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Trinidad and Tobago National Women’s Team football star Ahkeela “Lady Latapy” Mollon considered herself lucky to escape with her life last night after her Nissan Primera vehicle was caught in a cross outside her Longdenville home.
(Courtesy Ahkeela Mollon)
Mollon, who is due to make her Women’s Premier League (WPL) debut tonight with CNGC Rush, returned home from training at about 9 pm and left her car’s engine running as she got out to open the gate.
Mollon had just opened the gate when she heard what she quickly realised was gunshots.
“My car was idling as I was opening gate and I heard ‘pax pax pax’ come from somewhere,” Mollon told Wired868. “I didn’t know where the gunfire was coming from and I was going to get back in my car and reverse in the yard.
“But at the same time, my mother opened the door. So I dived inside instead.”
Mollon heard one group of men pursuing another gang and what she believed to be over two dozen shots fired. The men ran right past her car in the middle of the road.
When she finally got off the floor and went outside, her car was riddled with gunshots.
(Courtesy Ahkeela Mollon)
“People could have woken up this morning and heard that was my last (night),” said Mollon.
“All I know is if my mother didn’t open the door, I might have tried to go back in the car. Because all the doors in the house were locked.”
Mollon, who turned 30 in April, is Trinidad and Tobago’s first female footballer to play professionally in Europe, after spending five seasons in Iceland and Sweden between 2009 and 2014.
She left Europe last year to help the “Women Soca Warriors” in their exciting but ultimately unsuccessful Canada 2015 Women’s World Cup bid.
At present, Mollon, who has a Psychology degree from the University of South Carolina, is an employee at the Ministry of Sport.
Her WPL outfit, Rush, will play their opening game of the season from 8 pm tonight in the second game of a double header at the Police Barracks in St James.
(Copyright Rodrigo Buendia/AFP 2015)
Rush faces Petrotrin Oilers from 8 pm while QPCC and St Ann’s Rangers square off in a WOLF contest at 6 pm.
Mollon admitted that she is still shaken up by the shooting incident but wants to play tonight. Her car is at the Longdenville Police Station for forensic examination.
“I am going to try my best to play but I am still shaken up,” she said. “It is really, really sad what is happening to this country…”
If the Warrior does head to the Barracks for WPL action tonight, she will take a lift from her best friend and international teammate, Khadidra Debesette.
Debesette, incidentally, will line up for the Oilers. But their friendly battle will be nothing like the scrap she so closely avoided last night in Longdenville.
(Courtesy TTFA Media)
Tonight’s fixtures
QPCC v St Ann’s Rangers, 6 pm, WOLF, St James Barracks;
Petrotrin Oilers v CNGC Rush, 8 pm, WPL, St James Barracks.
(WPL teams with squad numbers)
CNGC Rush: 12.Ahkeela Mollon, 4.Rhea Belgrave, 11.Janine Francois, 10.Mariah Shade, 5.Annalis Cummings, 13.Afeisha Mohammed, 6.Tamika Isaac, 14.Janelle McGee, 16.Nadia James, 21.Nicole Mitchell, 3.Adeka Spence (all Trinidad and Tobago), 2.Bruna Marchionatti, 7.Priscilla “Pri” Selau, 15.Joyce “Joyce” Mattos (all Brazil), 1.Emily Marie Cota (US Virgin Islands), 8.Nubiluz Rangel, 9.Chrisbelis Abraham,
Head coach: Marlon Charles (T&T), Assistant coach: Ademir Braz De Oliveira (Brazil).
(Courtesy CONCACAF)
Petrotrin Oilers: 1.Shalette Alexander (GK), 2.Tamara Johnson, 4.Tisha Belfon, 5.Karyn Forbes, 6.Khadisha Debesette, 7.Denecia Prince, 8.Victoria Swift, 9.Stephanie Bonilla, 10.Naomie Guerra, 11.Khadidra Debeette, 12.Kayla Taylor, 13.Shenelle Henry, 14.Chevonne John, 15.Shenelle Arjoon, 18.Rinelle Findley, 19.Ray-Ann Montano, 20.Shanice Haynes, 21.Keri Meyers (GK), 23.Collette Morgan.
