Gershon Koffie

PROFILE
A promising central midfielder, Gershon Koffie joined Whitecaps FC's inaugural Major League Soccer roster on Feb. 9, 2011, becoming one of the first players to be signed to an international roster spot by the club. A product of the lower divisions in his native Ghana, Koffie moved up to MLS with Vancouver after signing with the club on Sept. 3, 2010, during the 2010 USSF D-2 Pro League season.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

2013: The Ghanaian midfielder started 21 of his 26 appearances while tallying three goals and three assists on the year. Koffie scored the 'Caps first goal of the season in a 1-0 win over Toronto FC in the opening match of the season on March 2, 2013. Koffie later scored in the club's seesaw battle with Portland Timbers on May 18 at BC Place, which ended 2-2. On July 6, the young African assisted on Darren Mattocks' goal versus Seattle Sounders FC, sealing a 2-0 victory - Vancouver's first Cascadia win in the MLS era. His third goal of the season came against Chivas USA on September 1 when he caught goalkeeper Dan Kennedy out of position and buried a long shot on route to a come-from-behind 2-2 draw. He was awarded Budweiser Man of the Match three times for his performances versus Real Salt Lake on May 4, against Colorado Rapids on August 17, and against Chivas USA on September 1. Koffie was also named #17 on MLSsoccer.com's annual '24 under 24' list. In Amway Canadian Championship play, Koffie started all four matches for Whitecaps FC. 2012: Koffie was #12 in MLSsoccer.com’s '24 Under 24' list for the season on Sept. 12. He scored his first goal of the season on May 5, as Whitecaps FC defeated San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 at BC Place. He then assisted on Darren Mattocks’ second goal during a 3-1 home win over Houston Dynamo on June 10 before scoring his second goal of the season during a 2-2 home draw versus LA Galaxy on July 18. Koffie then assisted on Alain Rochat’s second goal of the season during a 2-2 home draw versus Colorado Rapids on Sept. 23 before scoring the match winner in a 4-0 home win over Chivas USA on Oct. 3. Koffie then started Whitecaps FC’s first-ever match in the MLS Cup Playoffs on Nov. 1, as Vancouver fell 2-1 at defending champions LA Galaxy. 2011: Koffie was named Whitecaps FC's Most Promising Player after a productive first season in MLS, in which he was second in league appearances for the Blue and White, while leading all ‘Caps midfielders, after starting all but one of his 29 MLS matches that season. Koffie made his MLS debut in central midfield of Vancouver's inaugural league match on Mar. 19. His solid performance helped Whitecaps FC to a 4-2 home win over Canadian rivals Toronto FC at Empire Field. The midfielder scored his first MLS goal during Whitecaps FC's 4-2 home win over Chicago Fire on Aug. 7. In earning Whitecaps FC a 1-0 home win over Houston Dynamo on Aug. 27, Koffie earned a spot in the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week for Week 24. That was followed by a spot in the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week for Week 26 after his fine performance during Whitecaps FC's 1-1 draw at New York Red Bulls on Sept. 10. Koffie’s three starts in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship included the semifinal, second leg, versus North American Soccer League side Montreal Impact on May 4 and both legs of the final versus MLS rivals Toronto FC on May 18 and July 2.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER RESERVE LEAGUE
2013: Played 90 minutes in the Reserves' 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake Reserves on April 14. 2012: Koffie made his MLS Reserve League debut for Whitecaps FC reserves, as they drew 1-1 at home to Seattle Sounders FC reserves on Mar. 26.

UNITED STATES SOCCER FEDERATION DIVISION-2 PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE
2010: Koffie made his Whitecaps FC, and North American, debut on Sept. 5, when he started the goalless home draw versus Puerto Rico Islanders. He then scored his first Whitecaps FC goal in the first leg of their first-round playoff series, as Whitecaps FC defeated Portland Timbers 2-0 at home on Oct. 7.

DANISH SUPERLIGA
2009-10: After spending the first half of 2009 training with Swedish club Hammarby IF, the midfielder had an extended trial with Danish Superliga outfit Randers FC from Aug. to Dec. 2009.

SWEDISH ALLSVENSKAN
2009: Looking to make his way into European club soccer, Koffie joined Hammarby IF of Sweden's top-flight Allsvenskan for a trial in Feb. 2009. He trained with Hammarby until Aug. 2009 before moving to Denmark for another trial with Randers FC.  

GHANAIAN DIVISION TWO LEAGUE 
From 2006 to 2009, Koffie played four seasons in Ghana's third-tier Division Two League with the reserve side of International Allies FC - a club based in the southeast Ghanaian town of Ho. The central midfielder registered 28 goals in his four seasons with International Allies FC reserves, who play in the Greater Accra Regional Football Association zone of the Division Two League.

INTERNATIONAL
U-20: In July 2010, Koffie earned his first spell of international duty when he joined Ghana's U-20 national team for a training camp. In April 2011, the midfielder was named in a 26-player squad by Ghana U-20 national team head coach Orlando Wellington for the 2011 African Youth Championship in Johannesburg, South Africa. Koffie was unable to help The Black Satellites to a successful defence of their FIFA U-20 World Cup title, as Ghana missed out on qualification for the 2011 U-20 World Cup in Colombia after finishing third in Group B at the African Youth Championship that year.  

YOUTH/AMATEUR
Koffie began his soccer career when he joined Rot-Weiss Accra as a nine-year-old in 2000. Based in the Ghanaian capital, Rot-Weiss Accra are affiliated with German club Rot-Weiss Essen. His first year with Rot-Weiss Accra saw him named Player of the Year and finish as the youth club's top goalscorer. He spent six years with Rot-Weiss Accra before moving to International Allies FC in 2006.

PERSONAL
Born in the Ghanaian city of Koforidua, Koffie's current hometown is the country's capital - Accra. As a student, the midfielder attended Kaneshie Methodist Junior Secondary School in Accra before attending Pope John Secondary School in Koforidua, Ghana. His parents are Jemima Brock and George Koffie, while he has two sisters named Rita and Selina.

INTERESTING FACTS
Koffie is fluent in English and two native Ghanaian languages - Ga and Twi. Ga is mainly spoken near the midfielder's hometown of Accra, while Twi is a branch of Akan, which is the most widely spoken native language in Ghana. When not concentrating on his soccer career, Koffie enjoys listening to Hiplife, Hip Hop, and Reggae music. The midfielder also enjoys reading and watching movies in his spare time. Koffie's favourite soccer teams are English Premier League giants Arsenal FC and the Brazilian national team, while he is an admirer of former Juventus, Real Madrid, and former France star Zinedine Zidane.