Newest Brisbane Roar Women addition Kennya Cordner had earned the respect of her teammates in the time it took her to make a run down the wing towards goal.
Her blistering speed off the bench is a welcome addition to the current team dynamic and will greatly assist the Roar in their Westfield W-League finals campaign.
While a language barrier is never easy to overcome, Cordner speaks ‘football’ fluently.
The attacking forward’s time on the sidelines with a torn ligament during the team’s last regular season fixture against Newcastle Jets has made even her more eager to be out on the park during the finals.
“My injury is not that bad, I just tore a ligament so now I am fine,” Cordner said.
“I am looking forward to the finals, hopefully I will get to play.”
The international recruit, fondly referred to as “Ya-Ya” by her teammates, has made a name for herself in Swedish leagues and the USA, as well as representing her home country, Trinidad and Tobago.
Cordner’s impression of Australia has been marred by the recent Queensland floods but she is enjoying the new challenge of playing for Brisbane.
“I like Australia… except for all the rain and floods, it is really good,” she said.
“I have played football in the US and Sweden but I really like playing with the Roar.
“It is hard work but it is good.”
Brisbane Roar captain Clare Polkinghorne believes she is an electric player who does not hesitate to get stuck in at training without distraction.
“She is very pacey and can do a lot on the ball …she’s an exciting prospect for us,” Polkinghorne said.
“Not many people know who she is or how she plays.
“At every training session she does something that we don’t expect and she just surprises us every day.
“That is something that will work in our favour.”
Boarding with a range of the Roar girls has allowed Cordner to become better acquainted with her teammates and help her settle in.
“She’s fitting in really well, she seems to get stuck in at training and nothing really sort of bothers her,” Polkinghorne said.