He was perhaps the most pulsating forward in the T&T Pro League this season and capped off a prolific season with Central FC with selection on the National Men’s team for the two upcoming friendly internationals against Argentina and Iran.
Willis Plaza scored 19 goals in 21 matches for Central this season and was a major factor in the team’s runners up finish in the League and their qualification for the Caribbean Club Championship. Also helping the club to the to the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield a few weeks ago.
At age 26, Plaza has five goals in ten matches for T&T, including a goal with his first touch of the game in T&T’s 3-3 regulation time draw with United Arab Emirates in Riyadh last year.
“It’s something that I just like doing… scoring goals,” the usually animated Plaza said.
“I like to have fun but when I’m on the field, I get to express myself. I work as hard as I can and I always play for my team to win. I don’t care what it takes out of me but once I can give my best then I’m going to do it,” added the former Arima Senior Comprehensive and Arima Boys Government player.
So while he may followed the likes of a Dwight Yorke at the Old Trafford “Theatre of Dreams” hoping to emulate him and his other favourite player Zinedine Zidane, the man from Arima has his been living his own set of dreams and has more to fulfill.
“I came from a poor home. We didn’t have much opportunities back then but I realized football was something I could play well. When I started with a small team named Pelota in Santa Rosa Heights. Then I met Terry Fenwick at Jabloteh and he spoke to me and he tried to put me on the right track.
It’s hard sometimes but I keep fighting because I want a good life and I know I have to grab the opportunity when it’s there. I spent some time in Thailand and it was a good experience to see part of that world but I like Trinidad also so I came back and I enjoyed playing with Central this season. But if there is that chance, then I would like to go and play outside (of T&T) again.”