 Kumordzi in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bennard Yao Kumordzi | ||
| Date of birth | (1985-03-21)21 March 1985 (age 40) | ||
| Place of birth | Accra,Greater Accra, Ghana | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Klagon Youth Academy | |||
| Supreme FC | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005 | FC Norrköping | 11 | (17) |
| 2005–2006 | IFK Norrköping | 9 | (2) |
| 2006–2007 | Egaleo | 21 | (5) |
| 2007–2012 | Panionios | 117 | (16) |
| 2012 | Dijon | 16 | (1) |
| 2012–2017 | Genk | 90 | (8) |
| 2017–2019 | KV Kortrijk | 49 | (2) |
| Total | 313 | (51) | |
| International career | |||
| 2007–2011 | Ghana | 8 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Bennard Yao Kumordzi (born 21 March 1985) is a Ghanaian former professionalfootballer who played as amidfielder. He mostly played forPanionios and more recentlyGenk andKortijk.
Kumordzi started his career playing street football at Klagon FC Youth before signing for lower-league side Supreme FC. After playing three league matches in the 3rd Division he trialled with a number of clubs in Europe, finally joining a Swedish amateur club calledFC Norrköping.[1] During a cup match in July 2005 between FCN amateurs andIK Sleipner, a Second Division club, Kumordzi performed magnificently to win the match for his amateur club.[citation needed][2] Stefan Hellberg, the then-coach of SwedishSuperettan sideIFK Norrköping, who was at the game, told journalists that he had just discovered a gem. He gave him a trial with his club and Kumordzi jumped six tiers in the football league pyramid from the sixth Division amateurs to theSuperettan. However, he never became a regular starter in the team. His stay there was ended after Kumordzi going on a strike on contractual disputes with his former club FC Norrköping.[3]
During the strike he had gone to Greece to practice withGreek Super League sideEgaleo FC. He signed a five-year contract with the Greek outfit.
In January 2007, theHellenic Football Federation awarded Kumordzi theMost Valuable Player award for the first half of the2006–07 Super League Greece season.[4][5]
Among clubs scouting Kumordzi was German Bundesliga sideBayer 04 Leverkusen.[6][7]
His excellent performances were the reason that he gained a transfer to a bigger team. He signed a contract withPanionios on 23 May 2007.[8]
His performances in theGreek Super League earned Kumordzi a move toLigue 1 clubDijon FCO in January 2012 .
On 20 January 2007, Kumordzi was called up by Ghana's Olympic Team known as theBlack Meteors for the2008 Olympic Games Qualifier againstBurkina Faso Olympic Team.[9] He also played the two-legged tie of the2007 All-African Games qualifying match againstNigeria U-23, which Ghana won.
On his 22nd Birthday, Kumordzi received his first senior call up forGhana, as a direct injury replacement for captainStephen Appiah for Ghana's international friendlies againstAustria andBrazil on 24 and 27 March 2007.[10] His international debut was against Brazil on 27 March 2007 at theRåsunda Stadium,Stockholm, Sweden when Ghana lost 1–0.[11]
He scored his first goal for Ghana againstIran 28 June 2007, at theAzadi Stadium inTehran.
In 2005, Swedish newspaperFolkbladet compared Kumordzi toNigeria internationalNwankwo Kanu.[7] Kumordzi stated he admiredPatrick Vieira who played forArsenal.[12][13]
Genk
Bernard Yao Kumordzi, Alfred Arthur and Ekow Benson – both locally-based players, all uncapped were given run outs by Claude Le Roy in the later stages of the game as Michael Helegbe enjoyed his second cap coming on as a substitute.
