Zachary Sukunda is the latest young gun signing for Hume City.
With a focus on youth, the National Premier League side is targeting players in the 21 to 26 age range.
Sukanda comes to Hume from a stint with in Sweden with Umea FC, where he played in 15 games.
Hume coach Nick Hegarty said the full-back was someone they had been looking at for a while.
“We were hopeful from the start we could get him and he’s out here now,” he said.
“He’s a Canadian who was playing in Sweden, and before that he played in the American league against some big names.”
Sukunda joins a number of signings City has announced in the off-season.
Among the other signings are Jackson Morgan, who comes across from Western Australia, former young Socceroo Benjamin Lyvidikos, Andrew Pawiak, who has been playing in the Philippines, Gideon Sweet and Micthell Tajceski.
After being a contender in recent years, City decided late last year that under Hegarty it would take more a youth approach and hope the development in the playing group would reap results.
“We targeted players between 21 and 26,” he said. “We’re happy with who we’ve got. We’ve recruited a bit of everything.
“These guys are no longer in the boy stage of football. They need opportunities to play games of senior football and get that experience.
“They want a chance to push themselves. Most of the players come with a decent record.”
Hume will kick off its season on February 26 against Kingston City.
Hegarty said the side had been enjoying a strong pre-season.
“We’ve looked good so far,” he said. “We’ve had four practice matches before Christmas and we’re going pretty well.
“We started back last week and are starting to kick on. We’ll have another six or seven games before the start of the season.”
