TT female footballer big in Sweden
By JOEL BAILEY (Newsday)
Thursday, October 16 2008
TRINIDAD AND Tobago women’s team footballer Ahkeela Mollon was instrumental in guiding her Swedish-based club Kvarnsvedens IK football club to a spot in Division One for the 2009 season.
The 23-year-old striker, who has played for Trinidad and Tobago from the youth ranks to the “senior” level, joined Kvarnsvedens IK in March after graduating from the University of South Carolina with degrees in psychology, education - health, physical education and recreation.
And she has had an influential role in her club’s last match against Linkoping Kenty on October 5 to secure promotion to the First Division.
According to the pint-sized Mollon: “I came to Sweden with one intention and one intention only, and that was to help the team to get promoted. And I am so happy I was able to help my team accomplish just that.”
The Chaguanas resident netted 17 goals, in as many games, during the course of the regular season, to help Kvarnsvedens IK win their conference, but they had to play two play-off games to advance to the First Division.
“Our first play-off game was September 28, we played against Ravasen, the winner of their division, in Stockholm,” she said. “My team was victorious, with a 2-0 win, and I scored both goals in the last ten minutes of the game.
She continued: “The second game (was on) October 5 against Linkoping Kenty.”
After a goalless first half, Mollon noted: “I was ready to do the job in which my heart was set on achieving.
“I assisted in the first goal, in the first 20 minutes of the second half, and followed with another assist (in the next) five minutes,” she continued. “And, to seal the deal, I scored in the last ten minutes of the game.” Despite conceding a penalty, Kvarnsvedens IK prevailed 3-1, but Mollon, in all, registering 20 goals during her five-month-long stay.
“It has been an honour being here in Sweden and happy to have been given the chance to continue my career after college,” she said. “I now feel like I have accomplished something in such a far-away country. “I came and I got the job done, which is to help the team with promotion,” she continued. “But, more importantly, I came and captured the hearts of a whole community here in Sweden.
“I am happy that I was able to come and show Sweden what talented players there are in the Caribbean and now, more people are open to the fact that countries like Trinidad have players who can (compete) with the best in the world,” she ended.
And it seems like football runs though her family, as her cousin Clyde Leon is a member of the national men’s team.
