Central Coast Mariners have announced the re-signing of exciting youngster Trent Buhagiar until the end of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 season.
Buhagiar, who has played the entirety of his football career on the Central Coast, has lit the Hyundai A-League alight since signing his maiden professional contract in January. This was followed by a contract extension in May that ran until the end of this season which has now been extended until 2019.
In addition to the 18-year-old’s commitments as a full time footballer, Buhagiar also balanced his studies at the International Football School where he recently completed his Higher School Certificate.
The Umina Eagles junior climbed the tiers of local football before stepping up to Central Coast representative level and became the first of hopefully many players to sign a professional contract from the International Football School.
Capturing the attention of football fans across the country with his blistering speed, Buhagiar is believed to be one of the fastest players in the competition that earned him a call up into a Young Socceroos training camp earlier in the year under then coach, Paul Okon.
After signing his contract extension at the Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence, Buhagiar said that the Mariners is the best place to develop as a footballer and also thanked the fans.
“The team is looking great at the moment so I’m really excited to sign a contract extension,” Buhagiar said. “Paul Okon is a great coach with a great style of play he is incorporating into the club which suits my game well.
“At the moment the Central Coast Mariners is the best place for me to be, this is my home town and playing football here is a dream come true. I’ve been able to develop my game here over the last couple of years and hopefully I can continue to develop.
“Going to the International Football School I have been taught that anything’s possible and if you put your mind to it you can always achieve it but it is hard to believe that I have signed a new contract with the Mariners and hopefully I can give more to the club.
“Obviously if you know you’ve got those extra couple of years in the bag you can just focus more on becoming a better footballer so I am happy that I can do that now and keep developing.
“Competition for places is always a good thing, fighting for your position keeps you on your toes and playing your best football and that’s what I have with Fabio.
“The fans are incredibly important to the club – it’s a family club and they’ve done an incredible job this season,” Buhagiar said. “They continue to turn up in great numbers and it feels great to play in front of them,” Buhagiar said.
Okon said that re-signing Buhagiar reaffirms the club’s commitment to attracting and retaining the country’s best young players.
“I am delighted that Trent has decided that this is the right place for him to continue his development by committing to the club for two more years,” Okon said. “We’re very excited about what Trent has shown so far this season and we are confident he will continue to improve in our environment.
“Trent’s re-signing shows the club’s vision and intent of giving young talented players an opportunity,” Okon said.
