Willis Plaza Explained

Willis Deon Plaza (born 3 August 1987) is a Trinidadian professional footballer who plays as a forward.

Club career

Early years

In his early career, Plaza played club football in Trinidad and Vietnam for San Juan Jabloteh, Navibank Sài Gòn and Sông Lam Nghệ An, Central FC.^{[3] [4]} In July 2014 he signed for Belgian club Visé.^[5]

In December 2015, Plaza signed a deal to join Salvadoran Primera División side Alianza in January 2016.^{[6] [7] [8]} In 2016, he returned to San Juan Jabloteh.

East Bengal

In January 2017, Plaza signed for Indian I-League club East Bengal.^[9] On 14 January, he scored his first goal for the club, scoring the winning goal in the 80th minute of a 2–1 victory against DSK Shivajians.^[10]

On 4 July 2017, it was announced that the club had retained Plaza for the upcoming season.^[11] In January 2018, he was released by the club.^{[12] [13]}

Mohammedan/Churchill Brothers

It was announced that Willis would sign for Mohammedan from 8 February 2018.^{[14] [15]} He then moved to Churchill Brothers in March 2018.^[16] He won the golden boot of the 2018–19 I-League season, with 21 goals.^{[17] [18] [19]}

He scored a brace for Churchill in their Indian Super Cup qualifier against Delhi Dynamos and helped his side to advance in to the final round of the tournament.^[20] Later he was included in Churchill's squad for remaining matches of the Goa Professional League.^[21]

He was retained by Churchill Brothers for the 2019 season.^[22] In April 2019 he moved on loan to Bashundhara Kings.^[23]

In July 2020, he returned to Mohammedan.^[24]

Delhi FC

In August 2021, he signed with Minerva Delhi FC^[25] and appeared in the 130th edition of Durand Cup.^[26] Plaza later appeared in the 2021 I-League Qualifiers, in which they finished on third position.^[27]

Aizawl

On 25 November 2021, Plaza moved to Aizawl FC, ahead of the 2021–22 I-League season.^{[28] [29]}

Bhawanipore

He signed for Bhawanipore in June 2022.^[30] He helped his team winning Naihati Gold Cup with scoring a brace in their 4–0 win against United Sports.^[31]

International career

He made his international debut for Trinidad and Tobago on 22 January 2012.^[32]

Personal life

Plaza has said that his ancestors lived in the southern part of the Indian city of Kolkata.^[33] During his school days, Plaza played cricket and was a friend of West Indian international Sunil Narine. In an interview, he said that Narine was his close friend and both of them idolised Brian Lara. He also said that he started playing football on the advice of his coach.^[34]

Career statistics

International

Trinidad and Tobago national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2012	6	4
2013	3	1
2014	2	0
2015	7	0
2016	3	2
Total	21	7

Statistics accurate as of match played 3 June 2016

International goals

As of match played 3 June 2016. Trinidad & Tobago score listed first, score column indicates score after each Plaza goal.

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition

scope=col	No.	scope=col data-sort-type=date	Date	scope=col	Venue	scope=col	Cap	scope=col	Opponent	scope=col	Score	scope=col	Result	scope=col	Competition
scope=row	1	29 February 2012	Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda	2		4–0	4–0	Friendly
scope=row	2	10 October 2012	Warner Park Sporting Complex, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis	3		4–1	4–1	2012 Caribbean Cup
scope=row	3	14 October 2012	Warner Park Sporting Complex, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis	5		8–0	10–0	2012 Caribbean Cup
scope=row	4					9–0
scope=row	5	5 September 2013	King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia	8		1–3	3–3	Friendly
scope=row	6	3 June 2016	Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center Stadium, Qinhuangdao, China	23		1–3	2–4	Friendly
scope=row	7					2–3

Honours

Bhawanipore

• Naihati Gold Cup: 2022^[35]
• CFL Premier Division A runner-up: 2022^[36]

