MLS: For young cricketer Molino, success with Orlando City is the only focus

When Orlando City’s Kevin Molino was a youngster, it wasn’t soccer that took centre stage in his life, but rather cricket. “I didn’t really take it [soccer] seriously until I was about 15,” he told Yahoo Sport UK last week.

Hailing from Carenage, Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean Island is famed for its love of cricket, with Brian Lara considered one of the best to ever play the sport. “I watched Brian Lara a lot around that age,” he said. “I used to bat number two, and spin bowl.”

Molino eventually moved onto soccer, citing the physical side of the game as something he relished most. When back home though, the midfielder will still occasionally pick up a bat, or bowl a few overs. In another life, Molino could easily have been lining up alongside his brother, and professional cricketer, Kevon Cooper. Instead, he is starring for Orlando, after being discovered by accident.

Then Orlando City coach Adrian Heath was not intending to scout Molino when he travelled to Port of Spain to watch Ma Pau Sports Club. “I went to look at a promising young forward, but this little kid on the wing kept catching my eye,” Heath said in an interview earlier this year. “In the end, that’s who we ended up signing.”

The mention of it brought a laugh from Molino. “I played good and he decided to take me,” he said. At the time Orlando were in the United Soccer League Pro (USL Pro), a place they would stay for four years before joining MLS in 2015. A happy period of Molino’s career he earned the league’s MVP award and admiring glances from clubs in Europe. “Yes, it’s true I went on trial to PSV Eindhoven,” Molino said.

Nothing came of his trial spells with PSV or Zulte Waregem, but he remains hopeful of one day plying his trade in Europe. It is not unfathomable to think of Molino making that jump at some point in his playing career. The 26-year-old is blessed with blistering speed, and a wealth of tricks. Both make him a difficult customer for defenders, while former teammate Dom Dwyer spoke highly of his potential after a spell together in USL. “Dom said that Kevin had all the ability to be MVP of MLS when we finally made the grade,” Heath said.

When presented to him, Molino took the praise with grace, but was keen to shift the discussion back to how he could improve his game further. The midfielder has a respectable nine goals and seven assists in 23 games this season, but he still sees more for himself. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Dom [Dwyer],” he said.“He came here and he took everybody by surprise. He’s a great striker and I’d love to play with him again. I think I have a lot to offer and I’ve plenty more games to go. The most important thing for me is to keep going and keep my head up.”

The 26-year-old is also hoping the team’s fortunes can improve. For Orlando City this season has been about adapting to change. The fresh tag of being an expansion franchise has disappeared, and so too has Adrian Heath. The former Everton favourite departed Florida in July after a 4-0 defeat to FC Dallas, and was replaced by former Real Salt Lake head coach Jason Kreis. A testing time for Molino and his teammates, the midfielder accepts that change is an inevitable by-product of the modern game.

“I was blessed to work with a person like Adrian Heath,” he said. “He has done a lot for me, and I totally appreciate that. On the other hand, Jason has now come in and the players want to show him they deserve to be in the team. There’s a little bit more energy because there’s a new coaching staff, and I think we have been working well with Jason. I think we’re happy to have him as part of this club. We as players know this has been a difficult time [for the club], but we know the most important thing is how you react when you go through the difficult times. That is why we get paid, to be mentally tough, and to survive. We know this is a crucial two months for us, and it’s important we work hard and stick together as a team, and forgot about the past.”

In attempting to change the club’s position, Orlando may lean on Designated Player Kaka. The Brazilian is on course to surpass his goal and assist tally from last season, but as he will admit, it means nothing if the team does not qualify for the playoffs. A veteran leader, with experience at the highest level, Molino revealed that the Brazilian is eager to share the lessons learned with those around him. “He’s a really nice guy, and a great leader for the team and the club,” he said. “We all have tremendous respect for what he has done in the game. The best the young players can do is look up to him, and try to follow in his footsteps every day.”

For Molino in particular, the playoffs would represent another important landmark. The midfielder has grown with the club, from boy to man, USL to MLS. Competing in the playoffs is the next step in that journey of success. “I remember when we didn’t have a changing room, and a place to shower,” he said. “Now we have changing rooms, and the fan base has grown. Everything has grown. It has been tremendous. You have to give all credit to the people in the front office that have been working hard, and the players that have been here over the six-year period. We’re going to try our best to make them proud, and make the playoffs.”