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Trinidad and Tobago National Under-20 Team coach Brian Williams has revealed that 18 year old Eredivisie starlet, Levi Garcia, is interested in joining the junior national outfit for the Caribbean stage of their Korea Republic 2017 Under-20 World Cup campaign against Cuba, St Lucia and Haiti in Curaçao this October.
The top two teams will advance to the Under-20 Caribbean Cup semifinals as well as automatically advance to next February’s CONCACAF qualifying round in Costa Rica.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA-images/Wired868)
Garcia, who debuted on the senior Soca Warriors team with a decisive double away to St Vincent and the Grenadines in Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying action in March, has apparently expressed a desire to sprinkle some stardust on the teenaged squad as well.
Garcia, whose cousin, Isaiah Garcia, was an unused substitute in the team’s opening qualifying round, is the only top flight overseas professional on the squad. However, captain and midfielder Jabari Mitchell is on trial at Portuguese club, Boavista, at present while left back Keston Julien is auditioning in the Netherlands.
Williams hopes to have them all in his squad when they open their next qualifying round against Cuba on 22 October 2016 in Curaçao.
“Jabari Mitchell is off on a two-week trial with Boavista and the North American players are back with their teams,” Williams told the TTFA Media, “but we expect them to rejoin us as we get closer to the first game and (England-based midfielder) Morgan Bruce will also be back with us.
“Keston Julien is also expected to rejoin us from his trial in Holland while Levi Garcia has expressed interest in joining the team during the qualifiers but we will have to figure out how we will fit him in depending on the schedules.”
The two teams played to a 1-1 draw.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
Garcia and Mitchell were both members of the previous National Under-20 squad, which won the Caribbean title but failed to get past the group stage in the CONCACAF round.
However, Garcia’s employers, AZ Alkmaar, will be under no obligation to release the winger for national youth team matches and will have to weigh up his hectic schedule.
Garcia is expected to represent the senior Trinidad and Tobago squad in friendly action in late August before playing 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala and the United States in early September.
Senior head coach Stephen Hart may want Garcia’s services for early October too when the Warriors face the Dominican Republic and Martinique on 3 and 9 October respectively in Caribbean Cup qualifiers.
Feasibly, Garcia could find himself in a three-way tug of war with the senior and junior Trinidad and Tobago teams and AZ all vying for his attention. But the Under-20 team, which cannot force professional clubs to release players, will have to rely on the indulgence of the other two parties.
Trinidad and Tobago won 6-0.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/CA Images/Wired868)
Midfielder Khaleem Hyland missed Trinidad and Tobago’s entire FIFA 2009 Under-20 World Cup qualifying campaign, since his then employer, Zulte Waregem (Belgium), refused to release him to play with the junior national team. However, Hyland was allowed to represent his country after his teammates successfully booked a spot at the Egypt 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
Williams resumed training with his under-20 squad on Wednesday at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
“It’s an interesting group,” said Williams. “We are not in the group with the hosts but you can see that there are three good teams in our group. Cuba has historically been good at this level, Haiti always come good and, of course, we know St Lucia are no push overs,” Williams told TTFA Media.
“We’ll take each game on its own merit with obviously our first goal being to come out of the group and get into the semi-finals.”
Williams, who is also a W Connection youth team coach, said he will speak to Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams and technical director Muhammad Isa soon about his plans for the next round.
The two teams played to a 1-1 draw.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
“We have had some good discussions already with the president who is very keen to see the team get a good build up before the next phase,” said Williams, “and I will be sitting with him and the technical director and other officials shortly to finalize plans and discuss our programme for the team going forward. And to also share some of my intentions for the team ahead of the Curaçao leg.
“I am quite satisfied so far with the way things are looking and I am happy to hear that the TTFA will be trying their best to give the team the best preparation possible.”
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I wanted Levi to play but purely for selfish reasons as I believe he will greatly improve our chances of qualifying for Korea. Do I think it would/should happen, no. It is not a step up for is career, the risks are high with very little return for him.
Though, I selfishly want Levi to its not a good idea for him, his club nor his country.
I think he should stick with national senior team..we have a lot of football this year to play especially when we make it to last round of 6..we also have gold cup qualifying
He is 18 More football he plays is better for him
Just the opposite..he’s already playing for a good club and developing there..National senior demands alot as well and there are important games to play..In the end it will be up to him and his special advisors.
agree with andrew, he shouldn’t try to overwork himself . his will to represent TnT is appreciated however , but senior team is enough
Great with he n Jabari hmmm trinidad going U20 world cup
Hoping team can qualify with a few reinforcements and then bring Levi in for WC..
Exactly. Or maybe if the CONCACAF leg falls in a good period, then sure.
Not to mention risking injury and then not being able to play at all. This sounds like overkill. He is young and needs to be properly guided. He is not a machine so good sense should prevail. I am sure his coaches will advise him accordingly.
Young Levi needs to reconsider this…. he already has commitment with the senior Team, and his sealing a starting position with AZ. It is admirable what he wants, but he needs to be realistic, firstly, I cannot see his employer allowing this, U20s do not play on any FIFA dates. All that travel back and forth, will only affect his performance for AZ…. To those that are advising Levi Garcia, consider his long term future, do not think in the short term. This young man will represent the Warriors for many years, but we need to let him further develop his game in Europe, and to earn his living.
Levi Garcia always humble. Another player might have said Im on the senior team so Im not going back down
#HardWorkandDedication Levi Garcia ? ⚽ ? ✊
I think it is too much flying and games. He played his first top flight senior game just in January. Let’s save his legs…
He is also Very Young and will be Very Valuable to the U-20 Team ⚽?
Of course. But how many games can he play? We have to consider his long term health too.
45mins per Game let him Start so he can set the Pace and bring Leadership/Experience on the Field ⚽
He will travel from Netherlands to Trinidad and back in August (apart from his pre-season travels). He will travel from Netherlands to Trinidad to Florida to Netherlands in September.
He might travel from the Netherlands to whereever the next senior Caribbean qualifying rounds is in early October.
Personally, if he plays in the Caribbean qualifying rounds, I wouldn’t want him to come back for the U-20 games even if he was playing five minutes per game.
But that’s just my opinion.
When does his Season End?
It starts in August and would probably finish next May.
Damn ?
Forgot about the Jetlag ✈?
He should choose one team an play there alone.
We need him for the senior team. But we can’t put too much on his shoulders too early. And that is a lot of travelling already.
If he commands a starting job at AZ from the get go this season, dont know if AZ will let him come for u20… a lot of football with a lot of travel….
There was a similar situation with Khaleem Hyland years back:
“Midfielder Khaleem Hyland missed Trinidad and Tobago’s entire FIFA 2009 Under-20 World Cup qualifying campaign, since his then employer, Zulte Waregem (Belgium), refused to release him to play with the junior national team. However, Hyland was allowed to represent his country after his teammates successfully booked a spot at the Egypt 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup.”
Personally, I think it is too much travelling. If the U-20s get to the CONCACAF stage, maybe he can try to help them then. But I don’t see benefit to the player otherwise to play with the U20s.
none at all… especially since he had impact at senior level… we need him more for WC qualification than for any u20 tourney..unless said tourney is the big dance (u20 WC)
I agree with Lasana Liburd