Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
Sports => Football => Topic started by: Tallman on May 04, 2019, 10:54:32 PM
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WATCH: Akeem "Froggy" Garcia scores the first goal in Halifax Wanderers history as they defeat Forge FC 2-1 in their first home game in the Canadian Premier League.
https://www.youtube.com/v/DGYsHPtqqlQ?start=25
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For me, the beauty in Garcia's goal is where he started from and his movement and persistence in getting to the ball and taking the strike without being distracted. It's a tremendous effort. He's showing confidence.
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WATCH: Akeem Garcia nets his third goal of the season in HFX Wanderers FC's 2-0 win over Valour FC. He also earned a penalty during the game.
https://www.youtube.com/v/KUUtnmaH_Wg?start=69
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WATCH: Akeem Garcia's persistence brings him his fourth goal of the season as HFX Wanderers defeat York9 FC 1-0.
https://www.youtube.com/v/Gy-pPvpH1y4?start=45
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Looks like Hart is off to a good start with this group. Keep bussing de net Garcia!
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Looks like Hart is off to a good start with this group. Keep bussing de net Garcia!
wow d last time I see aggression like dat from ah attacker, it was ball pest, every time I tink about he I does be vex and sad about what happen
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WATCH: Akeem Garcia with the left-footer in the far corner to score the opening goal in Halifax Wanderer's 2-2 draw with Forge FC.
https://www.youtube.com/v/pUn6MvQiflo?start=158
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WATCH: The Trini Connection. Elton John to Akeem Garcia. BOOM, GOAL!. Nuff said.
https://www.youtube.com/v/1ZLJ092t_yE?start=155
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Akeem Garcia: The boy from Arima
By Gary Griffiths (fromaways.com)
Its a cold spring afternoon in Halifax but the air is electric.
As the scoreboard ticks over into the 28th minute a deflected pass finds its way into the feet of Kodai Iida, close to the opposition box. Two defenders grapple with him before he can play a pass. After wriggling free from the first challenge, he's hauled down by the second and the referee doesn't hesitate. Free-kick Wanderers, 20-yards out. From The Kitchen there is a roar. There is always a roar.
Players take up their positions in the box; a five man wall blocks the goal but Wanderers, taking advantage of a recent rule change, create their own wall just ahead of them. After a moment’s pause, Iida begins his run up.
On the goal line, the opposition ‘keeper crouches, searching for a good view of the kick. On the edge of the 18-yard-box, the wall tenses itself and begins to jump.
And to the left of them, barely registering as a threat, Akeem Garcia suddenly comes to life.
In a flash he’s off, full of purpose, sensing something that no-one else does. He spins his marker and darts towards the penalty spot before the ball is even kicked.
It's May 4, 2019, and HFX Wanderers are searching for their first ever goal.
Nestled at the foothills of Trinidad’s hilly Northern Range, 30 kilometers from the capital Port of Spain, sits the city of Arima. For more than a century it's been the most easterly settlement in Trinidad, serving as the only pathway to the eastern seaboard. For the leading scorer of HFX Wanderers FC, this city is home.
“I'm from an area (of Arima) called Calvary. It's a small town” reflects Akeem Garcia from the dugout of the Wanderers Grounds. “A good town.”
Growing up, he took to football quickly and joined local side Arima Ball Masters at the age of 6. His father, he acknowledges, was a big influence during those early years. “He never missed a game… him or my mum, really. I’m grateful”.
With their support Garcia quickly established himself as one of the top prospects in his area and started moving through the age groups, scoring for fun in the process.
“At youth level I always scored a lot of goals. I was playing for the U15s at 12 years of age, and when I was 15 I played for the U17s and U18s. On a Sunday I’d play for the U15 side at 2pm, then again for the U17 side at 4pm” he says, laughing at the memory. “All in one day.”
He was still at school in St Augustine when the realization hit that the game he got so much joy from was exactly the thing he wanted to spend his life doing. It was an epiphany he hasn’t forgotten.
“I remember it clearly” he says, smiling.
He was 14 years old at the time but had developed enough of a buzz that Shawn Cooper, the Trinidad & Tobago U17 national coach, contacted him about coming along for the tryouts. “I didn’t play much because I was 14. Maybe, like, one game. But the coach told me I was there for the experience”.
It was an experience that crystallized what he wanted to do with his life. “I just remember saying to myself afterwards ‘Okay, I want to be a professional footballer', and that was that”
Three years later he had his wish, signing for San Juan Jabloteh FC in the top-tier of Trinidadian football. A move to W Connection FC soon followed and it was here he played some of his best football. Naturally, this led to attention from the national team and before long regular call-ups to the Trinidad & Tobago U17 and then U20 national sides.
“A top national team prospect” is how well-respected Trinidadian sports journalist Lasana Liburd described him. Everything was going to plan, but then...
“It was at the (T&T) U23 tryouts” Garcia says, sighing. “I knew I was going to make the team but I wanted to train, I really wanted to… but I regret training that day.”
The day in question was wet. Heavy rain had fallen in the morning and the pitch was slick and slippery. Garcia was wearing screw-in studs.
“I stuck my foot in the ground and tried to turn” he remembers. “My whole body went one way but the studs stayed stuck in the ground”
Pop.
“I actually didn’t know at first, but when I got home I saw the swelling…”
At first he tried to ice it, but that didn’t help.
“So I went for an MRI” he says, blowing out his cheeks. It was a torn ACL.
The free-kick is struck hard and low but fails to beat the wall. As the ball cannons off a players' leg and hits the ground the Forge defenders recalibrate their surroundings, eyes frantically tracking flashes of navy blue.
The balls' flight is short and looks set to land somewhere around the penalty spot. Orange shirts turn left and right in panic. Most Wanderers players stand still, watching. One doesn’t.
After spinning his marker Akeem Garcia has continued his run. Only Forge ‘keeper Tristan Henry can see what’s coming next and desperately charges from his line. Both players have an equal distance to travel to get to the ball, but one has two extra limbs with which to reach it.
As Henry throws his body downwards, Garcia stretches out a leg.
The ball connects.
The journey back was a long one. After four months deliberating over the best course of action, Garcia and his family decided on surgery. From there, he spent another eight months on the sidelines. It was a heavy burden for someone so focused on his career. Garcia exhales at the memory. There were doubts. Of course there were doubts.
“At first it changed my style. I would just focus on just getting the ball into the back of the net and protecting myself. You just don't want to get injured again, you know?”
The injury also had an effect on his search for a new club, with agents and coaches wary of taking a chance on him after suffering such a serious injury.
Luckily, there was someone close by who could see a light at the end of the tunnel.
“For me, the most influential person in my career is Coach King (HFX Wanderers Assistant Coach Derek King). I came out of knee surgery and he did so much to help me to come back. I can’t thank him enough”
As Garcia approached full fitness it was King, then head-coach of Trinidadian club side North East Stars, who decided to take a gamble. Empathy, perhaps, played a part. After all, his own career was cut short at 27 due to a similar injury. Whatever the reason, since that moment the two’s careers have been inseparable.
“He has a genuine heart. He’s kind” Garcia says of his mentor. “Every team he goes to, I just go”
After a Pro League winning season with North East Stars, which included 11 goals for Garcia, the pair moved on to Santa Rosa FC. It was here last year that they won the league alongside fellow Wanderer Andre Rampersad – a player Garcia speaks highly of.
“When coach said Andre was coming (to Santa Rosa) that made me want to join them. He was the most outstanding player last year, really. I played all over – on the wing, in midfield, in attack, but Andre was the most outstanding.”
