Žalgiris Women have signed Venezuela defender Emperatriz Garcia, their third overseas recruit of the pre-season.
Garcia began playing at the age of 11 and spent most of her career in Venezuela, winning three domestic titles. She also had a spell in Ecuador in 2023 with Universidad Católica in Quito, where former Žalgiris goalkeeping coach Mantas Tamulionis was on the staff.
The 2021 match against River Plate in the Copa Libertadores saw Garcia named player of the match, and she has featured four times in the premier South American club competition.
“What interested me most was the club’s trust and the wonderful opportunity to play in Europe and improve. I like challenges,” Garcia told the club’s official media. “Lithuania is a very beautiful country. The biggest challenge so far is the language, but I believe everything can be overcome.”
In Vilnius, Garcia has been welcomed by fellow Venezuelan Carlos Olses, the goalkeeper in the men’s squad, who is no stranger to the Baltics, having originally come over to join Valmiera FC, in Latvia.
Žalgiris Women will play for third place in the LMFA Winter Cup against Saned on Saturday, 21st February at 18:50 at the Žirmūnai indoor arena.
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Source: https://fkzalgiris.lt/is-venesuelos-papildymas-gynybai/
