Central Coast Mariners have signed Sabit Ngor after the talented winger lit up NPLM VIC with Heidelberg United this season.
Ngor has signed a two-year deal with the treble-winning Mariners following a successful trial which was initiated after he helped Heidelberg stun Central Coast in the 2024 Australia Cup Round of 32.
The move represents a return to the A-Leagues for the 23-year-old, who made his professional debut for Western United in an Australia Cup fixture against Wellington Phoenix in 2021.
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Born in Kenya to South Sudanese parents, Ngor joined Heidelberg midway through the 2024 campaign and scored five goals in eight appearances, including an unforgettable 40-yard strike against Hume City.
Before returning to Melbourne, Ngor trialled with Veikkausligga club Tampereen Ilves in 2023 and went on to make 29 appearances for the Finnish outfit, scoring five goals and supplying three assists.
“I’m really excited to be joining the Central Coast Mariners and I’m looking forward to my first A-League season,” said Ngor.
“I have been working towards this for years, now that opportunity has arrived, I want to show the A-League what I have got.
“I didn’t expect the interest after the Australia Cup game, all I was thinking about was being excited to play against the treble winners, but it has moved fast since then and it’s been great so far. Everyone has been so welcoming; I love the culture and what the club is about.
“I love the way Jacko wants to play football, the way he communicates with players and how passionate he is about football. His way of playing is different to other coaches that I’ve played for so that’s something I’m looking forward to being involved in.
“I’m very excited to play in this stadium, I can’t wait to meet all the fans, get out on the field and help the team be successful with as many goals and assists as I can. I don’t have a specific number in my head, I just want as many as possible.”
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Ngor is Central Coast’s latest signing after Lucas Mauragis, Alfie McCalmont, Adam Pavlesic, Diesel Herrington, Vitor Feijao and Trent Sainsbury, while Haine Eames (scholarship contract), Sasha Kuzevski (promoted), Arthur De Lima (scholarship contract) and Jai Ajanovic (scholarship contract) have either been promoted or penned scholarship deals.
Mikael Doka, Harrison Steele and Miguel Di Pizio have also re-signed for the Mariners, who kick-off their AFC Champions League Elite (ACL Elite) campaign away to Shandong Taishan on Tuesday, September 17.
The Mariners begin their Isuzu UTE A-League defence at home to Melbourne Victory in a Grand Final rematch on October 18.
“We are really delighted to have Sabit signed for us ahead of this season. He was a player that we identified in the leadup to the Heidelberg game, and he played really well in that match against us,” said head coach Mark Jackson.
“Coming and training with us, we affirmed our belief that he had huge potential and more importantly that he could fit into the culture of the club.
“He is a really humble and driven young man who wants to get better every day, and we hope that he can contribute greatly to the squad.
“A special thank you to Heidelberg for working with us in getting Sabit’s signing completed, they have been great in facilitating this move.”
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