Masi Splits From United
Newcastle Herald
Wednesday February 18, 2004
NEWCASTLE United are expected to announce today that they have parted ways with Fijian striker Esala Masi.
Masi attended the club's Glendale training base yesterday but left before the session started.
The Herald understands that the 30-year-old is at loggerheads with the club over issues which date back some time.
Masi would not comment on the situation yesterday other than to say that he had ``left the club".
The Professional Footballers Association confirmed that it had been acting on behalf of Masi over an issue with United but would not go into detail.
``Our discussions with the club have been quite positive and we are hopeful that a resolution can be found that is in the interest of the player and the club," PFA chief executive Rob Anderson said last night.
Masi is in Australia on a work visa.
He has missed the past two games due to a hamstring injury but was expected to be fit for Friday night's clash against the Melbourne Knights.
It is an unfortunate end to what has been a year of milestones for the Fijian captain.
Masi was the only Oceania-based player to receive a vote in the FIFA World Player of the Year award, which was won by France's Zinedine Zidane.
The robust striker then finished sixth and earned the most votes of any NSL player in the Oceania equivalent which was announced last week.
Masi joined United for their inaugural season and with 96 games is the most capped player for the infant club.
In four seasons he has scored 21 goals three this season and earned a reputation as an ironman of the league.
Before his hamstring injury, Masi had missed just three games all through suspension in the past two seasons.
He won a championship with Wollongong before joining United and is widely regarded for his aerial strength.
Masi is the third high-profile player to leave United in acrimonious circumstances during the past year.
The PFA acted on behalf of Joey Schirripa and Travis Dodd over unpaid entitlements.
Schirripa is now at Sydney Olympic and Dodd is at Parramatta Power.
More soccer, Pages 80-81
© 2004 Newcastle Herald