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Fri, Mar

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Ahkeela Mollon1. What’s the feeling like, coming back from Sweden to lead your country’s attack in its bid to qualify for the Concacaf Gold Cup?
It's an amazing feeling after almost three years to be able to wear my national team  colours once more. And what's even more exciting is to be able to come and show how much Ahkeela Mollon has developed over the years and there’s no better place to show than in front of my home country.

2. You're more experienced as a player now, is there a feeling of more responsibility? How are you handling it?
Yes, I have matured over the years and being able to be exposed to first the American brand of football and now the European brand. Off course even the brand of football here in the Caribbean has done wonders for my game. Now I think it's my responsibility to be able to pass on my knowledge to the younger ones on the team and even on the youth teams. Every player wants someone to look up too, and I must try and be that example for the younger ones. Thus far I am dealing with that responsibility well because everyone knows Ahkeela Mollon, always willing to help and give words of encouragement.

3. How did you feel about the first win over St Lucia? Satisfied or felt it could have been better, both your personal performance and the team overall?
The game against St Lucia was okay but overall as a team we could have done better with especially with regards to finishing our opportunities. We need to work more on composure in front the box and finishing our chances, but overall we weren’t bad but could get better.

4. What’s it been like in Sweden? The climate, the fans and the football on a whole?
It's a wonderful feeling playing in Sweden. The fans are great… they really love watching the Trinidadian Rasta play  and I have a lot of fans. The weather on the other hand is tough (wow). I mean sometimes the weather is like -1 degree and we train or even have a game and coming from a country like Trinidad, it makes Swedish weather look like punishment (laughing). But I’ve learnt to deal with it and if you ask anyone about Ahkeela Mollon they will say just word one and that is “driven”.

5. Do you think that considering the amount of experience and quality in the T&T team at present  compared to when you first played back in 2001, that this could be one of T&T’s best chance to reach at least the final stages of the Gold Cup?
YES, certainly because all the girls from 2001 and onwards have matured so much in the game and have so much experience playing in foreign Leagues. Theyall brought something back to the table which in return I think will help with the success of the team.

6. How important  is it for the Senior team to do well as a sign of encouragement for the Under 17 girls at the FIFA Under 17 World Cup in September?
It's very important for us to be an example for the U-17s as in that way they have a group of players to look up to and try to be like or even better. We as senior players must know that the younger players are looking on and most likely will be coming out to all those games and we need to set the standard by demonstrating what maturity in the game is all about … by the way we play.

7. What’s your routine like in Sweden in terms of football readiness?
Well, my routine is focus, focus, and more focus, making sure I have a very strong training pattern before all my games. I Listen to a lot of music on the day of the game and I make sure that I very health meals. That is pretty much it for the most part.

8. Do you wish you had the chance to play at an Under 17 World Cup?
Nope! All my experiences lead to all the enjoyment in my life thus far, and there have been a lot of good experiences. So no, I am very happy for the present Under17 players because come September it will be another experience to add to their chapters of life.