George Pakos
Encyclopedia
George "Teddy" Pakos is a former Canadian international
soccer player. His goals were crucial in Canada qualifying for its only FIFA World Cup finals
to date, in 1986
.
An amateur player with the Victoria Athletic Association men's soccer team for much of his playing days, the midfielder Pakos scored 5 times in 22 'A' internationals, all of which he earned from age 29 on. In 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification
as a 33-year-old who had been cut from the team after the first round of qualifying, Pakos was recalled and scored the lone goal in a vital away win at Honduras
. He also scored the first goal in a 2-1 home victory against Honduras that clinched Canada's birth in their only finals appearance.
Pakos played his first senior (adult age) soccer with the London Boxing Club (which later became the VAA) in 1975. The side won the Canadian national amateur club championship in 1976. He began work at the same time as a water-metre tecnnician for the city of Victoria
, a job he continued for over 25 years. The third son of Polish
immigrants, George's father Zenon played professionally in Poland before being displaced by the war
.
Spotted by coach Bob Bearpark while playing for the Vancouver Island Selects amateur team, Pakos made his team Canada debut at age 29. He also played for Bearpark in 2 Olympic qualifying matches in 1983 against Bermuda, scoring once in each game. He was however left off the team that reached the quarterfinals of the games
.
Pakos did play briefly professionally in the Western Soccer Alliance in 1985 with the Victoria Riptides
.
Pakos was head coach of V.A.A.'s Division 2 men's team of the Vancouver Island Soccer League in 2005-06.
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
soccer player. His goals were crucial in Canada qualifying for its only FIFA World Cup finals
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
to date, in 1986
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
.
An amateur player with the Victoria Athletic Association men's soccer team for much of his playing days, the midfielder Pakos scored 5 times in 22 'A' internationals, all of which he earned from age 29 on. In 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification
1986 FIFA World Cup qualification
A total of 121 teams entered the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 24 spots in the final tournament. Mexico, as the hosts, and Italy, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 22 spots open for competition...
as a 33-year-old who had been cut from the team after the first round of qualifying, Pakos was recalled and scored the lone goal in a vital away win at Honduras
Honduras national football team
The Honduran national football team, nicknamed Los Catrachos, La Bicolor or La H, is the national team of Honduras and is controlled by the Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol de Honduras...
. He also scored the first goal in a 2-1 home victory against Honduras that clinched Canada's birth in their only finals appearance.
Pakos played his first senior (adult age) soccer with the London Boxing Club (which later became the VAA) in 1975. The side won the Canadian national amateur club championship in 1976. He began work at the same time as a water-metre tecnnician for the city of Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, a job he continued for over 25 years. The third son of Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
immigrants, George's father Zenon played professionally in Poland before being displaced by the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Spotted by coach Bob Bearpark while playing for the Vancouver Island Selects amateur team, Pakos made his team Canada debut at age 29. He also played for Bearpark in 2 Olympic qualifying matches in 1983 against Bermuda, scoring once in each game. He was however left off the team that reached the quarterfinals of the games
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
.
Pakos did play briefly professionally in the Western Soccer Alliance in 1985 with the Victoria Riptides
Victoria Riptides
Victoria Riptides were a soccer team based out of Victoria, British Columbia. The team played a single season in the Western Alliance Challenge Series in 1985.-History:...
.
Pakos was head coach of V.A.A.'s Division 2 men's team of the Vancouver Island Soccer League in 2005-06.