Playing abroad had long been an ambition of Garcia’s and towards the end of the year he started to hear whispers of the Canadian Premier League.
Like many Trinidadians he had a passing curiosity towards it due to the presence of former national team coach Stephen Hart. He had met Hart during his time with the Trinidad & Tobago U20 team. It was also the Wanderers boss who gave him his first call-up to the Trinidad senior team at 18. Despite this, Garcia didn’t anticipate any interest.
After returning from a two-week trial with Mexican side Celeya FC, a phone call changed all that.
“After hearing about it I said ‘you know what, I want to come’” he says. “I had the chance to make history, to be one of the first Trinidadian players in the Canadian Premier League.”
A cold and wet Halifax spring awaited the new arrivals. Temperatures stayed below zero well into April, and May wasn’t much warmer. The rain seemed endless and the sky was an eternal grey. For the players coming from the heat of Trinidad, Colombia, and Peru it was always going to be a challenge. Fortunately, this was something Garcia was prepared for.
“It was cold but, like, you have to know what you want” he says. “I’d heard stories of people going abroad and then it’d get cold and they’d want to come home. I didn’t come here with that attitude. I came here to stay and play for HFX Wanderers”
Armed with this determination, Garcia settled well into his new environment, though there was one aspect of his new life that came as a surprise: the attention he’d get when out and about in the city.
“When I go out to eat and people recognize me… I’ve never had that before” he says, grinning. “It’s nice. I remember being younger and watching my country play. I’d see players I loved like Carlos Edwards and want an autograph or picture”
On the pitch, the season started with a difficult trip out west to Vancouver Island. Wanderers produced a timid performance in a 1-0 defeat versus Pacific, but the following weekend’s action couldn’t have been any different.
On May 4, Forge FC arrived at the Wanderers Grounds the pundits’ early favorite to top the Spring Season standings. It was a chilly, blustery afternoon and the stadium was packed.
“The atmosphere was crazy, man” Garcia reflects. “I’ve never seen anything like that before”
And so it was that the boy from Arima made history. In the 28th minute of an open, frantic game he reacted quickly to a deflected Kodai Iida free-kick and turned the ball past Forge ‘keeper Tristan Henry for the first ever HFX Wanderers goal.
“I was just happy to make history for my club, for my country, for my team…” he trails off, lost in the moment.
First, the noise. As the ball is steered into the bottom corner the Wanderers Grounds transforms itself into a single, deafening roar. Goalscorer Akeem Garcia, meanwhile, is gone. First right, then left.
An ever-growing number of Wanderers players chase him down but Garcia is heading for the dugout in search of Derek King. It’s been quite the journey for these two. The young player whose career was stalled by injury and the coach who believed he could come back from it. Before he can reach him though, he’s ordered back towards the pitch. It is, after all, only the 28th minute.
Plumes of blue smoke colour the grey sky.
3,800 kilometers south, there is nothing but pride.
Those 90 minutes remain a high point for the club this season.
Wanderers finished 4th in the Spring standings and currently sit 7th in the Fall standings. There have been good days, notably those at the Wanderers Grounds, but there have been bad days, too. Such is the way with a brand new club in a brand new league.
On an individual level, there's an argument to be made for Akeem Garcia as Wanderers' Player of the Season. He tops the scoring charts, for a start - but there's more to it than that. His performances throughout have been consistently high, rarely dropping below a 7/10. He creates chances, constantly threatens with intelligent runs in behind, and continues to display an uncanny ability to shield and protect possession despite the physicality of the league's defenders. Garcia though, isn't satisfied.
“For me personally I think I should have done better. I should have definitely scored more goals. It’s a learning experience and next year, when I hopefully come back, together with the team we can work on getting better. I think we’ll be fine”
And so, as the season reaches its end and he readies himself to return home for the off-season, there’s a lot to reflect on.
“I don’t come from a first world country, and coming here… this is definitely a first world country” he says. “Yes, it took me awhile to get accustomed to the weather but it’s been such a great experience. The people in Canada are so nice”
His is just one side of a mutual affection that Wanderers fans will hope lasts for a few more years yet. Regardless of what happens in the future, one thing’s for sure: this job, this version of living, isn’t one that’s wasted on Akeem Garcia.
“This is what I want – this life. Getting up every morning, working hard, training, playing football. To enjoy your job…” he pauses. “It’s just a wonderful, wonderful feeling”.
Not bad for the boy from Arima.
Gary is an Arsenal supporting, Halifax-based Brit who moved to Canada in 2016 unaware that he was about to fall in love with another football team. He can be found on on Twitter in the following places: @FromAwaysHFX and @GaryG86 or on Instagram at fromawayshfx.
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HFX Wanderers’ Akeem Garcia called up to Trinidad and Tobago squad
By Gareth Hampshire (hfxwanderersfc.canpl.ca)
HFX Wanderers leading goal scorer Akeem Garcia has been called up to the senior national squad of Trinidad and Tobago.
The 23-year-old striker has forced his way back into the Soca Warriors latest squad of 23 players on the strength of an excellent CPL season in Halifax.
Garcia has been a standout all season for the Wanderers, scoring seven CPL goals, in addition to one more in the Canadian Championship, for a total of eight.
“It’s always a good feeling and exciting to represent your country so it’s really nice and I cherish it and go out and do what I have to do,” said Garcia. “My family is going to be really proud and happy for me.”
The forward, from Arima, will be a part of Trinidad and Tobago’s squad for a CONCACAF Nations League match at home vs Honduras on October 10th, as well as a friendly against Venezuela in Caracas, October 14th.
It will mean he will miss the Wanderers last home match against Pacific on October 9th.
The Wanderers forward last played for his country in 2015, in a 1-0 friendly defeat to Panama.
He’s also played at the U 17 and U 20 levels.
Garcia said his development with the Wanderers this season has helped him get back on the radar of the national team coach.
“Being able to play at a higher level abroad in the CPL, it helps a lot. This is everything to do with Halifax Wanderers. I have to thank coach Stephen Hart and and coach Derek King for the opportunity. This is happening because I am playing well for Halifax,” he said.
Hart, himself a former Soca Warriors national team coach, said Garcia deserves his chance.
“I’m happy for him because he’s always willing to listen and learn. He has done well and his movement off the ball is improving all the time,” explained Hart. “Once he keeps working on the end product of his finishing he could go a long way.”
Before joining up with the national squad, Garcia will remain with the Wanderers for the team’s away match at Cavalry on Saturday.
“I want to help the team in whatever way I can if it’s to score or defend or anything,” he said.
The Wanderers popular number 11 will travel to Trinidad and Tobago to report for national team duty after the match at Spruce Meadows.
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WATCH: Akeem Garcia scores the equalizer to earn Halifax Wanderers a 1-1 draw with Pacific FC.
https://www.youtube.com/v/RjONy6lSUrE?start=216
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HFX Wanderers FC top scorer Akeem Garcia returning for 2020
canpl.ca
HFX Wanderers FC completed an important piece of off-season business on Thursday, announcing it has re-signed striker Akeem Garcia for the 2020 CPL season.
Garcia was one of the few bright spots for a Wanderers side that finished last in the overall league standings in 2019. He scored a team-high seven goals in 24 league games for Wanderers, and added one goal in four Canadian Championship appearances.
The 23-year-old from Trinidad also wrote his name into the record books when he scored HFX’s first ever goal in their home opener against Forge FC in front of a sold out crowd at Wanderers Grounds.
