The International Football School at Kariong secured its first professional playing contract for a student with the signing of Trent Buhagiar on a Hyundai A-League contract with the Central Coast Mariners.
The contract will last until at least the end of the 2015/16 season. Mr Buhagiar was presented his CCMFC jersey by inaugural Mariners’ signing, Mr Damien Brown. He fi rst came to the Mariners’ attention last season as an injury replacement in the club’s youth team. “For my whole life, I’ve been playing on the Coast. “It started at under 5s with Umina Eagles through to the 13s where I played with Southern Ettalong, then onto the Mariners Academy,” Trent said.
“I was watching a movie and Tony Walmsley called me up and said that there was an opportunity for me to get a contract and start training with the fi rst team full time. “I told mum and dad straight away who were stoked with it as well. “It’s going to be hard training full time, the International Football School has been great and given me the opportunity to kick a football every day,” Mr Buhagiar said.
“From what I’ve been told so far, I will be on the wing or anywhere up front, attacking football is what we play here,” he said. Central Coast Mariners’ coach, Mr Tony Walmsley said: “Trent Buhagiar fi ts a number of profi les, we’re a community based club, we look for outstanding attributes and we give youth a chance. “Trent’s got incredible pace, he’s done very well in his two seasons with the NYL and he’s a lifelong Coastie, he’s never played football anywhere else.”
Central Coast Mariners CEO Mr Shaun Mielekamp said: “This is one of the proudest signings that we have made since my time at the Club and we wish Trent all the best in the next stage of his playing career. “This is a testament to the International Football School who played a crucial role in Trent’s rapid development towards the Hyundai A-League” Mr Mielekamp said. “Trent’s appointment is also recognition that the Central Coast Mariners remain dedicated to local talent and it is exciting to have Trent don the Yellow and Navy jersey with such pride.”
Media release, Jan 5, 2016 Tyson Scott, Central Coast Mariners FC