Pasi Schwalger Explained

Pasi Schwalger
Fullname:Pasi Abraham Schwalger
Birth Date:16 October 1982
Birth Place:Mulinu'u, Samoa
Height:1.90 m
Position:Goalkeeper
Years1:2000–2004
Clubs1:Preston Lions
Caps1:58
Goals1:0
Years2:2005–2006
Clubs2:Green Gully Cavaliers
Caps2:48
Goals2:0
Years3:2007
Clubs3:Heidelberg United
Caps3:17
Goals3:0
Years4:2008
Clubs4:Fawkner Blues
Caps4:19
Goals4:0
Years5:2009
Clubs5:Werribee City FC
Caps5:7
Goals5:0
Years6:2010
Clubs6:Heidelberg United
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Nationalyears1:2007
Nationalteam1:Samoa
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0

Pasi Schwalger (born 16 October 1982) is a Samoan Australian former football and Australian rules football player. has represented Samoa internationally in soccer.

Career

Schwalger was born in Mulinu'u,[1] but played in Australia for most of his career. He initially played as a goalkeeper for the Preston Lions.[2] In 2004 he traveled to England for trials with Southend United,[3] but was not selected after Southend hired a pair of goalkeepers.[4] He left the Preston Lions in the following off-season,[5] moving to the Green Gully Cavaliers.[6]

In May 2004 he was selected for the Samoa national team for the 2004 OFC Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers.[7] [8] In 2007 he was selected for the team for the 2007 South Pacific Games in Apia.[9] He was part of Samoa's 7–0 victory over American Samoa.[10]

In 2008 he played with the Fawkner Blues.[9] In 2009 he played for Werribee City FC, but traveled to Greece in April for a trial with an unnamed first-division club.[11] In November 2009 he announced he was switching codes to Australian rules football, saying that he had had enough of soccer and "[did]n't have the drive and motivation to do it any more".[12] After an initial approach by Bacchus Marsh Football Club coach David Callendar,[13] he subsequently began training with suburban Melbourne club Heidelberg Football Club. On 20 March 2010, Schwalger suffered an ACL injury sidelining him for the year. He moved to Bacchus Marsh in 2011.[14] In 2014, he played in an Essendon District Football League (EDFL) Premiership with Division 1 club, West Coburg.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: P. Schwalger . Soccerway . 17 July 2022.
  2. Web site: Markovski's Lions cap their golden run . The Age . 26 August 2002 . 17 July 2022.
  3. Web site: Islanders Abroad: Samoan keeper off to England . Oceania Football Confederation . 1 July 2004 . 17 July 2022.
  4. Web site: Islands Abroad: Masi’s goal scoring form continues . Oceania Football Confederation . 15 July 2004 . 17 July 2022.
  5. Web site: South Melbourne v Preston – Match Preview . SMFC . 14 April 2005 . 17 July 2022.
  6. News: Souths, Knights warm to the task at state level . Melbourne Herald-Sun . 57 . 21 February 2005 . Peter Desira . EBSCOHost.
  7. Web site: Samoa names squad for NZ tour and qualifiers . Oceania Football Confederation . 2 April 2004 . 17 July 2022.
  8. News: SAMOA BANKS ON SCHWALGER . Melbourne Herald Sun . 71 . 14 January 2004 . Peter Desira . EBSCOHost.
  9. Web site: SCHWALGER INSPIRES FAWKNER BLUES FIGHTBACK . Oceania Football Confederation . 29 June 2008 . 17 July 2022.
  10. Web site: Samoa keeps the Party Going . GameDay . 29 August 2007 . 17 July 2022.
  11. News: Greek bid for Pasi . Wyndham Weekly . 24 March 2009 . Lance Jenkinson . Gale OneFile.
  12. News: Code jumper 'lost the drive' . Melton Weekly . 23 November 2009 . Lance Jenkinson . Gale OneFile.
  13. News: Recruit's a keeper Bacchus Marsh targets former Samoan international soccer star . Melton Moorabool Leader . 1-MT . 17 November 2009 . Paddy Higgs . EBSCOHost.
  14. News: Former Falcon, keeper now Cobras . Canberra Times . 38 . 11 January 2011 . Gavin McGrath . EBSCOHost.