Gershon Koffie
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | August 25, 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Koforidua, Ghana | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | New England Revolution | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2006 | Rot-Weiss Accra | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2009 | International Allies | ||
| 2010 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 2 | (0) |
| 2011–2015 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 133 | (9) |
| 2016– | New England Revolution | 22 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 2011 | Ghana U20 | 2 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:55, October 26, 2016 (UTC). | |||
Gershon Koffie (born August 25, 1991) is a Ghanaian footballer who currently plays for New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.
Career
Youth
Koffie grew up in the Ghanaian capital Accra, and began his soccer career when he joined Rot-Weiss Accra - a development club affiliated with German club Rot-Weiss Essen - as a nine-year-old in 2000. He spent five years with Rot-Weiss Accra, before signing his first professional contract in 2006 with Ghanaian Division Two League team International Allies at the age of 15.
Professional
Koffie played four full seasons with International Allies, scoring 28 goals in all competitions, before leaving the club in 2009 to try to secure a spot with a professional team in Europe. The Swedish side Hammarby IF was at a scouting trip in Ghana when Koffie broke his leg. Hammarby helped him with the operation and the rehabilitation in Sweden. Later on he trained with the Danish club Randers, but was not offered a contract.
Having been spotted by Vancouver's director of soccer operations Tom Soehn at a tournament in Ghana six months previously, Koffie relocated to Canada in 2010, and subsequently signed with the Vancouver Whitecaps of the USSF Division 2 Professional League.[1][2] He made his Whitecaps debut on September 5, 2010 in a 0-0 tie with the Puerto Rico Islanders.[3] On February 9, 2011 he signed a new contract for the 2011 Major League Soccer season with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[4] He scored his first goal for the club on August 7, 2011 in a 4-2 win over Chicago Fire.
International
Koffie was called up to the Ghana U-20 national team for the first time in July 2010.[5] He was named in Ghana's team for the 2011 African Youth Championship, starting against The Gambia on April 21, 2011. He was substituted after an hour for James Bissue.[6] He made a substitute appearance against Cameroon on April 24, 2011 replacing Paul Aidoo in the 67th minute.[7] Ghana were eliminated from the competition at the group stage finishing in third position behind Cameroon and Nigeria.
Personal
Koffie received his Canadian Permanent Residency in 2013, which qualifies him as a domestic player on Canadian clubs for MLS roster purposes.[8]
See also
References
- ↑ Whitecaps add four, including MLS signer Salgado
- ↑ Teen Whitecap Gershon Koffie aims to impress with an eye to MLS Archived September 7, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "USSF Division-2 Pro League". Ussf.demosphere.com. September 5, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
- ↑ "Whitecaps FC sign Khalfan and Koffie". Whitecapsfc.com. February 9, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
- ↑ "Gershon Koffie profile". WhiteCapsFC. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
- ↑ "Ghana vs The Gambia - 2011 African Youth Championship" (PDF). CAFonline.com. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
- ↑ "Ghana vs Cameroon - 2011 African Youth Championship" (PDF). CAFonline.com. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
- ↑ "Koffie obtains permanent Canadian residency card and agrees to contract extension | Vancouver Whitecaps FC". Whitecapsfc.com. September 3, 2010. Retrieved February 26, 2013.