The St Albans Saints have added further top flight experience to their playing ranks with the signings of Daniel Chaabani and Matthew Cundari from Hume City and Whittlesea Ranges respectively.
22-year-old Chaabani moves to Churchill Reserve following a season and a half with Hume City where the versatile defender made a total of 28 league appearances, scoring one goal.
A product of the Melbourne Victory Youth team, he made his senior debut in 2011 with the Victorian Training Centre, appearing in 11 matches under Boris Seroshtan, which included a solitary goal in a 3-1 defeat away at the hands of Dandenong Thunder.
From there on, he moved to Pascoe Vale in 2013 as he helped Vitale Ferrante’s men cement their top flight status before spending a season with the newly established Goulburn Valley Suns in 2014.
A move to Werribee City followed at the beginning of next year before making the mid-season switch to ABD Stadium where he primarily featured as a full-back.
In total, Chaabani brings 85 games of VPL/NPL experience to the dressing room at Fox Street, which has already been boosted by the signings of his former Hume and Victory Youth teammate Hernan Espindola and 2015 NPL Goalkeeper of the Year Chris May.
21-year-old Cundari joins Dinamo after spending the last two years at Epping Stadium where he earned playing time under former Saints boss Vinko Buljubasic.
One of the Ranges’ best performers in 2015, the midfielder made a total of 25 appearances over the course of the season, scoring twice as Whittlesea’s late-season fade out cost them the opportunity to gain promotion into the top-flight after an improved showing throughout much of the season.
Prior to that, Cundari had been a part of Nino Ragusa’s 2013 State League One promotion winning outfit before going onto make 22 appearances in the NPL the following year.
He played against the NPL2 West Champions in the final round of the season with the 1-0 win for the home side sealing promotion back to the top tier for the first time since 2011.
Cundari admits that experience helped sway his decision to move to Dinamo with the club culture and home support impressing him.
“There [were] a few factors that really attracted me, one of the biggest is the culture along with the direction they are wanting to take [the club],” Cundari said via club press release.
“I knew the club had something special when I walked onto the pitch to face them.”
“It was very clear the fans are passionate about the club [and] there was a real buzz around the pitch.”
“From that moment it was always something I would have considered and I am glad the opportunity has come my way,” he added.
The four new additions join six existing squad members as players signed up for the upcoming season as Kruni Razov looks to steer the Saints out of relegation trouble.