Former MLS Cup champion finds a new passion: Assisting his love for art

George Ivan Fochive is now the proud owner of a coffee shop in the city where he once showcased his skills on the soccer field.

The former Portland Timber approaches his business with the same passion and dedication he brought to his soccer career, focusing on creativity and fostering community engagement.

"I’m grateful there are qualities that I think helped me reach the highest levels in professional sports, and it’s the same here,” said Fochive. “I’m very proud of the sports career I had, and it’s the same drive here—I want to be proud of this endeavor."

At L’Atelier Yaffe, Fochive oversees every detail. Through a collaboration with TED Portland, he offers local artists a platform to showcase their masterpieces. Art has been a lifelong passion for him, rooted in his early years growing up in France.

"It’s about emotional connections, right? Connections to others, to things, to our own lives, to ourselves, and to different topics and situations. I really enjoy art. Where I grew up, art was strongly emphasized in school,” Fochive explained.

The 2015 MLS Cup champion retired from professional soccer in 2022 but continues to leave a lasting impact on Portland. His coffee shop, "L’Atelier Yaffe," located on 111 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd serves as his canvas, not just for his own creative expression but as a space for emerging artists to shine.

"I’ve been drawing ever since I was a very young girl. But it’s about exposure—you don’t light a candle to put it under the bed,” shared Kyra Watkins, a Portland-based artist. “It feels good to have my work in a storefront, in the window, somewhere public where people can see it. I’m always honored when the community supports me in ways that help amplify art’s role in our lives."

Artistic expression has always been part of Fochive’s identity. He integrated it into his hobbies, his time on the pitch, and now into his business.

"This space is where I wanted to bring a couple of concepts together. I would say it’s a culmination of the things I’ve seen and experienced during my travels and my previous career. I’m trying to combine those elements to create an environment where I know I’ll feel good," Fochive said.

https://katu.com/news/local/former-mls-cup-champion-finds-a-new-passion-assisting-his-love-for-art
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Author: KATU News
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News post in at: January 26, 2025, 3:00 am.

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