Senior Soca Warriors striker Levi Garcia says he is prioritizing his health as he hopes to play a pivotal role in Trinidad and Tobago’s World Cup qualifying campaign under new head coach Dwight Yorke.
In fact, Garcia, a standout forward for AEK Athens, stressed the importance of staying fit to maximize his contributions to the Soca Warriors in what will be a busy 2025 campaign starting with the Concacaf Gold Cup prelims tie against Cuba.
“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. There are always little knocks and stuff, but I am really healthy now and trying to keep it that way,” Garcia declared during an interview on I95.5FM’s Sports programme on Saturday.
The 27-year-old, who scored in AEK Athens’ 4-2 victory over Volos NPS in the Greek Super League on Sunday, also expressed his eagerness to work with Yorke, whom he believes can bring a transformative influence to the team.
“I had a chat with Dwight 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,” Garcia said.
With expectations high for Trinidad and Tobago’s bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted jointly in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, Garcia highlighted his commitment to improvement.
He pointed out that he has been laser focused on sharpening his technical skills and physical conditioning to ensure he delivers at the highest level.
“I have been doing a lot of extra finishing drills, a lot of fitness. 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,” Garcia explained.
While he acknowledged the pressure to perform, Garcia remains motivated by his passion for representing his country.
“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,” he noted.
That said, Garcia reflected on his positional preferences but admits that his role often depends on the team’s tactical needs.
“At the moment, playing striker at club football has given me the opportunity to [attract interest from] bigger clubs, and I have seen my stats have gone up dramatically. I really enjoy playing striker at club level,” Garcia shared.
“(For the country), 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,” he reasoned.
Finally, with AEK Athens on the hunt for the Greek Super League title, Garcia remains committed to his club while keeping an eye on the bigger picture with Trinidad and Tobago.
“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,” Garcia ended.