Combining pace and a sharp soccer IQ, Garcia was a constant threat for opposing defenders around the league during the season, so it hardly comes as a surprise that the Halifax club was keen to bring him back.
“It’s a good feeling, I’m excited and I just want to finish where I left off and score more goals and hopefully we can go for the title next year,” Garcia said of inking a new deal with the Wanderers.
Coach Stephen Hart explained bringing back his top scorer was an important step in building the spine of the team for the 2020 CPL campaign.
“He made significant contributions and I’m happy he decided to return. Akeem’s willingness to run the channels and score goals is extremely important to us,” Hart said.
After playing for a number of clubs in his native Trinidad and Tobago, Garcia joined Wanderers last January, along with countrymen Jan-Michael Williams, Elton John and Andre Rampersad as the club’s first international signings.
Garcia’s impressive performances in the CPL didn’t go unnoticed back home. He earned a national team recall and made substitute appearances in a Concacaf Nations League match versus Honduras and a friendly against Venezuela last month. His only previous appearance for the Soca Warriors came in 2015.
Garcia explained his development with the Wanderers this season helped him get back on the radar of the Trinidadian national team coaching staff.
“The Trinidad and Tobago call up was everything to do with Halifax Wanderers and it helped my game playing against better players, so I’m thankful to Halifax and the coaching staff,” Garcia said.
Garcia is the second Wanderers player to commit to the club for the 2020 CPL season. On Tuesday, the team announced it had re-signed rookie goalkeeper and Halifax native Christian Oxner to a new deal.
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WATCH: Akeem Garcia slips the ball through the goalkeeper's legs and into the back of the net to earn Halifax Wanderers a 1-1 draw with Forge FC.
https://www.youtube.com/v/19YxRVklnDI?start=120
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WATCH: Akeem Garcia scores for a second game in a row by burying a penalty during Halifax Wanderers FC's 201 loss to Cavalry FC
https://www.youtube.com/v/7U4nu_MjXc8?start=301
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WATCH: Akeem Garcia scores off a defence splitting pass by Andre Rampersad during Halifax Wanderers FC's 3-1 win over FC Edmonton. This is Akeem's third goal in as many games.
https://www.youtube.com/v/1sNVXE1UNwM?start=165
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WATCH: Akeem Garcia took the lead in the Island Games Golden Boot Race with his fourth goal of the tournament to spearhead Halifax Wanderers FC's 2-0 win over Atletico Ottawa.
https://www.youtube.com/v/Xrvl0TJorNM?start=48
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Canadians premier league fan here.
Garcia has been the best striker during this tournament.
The timing of his runs has been excellent, along with his pace and finishing.
I think he has shown he should get a chance at a higher level. He's been outstanding.
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Canadians premier league fan here.
Garcia has been the best striker during this tournament.
The timing of his runs has been excellent, along with his pace and finishing.
I think he has shown he should get a chance at a higher level. He's been outstanding.
That's why we call him FROGGY in Trinidad.
Stephen Hart does also bring out de best in players, he had Kenwyne playing de best football of he career when he was T&T coach.
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Canadians premier league fan here.
Garcia has been the best striker during this tournament.
The timing of his runs has been excellent, along with his pace and finishing.
I think he has shown he should get a chance at a higher level. He's been outstanding.
That's why we call him FROGGY in Trinidad.
Stephen Hart does also bring out de best in players, he had Kenwyne playing de best football of he career when he was T&T coach.
Interesting observation Sam. Hmmm! He certainly played some sweet ball under Hart. Remember that chest-down for Cummings to blast past the Mexican goalie.
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Canadians premier league fan here.
Garcia has been the best striker during this tournament.
The timing of his runs has been excellent, along with his pace and finishing.
I think he has shown he should get a chance at a higher level. He's been outstanding.
That's why we call him FROGGY in Trinidad.
Stephen Hart does also bring out de best in players, he had Kenwyne playing de best football of he career when he was T&T coach.
Interesting observation Sam. Hmmm! He certainly played some sweet ball under Hart. Remember that chest-down for Cummings to blast past the Mexican goalie.
The best football of his career is quite a statement.
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Hart, Garcia begin Canadian title run
By Ian Prescott (Express).
Backed by goals from Golden Boot leader Akeem “Froggy” Garcia, Trinidadian head coach Stephen Hart and Halifax Wanderers begin the run to the 2020 Canadian Premier League soccer championship with an opening Big Four playoff match today against Forged FC.
Halifax are coached by former Trinidad and Tobago national team coach Hart and captained by T&T’s Ryan Rampersad while Garcia has been their top scorer for the last two seasons. Former T&T goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams is the team’s goalkeeping coach.
Having finished one from the bottom in last year’s inaugural CPL season, Halifax improved remarkably to finish the six-team regular season in second spot, a point behind leaders Calvary (13 points).
Halifax open the playoffs against third-place Forged from 12 noon today, the two sides having battled to a 2-2 draw in the regular season. On Saturday, at 2 p.m., Halifax play the regular-season’s top team Calvary (1-2) the only side to have beaten them this season. They will then end against fourth finisher Pacific 7 p.m. on Tuesday. The top two teams at the end of the round-robin competition will play in the final on September 19.
On Sunday, goals from Garcia and Alessandro Riggi, as well as a clean sheet from goalkeeper Christian Oxner, gave Halifax a 2-0 win over Ottawa in their final regular season match. Halifax are unbeaten in their last four matches and go into their first playoff with the best recent record, having won three matches, drawn three and had just one defeat this season.
A former T&T national team youth player, the 23-year-old Garcia also has three national senior team caps. Top scorer for Halifax last season, Garcia scored a CPL season-leading fourth goal with an angled shot past the Ottawa keeper and won rave reviews as well.
“Garcia has been the best striker during this tournament. The timing of his runs has been excellent, along with his pace and finishing. I think he has shown he should get a chance at a higher level. He’s been outstanding,” said one television commentator during Sunday’s telecast.
“We got the goals and I thought we managed the game well,” Hart said after Sunday’s match, “Yes they got some chances but in our period of domination, we scored. That certainly was the difference in the game.
“Everybody’s functioning in their role,” Hart said. “And I think at times when we are organised and we are balanced, we are pretty hard to break down. And that is going to be important.”
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WATCH: Akeem Garcia scores with a brilliant one-time strike with the outside of his right boot during Halifax Wanderers FC's 1-1 draw with Forge FC.
https://www.youtube.com/v/NHvGXJjU6Xg?start=22
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WATCH: Akeem Garcia earns and scores a penalty to put Halifax Wanderers on their way to a 2-1 win over Cavalry FC.
https://www.youtube.com/v/PqlaTKorezs?start=125
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Akeem Garcia having dream season with HFX Wanderers as he “aims for the heights” for both team and personal glory
By Michael McColl (aftn.ca)
Akeem Garcia had a strong first Canadian Premier League season in 2019 with a HFX Wanderers side that struggled at times over the course of the year.
Garcia led the Wanderers scoring with seven goals from 24 appearances in league action, adding another one in the Canadian Championship, and was one of only six players brought back by head coach Stephen Hart for the club’s sophomore campaign.
Fast forward 11 months and the Trinidad and Tobago forward is on the verge of winning a CPL championship, the Golden Boot title, and has been nominated as the League’s Player of the Year after a standout campaign at The Island Games.
“When you’re playing, you have to always aim for the heights,” Garcia said on a CPL conference call on Friday. Come Saturday afternoon, the 23-year-old may have reached the summit depending on how tomorrow’s final against Forge FC plays out. But win or lose, this has been a fantastic tournament for Garcia and his Halifax teammates.
