Esala Masi


Esala Masi is a retired Fijian footballer, who played as a striker.

Club career

Masi began his football career at his hometown club Ba before he signed with National Soccer League club Gippsland Falcons in January 1996. The next year, Masi transferred to Wollongong Wolves and helped them win the 1999-2000 NSL title. He spent three seasons at Wollongong, gaining 77 appearances and 19 goals.
After the NSL was disbanded in 2004, he played for several teams in Australia's state league and Malaysia.
In 2006, Masi joined National Premier Leagues Victoria side Oakleigh Cannons FC. In the 2007 season, he finished as the top scorer of the league, scoring 15 goals.
In December 2008, Masi played against LA Galaxy in an exhibition match in New Zealand as part of an Oceania XI All-Star team.
In December 2015, Masi was appointed the coach of Mitchelton FC reserve team.

International career

Masi played international football for Fiji at Under-15, Under-20 and Under-23 levels. He made his full international debut on 7 June 1997 in a 1–0 loss against New Zealand in qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. However, his international career is not well documented. Therefore, his exact appearances and goals totals are unknown. According to an interview he gave to Queensland Soccer News, he appeared over 50 times for Fiji, and also won two Melanesia Cups.
He was also captain for Fiji during the 2003 South Pacific Games. In the gold-medal match against New Caledonia, he scored Fiji's second goal from a 35-metre free-kick in a 2-0 victory. Fiji won the gold medal with Masi finishing as the tournament's top scorer with eleven goals.

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetitionRef
1.15 June 1997National Stadium, Suva, Fiji
2–0
3–1
1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.25 September 1998Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia
1–3
1–3
1998 OFC Nations Cup
3.4 October 1998Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia
1–0
4–2
1998 OFC Nations Cup
4.4 October 1998Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia
3–0
4–2
1998 OFC Nations Cup
5.8 April 2000National Stadium, Suva, Fiji
3–0
5–0
2000 Melanesia Cup
6.11 April 2000National Stadium, Suva, Fiji
Unknown
4–1
2000 Melanesia Cup
7.11 April 2000National Stadium, Suva, Fiji
Unknown
4–1
2000 Melanesia Cup
8.9 February 2001Govind Park, Ba, Fiji
Unknown
1–2
Friendly
9.7 April 2001International Sports Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia
1–0
13–0
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
10.7 April 2001International Sports Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia
2–0
13–0
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
11.7 April 2001International Sports Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia
9–0
13–0
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
12.7 April 2001International Sports Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia
10–0
13–0
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
13.16 April 2001International Sports Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia
2–0
8–1
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
14.16 April 2001International Sports Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia
3–0
8–1
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
15.16 April 2001International Sports Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia
4–0
8–1
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
16.16 April 2001International Sports Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia
5–0
8–1
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
17.16 April 2001International Sports Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia
8–1
8–1
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
18.1 July 2003National Stadium, Suva, Fiji
1–0
4–0
2003 South Pacific Games
19.1 July 2003National Stadium, Suva, Fiji
2–0
4–0
2003 South Pacific Games
20.5 July 2003Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori, Fiji
2–0
12–0
2003 Pacific Games
21.5 July 2003Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori, Fiji
5–0
12–0
2003 Pacific Games
22.5 July 2003Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori, Fiji
6–0
12–0
2003 Pacific Games
23.5 July 2003Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori, Fiji
7–0
12–0
2003 Pacific Games
24.5 July 2003Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori, Fiji
8–0
12–0
2003 Pacific Games
25.5 July 2003Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori, Fiji
9–0
12–0
2003 Pacific Games
26.5 July 2003Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori, Fiji
10–0
12–0
2003 Pacific Games
27.7 July 2003Churchill Park, Lautoka, Fiji
2–0
2–1
2003 Pacific Games
28.11 July 2003National Stadium, Suva, Fiji
2–0
2–0
2003 Pacific Games
29.15 May 2004Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Complex, Apia, Samoa
8–0
11–0
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
30.17 May 2004Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Complex, Apia, Samoa
3–0
4–0
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
31.12 August 2005Churchill Park, Lautoka, Fiji
1–0
1–0
Friendly
32.14 August 2005National Stadium, Suva, Fiji
2–1
2–1
Friendly

Personal life

His uncle, the late Esala Masi Sr. was also a Fiji international football player in the 1960s; he died in 2010. His cousin, Manoa Masi has also played in Australia and the national team.

Honours

Club

;Wollongong Wolves
;Altona Magic
;Mitchelton FC
;Fiji