Central Coast has signed exciting youngster David D’Apuzzo until the end of the Hyundai A-League 2009/10 season.
The 20-year-old, who has played six A-League matches in the yellow and navy, extended his stay with the Mariners on Tuesday.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Mariners to date and it’s great to have signed on for another season in the Hyundai A-League with a fantastic club that is represented by a top group of players and coaching staff,” he said.
“My first few months at the Mariners have been very enjoyable and it’s exciting to think of what lies ahead in terms of the business end of the current season and then an AFC Champions League campaign and I hope to play as significant role as I can in both competitions.”
D’Apuzzo, the brother of Newcastle Jets’ midfielder Adam, scored the Mariners’ first ever goal in the National Youth League in the most recent of his three caps in Australia’s new elite competition for young players.
Prior to joining the Mariners, D’Apuzzo had been a regular in the NSW Premier League and represented Australia at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup.
Mariners Executive Chairman Lyall Gorman said the club was pleased to have re-signed the talented defender.
“We’re sure that he has much more to offer our club and football in Australia,” Gorman said.
“David’s re-signing is another significant show of intent in regards to the direction of our club in the medium to long-term, that being another tremendously exciting young player signing on for what will be a landmark period for the Mariners.”
“We have the 2009 AFC Champions League to look forward to in addition to the challenges offered by the expansion of the Hyundai A-League, not to mention the second half of our current Hyundai A-League season where we have strong ambitions to surpass the standards that we set in 2007/08.”
