Heaps a Fan of Koffie’s Physicality
- Updated: March 3, 2016
Photo credit: Chris Aduama/aduamaphotography.com
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – If there’s one spot on the pitch many sets of eyes will be trained on come Sunday, it’ll be right in the heart of the Revolution midfield. And with good reason.
Following a messy breakup with Jermaine Jones, and the departure of veteran Andy Dorman, the Revolution will be employing a new-look defensive midfield pairing on Sunday. A pairing that could very well include the newly-acquired Gershon Koffie.
While the 24-year-old midfielder has been forced to hit the ground running since arriving from Vancouver on Feb. 11, it’s clear that he’s already made a positive impression with the coaching staff.
“I really like his physicality,” Heaps said. “I think he brings something athletically there, and he breaks up plays. He’s a little bit stronger and physical, and that helps our back four.”
After joining the squad in Tucson, Ariz. ahead of the Desert Diamond Cup, the Ghana International played in all four tournament contests. He was initially paired with Kelyn Rowe for the first two games, but subsequently saw time alongside Scott Caldwell and Diego Fagundez in the final two matches.
Over the course of his four preseason performances, Koffie seemed to waste no time getting into a rhythm with his new teammates, a development that didn’t go unnoticed by Heaps.
“He has a really good soccer sense, that’s what we’ve really seen so far in these two weeks,” Heaps said. “His soccer with our guys is really picking up with his connections with Lee (Nguyen) and Diego and Kelyn and Teal (Bunbury).”
The Revolution will certainly need Koffie to continue that trend once the season starts. Recent history has shown the Revolution to be particularly slow out of the gate, and will need every ounce of stability they can get from their veterans, especially at an area as critical as the six spot.
Heaps stopped short of saying that Koffie will be in the XI on Sunday, but seems encouraged by the way Koffie has meshed with the rest of the team.
“You’re starting to see that on the small field,” Heaps said. “(The question is) can we translate that to the big field? It’ll take a little awhile, he’s caught up to speed soccer-wise.”
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