He can still trap a ball coming at him any speed. His passes are crisp and accurate and he can run well in short spurts all night. And he can often be heard shouting strategy all over the field.
At 80, Fred Molzahn is still making things happen on the soccer field. He乌鸦传媒檚 in Vernon with the Okanagan 65+ Oldtimers for yet another B.C. 55+ (formerly Seniors) Games.
乌鸦传媒淭his is about my 15th Games,乌鸦传媒� said Molzahn, a Kelowna window company sales rep. 乌鸦传媒淚 think my first one was in Penticton. I乌鸦传媒檝e got two gold medals and a few silver and bronze, six medals. Soccer is my passion and I乌鸦传媒檝e met lots of great guys at these Games.乌鸦传媒�
Molzahn emigrated to Kelowna from Germany at age 14. He and his wife, Frankie, have four children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Frankie says Fred has a huge scrapbook of soccer articles from the Kelowna Daily Courier.
乌鸦传媒�He loves the game and I thought the old man would quit a few times but now I have no idea when he乌鸦传媒檒l stop playing. He乌鸦传媒檚 still working full-time.乌鸦传媒�
Molzahn, who cheers for Bayern Munich, was a stalwart with the powerhouse Okanagan Valley Men乌鸦传媒檚 League Willow Inn Kickers of the 乌鸦传媒�70s. He now plays regularly with the Brandt乌鸦传媒檚 Creek Pub 55+s Thursday nights.
乌鸦传媒淏randt乌鸦传媒檚 Creek did a nice testimonial (day) for me and we had two full teams. It was a great day.乌鸦传媒�
Andy Miller, in Vernon with the Okanagan 60s, has played decades alongside Molzahn.
乌鸦传媒淚n 1976 when I met him, I couldn乌鸦传媒檛 believe he was 40,乌鸦传媒� said Miller, who helps run the Brandt乌鸦传媒檚 Creek 55+ club. 乌鸦传媒淣ow, in 2017, he乌鸦传媒檚 80 and we still need him.乌鸦传媒�
Miller and friends from Brandt乌鸦传媒檚 Creek held the testimonial game in Molzahn乌鸦传媒檚 honour in late August at Beasley Park in Lake Country.
乌鸦传媒淚t was a fantastic day with 60 or 70 people,乌鸦传媒� said Miller. 乌鸦传媒渨e divvied up the teams and Fred got on the scoreboard after a dubious penalty call. We told stories, some of them embellished. Four of five of the old Kickers like Dennis Zahara, Clare Patton and Rick Moore were there.乌鸦传媒�
Miller said the Pubbers have been trying to give Molzahn a soccer ball for his retirement for some time.
乌鸦传媒淧eter Butler bought an old Mitre ball three or four years ago that was supposed to be for Fred乌鸦传媒檚 last year and the last ball has turned yellow,乌鸦传媒� laughed Miller.
Molzahn and the Okanagan Oldtimers shaded North Island (Zone 5) 2-1 and battled South Island to a scoreless draw in opening-day play at Marshall Field #5.
Gord McLaren of Kelowna took a nifty through ball from Vernon乌鸦传媒檚 Denis Chabot and buried a 20-yarder for the winner with six minutes to play.
Ken Rath of Vernon and Willem Jonkman of North Island swapped first-half goals.
Fullback Harry Higginson of Summerland headed a dangerous cross off the line for the Okanagan seconds before the final whistle.
In 60s men乌鸦传媒檚 play Wednesday, the Okanagan bowed 3-0 to the Victoria Strikers at Marshall Field#3.
Mike Walters (winner), Brian Porter and Peter Cavin scored for the Strikers, who had Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 JC Buratti in net.
The Okanagan 55s, a Kelowna entry, stuffed North Island 4-0 on two goals from Will Kruiper.
