Ali Ngon Gerba (; born September 4, 1981) is a former professional soccer player who played as a forward. Born in Cameroon, he represented the Canada national team.

Early life Gerba was born on September 4, 1981, in Yaoundé, Cameroon. He is the son of Malam and Amina. He moved to Canada at the age of nine.

Club career

Canada and United States In 1999, Gerba trialed for Spanish La Liga side Valencia. In 2000 Gerba signed with the Montreal Impact, then of the A-League, where he recorded six goals and two assists, a club record for a rookie. In 2001 Gerba attempted a move up to Major League Soccer by signing with the Miami Fusion, but without success. In 2002 Gerba returned to the A-League when he signed with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Late in the season he was traded to the Toronto Lynx. In 2003, Gerba was the leading scorer for the Lynx with six goals when he was traded to the Impact late in the season. Gerba returned to the Lynx in 2004. During an outstanding season, he scored 15 goals, a club record. Gerba started for the Lynx in 2005,LYNX RE-SIGN RECORD SETTING STRIKER! scoring two goals, before returning to the Impact in exchange for Abraham Francois and Sita-Taty Matondo.LYNX ACQUIRE TWO FROM IMPACT! Gerba left the Lynx as the club's second highest all-time scorer with 24 goals in total. With the Impact Gerba played an important role in helping the team stay undefeated in 15 games, a league record. As a result, Gerba was capped by Canada in the Gold Cup where he played three games and scored one goal.

Europe After the Gold Cup Gerba joined Swedish club GIF Sundsvall of the Allsvenskan and scored 6 goals in 11 games. When the team was relegated to the Superettan, Gerba moved to Swedish club IFK Gothenburg on a three-year deal. In 2006, he was loaned to Odd Grenland in Norway, and in 2007 he went on loan again to Danish Superliga side AC Horsens before joining German club FC Ingolstadt 04 in January 2008. In June 2008, he was released from his contract with the club.

As of June 28, 2008, Gerba was being linked with a return to North America to join Canadian manager Frank Yallop at Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes."Gerba released by FC Ingolstadt" However, on August 7, 2008, he signed for Football League One newcomers Milton Keynes Dons. On August 20, 2008, he made his first appearance for the Dons in a 3–0 away victory against Colchester United and scored his first goal in his second game, a 2–1 defeat to Peterborough United. The club announced they would not be offering Gerba a new contract for the 2009–10 season.

Return to Canada Gerba was linked with moves to MLS with Toronto FC, a return to his hometown Montreal Impact and also with English sides, Millwall, Stockport County, Oldham Athletic, Brentford and Burton Albion. Toronto FC announced the signing of Gerba on its website on June 23, 2009. Gerba made his unofficial debut for Toronto FC in an international friendly against the Argentinean powerhouse Club Atlético River Plate,Gerba's debut for Toronto FC. Torontofc.ca (July 22, 2009). Retrieved on July 25, 2009. at BMO Field on July 22, 2009. Gerba scored on his MLS debut vs. Columbus Crew on July 25, 2009, in a 3–2 loss.Crew down TFC in stoppage time (July 25, 2009). Retrieved on July 26, 2009

On July 15, 2010. Gerba joined the Montreal ImpactImpact adds familiar face by signing Gerba for his 4th stint with the team during which he set the club record for fastest goal in club history (18 seconds into the game) and scored the club's first regular season hat-trick.

At the end of the 2011 NASL season, head coach Jesse Marsch and sporting director Nick De Santis evaluated the Impact squad in preparation for the team's move to Major League Soccer, and Gerba was cut on October 12, 2011.

International career Gerba made his debut for Canada in a July 2005 friendly match against Honduras. By December 2009, he had the country's most prolific strike-rate, with 15 goals in 28 full internationals.

Gerba has represented Canada in three CONCACAF Gold Cups and 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification. He is the all-time leader in goals for Canada at the Gold Cup with six.

Career statistics

Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueLeague play-offsNational CupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsMontreal Impact2000USL-1177177Miami Fusion2001MLS0000Toronto Lynx2002USL-14040Pittsburgh Riverhounds2002USL-17171Montreal Impact2003USL-17070Toronto Lynx2003USL-12172172004USL-1251525152005USL-17272Total53245324Montreal Impact2005USL-18484GIF Sundsvall2005Allsvenskan115115IFK Göteborg2006Allsvenskan50502007Allsvenskan1010Total6060Odd Grenland (loan)2006Eliteserien101101AC Horsens (loan)2006–07Danish Superliga154154FC Ingolstadt 042007–08Regionalliga Süd15400––154Milton Keynes Dons2008–09Football League One24101000–2510Toronto FC2009MLS11120131Montreal Impact2010USSF D21394417132011NASL12221143Total251144213116Career total2137254212022277

International Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gerba goal.

+ List of international goals scored by Ali GerbaNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 July 12, 2005 Foxboro, U.S. 2–1 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup2 June 1, 2007 Maracaibo, Venezuela 2–2 Friendly3 June 9, 2007 Miami, U.S. 1–2 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup4 June 16, 2007 Foxboro, U.S. 3–0 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup5 6 June 15, 2008 Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3–0 2010 World Cup Qualification7 8 June 20, 2008 Montreal, Canada 4–1 2010 World Cup Qualification9 10 September 10, 2008 Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico 1–2 2010 World Cup Qualification11 October 15, 2008 Edmonton, Canada 2–2 2010 World Cup Qualification12 June 30, 2009 Oxnard, U.S. 3–0 Friendly13 14 July 3, 2009 Carson, U.S. 1–0 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup15 July 7, 2009 Columbus, U.S. 1–0 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup

Honours Individual USSF D-2 Pro League Best XI: 2010

References

External links