Central Coast fended off interest from rival A-League clubs to re-sign promising striker Bernie Ibini for a further two seasons.
The 19-year-old has impressed for the competition leaders this season, contributing four goals and two assists in 17 matches.
Ibini broke into the Mariners’ first team late last season and said he always wanted to remain in Gosford under coach Graham Arnold.
“They’ve been my first professional club and they’ve been really good to me so far,” Ibini said.
“Hopefully I can continue to do well for the seasons that I’ve signed.
“He (Arnold) has already taught me a lot about my heading because he was a good header of the ball back in his day.
“He’s taught me a lot with my runs off the ball and stuff like that, so he’s been really good for me so far.”
Arnold said he was looking forward to overseeing Ibini’s development in the coming seasons.
“Bernie’s shown at the end of last season and this season the talent that he’s got but he’s just got to get stronger and got to spend more minutes on the field playing every week against grown men,” Arnold said.
“It’s a great experience for him with the Asian Champions League coming up and that’s going to develop him even more.”
Ibini’s re-signing follows that of left back Josh Rose and promising defender Trent Sainsbury.
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