NPL champion Bentleigh Greens has wasted little time in planning ahead for next season, announcing the signings of FFV gold medal-winner Kamal Ibrahim from Port Melbourne Sharks and 19-year-old Danny Charalambous from NPL 1 W side Moreland Zebras.

Both players are goalscoring wide attacking players, who can also play deeper in the midfield.

“Kamal is a fantastic player,” said Greens CEO John Iannou, “and he’ll add an enormous amount of depth and quality to our front third. He comes to the club with a great amount of experience and we’re hoping he can showcase his talents for us in 2016.”

The Greens got their man after first trying to lure him to Kingston Heath midway through last season.

Ibrahim said the decision to leave Port after three seasons was a difficult one for him to make, as all his family lives in Port Melbourne and he played with the club as a junior.

But as he told Neos Kosmos: “Port is very supportive. I spoke with the president and coach. They understand my decision and respect that.

So I’m very happy to leave on a good note.”

Ibrahim say one of the major factors influencing his decision to move was the Greens’ style of football.

“I can see myself playing in that team. Everyone knows that they’re a possession-based team. They like to keep the ball and control the game. I’ve seen them do that for the last two years. I’m the kind of player who likes to play that kind of style of football. In my eyes if the team can play that kind of football and control most of the game, it’s going to be hard to beat and is going to win lots of games.”

Ibrahim’s signing follows hot on the heels of the Greens picking up 19-year-old Charalambous from Moreland Zebras, who has shown he has an eye for goal by scoring 14 times in the Zebras’ 2015 league campaign.

The two new signings, along with striker Matt Thurtell, who returns from long-term injury, add depth and quality in attack to a team which has also re-signed championship winning players Chris Lucas and Tyson Holmes.
It signals an intention to challenge for all silverware on offer next season.

In other pre-season activity, Oakleigh Cannons has announced the first signings under new joint coaches Peter Tsolakis and Kosta Tangalakis. Eighteen-year-old defender Thomas Lakis rejoins the club after leaving to play with Melbourne Victory Youth and South Melbourne last season, where he made a handful of appearances.

He is joined by 27-year-old midfielder Corey Slevin from NPL1 side Bendigo City, where he was their leading marksman with 12 goals last season.

The Cannons have also announced the re-signings of keeper John Honos, defenders Aaron Wilford, Adrian Chiappetta, and forwards Goran Zoric and Dean Piemonte.