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害羞草研究所檚 in Vernon with the Okanagan 65+ Oldtimers for yet another B.C. 55+ (formerly Seniors) Games.
害羞草研究所淭his is about my 15th Games,害羞草研究所� said Molzahn, a Kelowna window company sales rep. 害羞草研究所淚 think my first one was in Penticton. I害羞草研究所檝e got two gold medals and a few silver and bronze, six medals. Soccer is my passion and I害羞草研究所檝e met lots of great guys at these Games.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所�He loves the game and I thought the old man would quit a few times but now I have no idea when he害羞草研究所檒l stop playing. He害羞草研究所檚 still working full-time.害羞草研究所�
Molzahn, who cheers for Bayern Munich, was a stalwart with the powerhouse Okanagan Valley Men害羞草研究所檚 League Willow Inn Kickers of the 害羞草研究所�70s. He now plays regularly with the Brandt害羞草研究所檚 Creek Pub 55+s Thursday nights.
害羞草研究所淏randt害羞草研究所檚 Creek did a nice testimonial (day) for me and we had two full teams. It was a great day.害羞草研究所�
Andy Miller, in Vernon with the Okanagan 60s, has played decades alongside Molzahn.
害羞草研究所淚n 1976 when I met him, I couldn害羞草研究所檛 believe he was 40,害羞草研究所� said Miller, who helps run the Brandt害羞草研究所檚 Creek 55+ club. 害羞草研究所淣ow, in 2017, he害羞草研究所檚 80 and we still need him.害羞草研究所�
Miller and friends from Brandt害羞草研究所檚 Creek held the testimonial game in Molzahn害羞草研究所檚 honour in late August at Beasley Park in Lake Country.
害羞草研究所淚t was a fantastic day with 60 or 70 people,害羞草研究所� said Miller. 害羞草研究所渨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.害羞草研究所�
Miller said the Pubbers have been trying to give Molzahn a soccer ball for his retirement for some time.
害羞草研究所淧eter Butler bought an old Mitre ball three or four years ago that was supposed to be for Fred害羞草研究所檚 last year and the last ball has turned yellow,害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 JC Buratti in net.
The Okanagan 55s, a Kelowna entry, stuffed North Island 4-0 on two goals from Will Kruiper.