Garcia looked a top prospect last season, but this year he’s taken his game to the next level that head coach Stephen Hart challenged him to reach, the result of a lot of hard work, some dedicated playing time, and some shrewd squad additions.
“This year, I’ve focused on one position,” Garcia revealed. “Coach has helped me in terms of positioning and how I can always be better at the position. So after training, even in training, I’ve got time to go home and look over things and see how I can be better.
“The players around me this year allows me to do that. You can see with the players we’ve brought in, they’ve all got the quality to make that final pass, especially João Morelli. He’s simple, but it’s his thinking that’s very good. With him and with the other players around, you’ve got the confidence to make a run, you have confidence to come, you have confidence to play.”
As Garcia touched upon there, last season saw the striker tried out in a couple of different attacking positions. This year, the focus has been on doing what he does best. He’s thrived and developed his game as a result, becoming more and more accustomed to playing the striker role with the more minutes he gets.
“To be fair to Akeem, last season he played out of position in a number of games in order to help the team,” Hart said. “That’s just the nature of the player. He will do anything we ask of him and once we got back into this season, and we came into training camp, both of us sat down and we had a discussion.
“I told him what I was looking for from him and where he needs to improve his game, and he’s worked diligently on that. As a consequence, of course, compounded by the variety of service he can now get, from both inside the field and the wide positions, he’s done well.”
Garcia’s strong play last year saw him earn a recall into the Trinidad and Tobago national team set-up after an absence of four and a half years, earning his second and third international caps in a pair of substitute appearances in the Concacaf Nations League match against Honduras and a friendly against Venezuela in October last year.
Were the Soca Warriors staff already watching Garcia, or did Hart use his connections down there to draw attention to what the young forward was doing in Canada?
“I think it was a little bit of both,” Hart revealed. “Derek King is part of the staff down there now and he has a close tie to the club and he’s going to be keeping an eye on both Akeem and Rampy [Andre Rampersad]. So it’s a little bit of us communicating and saying, look this player is doing well. We share his qualities, we share his medical on how he’s doing, and then it’s up to them to select or not select.”
Garcia’s performance during The Island Games tournament should see him get another call soon, whenever international matches in the region do finally get back to happening. And whenever that call does come, Garcia is excited to accept it.
“We haven’t spoken any time as yet,” Garcia revealed when asked if T&T head coach Paul Fenwick had been in touch with him during the tournament. “But I know the eyes are looking back home in Trinidad. The games are showing and people are watching. It’s always a privilege and honour to play for your country.
“I think playing for your country is a big deal. It’s different. There’s a lot more pressure, but it’s just a privilege to play for your country and if happens, it’s a good thing.”
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With 6 goals, Halifax Wanderers FC's Akeem Garcia is the 2020 Canadian Premier League Golden Boot winner.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EiZKzsKXgAEHFpL?format=jpg&name=large)
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T&T's Garcia, Rampersad in CPL best XI.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Halifax Wanderers FC duo Akeem Garcia and Andre Rampersad of T&T have been selected to the 2020 Canadian Premier League Best XI.
Despite T&T trio of coach Stephen Hart, star striker Akeem Garcia and club captain Andre Rampersad falling short in their bid to lift the Canadian Premier Football League crown after their HFX Wanderers FC was humbled 2-0 by Forge FC on Saturday afternoon in The Island Games final in Charlottetown, two players were selected to the League's All-stars eleven.
Garcia and Rampersad got favourable nods to the 2020 Canadian Premier League Best XI from the editorial staff of Charlie O’Connor-Clarke, John Molinaro and Marty Thompson.
The team is - Akeem Garcia, Andre Rampersad and Abou Sissoko of losing finalist (HFX Wanderers) while Triston Henry, Daniel Krutzen and Kyle Bekker of Forge FC; were joined by Kadin Chung and Marco Bustos of Pacific FC; Mo Farsi and Dominick Zator of Cavalry FC and Javier Acuna was the lone selectee of Atletico Ottawa.
Here's an brief assessments of the two T&T players.
Andre Rampersad (HFX Wanderers)
“Rampy” led HFX Wanderers to the CPL final and dominated with his high intensity and two-way ability in match after match. The best box-to-box midfielder of this Best XI midfield-three, the Trinbago player posted an incredible 82 per cent passing accuracy in the final third, matched by a league-high 67 duels won. Crucial in the Wanderers’ press, and even more important spearheading attacks, Rampersad has a bright future ahead of him in Halifax.
Akeem Garcia (HFX Wanderers)
Finally, we have the Island Games’ Golden Boot winner. Garcia’s six goals put HFX firmly in the CPL title-match. All of them were poacher’s goals – in on the goalkeeper, all on his right foot – with the Trinbago talent emerging as the CPL’s purest finisher in dramatic fashion. Garcia’s play without the ball was impressive, too, pressing well and winning possession in dangerous areas of the field.
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Akeem Garcia: ‘I had no doubts’ Wanderers could make deep run at Island Games
By Charlie O'Connor-Clarke (canpl.ca)
The success of HFX Wanderers FC in the 2020 CPL season surprised a lot of people — including, to an extent, the team’s coach.
Stephen Hart suggested prior to The Island Games that he had one eye fixed on the 2021 season, considering how much roster turnover the club had seen since its last-place finish in 2019.
However, for Akeem Garcia — one of three CPL Player of the Year nominees — the wins were there for the taking. As one of seven returning players from the inaugural squad, the Trinidadian saw first-hand the improvement in the 2020 team, and he was impressed from the start of training.
Garcia, who arrived at initial training a couple days late due to visa issues and then had to watch from the sidelines the first day or two while waiting for a medical examination, had a good feeling seeing the Wanderers’ newcomers.
“I was watching them train and I was like, ‘This is gonna be a good team, guys,'” Garcia told CanPL.ca. “It’s a young team and the talent was there. … For me I had no doubts we would’ve done well. During the tournament I really think we could’ve gone on and won it.”
While Garcia’s side wasn’t quite able to clear the final hurdle and beat Forge FC in the CPL Finals, they had plenty to smile about when leaving PEI. They scored plenty of goals, played some exciting football, and ultimately went farther in the tournament than all but one team.
And really, if you’re focused on building for the future, few things help speed up the process more than winning as a group. Garcia insisted that part of the reason HFX was able to attack so seamlessly — despite having no pre-season games to work out the kinks — was how much the players enjoyed each other’s company. In fact, the striker suggested that the players’ proximity to each other in Halifax helped bring them closer at a time when they couldn’t really go out to do anything else.
“We all live together in Halifax in the same building, so when they lessened the (COVID-19) restrictions and we started training in 10s and stuff, guys started hanging out with each other in their groups,” Garcia recalled about the club’s early return to training in June.
“The group you were training with, guys would hang out with each other, visit each other’s apartment, watch a movie or something. Just start bonding because the guys that came into the team this year had a different goal, and the goal was to help the team be better.”
And so, being already well-accustomed to each other, the transition to bubble life in Charlottetown was an easy one for the Wanderers. Garcia mentioned some additional touches — a karaoke initiation party among the players, for instance, and the fact that the club surprised players with pictures of their families in the hotel — that ultimately translated into a team with top-notch chemistry.
The goals that Garcia, and his entourage of Alessandro Riggi, João Morelli, and Alex Marshall (plus contributors such as Cory Bent and Omar Kreim), created looked impossible for a group so new to each other. And yet, they did it time after time.
