Sunshine Coast FC has bolstered its ranks with the signing of midfielder Gabriel Durand and defender Doug Brown to the squad two weeks ahead of the NPL Queensland 2018 season.
The pair have both played under Sunshine Coast FC Head Coach Ali Demircan before with Moreton Bay United FC.
Both cited Demircan’s influence as a major factor in signing with Fire, turning down offers from other clubs in favour of the coaching style of Demircan and culture of the club.
“Ali had a huge influence on me as he had been my former coach at Moreton Bay United, we had very successful seasons together and I really like his philosophy on football. Also, the club has excellent vibes, and I’ve been learning so much already under Alex and Ali,” Durand said.
Durand and Brown bring with them an intensity and focus to win that Assistant Coach Alex Smith believes will impress fans.
“People should be aware of Gabriel’s aggressive play style that you need at this level of football. He isn’t afraid to get in there and take control of the game and Doug has a strong drive to win and brings a very team-focused attitude to the game,” he said.
Both are striving for the success of the club and Brown is hoping that a possible top four finish is in the cards.
“Every game against NPL opposition will be a great challenge to work in with the team plan and achieve the team goal, to get a result,” Brown said.
Durand believes 2018 is going to be a very close league with no easy games.
