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|"It was the second time I managed to score 5 goals in one game but I don't think it was my best performance" - Juan Garcia Rivas|Exclusive Interview|He's probably the best South American goalscorer you've never heard of & we spoke with him about his remarkable career. (1/17)
In this exclusive interview with FUTVE English, Garcia talks to us about:
His favourite goal
Being Venezuelan football's record goalscorer
Staying in Venezuela
Noel Sanvicente & Stalin Rivas
His presidency of the Players' Union
(2/17)
His favourite goalBeing Venezuelan football's record goalscorerStaying in VenezuelaNoel Sanvicente & Stalin Rivas His presidency of the Players' Union(2/17)
Q: You are the all-time top scorer in Venezuelan football with 320 goals. Do you have a favourite?
A: I remember very clearly my first goal as a professional. It was on 19 April 1989, in Calabozo, Guarico against Arroceros de Calabozo. This could be my favourite. (3/17)
A: I remember very clearly my first goal as a professional. It was on 19 April 1989, in Calabozo, Guarico against Arroceros de Calabozo. This could be my favourite. (3/17)
(continued)...Although, there are many goals I am fond of, even against world champion teams, but the first one is the one that started everything and I keep it with me. It was with Minerven del Callao. (4/17)
Q: You are well ahead as FutVe's lead scorer. What do you think made you such a consistent finisher?
A: I've always valued precision. As a child, I was a striker, so the goal has always been my objective, but even as an amateur I had a hard time being accurate. (5/17)
A: I've always valued precision. As a child, I was a striker, so the goal has always been my objective, but even as an amateur I had a hard time being accurate. (5/17)
Garcia finished top scorer of the Venezuelan Primera Division five times. Particularly fascinating is the fact that the first time didn't come until Garcia was already 30 years old.
A: It was with Caracas, and I also won it in the Copa Merconorte that year, too. (6/17)
A: It was with Caracas, and I also won it in the Copa Merconorte that year, too. (6/17)
Another highlight of Garcia's career was the 2001/02 season. That year, he scored 34 goals, his highest return, & it was the only season in which he won both the league and the honour of top scorer.
Garcia: That season with Nacional Tachira was very special.
More below (7/17)
Garcia: That season with Nacional Tachira was very special.
More below (7/17)
In the 2002/03 season, Garcia finished top scorer once again. In one match, he scored five goals. The most spectacular part of it was that it was his third game for a new club and the goals were his first for them.
Q: Is that the best performance of your entire career?
(8/17)
Q: Is that the best performance of your entire career?
(8/17)
A: When I scored 5 goals for @MinerosGuayana against @Carabobo_FC, I had already done it before with Minerven against Deportivo Tuy. It was the second time I had done it, and I don't think it was the best performance of my career.
(9/17)
(9/17)
That season, despite Garcia's goals, Mineros were nearly relegated. They finished second from bottom, meaning they had to face the team that finished 2nd in the Segunda Division, Union Lara, in a Promotion/Relegation Playoff. Mineros survived, winning 4-2 over two legs. (10/17)
Q: You're from Bolivar State, as is Stalin Rivas and Noel Sanvicente. Together you are three of the most successful figures in Venezuelan football. Is it a coincidence or do you think Bolivar produces such talent for a particular reason?
(11/17)
(11/17)
A: There has always been great talent in Bolivar, but I certainly think that Stalin is our reference point as a player and now Sanvicente as a coach. It's a strong state in football terms because they play so much there. That's why they've always produced so much talent. (12/17)
Q: You played just one season of your career abroad, despite your obvious talent. Why was that?
A: I played for Deportivo Pasto in Colombia, which was a nice experience because we played in the Copa Libertadores that year. I had several offers from Europe and the US....(13/17)
A: I played for Deportivo Pasto in Colombia, which was a nice experience because we played in the Copa Libertadores that year. I had several offers from Europe and the US....(13/17)
...but unfortunately they couldn't be finalised. I never had an agent or representative. It's not an excuse but it could have helped. There was the possibility to go to France, I even had the plane ticket, but in the end I didn't even travel. I was always willing, though. (14/17)
Q: You are now President of the Players' Union, which you and Stalin breathed new life into. What do you hope to achieve in the role?
A: As many benefits as possible for the players. We want to dignify the profession and achieve a collective contract between all parties. (15/17)
A: As many benefits as possible for the players. We want to dignify the profession and achieve a collective contract between all parties. (15/17)
We would like to thank Juan Garcia for taking the time to talk to us during what is an incredibly tough period for all the professional football bodies in Venezuela.
Recently, the President of the Venezuelan Football Federation, Jesus Berardinelli passed away. Garcia....(16/17)
Recently, the President of the Venezuelan Football Federation, Jesus Berardinelli passed away. Garcia....(16/17)
...wished to state that he expresses his "deepest condolences" to Berardinelli's family. "I have admiration and respect for him. I remember that he was a tireless fighter, on the side of the players, and I am very sorry for his loss. He has left a legacy for growth."
End.(17/17)
End.(17/17)