“Everything was pretty sweet. For me I enjoyed the fun we had the most on gamedays, just getting to see everyone at breakfast and dinner,” Garcia said, adding that the squad’s familial mentality certainly improved their play on the pitch.
“No one was grudging when they were on the bench; even I was on the bench the first game, I was like whoever’s playing forward deserves it,” he said. “The whole team vibe was nice, no one was grudging. Everyone was supporting each other, so I love that. When you have teammates like that it makes you go out and give your all.”
At the moment, Garcia is one of a few Wanderers still in Halifax, primarily because he hasn’t yet received approval to go home to Trinidad and Tobago. As many of his fellow CPLers are likely doing, he told CanPL.ca his current life is occupied by Netflix and going to the gym, and hoping that he can reunite with his family soon.
All the while, though, he’s got the 2021 CPL season at the back of his mind (and one eye on the Player of the Year award).
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WATCH: Halifax Wanderers FC striker Akeem Garcia discusses his adjustment to life in Canada and playing in a brand new league as well as what the future looks like for the 23 year old.
https://www.youtube.com/v/5HrR4L-V3rs
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HFX Wanderers FC’s Akeem Garcia collects 2020 CPL Golden Boot Award
By Charlie O'Connor-Clarke (canpl.ca)
This one wasn’t a surprise.
Akeem Garcia was officially crowned the 2020 Golden Boot award winner during the CPL Awards ceremony on Thursday night, as the HFX Wanderers FC forward was celebrated for his six goals in 10 matches at The Island Games in PEI.
The 24-year-old forward won out in a close scoring race, beating runners-up Marco Bustos of Pacific FC (five goals) and his HFX Wanderers teammate João Morelli (four goals). Garcia’s impressive attacking displays in 2020 also earned him a nomination for the CPL’s Player of the Year award, alongside Bustos and Kyle Bekker of Forge FC.
The 2019 Golden Boot winner was Tristan Borges of Forge, whose 13 goals helped spur his side to the first CPL championship.
Garcia’s six-goal run at The Island Games helped the Wanderers advance all the way to the 2020 CPL Final, with key goals in both the first and second rounds against eventual champions Forge paving the way for the club’s success.
“With the players we got this year I knew that I would be given a lot of service, it’s just up to me to put it in the back of the net, which I successfully did this year,” Garcia told CanPL.ca. “Midway in the season I was like, ‘Hey, I could go on and win this thing,’ when I started to analyze and see what was going on.”
Although he broke out as a goalscorer in 2020, Garcia’s offensive ability was not a surprise this year; he scored seven goals in 24 games in 2019, leading the Wanderers and finishing seventh overall in the CPL. This year, he credits a tactical change from coach Stephen Hart for allowing him to be the primary scoring threat.
“This year coach allowed me to focus on one position; he only played me forward this year and not on the wings,” Garcia explained. “That gave me a lot of confidence knowing my role, and what I can do best to help the team.”
Hart had kind words for his star forward, whom he’s known for years from their time together with the Trinidad and Tobago national team.
“Akeem, from when I knew him coming up in Trinidad and Tobago, always had a hunger, was always humble, willing to learn, and then also willing to do what was necessary to advance himself in the game,” Hart told CanPL.ca. “Once you have that desire and that passion you can go very, very far. I’m not surprised because he’s continually learning and continually striving, and I admire that in him.”
For winning the Golden Boot award, Garcia was presented with the Hunter trophy, a traditional Inuit sculpture from Nunavut, designed by local carver Pitseolak Qimirpik.
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Golden Boot winner Garcia 'can only get better'
By Glenn MacDonald (The Chronicle Herald)
No current Canadian Premier League player has scored more goals than HFX Wanderers star striker Akeem Garcia.
The 24-year-old Trinidadian attacker won the Golden Boot award for leading the CPL with six goals during the 2020 season to give him 13 over the first two years of the fledgling league. But even for someone of Garcia’s calibre, there’s room for improvement.
“The performance for me was good and I can only get better,” Garcia said in a recent phone interview from his family home in Arima, Trinidad and Tobago.
“One of the main things coach and some of my teammates asked me to do this season was to be more consistent. Even in training I would work on that and work a bit harder. I’m satisfied with the season. I’m a bit sad still that we didn’t win the final but I’m still satisfied with the team and how we played.”
The 2020 campaign was brief yet quite remarkable for the Wanderers.
After enduring through a disappointing inaugural season in which they finished in last place, the Wanderers returned to last winter’s training camp with only seven returning players in tow.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the start of the second season until August, the heavily-revamped squad defied expectations at the league’s condensed summer tournament dubbed the Island Games. They earned a berth in the CPL Final but lost a 2-0 decision to the defending champion Forge FC.
Despite falling just short of capturing the North Star Shield, Garcia expects his club to make further strides in 2021.
“Next year, we can take it up a notch,” Garcia said. “We’ll have to spend a bit more time with each other. We only had a couple months to train this season because of COVID and we had to do it smaller groups.
“It was a brand new team with only seven players returning. Hopefully this time we get more accustomed with each other. Training is one thing but once you get on the pitch it’s different. There is a next level in this team that we haven’t seen yet.
“From what I’m hearing most of the guys are coming back. But like the fans, I have to wait.”
Garcia’s exploits earned him a nomination for CPL player of the year – the first Wanderer do so – but lost out to Forge FC captain Kyle Bekker at the league’s virtual awards ceremony on Thursday.
Ever the good teammate, Garcia deflected any praise to his teammates.
“I was getting the service this year to score which I didn’t really get last year,” Garcia said. “Adding guys like Joao Morelli, Alex Marshall, Cory Bent, everyone on the front line can score and took the responsibility to do so.
“This team will definitely move forward, especially offensively. Everyone on this team wants to do whatever it takes to win and help the team.”
The Wanderers were the only club with a nominee in each of the five categories at the CPL awards but bench boss Stephen Hart was the only other to come away with hardware, winning coach of the year.
Christian Oxner was nominated for the Golden Glove for goalkeeper of the year (won by Forge keeper Triston Henry) and defender Chrisnovic N’sa earned a nod for under-21 Canadian player of the year (won by Mohamed Farsi of Cavalry FC). N’sa recently signed with York9 FC where he joins his younger brother Felix.
Garcia said the recognition from the league is a testament of the teams’ successful turnaround in the abbreviated season.
“When I landed in Halifax two days after training camp, the training was intense. I didn’t feel as fit. I thought the other guys were way fitter than me,” Garcia recalled with a laugh.
“The team didn’t come to play around. They were determined. One of the differences with this team than our first year was that we were younger and everyone wanted to work for each other. It was a brotherhood. They did such a great job. Even when we went into our smaller groups during COVID, we were interacting with newer players. We were in groups where you learn something about your new teammate. It was quite interesting.
“Although it was a shorter season, I honestly think it was a legit season. Of course, with the situation with COVID, they did the best that the could with the Island Games. Everything went smoothly and the league and games ran quite smoothly. The only issue I had is that I had never played so many games so quickly in my life. Some were on consecutive days so it took some getting used to.”
Now the question is, what will 2021 look like?
The Wanderers players are scattered all over the Western Hemisphere doing their own off-season training program.
The league has set March 1 as a tentative reconvene date for players to rejoin their clubs. But, of course, the pandemic will dictate when it’s safe to return.
“It’s nice to see my family and relax a bit before it’s time to get back to Halifax,” Garcia said.
“I’ve been following the program from our strength and conditioning coach and doing extra stuff during my spare time. I understand the season’s going to be even harder next year so it’s time to get ready.
