Had Fenech decided to prolong his career, he wouldn’t have been short in offers.

“I was positively surprised that other clubs approached me to join them next season but as I said, I want to spend more time at home with my family.

“Nevertheless, I want to remain involved in football but on the administrative side. I will also continue to train because staying fit and healthy is important to me.”

Although Fenech is adamant that he has played his last game, one suspects that the chance to fulfil his long-time wish of playing with his younger brother David, who turns out for Division One champions Balzan Youths, could tempt him to reconsider his decision.

“I always had this wish of playing in the same team as my brother David, either with Balzan, his current club, or with Mellieħa,” Fenech said.

“The chances of that happening now look rather remote... I guess.

“I hope that my brother follows in my footsteps and enjoys even more success than I had.”