TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO’S international star Levi Garcia said he is excited and looking forward to playing under senior men’s football team head coach Dwight Yorke, as the national outfit sets it sights on the road to qualification for the 2026 World Cup, to be held in USA, Mexico and Canada.
Speaking to Andre Baptiste on the I95.5FM Sports programme Saturday evening, Garcia said: “I have had a chat with Dwight (Yorke) earlier on, when he was appointed as the head coach. I think people underestimate how big Dwight is and the influence that he will bring to the team and surrounding the team. So I am really excited to work with him and I am hoping he can get the best out of the team.”
Yesterday, the AEK Athens forward scored the second goal in his team’s 4-2 win over Volos NPS in the Greek Super League. AEK Athens currently sit second, positioning themselves for a crack at the domestic title this 2024-25 season.
While often prone to injury throughout his career, Garcia is hoping to stay off the “sidelined” list for 2025.
“As I said before, it is to just work on being healthy for as long as possible so that when I am with the national team, I could give that 120% and do what I know best and give them what I can,” he stated,
“There is always little knocks and stuff, but I am really healthy now and trying to keep it that way,” the 27-year-old noted.
The speedy player said that he has been working on the technical and general conditioning to be at his optimum playing level.
“I have been doing a lot of extra finishing drills, a lot of fitness, you know; I have spoken to top quality players who have played at the highest level...So I am doing both on and off the pitch stuff to get into the right position and try my best to finish right,” he further explained.
Garcia admitted there is always “pressure” to produce results and score goals at all levels of football. “Even at club level, because a lot of expectations are on you when you set your standards high,” he reasoned.
“My main focus is to be healthy. I know once I am healthy, I will be able to deliver for the country. I really don’t think—and I don’t want to say there is nobody else—but I am one of the players that really wants to deliver for the country, so we could help the youth and open back doors for our young footballers.”
Asked if he had a preference about positions on the football field, Garcia said: “At the moment, it is all about the team that surrounds you. At the moment, playing striker at club football has given me the opportunity to bigger clubs looking into me and I have seen my stats have gone up dramatically. I really enjoy playing striker at club level.”
He pointed out that his role, whether he played on the wing or as a centre forward, depended largely on the tactical view of the coach. “It is all about who is behind me. And playing on the wing with the national team, I think I have gotten more out of myself than (as a) striker,” Garcia assessed.
Asked if he had any plans to move to another team. “I am an AEK Athens (player) and it will stay so until a club agrees with my future, but we are fighting for the title and that is the number one goal for the moment,” he concluded.
SOURCE: T&T Express