“I’ll be ready to go whether it’s next week, two weeks, January, February, I’ll be ready to come back.”
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Akeem Garcia on signing 2-year Wanderers extension: ‘I’ve grown with this league’
By Dylan Lawrence (hfxwanderersfc.canpl.ca)
There’s a reason Akeem Garcia has coined the nickname Akeem ‘The Dream’ Garcia.
The Trinidadian forward has had an incredible spell for the HFX Wanderers in their first two years, leading the club in goals scored (13) and is currently tied for most goals in the Canadian Premier League’s short history (13).
Halifax fans will be excited to hear that Garcia has committed to the Wanderers for another two years with a club option for the 2023 season.
Akeem got on the phone with HFX Wanderers Brand Manager Dylan Lawrence to chat about his playing career, his experience in Halifax thus far and to share a few stories.
Dylan Lawrence: Congrats on your contract, Akeem. Can you tell me a bit more about your journey in professional football?
AG: Where it all started was at my school in secondary, I started gaining exposure and I realized I really want to be a professional soccer player, then at 17, I signed my first professional contract with W Connection. I must say, they helped me a lot – that’s when the Trinidad league was really (popular). W Connection helped me a lot with getting experience; we played in Caribbean championships and CONCACAF. After that, I had an ACL injury and I had to stop playing for [almost] two years. So after I came back [from the injury] I joined North East Stars and that’s where I met Derek King. We won the league that year, then (Derek King) left to join Santa Rosa so I also said ‘you know what, I’m going to play with Santa Rosa’, then after that I signed with Halifax.
What was it about Derek King that made you switch clubs?
AG: We worked together at the national under 20 team. He and coach Stephen Hart gave me my first team national debut. His style of play, his coaching, it just suits me as a player. What he wants from his forwards and wingers, that’s the type of player I am, I always moved with him. He’s also just a really good person who attracts a lot of good players and they work hard for him. It was a no brainer to go to a club where he was coaching.
In following Derek King to the Canadian Premier League, was there anything that scared you about joining a league in its first year of existence?
AG: Yeah because we didn’t know what to expect – I didn’t know what to expect. I’m from the Caribbean and to get an opportunity to play abroad (doesn’t) come too often so taking the opportunity was really a no-brainer. When I went (to Halifax) of course it was scary. We didn’t know what to expect, we didn’t know the league and the players. We didn’t have any friends in Canada either. But it turned out well once games started playing.
In the 2019 season you got called up to play for the Trinidad national team. Can you tell me about that experience?
AG: Yeah, it’s always a dream to play for your country. Someone once told me ‘if you don’t want to play for your country, why are you playing?’ Playing for your country comes with a certain level of responsibility so I was ready to take that. At a very young age, I’ve represented my country at the under 17 and under 20 level. Under 23 was where I got my ACL injury (actually). For me, playing for my country was a real joy and I was happy for the club as well; getting that recognition. So it was a really positive and great feeling for me and in my career so far.
At this point, you’ve accomplished quite a bit in your career so far and I’m happy to see you’ve committed to Halifax for another two to three years, what’s the next goal for you in terms of your football career?
AG: For me, I take it one season at a time. Football is a game and you never know where you’re going to end up. I take it one step at a time; obviously, I know the place I want to be in but I take it one season at a time and hope for the best. If scoring is what I need to do (for my team) then I’ll do that and help the team in any way.
So now that you’ve had a taste of living abroad, how has that experience helped you learn more about yourself and what else you want out of life?
AG: Of course, it taught me great responsibility. I’m from a family where they do everything for me. It was new to have a roommate abroad and it just matured me in a way I’ve never seen myself before. When I came (to Halifax) I couldn’t cook; I had to learn to cook and do things on my own. It was a big change for me but I’m good now.
I can empathize with that. How much does your lifestyle in Halifax differ from when you’re back home?
AG: In the Caribbean it’s different, you never get time to do anything – you know, there’s always someone around. That’s our culture, you always have someone around, always have someone to talk to and laugh with and it’s really nice for me when I come home everyone wants to see me and they’re all happy that I’m home. So you know, they’re always around me. It’s not like Canada how you live there and there’s some peace and quiet, but in Trinidad, it’s just noisy.
A lot of your teammates say they have a close relationship with you. Could you talk a bit about relationships and why this is important for you?
AG: For me it’s all about creating a brotherhood. We’re brothers on and off the field and I try to show everyone that off the field if you need anything or stuff like that, we make it as comfortable as possible with no drama. I reach out and see how they are doing and to win the title, it’s not only on the field, you have to fight for each other off the field as well.
When it comes to the community in Halifax it feels like the fans have a good relationship with the players. I know you even gave your boots to a young player. Do you have any fans in particular that keep in touch with you?
AG: The fans are really cool. There’s one fan that always messages me and says I’m his favourite player and wishes me good luck before every game. For me that’s what it’s all about, as I said where Rampy and I are from, we wish when we were younger that a player would give us a pair of boots – of course I was lucky enough to have a family that would buy whatever I need. But you always want to (look up to someone) who motivates you, so for me I will always do stuff like that.
You had the chance to live with Alex Marshall during the Island Games. We saw your connection on the pitch but how was your relationship off the field?
AG: It was a really smooth relationship. We’re both from the Caribbean so similar things happen and we could always have a laugh and talk. Everyone likes banter (in the Caribbean) so it was easy to communicate with him. He came in late so I had to try and make him feel at home because I knew we had a tournament. We have a really good friendship and that’s just how we were.
Are there any fun stories you can tell us about your time together?
AG: I scared him with a mask for Halloween once. There’s a lot of stories actually, but basically, we just had a (relationship) where – if I go out I would offer to bring him back something, or if he went out he would do the same. He would show me Jamaican food and although we share a similar culture, we’d learn about each other’s countries as well.
Could you tell me a bit more about how you scared him?
AG: He was playing a video game – it was, for both of us, our first Halloween – so I bought a mask in the mall and I had it on. I stood by the door and was there for five minutes straight. When he turned and he noticed he just jumped! I have a picture I can share with you…
That’s awesome! Going into these next couple of years with the Wanderers, what can we expect from Akeem Garcia?
AG: I’ve grown with this league and I’ve gained more experience. With the right team, I think this year we can reach the finals (again). From me I think you can expect the same thing; I’m hungry to score more, it’s not done and I’m not done, there’s still more to do. This isn’t a stopping point for me so I want to keep going and help my team in any way and just go for it every day. Hopefully, get a Golden Boot again next year; there are still more goals to come and I will try to be as consistent as I can.
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CanPL.ca’s Top 23 Under 23 in the CPL: Akeem Garcia tops the list at No. 1
By John Molinaro (canpl.ca)
A Golden Boot, an appearance in the CPL Finals, and No. 1 in CanPL.ca’s Top 23 Under 23 list. It’s been quite the year for Akeem Garcia.
The Trinidadian has 13 goals over his two CPL seasons with the Wanderers, putting him in a tie with former Forge FC star Tristan Borges and FC Edmonton’s Easton Ongaro as the league’s all-time top scorer, underlining his status of one the CPL’s true danger men in front of goal.
Garcia’s six-goal tally at The Island Games not only saw him secure the Golden Boot, but it also helped the Wanderers reach their first CPL Finals – an amazing turnaround for a club that finished last place in 2019. With key goals in both the first and second rounds against eventual champions Forge, Garcia was deservedly a nominee for the league’s Player of the Year award.
