WHITECAPS: KOFFIE LOOKS TO ELEVATE HIS GAME
As he stood casually chatting with reporters after practice on Tuesday, Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson occasionally glanced back at Gershon Koffie as the midfielder did some quickdribble conditioning work.
And as Koffie, breathing hard and dripping sweat, came over for a media scrum, Robinson kidded him about whether he was going to say he was ready for selection on Saturday. They laughed, exchanged palm slaps and then the coach decided he best vacate the area.
With two vitally important MLS regular- season games remaining, what to do with Koffie will be among Robinson’s toughest decisions.
The Ghanian was playing some of the best soccer of his four- year Whitecaps career earlier this season, settling in nicely alongside holding midfielder Matias Laba.
When he sprained a ligament in his right foot in a 2- 0 win over Sporting Kansas City on Aug. 10, it was initially thought he might miss just a game or two. He’s now been out for 10 consecutive games, finally returning to practice this week after shedding the walking boot he had been wearing.
“I feel good,” said Koffie. “I’ve been working on my fitness since I got the boot off.”
The club was winless in the first four games that the hardtackling Koffie missed — 0- 2- 2 — and his absence was clearly felt. But the Caps are 4- 2 in their last six and young Canadian Russell Teibert has looked very good in Koffie’s spot. His maturing game and his relentless work defensively have been critical in the Caps holding opponents scoreless in four of their last seven.
Koffie admits it’s been difficult to be on the sideline down the stretch run of the season. “Not a good feeling.”
But he’s happy that the Caps are on a three- game win streak. On Friday, they upset the Sounders 1- 0 in Seattle to clinch the Cascadia Cup and keep themselves in the fifth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
“I love it,” said Koffie. “It made my weekend. “We’re coming together as a family. Off the field we’ve been together and that’s helping us. In the locker- room, we see each other equally and if someone is not there ( due to injury or suspension), someone ( as good) will replace them.”
Koffie says he’s working toward being included in the 18- man roster for Saturday’s potential playoff- clinching game in San Jose.
His presence could be timely given that both Teibert and Laba are one yellow card away from being suspended for a game.
“Yeah ( I noticed that),” said a grinning Koffie. “But I was on four yellows and played a couple of games with that, so they can do it.”
Robinson said he’s encouraged by Koffie’s progress. He’d like to try to get him some minutes in the final two regularseason games, but says it’s up to the soft- spoken 23- year- old to earn those minutes.
“I’ll do what I can do, the rest will be on the coaches,” said Koffie. “If I have some minutes to play, I’ll be happy.”
Whether Koffie can actually reclaim his starting job should the Caps make the playoffs is another matter. Robinson has demonstrated before that he won’t automatically put a returning player back in the lineup.
Centre back Johnny Leveron was playing well when he missed a game with a red card and then three more to an international call- up. With Kendall Waston and veteran Andy O’Brien forming a solid partnership in his absence, Leveron has been relegated to substitute status for the last four.
However, with Waston suspended for the San Jose game because of an accumulation of yellow cards, Leveron is the leading candidate to slide into the back line.
Six- foot- three rookie Christian Dean is also in the mix to replace Waston, particularly with the Earthquakes using crosses into the box as a key part of their attack.