Individual

• I-League Golden Boot: 2018–19 (with 21 goals)^{[37] [38] [39]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Willis Plaza :: Willis Deon Plaza :: Churchill Brothers. www.ceroacero.es. 19 August 2018.
2. http://www.socawarriors.net/mens-senior-team/senior-team-news/player-pool.html?view=matchfixtures&pid=583&goals=1
3. Web site: Plaza on target in Sai Gon. 23 May 2012. Soca Warriors. 8 August 2012. 6 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306033433/http://www.socawarriors.net/component/content/11062.html?task=view. live.
4. Web site: Promising times for Plaza in Vietnam. 6 July 2012. Shaun Fuentes. Soca Warriors.
5. Web site: Deux internationaux signent au CS Visé. 23 July 2014. 23 July 2014. 26 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140726000018/http://walfoot.be/fra/news/lis/2014-07-23/deux-internationaux-signent-au-cs-vise. live.
6. Web site: Alianza contrató al trinitario Willis Plaza. elgrafico.com. el Grafico. 3 June 2016. es. 29 December 2015. 23 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160423071032/http://www.elgrafico.com/2015/12/29/alianza-contrato-al-trinitario-willis-plaza. live.
7. Web site: Willis Plaza, nuevo refuerzo albo. El Salvador FC. 4 May 2016. 24 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160424100633/http://elsalvadorfc.com/willis-plaza-nuevo-refuerzo-albo/. live.
8. Web site: Alianza desmiente racismo contra Willis Plaza - Goal.com. 6 May 2016. 9 May 2016. 12 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161012091420/http://www.goal.com/es-mx/news/14572/el-salvador/2016/05/06/23215822/alianza-desmiente-racismo-contra-willis-plaza. live.
9. Web site: 'Foreign' boost for East Bengal ahead of I-League opener. Times of India. 31 October 2017. 5 January 2017. 31 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180131111948/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/foreign-boost-for-east-bengal-ahead-of-i-league-opener/articleshow/56361407.cms. live.
10. Web site: East Bengal beat DSK Shivajians 2–1 in I-League. Times of India. 31 October 2017. 14 January 2017. 5 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180905131428/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/i-league/east-bengal-beat-dsk-shivajians-2-1-in-i-league/articleshow/56541609.cms. live.
11. Web site: East Bengal reinforce strike force with Willis Plaza signing. Goal. 31 October 2017. 4 July 2017. 15 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191215210615/https://www.goal.com/brasilglobaltour/en-india/news/136/india/2017/07/04/36820152/east-bengal-reinforce-strike-force-with-willis-plaza-signing. live.
12. Web site: ইস্টবেঙ্গলে শেষ প্লাজার ইনিংস [Plaza's innings at East Bengal comes to an end]]. Anandabazar Patrika. 25 January 2018. bn. 21 January 2018. 24 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180124120328/http://www.anandabazar.com/sport/east-bengal-has-released-trinidadian-striker-willis-plaza-dgtl-1.743847. live.
13. Web site: East Bengal release Willis Plaza after Kolkata Derby debacle. Khel. Now. khelnow.com. 21 January 2018. 16 April 2019. 16 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190416092251/https://khelnow.com/news/article/i-league-2017-18-east-bengal-release-willis-deon-plaza. live.
14. Web site: প্লাজা এবার মহামেডানে. mohammedansportingindia.com. bn. 3 February 2018. 4 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180204000308/http://www.mohammedansportingindia.com/mohammedan-sc-ropes-willis-plaza/. usurped.
15. Web site: Bayi Kamo looking forward to playing with Willis Plaza at Mohammedan Sporting – Times of India. The Times of India. 16 April 2019. 20 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210420132319/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/bayi-kamo-looking-forward-to-playing-with-willis-plaza-at-mohammedan-sporting/articleshow/63159902.cms. live.
16. News: I-League 2017–18: Former East Bengal striker Willis Plaza replaces Siyo at Churchill Brothers. goal.com. 9 March 2018. 9 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180309184321/http://www.goal.com/en-in/news/i-league-2017-18-east-bengal-willis-plaza-siyo-churchill/110s656gz4lq1knj470roxjw0. live.
17. Web site: Dutta. Raja. 2019-03-29. The 2018/19 I-League End of Season Awards Sportsbeatsindia. 2021-03-27. en-US. 20 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200620080529/https://sportsbeatsindia.com/the-2018-19-i-league-end-of-season-awards/. live.
18. Web site: 2019-03-13. The 2018/19 I-League End of Season Awards. 2021-03-27. The Away End. en-GB. 7 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201107231317/https://theawayend.co/2019/03/13/the-2018-19-i-league-end-of-season-awards/. live.
19. News: Chennai City Crowned I-League 2018-19 Champions After Win Against Minerva Punjab . 27 June 2020 . Press Trust of India (PTI) . . 9 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200627200614/https://sports.ndtv.com/football/chennai-city-crowned-i-league-2018-19-champions-after-win-against-minerva-punjab-2005254. 27 June 2020. live.
20. News: Super Cup 2018: Plaza brace fires Churchill past Delhi to qualify for pre-quarters. goal.com. 15 March 2018. 16 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180316024521/http://www.goal.com/en-in/news/super-cup-2018-plaza-brace-fires-churchill-past-delhi-in/7hq0g206uovi1ougav7kv2uc7. live.