Although he enjoyed a breakout 2020 campaign, Garcia’s offensive explosiveness was hardly a surprise after he bagged seven goals in 24 appearances in 2019. A change in tactics from Wanderers coach Stephen Hart turned him into the team’s main scoring threat this season.
“This year coach allowed me to focus on one position; he only played me forward this year and not on the wings,” Garcia told CanPL.ca. “That gave me a lot of confidence knowing my role, and what I can do best to help the team.”
Having turned 24 only last month, Garcia won’t be eligible for next year’s Top 23 Under 23 list. But you still get the sense that he is poised to continue to terrorize opposing defenders with his quickness, deft touch and ruthlessness inside the penalty area for years to come.
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WATCH: A look back at all the goals Akeem Garcia scored at the Canadian Premier League's 2020 Island Games.
https://www.youtube.com/v/kk1PJnr629M
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Tallman- I hope he gets a call for T&T in June.
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Visa issues I think for both him and Rampersad. Hopefully soon sorted out
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T&T's Garcia yet to open league account
... as Wanderers slip to last in CPL
By Nigel Simon (T&T Guardian).
T&T’s Akeem Garcia search for his first goal of the 2021 Canadian Premier League (CPL) continued after his HFX Wanderers struggled again in a 1-0 loss to FC Edmonton at IG Field, Winnipeg, Manitoba on Wednesday.
In a match between two clubs searching to climb out of the basement of the table, it was Easton Ongaro who ensured his side would take all three points with an 81st-minute strike off an assist from Fraser Aird.
Wanderers assistant coach Mesut Mert and Halifax swapped out two players from the starting XI that fell 2-1 to Cavalry on Saturday with Samuel Salter earning a start with his first professional goal against the Cavs as he came into the lineup for Pierre Lamothe, while Joao Morelli was preferred over out-of-form Garcia in the Wanderers attack to start with fellow T&T international Andre Rampersad, 26, captaining the team from midfield.
It was the Eddies that got off on the front foot as they opened the first 15 minutes of the contest with plenty of energy and forced the Wanderers into several sloppy turnovers in the early goings.
Halifax seemed to adjust to Edmonton’s pressing efforts as they pushed their fullbacks higher up the flanks to give their centre-backs more breathing room to build —a tweak that saw the momentum of the match shift their way.
Despite HFX looking the stronger of the two teams at the break, it was Ongaro who would get the best look at goal in the opening 45′ but the Eddies talisman would volley wide on his weaker right foot following a great cross from Shamit Shome in the 29th minute.
Stefan Karajovanovic would find himself in a dangerous position to open the Wanderers scoring account in the 53rd minute with a volleyed effort at the back post — once which Connor James ultimately caught comfortably.
After failing to register a shot on target in the first half, Edmonton’s hopes of finding the back of the net worsened when Tobias Warschewski was forced off through injury just ten minutes after halftime.
With little prospects of offence at either end of the pitch, Alan Koch turned to his bench and got a spark from Aird, who’d scored twice already for Edmonton this season.
After smashing a free-kick past Christian Oxner only to be denied by the crossbar with roughly 15 minutes remaining, Aird would take full advantage of some careless Halifax defending before squaring it to Ongaro for a tap in and the game’s opening goal in the 81st minute.
Mert would turn to 24-year-old Chaguanas-born Garcia off the bench with six minutes left in the match for Jamaican Alex Marshall, hoping last year’s leading scorer with six goals in ten matches could be an impact sub for Halifax.
However, Garcia who led the team to the league final last year was kept quiet over the final period as the Eddies stood firm at the back to secure an all-important victory and move to eight points from seven matches in the fifth spot, three clear of Wanderers slipped to the bottom of the standings with five points, and who were still without head coach T&T’s Stephen Hart who is on medical leave from the club since early July.
Also on Wednesday night, T&T Ryan Telfer, just back from Concacaf Gold Cup duties with the national team watched on as Atletico Ottawa stayed sixth with seven points, one ahead of York United after letting a 2-0 lead slip in a 2-4 loss to Pacific.
At the top of the table is Valour FC, the club of T&T defender, Canada-born Federico Pena with 18 points from seven matches, four more than Pacific FC who have played a match more while Forge is third with 12, followed Calvary with 11.
Over the border in the USA, national midfielder Kevin Molino, also coming off of Gold Cup duties made a 65th-minute second-half introduction for defending US Major League Soccer champions Columbus Crew in a 0-0 draw with Nashville SC to stay sixth in the Eastern Conference with 21 points from 14 matches, nine behind leaders New England Revolution who trashed the injured Joevin Jones-less Inter Miami FC 5-0.
And in another match, former national Under-20 defender Luke Singh was not used off the bench by Toronto FC in their 1-1 draw against New York Red Bulls at BMO Field, Toronto.
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WATCH: Akeem Garcia earns and scores a penalty during Halifax Wanderers FC's 2-1 loss to Atlético Ottawa. It's his first goal of 2021.
https://www.youtube.com/v/r06ZMSGYtoA?start=55
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WATCH: Akeem Garcia slides in to score the opening goal in Halifax Wanderers FC's 2-2 draw with York United.
https://www.youtube.com/v/VIBzHspVsWI?start=130
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WATCH: Akeem Garcia dispatches a penalty to score his first goal of the season during HFX Wanderers FC's 3-1 win over FC Edmonton
https://www.youtube.com/v/PLpCqDoWmmM?start=228
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WATCH: HFX Wanderers' Akeem Garcia scores the opening goal with a well-placed penalty during a 2-0 win over Guelph United in the Preliminary Round of the 2022 Canadian Championship
https://www.youtube.com/v/2DqJjQ3OPyU?start=71
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WATCH: Akeem Garcia drills home a loose ball after it rebounds off the crossbar during Halifax Wanderers FC's 2-2 draw with Cavalry FC.
https://www.youtube.com/v/BqmZsgZ9cWU?start=79
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WATCH: Akeem Garcia rolls his penalty into the bottom right corner to give HFX Wanderers a 1-0 win over York United.
https://www.youtube.com/v/ZK-FYcVFDSw?start=205
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WATCH: Halifax Wanderers FC's Akeem Garcia came on in the 74th minute and scored a penalty in the 86th minute during a 4-2 loss to York United
https://www.youtube.com/v/4aOzDzUf6xk?start=302
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Is akeem injured ?
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‘Excited to share my experience’: Akeem Garcia taking a break from football to pursue coaching opportunity in Halifax
Halifax Wanderers Media
After four seasons with the Halifax Wanderers, Akeem Garcia wants to give back to the local soccer community.
Garcia is taking a break from professional soccer to pursue his coaching certifications and work for a local club based in HRM.
“This decision is very tough but something I put a lot of thought into,” Garcia said. “Words can’t explain how much I love soccer and how much soccer has done for me, but I’m not walking away from it, and I’ll still be in the game. I’m happy I can still be in soccer but play a different role.”
Garcia joined the Wanderers in January 2019 from Santa Rosa in Trinidad and Tobago. He scored the first goal in club history on May 4 of that year against Forge FC. With 21 goals in 77 matches across all competitions, Garcia departs the Wanderers as the all-time leading scorer in club history and is second all-time in appearances.
“Akeem’s place in the history of the Wanderers is forever secure, and I will never forget the joy he brought us all when he scored the first-ever goal at the Wanderers Grounds,” Wanderers Founder and President Derek Martin said. “I am so happy he has chosen to stay in Halifax and will continue to inspire the next generation.”
“It was an opportunity of a lifetime, and I’m grateful for the Wanderers selecting me,” Garcia said. “Everything is amazing, the city and the atmosphere with the fans, I’ve been here four years now, so it’s my home away from home.”
