Exeter's Yfeko changes 'bad habits' in bid to stay fit
Johnly Yfeko's time at Exeter City has been hampered by injury
- Published
Exeter City defender Johnly Yfeko hopes changing his "bad habits" will help him stay fit.
The 22-year-old central defender's time at St James Park has been hit by a number of injuries since first joining in the summer of 2024.
He played just 13 times while on loan from Scottish giants Rangers last season after being dogged by hamstring injuries.
Yfeko has featured in just 12 more games since making the move permanent after suffering an abductor muscle issue.
"I've changed a lot of things about my life off the pitch, and sometimes it feels like it's not working, but obviously I feel like I've got to be honest with myself," he told BBC Radio Devon.
"Before I came here I had a lot of bad habits that I used to have and now I'm starting to do the good stuff, the bad habits are kind of catching up.
"It's just about me staying focused, obviously sometimes I might break down, but as long as I'm doing the right things I'm sure that my body will start to work with me."
'It took me a while to turn into a man'
Yfeko says Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell has been a big influence on him
The former Leicester City academy player made one first-team appearance for Rangers in the Scottish League Cup.
But he says he is finally learning that he has to be more mature if he wants to have a career as a professional footballer.
"I used to sleep late, used to be on the games late, just being a child, really.
"Since I've come into men's football, it took me a bit of a while to turn into a man, to realise that this is actually what I want to do.
"I've just got to, not sacrifice, but a lot of things that I've wanted to do in the past, just not do any more and just find a new way of living life."
Yfeko has impressed in his limited playing time in the Exeter City first team, and made his latest return from injury on Tuesday as a substitute in the 2-2 draw at Reading.
He says manager Gary Caldwell, also a central defender in his playing days, has helped him mature.
"Sometimes he's just sat me down and he's had a conversation with me about the stuff that I can achieve if I just do this different, do that different," Yfeko added.
"I think just putting into perspective how lucky I am and what opportunities I do have. I never really looked at it that way before.
"I'm a very laid-back character and I think it showed in my lifestyle before, and he just had a conversation with me like how he loves that I'm laid-back and I'm just happy all the time.
"But when I'm on the pitch, on the training pitch and when I'm doing stuff to prepare for games or training I've got to really act like a professional.
"I think sometimes you need that arm around your shoulder to point you in the right direction."
And Yfeko now hopes he can put his past errors behind him and build a career for himself in the game.
"It's my mistake, I can own up to that, I can hold my hands up, no one else has put me in a bad position except for myself," he said
"But I think the best part of growing, and for me to get in the position that I want to be and where my body wants to be, is for me to be honest with myself and realise that.
"That's the only way I can put my bad habits in the past right."
