Photo: Mark Avellino
Whittlesea Ranges have continued their pre-season preparations with the signings of forward Danny Charalambous and midfielder Anthony Cassar on the eve of the season with the transfer window set to shut down at 5pm today.
20-year-old Charalambous moves to Epping Stadium having spent the last six months of last season with Northcote City, where he made a total of six league appearances for Hercules.
The wide forward made his senior debut with the Moreland Zebras in 2014 and was awarded an NPL Rising Star of the Month nomination shortly afterwards following his impressive displays.
An excellent 2015 campaign saw the teenager net 14 league goals across the season as Danny Gnjidic’s men narrowly missed out on promotion to the NPL following a play-off loss to Melbourne Victory.
Despite this setback, his performances attracted plenty of top-flight interest with the youngster securing a move to the Bentleigh Greens having scored 15 times in 41 matches for the Zebras.
His time at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex was short-lived with Charalambous making ten appearances of the bench under John Anastasiadis before departing mid-campaign.
He had initially re-signed at Northcote for the upcoming season but now forms part of an exciting attacking line up at the Ranges which also features Thomas Barforosh, Matthew Conversano, Ross Frame, Nicholas Scerri and Chris Talajic (the latter four all being new signings).
22-year-old Cassar joins Whittlesea after spending 2016 with Dandenong City where he netted four goals in 19 league appearances under former coach Aaron Healey.
A Green Gully junior, the attacking midfielder made his senior debut with third tier Doncaster Rovers in 2012 before helping Heidelberg United win the State League One title in 2013.
Two years at Chaplin Reserve followed with Cassar becoming a regular starter under Tony Ciantar, scoring 10 goals in 50 league appearances for Sunshine George Cross.
The duo join the four new attacking signings, former Moreland Zebras full-back Adam Centofanti and Brazilian centre-back Janiel Silva as new additions to Vinko Buljubasic’s promotion chasing squad.
Whittlesea begin their campaign with a home game against Melbourne Victory Youth this Sunday afternoon 3pm at Epping Stadium as the two sides battle it out for the LaIonica Cup.