The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Kofi Gyawu Tabbed C-USA Offensive Player Of The Week
10/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 12, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- UAB men's soccer player Kofi Gyawu (Lilburn, Ga.) has been tabbed the Conference USA men's soccer Offensive Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday. The recognition marks his first career weekly award and UAB's sixth POW award this season.
"I am pleased for Kofi that he's been recognized for his recent success," UAB head coach Mike Getman said. "Kofi has been getting better and better every game and I am not surprised he's the leading scorer for our team."
Gyawu had an incredible day with three goals to lead No. 25 UAB to a 7-1 victory over FIU on Saturday night. Gyawu became the 13th player in UAB history, and first since 2003, to record a hat trick. It also is the first time a player has scored three goals against a conference opponent since Nov. 13, 1994.
Gyawu came off the bench and made an immediate impact by scoring two goals in a span of 2:01 in the first half, both coming on headers at the 31:28 and 33:29 marks of the first half. He scored his third goal of the night and team-high sixth of the season at the 78:44 mark.
Not only does the true freshman now lead the Blazers in goals on the year, but he also boasts a team-best 13 points this season (6g, 1a).
The Blazers continue to lead all C-USA teams with six player of the week awards on the year. In addition to Gyawu's accolade on Monday, Two-Boys Gumede Sept. 21 and Oct. 5) and Carl Woszczynski (Sept. 28 and Oct. 5) have earned two honors apiece, while Babayele Sodade was tabbed the league's Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 8. Furthermore, a UAB player has now earned a weekly award in five of the six weeks the honors has been distributed this season.
"I have been pleasantly surprised that so many of our players have been recognized by the conference," Getman said. "I think all the guys that have received the honor are deserving. I just hope they stay focused on the job at hand. There is still a lot of soccer left to be played this season."
Gyawu will lead the Blazers this week against a pair of C-USA opponents. First, the Blazers will welcome rival Memphis to West Campus Field on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Following the contest against the Tigers, UAB will travel to Tulsa, Okla. to take on the Tulsa Golden Hurricane on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Admission to Wednesday's contest against Memphis is free to all UAB students with a valid ID, while students and season ticket holders are encouraged to attend a pregame tailgate with free food and drinks beginning approximately 60 minutes prior to the start of the match.