Scoring that first goal in club history sticks out among Garcia’s fondest memories in a Wanderers jersey, alongside winning the 2020 CPL Golden Boot Award. Garcia scored six goals in nine appearances during The Island Games as the Wanderers advanced to the league final.
“The first game in Halifax definitely went down as one of my greatest footballing moments – my main focus that day was just trying to win our first home game, so I’m pretty honoured, honestly, to have scored the first goal,” Garcia said.
“The way we came together in PEI and stuck together with nobody giving up and then getting to the finals. I was fortunate to get the Golden Boot, but it was about that team being a family.”
While Garcia is not closing the door on returning to professional football, he will take some time to continue his coaching education and begin a new role at a local soccer club in Nova Scotia.
The Trinidad and Tobago international is hoping to be among many future Wanderers players that come from around the world, embrace the Halifax soccer community, and look to share their experience with the next generation of players.
“I’ve been given a couple of chances to run sessions and come in to work with the youth. I enjoyed it; to see them out there reminds me of when I was that age,” Garcia said. “Now, with everything in Canada, it’s possible for them to reach that goal (of professional football); I want to be able to help them reach that goal with the experience I have.”
And it’s an exciting opportunity for the soccer community in Halifax to have an international soccer player looking to stay in the city and inspire the next wave of players.
“As a club, we have consistently looked for ways to connect our players with the local community, including coaching roles at clubs in our area. We’re happy to see Akeem make this next step in his personal journey with football and the lessons each young player will learn under his guidance,” Wanderers sporting director Matt Fegan said.
“Akeem has written his name into the history of the Wanderers as not only one of our original squad members but with the important goals he scored in his four seasons with us.”
Garcia has already begun taking his coaching courses in Nova Scotia and intends to continue his footballing education alongside his new role in coaching.
“It’s incredible to have this new opportunity, I’m super fortunate, and the club is happy to have me on board. I’m really excited to start and share the experiences with the kids. It still surprises me how much the kids look up to us,” Garcia said.
And as he gets set to start his new journey in Halifax, Garcia is grateful for how he found himself in Canada with a chance to be a part of the Wanderers and make Nova Scotia his new home.
“I’m super grateful for the club and just want to give a huge thanks to everyone at the Wanderers, the staff, the coaches and a special shoutout to Derek King,” Garcia said.
King, a well-respected coach in Trinidad and Tobago, was the Wanderers’ assistant coach in the 2019 season. King, Garcia and Wanderers captain Andre Rampersad were all part of a Santa Rosa side that won the 2018 T&T Super League championship.
“He stuck with me through injuries back in Trinidad and is one of the reasons I’m here, he brought me here, so I want to give a huge thanks to him for playing a big part in my career.”
While Garcia says a possible return to professional football may still happen down the road, for now, he is putting all of his focus into helping future players follow in his footsteps and maybe one day take the pitch at the Wanderers Grounds.
“I’m going to give it 100% as if I was playing,” Garcia said. “I get an awesome feeling helping the kids, and that’s something I want to continue. I want to share my experiences with them.”
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Forever the first goal scorer in Halifax Wanderers' history, Akeem Garcia departs the club as the all-time leading scorer.
https://www.youtube.com/v/LvkrAIjRSzA
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Good Luck on Your coaching endeavour. Blessings!!!!
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Yo, doh play with this age of technology nah!
I couldn't stop scratching meh head with this one!
25 years old?
Whole five six months in the off-season to get coaching license etc.?
Inspiring the next generation in Canada and not TnT?
I truly respect ANY man's decision to do whatever they feel with their life and career...however, like the popular hilarious FB observation, "something eh adding up"... and sure enough it doesn't :)
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Former Wanderer Akeem Garcia on friend João Morelli breaking his goal scoring record: ‘He deserves it’
By Josh Healey (The Wanderers Notebook)
Akeem Garcia watches nearly every Halifax Wanderers match.
He’s been busy as a staff coach with Suburban FC, a role he took on last year after deciding to step away from professional football, but makes the time to watch his former club whenever he can.
When he stepped away, his accolades included scoring the first ever goal for the Wanderers, winning the Golden Boot at the Island Games and holding the club’s scoring record with 21 tallies across all competitions.
Former teammate and friend João Morelli has since broken his goal scoring record and sits atop the chart with 24 goals.
“He really deserves it and I’m happy for him. I’m really happy for him,” said Garcia during an interview with the Wanderers Notebook.
Having had an ACL injury himself, Garcia knows the hardships Morelli has endured throughout his rehabilitation process; he missed nearly two years of football with his own injury.
To see Morelli came back and become the record holder, said Garcia, is special given their bond.
“First of all, João is an amazing person. He’s been with the team three years now. The first year he came, he made an impact immediately. He pushed me, of course, in 2020 and we had a great partnership,” he said. “Every time he’s on the pitch, you can see his confidence and attitude. He deserves (the record) because he works so hard.”
This season has been a rollercoaster for Morelli because, at one point, he wasn’t sure he’d ever play professional football again. Now, he finds himself back on the pitch scoring important goals as the Wanderers compete for a playoff spot.
But the challenges Morelli faced in his recovery cannot be overstated.
“It was really hard. I thought (my career) was going to stop, I’m not going to lie,” he said after his first goal for the club in 479 days. “My wife and kid supported me a lot, man. It’s great to be back.”
Wanderers head coach Patrice Gheisar and his staff have been very deliberate in their use of the Brazilian star and their plan has paid off; Morelli has scored four goals and added three assists in eight matches, looking every bit the fantastic footballer he was pre-injury.
Garcia said he recently spoke with Morelli to congratulate him on the twin achievements of returning and scooping up the scoring record.
“We’ll always be friends. He’s an amazing person and an amazing guy,” he said.
Morelli sits first atop the Wanderers goal scoring chart with 24; Garcia is second with 21; Samuel Salter is third with 15 and there is a four way tie between Aidan Daniels, Massimo Ferrin, Cory Bent and Luis Perea with five goals.
Learning the coaching ropes
This year as been one of transition for Garcia as he learns the ins and outs of coaching.
When the opportunity presented itself last year, he said he wanted to explore another part of the game he loves but hasn’t ruled out playing again.
“It’s worked out, honestly, just the way I wanted,” said Garcia.
One thing he’s noticed is he finds it hard not to be in control of the ball.
“Sometimes, I get a little more anxious than I’m used to. As a player, I’m calm but now that you’re the coach, you just wish you could go on the pitch. But it’s good, I’m loving it and working with the different age groups,” he said.
He noted he was always surprised by players’ reactions to him as a former Wanderer; there’s a sense of wonderment and excitement from the kids at having a former professional coaching them.
But as much as he loves coaching, Garcia said he’d be lying if he didn’t miss the adrenaline of walking out at the Wanderers Grounds.
“I’ve always wanted the best for the club. The people in the organization have always wanted the best for me. Watching the first game, I was like man, it was an instant missing of it,” he said, adding distance has given him perspective on how special it was to play for Halifax. “For me, watching from the outskirts, you appreciate playing at the Wanderers Grounds more.”
Given he’s played with several players on the roster, Garcia said he tries to stay in touch but is enjoying being a fan of the club. He’s been impressed by Gheisar and his staff and the quick turnaround from last season’s woes.
The future, he said, is exciting.
“I’ve been following them and loved how they’ve played this season. I’ll always support the club,” he said.
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Plenty Garcias in TT!!! ;D