Image: Mark Avellino
Moreland City have completed their third signing in the space of a week with the addition of winger Ben Osei-Safo, who joins from Box Hill United.
The 24-year-old was a first-team regular for Greg Kassidas’ men this term, scoring five times in 26 league games as Pythagoras finished the season fourth in the NPL2 East standings.
After making his senior debut aged 18 with Richmond in 2011, Osei-Safo spent two years at Kevin Bartlett Reserve, making a total of seven league appearances in the top flight.
In addition to his time with the 2010 VPL Premiers, he also enjoyed a brief spell in the second half of 2012 with second-tier Werribee City, totalling four games under Nino Ragusa.
He moved to Wembley Park in 2014 by joining Box Hill but suffered an early-season injury, which saw his time at the club grounded to a halt as he later joined State League Three side Croydon City Arrows for the remainder of the season, where he was teammates with Danny Allsopp.
Osei-Safo returned to the NPL system the following year by joining Kingston City, where he enjoyed his most consistent season of football by scoring seven goals in 27 league games.
The attacking wide man had no reservations about making the move to Campbell Reserve, and is hoping the re-signings of several key players from the 2016 squad will keep City in good stead for the year ahead as they look mount a charge up the table, with promotion not being ruled out.
“I think promotion is the goal this squad wants to achieve and a big reason why I joined the club especially after speaking to the boys. The ones that had re-signed were ambitious and believed that they didn’t meet their expectations in 2016,” Osei-Safo told TCF.
“Having said that, it’s an open race in the West as many of the other clubs have recruited well, but I do know the boys that have re-signed could have gone elsewhere but stayed because they wanted to stick it out and help the club achieve promotion. Let’s hope it all comes together.”
First-team head coach Adrian Mathers was pleased with the addition of Osei-Safo and told the club via press release that “Ben has a lot of natural ability and provides us with good versatility, being able to play anywhere across a front three, or as an attacking midfielder.”
“He has always been a dangerous opponent in the past, so we are really pleased to be able to secure his services. Culturally he is a good fit for us, with a good work ethic and understanding of the team dynamic. It’s a real boost for us to have secured his services,” he added.
Osei-Safo joins Felix Rosman and Jay Kelly as new members of the Moreland City playing staff, with the likes of Osman Kose, Jordan Seeto, Casey Thomas and Apai Ukuno confirmed re-signings