Two Filipino footballers get to showcase their skills before foreign leagues after they inked deals with international clubs this season.
Filipinas midfielder Jaclyn Sawicki re-signed with Australian club Western United, while midfielder Gavin Muens joins 1. FC Schweinfurt 1905 in the Regionalliga Bayern in Germany, the country’s fourth division.
Sawicki, who played for the Filipinas in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup last July, said she is happy to do another stint with Western United after making it as far as the final of the A-League Women last April.
Western United absorbed a 0-4 defeat at the hands of Sydney FC to settle for a silver medal in the 2022-2023 season.
“I am extremely excited and grateful to be part of another season with Western United. Given the results from our first season, we are naturally going to set high expectations for ourselves going into Season 2 and I think the girls are going to come in determined to push for even more,” Sawicki said in the club’s website.
“It looks like we have added some great additions to our side so I am really looking forward to seeing what we can do as a collective for this club this year.”
Sawicki will again work with Western United head coach Mark Torcaso, who is also the current Filipinas head coach.
Over in Germany, Muens joined Schweinfurt last 27 August on a free transfer from the Azkals Development Team.
The 18-year-old Filipino-American midfielder joins SpVgg Gruther Fürth II midfielder Sandro Reyes in Germany for the season as the former ADT players now show their wares overseas.
The Die Schnüdel currently is in fifth place in the table with a 4-2-2 win-draw-loss record and Muens is ready to help the club in any way he can.
With Muens’ stint only lasting for one season, he will return to University of Washington to play for the Huskies in 2024.
“To play in a league filled with some of the best senior teams and Bundesliga academy’s in Germany is a true blessing. Thank you to everyone who made this possible and for believing in me,” Muens said in a social media post.
“My eligibility for UW will continue to be open. Can’t wait to fight for the club and fans.”