Head coach: Arnold Murray (T&T), Assistant coach: Rajesh Latchoo (T&T)
Women’s Premier League results
(Thu Jun 18)
Fuego 5 (Tasha St Louis 9, 29 pen, Saucedo 52, Jo-Marie Lewis 60, 62), Dragons 3 (Isabella Hayes 1, Lauryn Hutchinson 57 pen, Jessica Adams 70) at St James;
Player of the Match: Tasha St Louis (Fuego);
At her right is Fuego goalkeeper Leticia Bussato.
(Courtesy Sinead Peters/Wired868)
Angels 3 (Maylee Attin-Johnson 31, 40, Rafaela De Vargas 61), Wave 0 at St James;
Player of the Match: Maylee Attin-Johnson (Angels).
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
Not related. Couldn’t be. Just a sign of the times.
heard the mirror got shot up as well are we seeing a merry go round?
This is craziness, we are now living in a Western world, when would it stop.The Lord is really watching over you young lady and thank the Lord your mother was around. Good luck continue to make T&T proud
Thank God for his protection
Ahkeela did well last night. She wasn’t at her best but then nobody really was as the WPL didn’t have a pre-season. Some wonderful set pieces though.
May she fix an recover mentally in quick time , I trust that this government don’t spring a drive base on this incident just to paint a picture , but intelligence has to be very deep to hold the financiers the bring in weapons etc , not only the low level pest that rents a purchase a weapon from a fellow pest as well .
Preparedness and sound decision-making are keys in our world today. And even when these are intentionally and diligently pursued, we can be blindsided and hit by “objects” in our blind spots. Thankfully she is safe.
sips tea.
Wow!! She’s a blessed young lady. Really glad she is ok.
Sad
The lil reminder that a murder is happening every day on this island. We are trying to be normal but the truth is with this evil we will never sleep easy
Them guys them out of order down by we,could not deal with hearing my friend gone.. God was with her.. Thank God…
WHA D JAIL?!!! What possible reason or excuse could anyone have to do this ?…
So what that is about now….steeuuuuupppps
wow
Look at the shit this country going through nah, allyah ain’t tired with the shit. When dear lord are we going to awaken the sleeping giant in this country and bring this shit to a screeching halt, when lord!!!!
Wow just wow
What madness is dis?! It’s like the Wild West here!
Wda?
Wda?
Damn
This is crazy. Thank God you made it inside, lady.
This is sheer madness. Happy she’s okay but this will take some getting over.
No weapon that is formed against shall ever prosper. Amen
Glad 2 see that she is safe
Crazy! I trust you are well Ahkeela x
One of the most humble superstars in T&T sport. Very relieved that this gem is safe. Almost let out a cuss loud enough for my poor mother to hear.
No one is safe. Really sad.
Judgement! Thank God she’s safe
Prayers up!! You were surely protected!
Blessings and love for the upcoming matches Ahkeela Mollon
#neverWalkAlone Jah is always by your side.Selah
Until the same force is returned to these criminal elements; and they start to fall these s**** wouldn’t stop.
Jezan…REALITY and T.
wow, happy she is safe from all this madness
Madness
Ahkeela Mollon I hope and pray that you are ok! Wow, that was so close. Say your prayers and thank God that you are alive today.
Happy she is safe indeed
Woow..happy she is safe…god is always good
Keep you and your family safe Lasana Liburd
Way Abraham? Dey lock up he son along with his st*nes or what?
Jus so??! :/
Praises be to the almight that she is ok!! More life!! We all need to be very careful
Smh
It is a reminder that we are all at risk.
It shows too that we are all at risk. And people are wrong to thing that only criminals have to worry about flying bullets.
I have been saying this for eons but I get the same refrain “yuh have to be in something for them to come after yuh”
Give thanks that she and her family escaped unharmed. This proves how very unsafe and treacherous this country has become that one has to dodge bullets in front their own home.
Sheer madness…Lasana….
Hope you ok
Glad to see Ahkeela wasn’t hurt and I’m sure she’ll be “fired up” to play tonight. This was a close call and it shocks you when someone you know is innocently involved in the violence on our streets. I’m just wondering if that Chelsea badge wasn’t the real target!!
Wtf Harrison, that was somebody’s kid. Yh I get the joke, but the bullet missed the Chelsea badge and passed right where a Trinidad and Tobago National was sitting! Your level of concern does not seem to extend to Ministry co-workers. Apologize now. If Mollon made that comment about one of ur kids in the situation, ud be absolutely livid. She’s playin in the league I’m sure u helped to create. This is a bad example you’ve set no matter how morbid a sense of humour goes.