AFTER watching the Soca Warriors play at the 2006 Fifa World Cup, Denmark-born Marc Gangia is now getting the chance to train with the T&T men's senior football team.
Gangia, 26, is eligible to play for T&T through his father.
Gangia, who is a striker for Dalum IF in the fifth tier of Danish football, spoke to the media during a Soca Warriors training session at Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima yesterday. T&T are preparing for a Conmebol Copa America qualifier against Canada on March 23 in Frisco, Texas.
"It is a big opportunity hopefully to be a part of," Gangia said. "It is a big step for the country if we could qualify for the (2026) World Cup and also in the summer (Copa tournament). It is a big match ahead in Canada, so we will see if we could get through. It is nice to be here."
Gangia has visited T&T before.
"This is probably my fifth time now. My dad has a lot of family here, so we have been here a couple of times."
He has fond memories of the Soca Warriors. "I remember from the 06 World Cup and also following the (English) Premier League (with T&T footballers) Dwight Yorke and Kenwyne Jones and players like that."
Gangia made the decision a decade ago to play for T&T, but the process has been a lengthy one.
"Approximately ten years ago it started, but it has been a long process with the passports and all those kinds of things."
He is settling down at the training camp, saying, "The weather is hot compared to Denmark so there is a transition I have to get used to, but I think the boys have been nice and taking good care of me, so it has been good so far."