Melbourne Heart FC has maintained its commitment to promoting local talent after signing Victorian Premier League Under 21 Player of the Year Adrian Zahra to a short-term contract.
A product of the Melbourne Knights, Zahra has signed for Heart on a four-week deal as a replacement player after impressing during his extended trial stint at the Club.
Capable of playing in midfield or defence, Head Coach John van ‘t Schip said Zahra is a valuable addition to Heart’s playing roster.
“Adrian has trained with the Club for a while now, and throughout this time, has shown great commitment and football ability,” he said.
“As a Club dedicated to developing youth, it is important that we provide opportunities for young Victorian players to make an impact and take the next step to the Hyundai A-League.
Having recently turned 20, Zahra joins fellow 2010 Victorian Premier League graduates Nick Kalmar, Kliment Taseski and Aziz Behich on Heart’s roster, highlighting the depth of talent in the State’s top flight division.

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Last Saturday evening the Melbourne Knights held its 2010 player presentation night for the seniors, youth team and women's senior sides.
Over 200 people attended the club's first Presentation night in four years which was held in the Melbourne Croatia Social Club.
The truly international nature of 2010's senior side was evident as a number of key players were unable to attend as they had returned home.
Bill Fleming Medal winner Kevin Townson is back home in his native England, key midfielder Josip Magdic is with family in Perth while Jean-Charles Dubois has signed for Swiss Third Division side Le Mont joining former Knights team mate Damien Gleize.
Club legend Danny Tiatto was unable to attend due to family committments.
Highlights of the evening included the naming of the Melbourne Knights 2010 Best and Fairest award which was taken out by prize signing from NK Spansko in Croatia, Tom Skara.
The New York born defender played 21 games for the Knights in 2010, missing...

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Although the Melbourne Knights FC did not have the best of years on the pitch as a unit, the Football Federation Victoria Gold Medal Night indicated otherwise with the Knights in the thick of the action for the most coveted  individual awards.
First it was the Knights' memorable away win against Bentleigh which won Anita Milas, a freelance photographer, the Les Shorrock Best Football Image after she took an emotion charged photo of the Knights team moments after Tomislav Skara opened the scoring in the crucial relegation battle.
The men's top awards were shared by Victorian soccer powerhouses the Melbourne Knights and South Melbourne, sharing the U21 Player of the Year award, Bill Fleming Medal, Goalkeeper of the Year award and the much coveted VPL Gold Medal.
Knights import and former England U19 international Kevin Townson took out the Bill Fleming Victorian Media Player of the Year award, joining Essendon Croatia star Tommy Cumming as the second Knights player to have won the prestigious accolade.
Up and coming Knights winger Adrian Zahra was stunned to have won the Victorian Premier League U21 Player of the Year (similar to the old Sam Papasavas Medal from the NSL) to the delight of the Knights which as a club have always prides themselves on blooding young talent through the production line.

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Danny Tiatto announced his retirement from senior football recently after a long and illustrious 18 year career at both club and international level.
The 37-year-old decided to hang up the boots after the Melbourne Knight’s 4-2 victory over Northcote City in Round 21, opting to sit the last round out, knowing that the Knight’s had avoided relegation.
His final performance was one to remember, keeping the League’s leading scorer, Trent Rixon, extremely quiet, before being substituted for Tomislav Ples in the 76th minute.
Danny was pleased with his final performance for the Knights.
“I was happy, it’s always good to end something on a high, especially winning, and keeping the boys up”.
“To finish it off like that, at the club that gave me the first opportunity to move forward in my footballing career was great. It was great to give something back,” he said.
He started his career started way back in 1992, with the Bulleen Lions in the Victorian Premier League, where he made 36 appearances over two seasons. The midfielder then moved onto the NSL, playing in the 1994/95 and 1995/96 Melbourne Knights NSL championship teams.

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