George Slefendorfas

{{short description|Papua New Guinean association footballer (born 1983)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = George Slefendorfas

| image =

| fullname = George Slefendorfas

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|1|7|df=y}}

| birth_place = Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

| height = {{height|m=1.83}}

| position = Striker

| currentclub = Werribee City FC

| clubnumber = 9

| youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Marlin Coast Rangers

| youthyears2 = |youthclubs2 = Edge Hill FC

| youthyears3 = |youthclubs3 = Stratford

| years1 = 2007 |clubs1 = Marlin Coast Rangers |caps1 = ? |goals1 = 3

| years2 = 2008–2009 |clubs2 = Dalkurd FF |caps2 = ? |goals2 = ?

| years3 = 2010 |clubs3 = Heidelberg United |caps3 = 13 |goals3 = 4

| years4 = 2011 |clubs4 = Sunshine George Cross |caps4 = 3 |goals4 = 5

| years5 = 2011–2012 |clubs5 = Canterbury United | caps5 = 13 |goals5 = 13

| years6 = 2012 |clubs6 = Waitakere United | caps6 = 2 |goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2013 |clubs7 = WaiBOP United | caps7 = 2 |goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2014–2015 |clubs8 = Bendigo FC | caps8 = 38 |goals8 = 17

| years9 = 2016 |clubs9 = Whittlesea Ranges | caps9 = 26 |goals9 = 14

| years10 = 2017–2018 |clubs10= Werribee City FC | caps10= |goals10=

| years11 = 2019– |clubs11= Whittlesea Ranges | caps11= |goals11=

| nationalyears1 = 2014–

| nationalteam1 = Papua New Guinea

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| pcupdate = 29 November 2013

| ntupdate = 15 September 2015

}}

George Slefendorfas (born 7 January 1983) is a Papua New Guinean association footballer, who currently plays for Whittlesea Ranges FC in the National Premier Leagues Victoria 2. Besides Australia, he has played in Sweden and New Zealand.[https://werribeecityfc.teamapp.com/articles/1608562-big-george-has-bees-buzzing-again?_detail=v1 Big George has Bees buzzing again] werribeecityfc.teamapp.com He is of Lithuanian and Papua New Guinean heritage.{{cite web|url=http://asbpremiership.co.nz/index.php?id=28&tx_ttnews%5=1211&tx_ttnews%5=30&cHash=07f1b1861a|title=George Slefendorfas – Dragons own 'Saint' George|date=1 November 2011|publisher=ASB Premiership|accessdate=7 November 2011}} He played for Papua New Guinea.{{Cite web|url=https://emtv.com.pg/slefendorfas-hopeful-for-a-place-in-national-team/|title=Slefendorfas Hopeful for a Place in National Team|publisher=emtv.com.pg}}{{Cite web|url=https://wyndham.starweekly.com.au/sport/slefendorfas-werribee-city-buzzing/|title=Slefendorfas has Werribee City buzzing again|publisher=starweekly.com.au}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/slefendorfas-eyes-return-kapuls/|title=Slefendorfas eyes return to Kapuls|publisher=thenational.com.pg}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/6370108/Big-man-burns-up-Hawkes-Bay-United|title=George Slefendoras – Stuff.co.nz article}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cornerflag.com.au/slefendorfas-joins-soncin-ambitious-geelong-sc/|title=George Slefendorfas – The Corner Flag article}}

Career

Born in Papua New Guinea, Slefendorfas' family moved to Australia when he 8 years old, settling in the far North Queensland city of Cairns, Queensland.{{cite web|url=http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2008/10/10/9661_local-sport-news.html|title=Hat-trick hero called up|last=Ross|first=Craig|date=10 October 2008|work=The Cairns Post|accessdate=7 November 2011}} After playing for a few different clubs around Cairns, he moved to Sweden to play for then Swedish Division Three club Dalkurd FF. Before heading to Sweden, Slefendorfas helped the Rangers to an emphatic 8–0 victory over the Mareeba Bulls in the 2008 FNQ Division One Grand Final, scoring a hat trick.

Returning to Australia, Slefendorfas signed with Victorian Premier League club Heidelberg United in 2010, before moving on to the Victorian State League Division 1 club Sunshine George Cross FC in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.socceraust.co.uk/2011/VIC/Div1/player00228.html|title=Slefendorfas SLD1 stats|accessdate=7 November 2011}}

After making some inquiries with Papua New Guinean legend Reggie Davani who he played alongside at Sunshine George Cross, Slefendorfas got in touch with Canterbury United coach Keith Braithwaite who signed him for the 2011–12 ASB Premiership season.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/5701373/Imports-boost-Canty-Uniteds-title-chances|title=Imports boost Canty United's title chances |last=Smith|first=Tony|date=29 September 2011|publisher=Stuff|location=New Zealand|accessdate=7 November 2011}}

Slefendorfas made an excellent debut for Canterbury United against 2010–11 season wooden spooners YoungHeart Manawatu, scoring a brace in their 4–0 victory on the opening weekend of the season.{{cite web|url=http://asbpremiership.co.nz/index.php?id=1527|title=Red and blacks red-hot in Palmy|last=Wescombe|first=Kevin|date=23 October 2011|publisher=ASB Premiership|accessdate=7 November 2011}} Round 2 would provide more goals and excitement from him, as Canterbury United put Waikato FC to the sword 5–0, with Slefendorfas scoring 4 goals, to take his tally to 6 after only two games.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/5918080/Dragons-Slefendorfas-slays-Waikato-rivals|title=Dragons' Slefendorfas slays Waikato rivals |last=Smith|first=Tony|date=7 November 2011|publisher=Stuff|location=New Zealand|accessdate=7 November 2011}}