Tara Murray
Things are starting to come together for Hume City in the National Premier League.
After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, Hume has had some big results in the first 10 rounds of the season, coming away with points in five of the matches so far to be just outside the top six.
Speaking before the weekend’s game with the Bentleigh Greens, Hume president Steve Kaya said things were starting to fall into place.
“Compared to last year, it’s obviously better than last year,” he said. “We’re pretty happy the way things are going, yes.
“It’s not only one thing, many, many things [that have changed]. Running a club is like a watch if one of the things are missing, nothing else works that’s how it is.”
Kaya, who has been involved in the club for 18 years returned this year after not being involved last season.
He said he felt like he had no choice to return to ensure the club is back at the top of the ladder.
Kaya said coach Ersan Gulum has had an impact on the club’s performance and they were thrilled to have him back at the club.
“He’s a very good coach to start with,” he said. “He played at the highest level.
“I really personally like him, more than anything else, he is a Hume boy, born and bred.
“Him coming on board, he’s very energetic, that is a huge plus for Hume City.”
Kaya said they always expected it to take some time this season for the group to come together and play how they want to play.
He said they’re playing a really tactical brand of good football
“It’s all coming together now, a lot of new boys, new transfers, the young boys coming through and everything else,” he said.
“They had to blend and learn the Hume way of playing and that takes a bit of time. It’ all coming together and it reflects on the field.”
Kaya said they continue to be about youth development with the club having more young kids coming through the Hume system than anywhere else.
On Saturday night, Hume City lost to the Bentleigh Greens, 3-2.
Kaya said like always he was keen to try and have success this season.
“I’m a winner, I like to win everything, no matter what I do.
“That’s my aim and we try for that, we settle for second best if that is what it is, the aim is always the same.”
Hume is still alive in the Australia Cup and will face state league 4 west side Keilor Wolves in round five.
Kaya said he was hoping they would go deep in the competition again.
“I prefer that than the actual league,” he said.
“It’s a knockout competition, you play opponents who you have never played. It’s much more exciting, personally, than the actual league is.
“We’ve been pretty good in regards to the FFA Cup [Australia Cup] been there most of the time, unfortunately never had the luxury of winning it.”
