Twenty seven year old Ghanaian defender Kofi Opare is in a rapturous mood after he was named as the best defender for MLS side DC United.
Opare'splendid season earned him the accolade despite missing 5 matches at the beginning of the season.
Kofi Opare staged an impressive season with the Red and Blacks culminating in his award at the end of the season.
The industrious defender recorded a remarkable career flourishing in 26 appearances, scoring twice, providing an assist and lashing out 32 shots.
Following his emergence as the best defender of the season for DC United, Kofi Opare wrote: "Extremely grateful to be named @dcunited defensive MVP for 2017.Can’t thank my teammates and coaches enough for pushing me throughout the whole year. Although not the season we had envisioned, I’m more motivated and determined to accomplish a lot more with the team."
He was announced as the best defender of the season by the club's official website.
Not only did Opare record massive stats this season, he has also been seen as a progressive player who improves in any game for his side with a special technique in set pieces.
Opare remained a stalwart for United, combining with center back partner Steve Birnbaum to make more appearances than any other Black-and-Red defenders this season.
The 24th pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft has worked his way to the forefront of the starting XI by showing signs of progression each time he steps on the field for head coach Ben Olsen.
After not featuring in the first five matches this season, the Ghanaian appeared in all but three since April 8 (26 of 34 matches overall).
Opare proved his ability to defend aerial threats by winning 64% of his aerial duels—the third highest percentage in MLS for players with more than 70 aerial duels won this season.
Opare also added a dimension to the Black-and-Red attacking unit with his aerial prowess on set pieces. In his fourth season with United, the defender was second in MLS for headed shots (24) behind the Seattle Sounders’ Clint Dempsey. His talent in the air made him a handful for opposing teams’ back lines, with both of his goals and his assist coming from set pieces.
At only 27 years old, Opare still has his best years in front of him, and the coaching staff and fans can look forward to his continued maturation as a player.