Brisbane Roar's YaYa

The Football Sack caught up with the 22 year old Trinidad and Tobago international striker Kennya Cordner at a recent home game in Brisbane. The very beautiful girl, affectionately known as YaYa wasn’t in the greatest of spirits watching on from the sidelines as her team again drew the match.

“I didn’t have a very good last game [against Melbourne] but I have been practicing really well this week at training and I’m sure the coach has seen this. So I’m positive to get back on the park”

When asked about her childhood, growing up and playing in Tobago, a smile crosses YaYa’s face, her eyes glaze over and she speaks in a lovely, soft spoken West Indian accent of her fond memories.

“I started playing when I was five or six with my cousins back home in Tobago. Every time I get up in the morning I would just leave the house and go to the soccer field and play. My Grandmother be calling me all the time, but I don’t listen to her. I just go anyway with my cousins. I played with the boy’s which helped me become a more physical and tactical player”.

On playing in Australia and the standard, again YaYa effortlessly responds in the sweet tones of her motherland.

“I have been enjoying football in Australia, although I haven’t had a lot of minutes but I go out there and do my thing. So it’s really awesome and in time to come I might get more minutes. Just wait and see what happens. The standard in Australia is comparable to my national team and equal to Sweden [YaYa played for Kvarsveden IF] but the US [Where she played for Young Harris College] is much higher and I look forward to playing there again.”

So what’s in the immediate future for Kennya?

"After the W-League I'm thinking about going to Denmark but then again I having second thoughts, but I may come back here try out for a team, but I will see where it goes."

And what about the World Cup for Trinidad and Tobago? YaYa has scored 32 goals for her National side to date.

“We didn’t get through this time round but in years to come we will surely get there - 'cause the confidence and strength is building up and one day we will make it to the World Cup”

“Meanwhile I will be there in the finals for the W-League”.

In the first finals game for the Brisbane Roar, Kennya came on in the 86th minute and scored. Her team is now through to the Grand final and we all look forward to seeing the speedy Tobago player back on the field.

Thanks Kennya for speaking with The Football Sack!

Image courtesy: Nick Guoth