21. Web site: Churchill Brothers come from a goal down to beat Corps of Signals in GPL. 24 March 2018. khelnow.com. 26 March 2018. 27 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180327084335/https://khelnow.com/news/article/gpl-2017-18-churchill-brothers-corps-of-signals-report. live.
22. Web site: I-League 2018–19: Willis Plaza reveals the reason for his sensational comeback. 16 February 2019. www.sportskeeda.com. 16 April 2019. 16 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190416083414/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/i-league-2018-19-willis-plaza-reveals-the-reason-for-his-sensational-comeback. live.
23. Web site: Indian Football Transfers: Willis Plaza moves to Bangladeshi side Bashundhara Kings on loan from Churchill Brothers. sportskeeda.com. 25 April 2019. 4 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190504071825/https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/indian-football-transfers-willis-plaza-moves-to-bangladeshi-side-bashundhara-kings-on-loan-from-churchill-brothers. live.
24. Web site: I-League second division club Mohammedan Sporting sign Willis Plaza from Churchill Brothers. Scroll Staff. Scroll.in.
25. Web site: Delhi FC on Instagram: "Reinforcements have arrived in Delhi with a familiar look". Instagram. 29 August 2021. 10 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221010051138/https://www.instagram.com/p/CTE_6Zil-v_/. live.
26. Web site: ANI. Durand Cup: Delhi FC beats Kerala Blasters 1-0, reaches quarterfinals. 24 September 2021. Sportstar. 22 September 2021. en. 22 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210922170938/https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/indian-football/delhi-fc-beats-kerala-blasters-1-0-reaches-durand-cup-quarterfinals-willis-plaza/article36606354.ece. live.
27. Web site: I-League 2019-20: Aser Dipanda brace helps Punjab FC sink Gokulam Kerala. 9 April 2020. en. www.goal.com. 20 December 2019. 3 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211103055435/https://www.goal.com/en-in/match/punjab-v-gokulam/8xaea6zmtoazduredia0alai2. live.
28. https://mobile.twitter.com/AizawlFC/status/1463885067990700037 Aizawl FC official
29. Web site: Primus, Plaza join India's Aizawl FC. trinidadexpress.com. Trinidad Express (Daily). 22 February 2022. 25 February 2022. 23 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220223160753/https://trinidadexpress.com/sports/local/primus-plaza-join-india-s-aizawl-fc/article_360da5be-943f-11ec-8009-e74a5dbee7a0.html.
30. Web site: খালিদ জামিলের ইস্টবেঙ্গলের সুপার স্ট্রাইকার! ঝড় তুলতে ফের আসছেন কলকাতায়. 15 August 2022. 10 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221010051115/https://bengali.indianexpress.com/sports/ex-east-bengal-star-willis-plaza-set-to-sign-for-bhawanipur-fc-457778/. live.
31. Web site: Sulaya. Singha. এক ম্যাচ বাকি থাকতেই গ্রুপ চ্যাম্পিয়ন হয়ে কলকাতা লিগের সুপার সিক্সে ভবানীপুর ক্লাব. 10 September 2022. 31 October 2022. Bhawanipore Club became the group champion in Super Six of Calcutta League with one match left. sangbadpratidin.in. Sangbad Pratidin Digital. Kolkata. https://web.archive.org/web/20221019125918/https://www.sangbadpratidin.in/sports/football/bhawanipore-club-becomes-the-group-champion-of-cfl-2022/. 19 October 2022.
32. Web site: Profile. Soca Warriors.
33. Web site: East Bengal striker Willis Plaza reveals his ancestors used to live in Kolkata. My Khel. 31 October 2017. 3 August 2017.
34. Web site: East Bengal striker Willis Plaza recalls his cricket days with Sunil Narine. My Khel. 31 October 2017. 3 August 2017.
35. Web site: নৈহাটী গোল্ড কাপ: প্লাজার জোড়া গোল, চ্যাম্পিয়ন জায়ান্ট কিলার ভবানীপুর. Naihati Gold Cup: Plaza doubles, champions Giant Killer Bhawanipore. kolkata24x7.in. Kolkata 24×7. Kolkata 24x7. Sports Desk. 14 August 2022. 29 October 2022. bn. https://web.archive.org/web/20220816173504/https://kolkata24x7.in/sports-news/united-sports-runners-up-at-naihati-gold-cup/. 16 August 2022.
36. Web site: কলকাতা লিগ জয় মহামেডানের, টানা দু'বার খেতাব এল সাদা-কালো তাঁবুতে. 30 October 2022. 31 October 2022. Mohammedan's Calcutta League win, the title came twice in a row in the black and white tent. thewall.in. The Wall Bureau. Kolkata. https://web.archive.org/web/20221031044941/https://www.thewall.in/news/mohammedan-sc-win-kolkata-league-2022-title/. 31 October 2022.
37. Web site: From the History Book. All India Football Federation . the-aiff.com . 19 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140717033518/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=1965 . 17 July 2014.
38. Web site: Players–Goals. Soccerway. 24 November 2018. 25 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181125073848/https://us.soccerway.com/national/india/i-league/20182019/regular-season/r46472/players/. live.
39. Web site: Chennai City sweep I-League awards. theshillongtimes.com. The Shillong Times. 21 March 2019. 29 October 2020. 21 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190321172232/https://theshillongtimes.com/2019/03/21/chennai-city-sweep-i-league-awards/.