PRECOCIOUS Central Coast Mariners midfielder Anthony Caceres has put pen to paper on a new two-season contract with the Club, ensuring he will remain in the yellow and navy until the end of the 2014/15 Hyundai A-League season.
Anthony Caceres has extended his stay with Central Coast Mariners until 2015
PRECOCIOUS Central Coast Mariners midfielder Anthony Caceres has put pen to paper on a new two-season contract with the Club, ensuring he will remain in the yellow and navy until the end of the 2014/15 Hyundai A-League season.
One of the Mariners- brightest young stars, 20-year-old Caceres progressed through Central Coast-s National Youth League system before signing his first professional deal with the Club ahead of the Group Stage of the 2012 AFC Champions League.
After impressing in pre-season this year, Caceres suffered a freak elbow injury which hampered his prospects of featuring in the early part of the current A-League campaign.
But after a string of standout displays in the National Youth League competition and consistent efforts in training, the creative, composed midfield conductor has been rewarded with an extended deal with the Hyundai A-League table-toppers.
“I feel very privileged to be at a Club where they give young players an opportunity,” Caceres said. “I-m surrounded by good people and I couldn-t be happier.”
Caceres added that despite his pre-season injury holding his progress back slightly, he feels he is close to his best and can make the transition from NYL star to Hyundai A-League regular.
“We-ve got a bunch of great players both technically and physically, and they-re just good blokes all round,” he said.
“I-ve taken a lot away from the pre-season and the first few rounds. I-ve been working on my fitness a fair bit and hitting the gym, trying to put on some size. In time I think I can step up to A-League level.”
Central Coast Mariners boss, Graham Arnold, is confident that Caceres will be gracing the Hyundai A-League stage soon. The Mariners boss is excited by the potential of the former Marconi Stallions man, and believes he can develop into a key player for the Club.
“He-s a player of the future of the Club and he-s got a big part to play in what we will be about in the future,” Arnold said.
“He-s a wonderful kid and it-s great that we were able to sign him so quickly, especially with other Clubs hovering around.
They (rival Clubs) watch the Youth League games and he-s the best player in the Youth League every week.”
“I think you will see him in our first team by the end of the season.”
“Hopefully we-ll be announcing some more signings in the next couple of weeks as well,” he said.
Moreover, Central Coast Mariners Chairman, Mr Peter Turnbull, welcomed the news that Caceres will remain a Mariner until 2015.
“Anthony Caceres had a promising start to the season hampered by injury, but is now back in full training and is showing his class daily,” Turnbull said.
“He deserves his longer contract, and we expect him to develop in the same way the Club has developed previous youngsters such as Danny Vukovic, Mustafa Amini, Mathew Ryan, Tom Rogic, Trent Sainsbury, Bernie Ibini, and Mitchell Duke.”
Central Coast Mariners vs. Melbourne Heart – 2012/13 Hyundai A-League Round 11
Friday 14 December, 2012
Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
Kick-off: 7:30pm (local)
Tickets: Please CLICK HERE to purchase tickets to the match!
Twitter: Join the match conversation on Twitter! The official match hash-tag for Sunday-s game is #CCMvMH
