Trent Buhagiar extends his contract

Umina's Trent Buhagiar has extended his contract with the Central Coast Mariners.

The young attacker will remain a Mariner until at least the end of the A-League 2018-19 season.

Buhagiar, who has played the entirety of his soccer career on the Central Coast, has lit the A-League alight since signing his maiden professional contract in January.

This was followed by a contract extension in May that ran until the end of this season which has now been extended until 2019.

For most kids growing up on the Central Coast, it is their dream to one day represent the Central Coast Mariners.

Often many come close but don't quite get there, but for one shy yet talented youngster his dream was realised early this year when he received a phone call from then head coach Tony Walmsley.

Trent Buhagiar played his junior soccer predominantly for the Umina Eagles before playing his final year of club football at Southern Ettalong.

He progressed through into the Central Coast Representative teams where he scored a staggering number of goals, including finishing top goal scorer in the under-18s and -20s in the one year as a 17-year-old.

He signed his first semi-professional contract at the age of 17 when he played for the Central Coast Mariners National Youth League team in 2013-14.

After playing in that squad and impressing the Mariners' coaching staff, he received the phone call that most players can only dream of.

"I was just sitting on the couch at home and my phone starting ringing, Tony said he wanted to sign me and it was a real dream come true for me. "

Things skyrocketed for the Umina teen in July when he was called into his first International camp, after impressing new Mariners head coach Paul Okon.

Despite not yet making his international debut, it is certainly something that Buhagiar wants to add to his long list of accomplishments very soon.

Just recently, "Trenners" juggled his soccer commitments with his schooling, finishing his HSC exams last month.

Despite admitting that juggling them both was hard, Trent got through it all thanks to the great support he received from his family, school and the club.

"The club made it easier for me though, allowing me to have the day off when I had an exam on.

"On a typical day, I would go to school after training and get there around recess time to do my studies."

The new two-year contract extension at the club came after stringing together a number of solid performances at the start of the A-League season.

When asked what it was like to represent the Mariners, he said "It's a great privilege to play for my local A-League club, growing up here and always playing my football on the Coast, I've always wanted to play for the Mariners as I've supported them from the inception of the A-League."

After signing his contract extension at the Central Coast Mariners Centre of Excellence, Buhagiar said that the Mariners is the best place to develop as a footballer and also thanked the fans.

"The team is looking great at the moment so I'm really excited to sign a contract extension," Buhagiar said.

"Paul Okon is a great coach with a great style of play that he is incorporating into the club which suits my game well.

"I've been able to develop my game here over the last couple of years and hopefully I can continue to develop.

"Going to the International Football School, I have been taught that anything's possible and if you put your mind to it you can always achieve it but it is hard to believe that I have signed a new contract with the Mariners and hopefully I can give more to the club.

"Obviously if you know you've got those extra couple of years in the bag you can just focus more on becoming a better footballer so I am happy that I can do that now and keep developing.

"Competition for places is always a good thing, fighting for your position keeps you on your toes and playing your best football.

"The fans are incredibly important to the club.

"It's a family club and they've done an incredible job this season," Buhagiar said.

"They continue to turn up in great numbers and it feels great to play in front of them," Buhagiar said.

Okon said that re-signing Buhagiar reaffirms the club's commitment to attracting and retaining the country's best young players.

"I am delighted that Trent has decided that this is the right place for him to continue his development by committing to the club for two more years," Okon said.

"We're very excited about what Trent has shown so far this season and we are confident he will continue to improve in our environment.

"Trent's re-signing shows the club's vision and intent of giving young talented players an opportunity," Okon said.

Media release, 6 Dec 2016

Tyson Scott, Central Coast Mariners FC

Reporter: Kane Runge