CENTRAL Coast Mariners can confirm right full-back Pedj Bojic has re-signed for the club, while defender Zac Anderson will join the team for the next two Hyundai A-League campaigns.
FANS of the Central Coast Mariners will continue to witness the marauding runs of right full-back Pedj Bojic, with the hardworking defender having signed a new contract with the Club to keep him at the 2011/12 Hyundai A-League Premiers until the end of the 2013/14 season.
In a further boost for the Mariners- defensive stocks, former Gold Coast United stopper Zac Anderson has committed his immediate future to the yellow and navy, penning a two-season deal with Central Coast to become coach Graham Arnold-s first new recruit for season eight of the Hyundai A-League.
Bojic enjoyed a standout year for the yellow and navy in season seven of Australia-s top flight, contributing to the Mariners- success with six assists and two goals from 27 matches.
A key component of the best defence in the league, Bojic played his 100th Hyundai A-League game for the Mariners in last seasons preliminary final and said that with his immediate future decided he is now looking forward to the challenge of taking his game to an even higher level next term.
“It-s satisfying to know that I-ve got my contract sorted and that I am staying at the Club that I have been at for so long,” the 28-year-old said.
“I-m looking to take my game to another level next season. Extra hard work is going to be put in place, and I-ll be looking at polishing off areas of my game where there needs to be more consistency.”
Indeed, a significant part of the Mariners- success last season can be attributed to the productive partnership developed down the teams- right side. Bojic-s link play with New Zealand international Michael McGlinchey is again expected to terrorise opposition defences next season.
Last term the all action duo combined for an impressive 14 assists. The players also ranked equal fourth in the competition for completed crosses, and seventh (Bojic) and eighth (McGlinchey) league-wide for completed passes.
“Me and Mikey were pretty good this year, we got a lot of assists down that right side,” he said. “It is a fruitful partnership that we can hopefully look to build on next season.”
“For the time being I just want to take my game to the highest level possible, and win everything with the Mariners that we can.”
Anderson today expressed his delight to be joining one of the most successful teams in Hyundai A-League history.
Indeed, the tall defender committed his allegiance to the Club following Arnold-s decision last week to remain as the Mariners- Head Coach.
“I-m really looking forward to the opportunity,” Anderson said. “I-m very lucky that the Central Coast Mariners and ‘Arnie- have given me the opportunity to go down south and work under their guidance.”
“That (Arnold-s decision) was one of the biggest reasons why I have signed with the Mariners. First and foremost though, the Club has had some great success and all the signs are looking as if that success will continue.”
Describing himself as “extremely ambitious”, Anderson also noted he is keen to learn from two of the best central defenders in the league in Patrick Zwaanswijk and Alex Wilkinson.
“Alex is the Club captain, and Patrick is one of the best defenders – if not the best defender – in the league,” he said.
“I can learn a lot of Alex and Patrick by following them closely and step into one of their shoes one day.
“I-ve got a lot of work to do to get into the team. But when an opportunity comes down the track I-ll take it,” he concluded.
Central Coast Mariners face Nagoya Grampus in the AFC Champions League this evening with kick-off at 7pm local time (8pm AEST) at the Mizuho Athletic Stadium in Japan.
