Photo: Bulent Yontem
Hume City have secured the acquisition of Whittlesea Ranges forward Atilla Ofli for next season while midfielder Joseph Franjic has announced his departure from the club.
Ofli returns to ABD Stadium having spent three years at the club for whom he made his senior debut back in 2011 as a 16-year-old.
He spent three years at City, netting 10 league goals in 43 outings for the club before journeying off to Turkey, where he was set to join second tier Ankara-based Osmanlispor before injuries cut short his time in the Turkish capital.
The 22-year-old returned to Melbourne and joined Whittlesea in 2015 following an invitation from then-Ranges Technical Director Savas Saglam before spending last off-season trialling with the Western Sydney Wanderers and South Melbourne respectively.
He returned to Epping Stadium and enjoyed his best season yet as he scored 32 goals in 28 league games as he spearheaded the promotion push for Vinko Buljubasic’s Ranges outfit who ultimately finished the season in fourth place, although Ofli did win the NPL2 West Golden Boot in the process.
Ofli spoke of his delight at re-joining his old side while declaring his intentions to repay the faith Club President Steve Kaya showed him when being first promoted into the senior set-up as a teenager.
“At 16, Steve gave me the opportunity to play with the first team after spotting me in the juniors and now my aim as an adult is to give everything I can to pay him back for the faith he had in me.”
“He is like an uncle to me as not many people would have done that and I’m just happy to be back playing here and am looking forward to contributing to the team cause and thanking Steve for the initial support he provided me six years ago,” Ofli added.
While Ofli returns to Hume, defensive midfielder Joseph Franjic has departs ABD Stadium after three memorable seasons in Broadmeadows where he played a part in Hume’s multiple FFA Cup runs even if his game time was often restricted by persistent injuries.
The 25-year-old made 49 league appearances under Lou Acevski at the club, scoring a solitary goal in this season’s 2-1 Round 6 defeat to South Melbourne after joining the club from Sunshine George Cross in 2014.
He took to social media to thank the club by stating: “[It’s] been a great journey at Hume City for the last three years.
“[It’s] been a time I’ll never forget and made mates I’ll keep forever. [I] didn’t realise how hard and emotional it would be to leave until I went and emptied my locker.”
Franjic joins Shane Rexhepi, 2016 NPL Goalkeeper of the Year Chris Oldfield and his compatriot Craig Carley out the exit door as Dean Hennessey looks to rebuild for the 2017 NPL campaign.