By Thomas Sellers Jr.
Millington Lady Trojan Soccer is currently in a Golden Era.
Under the leadership of coaches Rosemary Boswell and William Carter, the past four years has seen championship games, titles won, history made and many firsts. While many names have contributed to the success, the numbers illustrate the go-to player during this stretch has been Koreena Bedford.
“Statistically I might be the best but I don’t feel like I am the best,” Bedford said. “We can win a game 9-0 but if we played bad I won’t be satisfied. If I scored a hat trick and they were bad goals or easy goals I won’t be satisfied. I can’t better myself if I am not doing something hard.”
Bedford is looking forward to her next challenge and bettering herself at Johnson University in Knoxville. On April 14 in the Millington Performing Arts Center among friends, family and coaches Bedford inked her letter of intent.
As her mother Silvia released the tears of joy and her father Doug unleashed a smile years in the making, Koreena displayed her leadership skills directing the buffet line and keeping an eye on her younger sisters Danielle and Olivia. Her other sister Larrissa was back in Brazil.
“She has played school and recreation level and club level since she was 10,” Doug noted. “This is her life. Since she was 9 years old she wanted to be on the national team.”
Koreena is a step closer signing a letter of intent to join Head Coach Todd Halliburton’s Lady Royals. Johnson University just moved into the NAIA’s Appalachian Athletic Conference.
“It was a harder decision than a lot of the other schools,” Koreena acknowledged. “I did get contacted by Arkansas State. But something in me was like I need to go somewhere I can develop my faith.
“I chose this team,” she continued. “And when I went there and talked to the coach, it felt very genuine. I just went with my heart and what God said was right. I am going to take His word for it.”
Bedford noted her conversation with Coach Halliburton made her feel a connection and motivated her to continue her soccer career in East Tennessee. Her first coach, dad, reflected on the journey to this milestone watching his daughter play in Virginia, across Tennessee and in San Diego, Calif.
“Some of those rides were often challenging heading back home,” Doug acknowledged. “I have to be a coach/dad/think outside of the box. I had to think about everybody involved from her coaches to her teammates.
“Then I had to think about her knowledge, love of the game and knowing her overall love of the game, that game just ended,” he continued. “We have another game coming up. Let that one go and let’s get ready for the next one.”
Knowing her teammates, younger siblings and supporters were watching, Koreena channeled the tough love from her father to shape her leadership skills.
“I’ll be honest I like dad more than I like coach,” she said with a smile. “That’s why he doesn’t coach me anymore. But I wouldn’t be where I am with him. He was the one who taught me the game and introduced me to whatever position I played whether it was goalie or striker, he taught me what I needed to know.
“A lot of the other stuff I did on my own,” Koreena added. “But he was always the person ‘if you need help I am here, If you want to learn something, I am here.’ But it’s all on you if you want to do it.”
A void came into Koreena’s life when she was 8 years old. Her mother Kellie passed away. Seeing the need, Doug’s new wife Silvia overcame the obstacles to be the mother Koreena needed.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Koreena said. “It’s so hard losing a parent at such a young age. This is another reason I do what I do. This sport is an escape. Having a bonus mom, having someone else come into my life and fill this spot definitely helps. She’s more support and she’s definitely my biggest cheerleader. She’s loud, very loud.”
Cheering for her daughter, the sight and sounds of Silvia at Lady Trojan games will be missed.
“My wife Silvia, that’s Koreena’s mother,” Doug said. “She’s raised her since she was 8. She’s done everything she can to make everything possible for her. She’s a case of putting in the time and the investment.
“She’s put in the fight to help her child reach her goals and her dreams,” he added. “Now that she’s going to be on her own in God’s hands, he’s taking over. If she’s meant to play at a higher level Silvia is going to help make that happen.”
Koreena’s time at Millington was like a dream come true for longtime Lady Trojan Soccer supporters. As the leading scorer, Bedford guided Millington to district championships and Regional title, first in school history. Her last game was a historic moment, as the Lady Trojans hosted Sub-State for the first time.
“She has so much potential,” Carter said of his former player. “If you can harness her energy because she’s so passionate about the game, you won’t be surprised if she gets a hat trick in the first half of the game. She’s on her game and she’s hard to stop.”
When motivated and her emotions channeled in one direction, Bedford was nearly unstoppable. And her driving force was her angel above.
“That bond and that symbol means it’s all for her,” Doug said of her celebratory point to the sky after a goal. “She told me she doesn’t make these goals for herself. She makes them for Kellie and that way she gets to live on.”
Koreena said her simple gesture of pointing to the Heavens is all about gratitude for having soccer and guiding forces.
“I do it for two reasons. I wouldn’t be where I am at without God,” she said. “He gave me the talent. I thank Him for everything. This can be taken from at any moment. And I also do it for my mom. She’s not getting a chance to see me play. So I will do it for her.”
With many trademarks like the point, Bedford is known as a passionate player that wears her emotions on her soccer jersey.
“It’s a blessing and a curse,” she acknowledged. “It gets me in trouble sometimes but it’s my passion for the game. I am so passionate about this sport and I care so much. When I am on a team of girls who love the same sport as me I want to see that passion too.”
Bedford feels she will have that connection and bond with her new Lady Royals teammates. Doug said the future for his daughter is bright.
And the proud father said he hopes one more thing will be remembered about his daughter’s legacy in the black and gold – she was the best on the best team in school history.
“Personally I believe it’s a wonderful feeling that she came to a place and filled a position that has never been done,” he concluded. “She made a record and meanwhile showed the value of female soccer which is often overlooked compared to male soccer. Just to be recognized for it. I just wanted her to be recognized for her due diligence and her heart in helping bring the team to a new level.”
