Feature Image: Mark Avellino
Hume City have confirmed their eighth summer signing with former Richmond SC gloveman Gian Tapia making the switch to ABD Stadium.
The ambitious club – currently two weeks deep into their pre-season – signed Tapia to compete with fellow gloveman and new signing Michael Weier for the spot in goals vacated by reigning NPL Victoria goalkeeper of the year Chris Oldfield.
The Bulleen Lions junior was one of four goalkeepers utilised by Richmond SC throughout the 2016 NPL Victoria season, making a total of 12 appearances and keeping one clean sheet.
He joined Richmond for their first season in the NPL top-flight off the back of a 2015 season which saw him play every game in Whittlesea Ranges’ NPL1 campaign.
The 20-year-old of Salvadoran descent spent time in El Salvador in 2012, where he spent time training with their Under 17’s national team.
Tapia also featured at senior level for both Bulleen Lions and Pascoe Vale, while also earning selection for Melbourne Victory’s National Youth League team for their 2013 season.
“It’s a club that has a lot of direction and ambition,” Tapia told Hume City’s Facebook page.
“It’s a club that knows where they want to go. This is very close to a professional club and they have that professional approach and that really attracted my attention.
“It’s a good opportunity for me and also Michael [Weier] as two young goalkeepers to really take on the big stage and show what we’ve got as up and coming goalkeepers.”
Tapia outlined his desire to feature as much as possible throughout the upcoming NPL campaign and take his game to another level.
“As a young goalkeeper, my ambition is to get as much exposure and game time as I possibly can,” he said.
I want to learn as much as a I can and get comfortable in these professional environments and develop good relationships with the players and coaches.
“Ultimately though, I want to win some silverware with a great club.”
Hume City Technical Manager Dean Hennessey aired his admiration for the young shot-stopper, who he admits was a player he’s tracked for some time and believes will compete well for a starting berth.
“We’ve known Gian for a little while; we played against him last year and watched him from afar,” Hennessey said.
“I just think he’s going to add a lot of competition for that number one spot… when the two are a similar age, it’s different to when there’s a 26-year-old senior keeper and a 19-year-old understudy. With them being a very similar age, I think it’s going to be really competitive, which is something we want not only for the goalkeepers but for every position in the club.”
Tapia joins the aforementioned Weier at the club alongside fellow new signings Atilla Ofli, Wayne Wallace, James McGarry, Liam Boland, Kris Kioussis and Ersin Kaya as the club prepares for a strong tilt at the title in 2017.