Image: Mark Avellino
Avondale have captured the prized signature of talented 18-year-old midfielder Kristian Trajceski from Hume City, following the youngster’s departure from ABD Stadium.
Trajceski rose to prominence last year after receiving the PS4 Player Pathway Award, having beaten 23 other competitors from across Australia to secure a trial with the Sydney FC Youth team.
Despite impressing their coach Robbie Stanton, Trajceski rejected an offer of a one-year contract with the Sky Blues youth team, opting to return to Melbourne and pursue European opportunities.
A Whittlesea Ranges junior, Trajceski moved to Hume City in the inaugural year of the NPL in 2014 where he featured in the club’s 20s side under head coach Matthew McNamara.
The youngster began training with the first team the following season and ultimately made his league debut as well as appearing in City’s 3-0 FFA Cup semi-final defeat against Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park under then-coach Lou Acevski.
A breakthrough season followed in 2016 with Trajceski featuring 20 times in the league for Hume, netting three goals as well as being a crucial player in the club’s second successive FFA Cup run which ended with another defeat to Victory at the Round of 16 stage.
An impressive pre-season saw Trajceski start City’s opening league game of the season against Melbourne Knights but has not featured in the senior-team fold since.
In total, Trajceski made 22 league appearances for City and becomes the latest ex-Hume player to call Doyle Street Reserve home, following in the footsteps of former teammates Chris Oldfield, Petar Franjic and Ramazan Tavsancioglu, in addition to former assistant coach Zoran Markovski.
He joins a competitive Avengers midfield which includes veterans Jeff Fleming and Massimo Murdocca as well as Argentine marquee Jonatan Germano and the industrious Evan Christodoulou, in addition to former Tasmanian league player Yitay Towns.
Trajceski is eligible to make his Avondale debut in tomorrow’s night clash against the Melbourne Knights at Somers Street Stadium with kick-off scheduled for 8.30 in North Sunshine.