Dandenong Thunder have intensified preparations for their upcoming NPL 2 campaign with 10 new signings, with the most recent group headlined by veteran attacker Yusuf Yusuf and former Melbourne Victory youth midfielder Patrick Avice.
30-year-old Yusuf is one of the most experienced campaigners in Victorian football, having spent time with the likes of Heidelberg United (twice), South Melbourne, Oakleigh Cannons and the Melbourne Knights.
He moved to St Albans Saints in May 2014 where he featured in the club’s memorable FFA Cup run, before making a mid-season transfer to the North Geelong Warriors last season, making 14 appearances.
Avice, 19, first rose to stardom as part of Bentleigh’s run to the FFA Cup semi-finals in 2014, having linked up with Melbourne Victory’s youth team under Darren Davies during the previous NYL season.
He subsequently made a further 10 appearances for Victory over the course of their NPL 1 promotion-winning campaign, and will no doubt be looking to match that achievement with the Thunder in 2016.
Further additions to Huss Skenderovic’s Thunder squad include young Canberra defenders Anthony Barbaro and Daniel Bennett, while fellow defender Nick Modafferi makes the switch after spending 2015 with Kingston City.
Highly rated 17-year-old defender Dylan Facci is another new addition to the squad after making his senior breakthrough with Nunawading City last campaign, and is also the nephew of former Melbourne Knights and Bulleen defender Frank Valentic.
Exciting youngster Archie Sweeney moves to George Andrews Reserve after failing to break into the South Melbourne senior squad, having impressed with the U20s at Lakeside Stadium under Sasa Kolman.
Goalkeeper Jeremy Sandoval returns to the club after spending 2015 with the Springvale White Eagles having formerly featured for the Thunder 20s in 2014, and is expected to battle out against Fraser Maclaren for the number one jersey.
Amir Osmancevic joins Thunder from the Peninsula Strikers and has overseas experience playing for Sloga Kraljevo in Serbia, with the young striker almost joining the Dandenong South-based outfit last season, only for the transfer deadline to close before an agreement was reached.
Attacking midfielder Andrew Duong has also agreed terms with the 2012 VPL Champions after spending 2015 with Noble Park, having impressed Skenderovic and assistant coach Aaron Symons during trials, and recently scored the winner in a 2-1 friendly triumph over the Ballarat Red Devils.
Meanwhile, the club has also confirmed the club stalwarts Veton Korcari and Fitim Ibraimi have re-signed for 2016, in addition to news that Afghan international defender Faisal Sakhizada has also re-committed with the recently-relegated outfit.
Former Eastern Lions and Bentleigh Greens midfielder Lewis Foster is another re-signing from the 2015 senior roster, as is defender Viktor Mujedini, who captained the club’s 20s side last term and has made a total of 11 senior appearances for Thunder, a club he has represented since his junior days.
The 10 new signings and the five re-signings either side of the new year join captain Brendan Elmazovski, Kristian Sarkies, Fraser Maclaren (South Melbourne) and Christopher Geils (Box Hill United) as confirmed squad members, with the club’s two visa spots still yet to be filled.
Dandenong Thunder will begin life in the second tier for the first time in eight years with an opening round home clash against Nunawading City on February 20.
Images: Dandenong Thunder SC