Blaise Nkufo

Isetsima Blaise Nkufo (born 25 May 1975) is a Swiss former international footballer who played as a striker and current coach of Rino's Tigers in the Vancouver Metro Soccer League.

He was born in Zaire and raised in Switzerland from the age of seven. Nkufo played professionally in Switzerland, Qatar, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States, scoring 209 goals in 442 career league appearances. Nkufo was also a member of the Switzerland national team, having won 34 caps and scored seven goals. He played for them at the 2010 World Cup.

Club career

Nkufo played for Lausanne Sport, FC Echallens, Al-Arabi, Yverdon-Sport FC, Grasshopper Club Zürich, AC Lugano, FC Lucerne, Mainz 05, Hannover 96, FC Twente and Seattle Sounders FC.

File:Nkufo v Toronto2.jpg

Nkufo playing for Seattle Sounders FC.

In early 2010, Nkufo left Twente and was linked to sign with the Major League Soccer team Seattle Sounders FC. On 4 March 2010, the Sounders confirmed that they had signed Nkufo and that he would be joining the Sounders' squad on 13 July 2010 when his contract with Twente expired. In his final season with Twente, Nkufo scored 12 Eredivisie goals helping the club to their first league title in their 45-year history. Nkufo made 223 Eredivisie appearances for Twente, and scored 114 goals - a club record. Twente erected a statue in his honour outside of the stadium following his departure.

His first appearance for the Sounders was on 18 July 2010 during a friendly vs. Celtic. Nkufo was the first Sounders player to record a hat-trick in league play, doing so against the Columbus Crew on 18 September 2010. It ended a scoreless drought of 415 minutes for him after joining the club. On 5 October 2010, Nkufo featured in the final of the U.S. Open Cup as the Sounders defeated the Columbus Crew by a score of 2–1. On 15 March 2011, Seattle and Nkufo agreed mutually to the termination of his deal. Nkufo announced his retirement thirteen days later.

International career

Nkufo made his international debut for Switzerland in 2000. He was a squad member at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. At the tournament, Nkufo played an influential role in helping the Swiss upset eventual world champions Spain in the group stage.

International goals

Scores and results list Switzerland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nkufo goal.

