Leadership on campus, and leadership on the soccer field, are both traits that York senior goalkeeper Kafui Kouakou exhibits. Given those attributes, his remarkable performance to help the Cardinals men's soccer team to their first CUNYAC title and NCAA Division III Championships appearance in six years, and a standout grade-point average as a business management major, and it is easy to see why the Lome, Togo native has been tabbed as the Hospital for Special Surgery/CUNYAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month for November, 2007.
"It has been an incredible year," said Kouakou, who carries a 3.575 grade-point average. "It seems like all the hard work is finally paying off. I want to thank every one who believed in me and gave me their support."
Kouakou pulled off a rare double in the beginning of November, as he was named the CUNYAC Men's Soccer Championship's Most Valuable Player after making 10 spectacular saves in York's 3-0 victory over Staten Island. Further, the keeper was named the CUNYAC's Player of the Year in voting by the conference's coaches. Kouakou helped the Cardinals to a 14-6-1 record on the year, and posted a 1.94 goals against average to go with a .773 save percentage. He made 14 saves in York's NCAA first-round contest at Keene State, and finished the season ranked No. 56 nationally with a mark of 6.38 saves per game.
Though his kudos on the field is remarkable, so, too, are Kouakou's accomplishments off the pitch. York's team captain, he also demonstrates his leadership around the Guy R. Brewer Blvd. campus, serving as president of the school's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and vice-president of the Student Government. To top things off, Kouakou volunteers in his spare time by tutoring his peers in subjects such as economics at York.
"Kafui is a wonderful kid," said York men's soccer head coach Linval Cunningham. "Nobody is more deserving of this honor than he is. Player of the Year, Championship MVP and Scholar-Athlete; what more can you say about him?"