List of international goals scored by Blaise Nkufo

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	15 May 2002	Espenmoos, St. Gallen, Switzerland	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Canada	flag alias = Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg	flag alias-1867-official = Flag of the United Kingdom.svg	flag alias-1868 = Canadian Red Ensign (1868–1921).svg	flag alias-1905 = Canadian Red Ensign (1905–1922).svg	flag alias-1907 = Canadian Red Ensign (1907–1921).png	flag alias-1921 = Canadian Red Ensign (1921–1957).svg	flag alias-1957 = Canadian Red Ensign (1957–1965).svg	flag alias-1964 = Flag of Canada (1964).svg	flag alias-1965 = Flag of Canada (WFB 2000).png	flag alias-2004 = Flag of Canada (WFB 2004).gif	flag alias-armed forces = Canadian Forces Flag.svg	link alias-armed forces = Canadian Armed Forces	flag alias-naval = Naval ensign of Canada.svg	link alias-naval = Royal Canadian Navy	flag alias-naval-1868 = Blue Ensign of Canada (1868–1921).svg	flag alias-naval-1911 = Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svg	flag alias-naval-1921 = Canadian Blue Ensign (1921–1957).svg	flag alias-naval-1957 = Canadian Blue Ensign (1957–1965).svg	flag alias-naval-1965 = Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg	flag alias-coast guard = Coastguard Flag of Canada.svg	link alias-coast guard = Canadian Coast Guard	flag alias-air force = Royal Canadian Air Force ensign.svg	flag alias-air force-1924 = Ensign of the Royal Canadian Air Force.svg	link alias-air force = Royal Canadian Air Force	flag alias-army-1939 = Flag of the Canadian Army (1939–1944).svg	flag alias-army-1968 = Flag of the Canadian Army (1968–1998).svg	flag alias-army-1989 = Flag of the Canadian Army (1968–1998).svg	flag alias-army-2013 = Flag of the Canadian Army (2013–2016).svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Canadian Army.svg	link alias-army = Canadian Army	flag alias-military = Flag of the Canadian Forces.svg	link alias-military = Canadian Armed Forces	flag alias-navy = Naval ensign of Canada.svg	link alias-navy = Royal Canadian Navy	link alias-football = Canada men's national soccer team	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	altvar = football	variant = }} ||	1–3	Friendly
2	11 September 2007	Wörthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt, Austria	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Japan	flag alias = Flag of Japan.svg	flag alias-1870 = Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg	link alias-1870 = Empire of Japan	flag alias-1945 = Flag of Allied Occupied Japan.svg	border-1945 =	flag alias-1947 = Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg	flag alias-ryukyu = Civil ensign of the Ryukyu Islands (1952–1967).svg	border-ryukyu =	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Japan.svg	flag alias-coast guard = Ensign of the Japanese Coast Guard.svg	link alias-coast guard = Japan Coast Guard	link alias-naval = Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force	flag alias-army = Flag of JSDF.svg	link alias-army = Japan Ground Self-Defense Force	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.svg	link alias-air force = Japan Air Self-Defense Force	flag alias-air force-1955 = Flag of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (1955-1957).png	link alias-air force-1955 = Japan Air Self-Defense Force	flag alias-air force-1957 = Flag of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (1957-1972).png	link alias-air force-1957 = Japan Air Self-Defense Force	flag alias-air force-1972 = Flag of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (1972-2001).png	link alias-air force-1972 = Japan Air Self-Defense Force	flag alias-military=Flag of the Japan Self-Defense Forces.svg	link alias-military=Japan Self-Defense Forces	flag alias-marines=Flag of JSDF.svg	link alias-marines=Japanese Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Japan.svg	link alias-navy = Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force	empty = Junior Japan	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} ||	3–4	Friendly
3	6 September 2008	Ramat Gan National Stadium, Tel Aviv, Israel	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Israel	flag alias = Flag of Israel.svg	flag alias-1948 = Flag of Israel (1948).svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Israel.svg	flag alias-police = Flag of Israel Police V2.svg	flag alias-HFC = Flag of IDF Home Front Command.svg	flag alias-army = Flag of the Israeli Army (Land Arm) Gray.svg	link alias-army = Israeli Ground Forces	flag alias-tsahal = Flag of the Israel Defense Forces.svg	flag alias-marines = Flag givati.svg	link alias-marines = Givati Brigade	flag alias-military = Flag of the Israel Defense Forces.svg	link alias-military = Israel Defense Forces	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Israel.svg	link alias-naval = Israeli Navy	flag alias-air force = Israel Air Force Flag.svg	link alias-air force = Israeli Air Force	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Israel.svg	link alias-navy = Israeli Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} ||	2–2	2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
4	10 September 2008	Letzigrund, Zürich, Switzerland	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Luxembourg	flag alias = Flag of Luxembourg.svg	flag alias-civil = Civil Ensign of Luxembourg.svg	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} ||	1–2	2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
5	11 October 2008	Kybunpark, St. Gallen, Switzerland	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Latvia	flag alias = Flag of Latvia.svg	flag alias-pantone = Flag of Latvia (Textile).svg	flag alias-air force = Flag of the Latvian Air Forces.svg	link alias-air force = Latvian Air Force	flag alias-naval = Naval Ensign of Latvia.svg	link alias-naval = Latvian Naval Forces	link alias-army = Latvian Land Forces	flag alias-navy = Naval Ensign of Latvia.svg	link alias-navy = Latvian Naval Forces	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} ||	2–1	2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
6	15 October 2008	Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece	{{ Template:Yesno	alias = Greece	flag alias = Flag of Greece.svg	flag alias-old = Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg	flag alias-1970 = Flag of Greece (1970-1975).svg	flag alias-royal = State flag of Greece (1863–1924;1935–73).svg	flag alias-otto = Naval Royal Standard of Greece (1858-1862).svg	flag alias-army = Hellenic Army War Flag.svg	link alias-army = Hellenic Army	border-army=	flag alias-air force=Fin Flash of Greece.svg	link alias-air force=Hellenic Air Force	flag alias-royalnavy = Naval Ensign of Kingdom of Greece.svg	link alias-naval = Hellenic Navy	flag alias-navy = Flag of Greece.svg	link alias-navy = Hellenic Navy	link alias-military = Hellenic Armed Forces	link alias-royalnavy = Royal Hellenic Navy	size =	name =	altlink = national football team	variant = }} ||	2–1	2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier
7	1 April 2009	Stade de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland	Template:Country data MLD		2–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier

Coaching career

Nkufo owned the Nkufo Academy Sports in the Greater Vancouver area, is managing director of the Blaise Soccer Elite Training INC, and works as Head coach of Rino's Tigers in the Vancouver Metro Soccer League Premier Division.

Personal life

Born in Kinshasa, Zaire, Nkufo emigrated to Switzerland with his family when he was seven and became naturalised as a Swiss citizen.

Nkufo is married to a woman from Vancouver, British Columbia.

Name confusion

Nkufo has himself said in interviews that his surname is Nkufo. The incorrect version N'Kufo is often found in media. The surname is pronounced Kufo, without the N.

Honours

Twente

• Eredivisie: 2009–10

Seattle Sounders FC

• U.S. Open Cup: 2010