Eryk Kobza Explained

Eryk Kobza
Birth Date:November 23, 2001
Birth Place:North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Cavalry FC
Clubnumber:24
Youthyears1:2007–2012
Youthclubs1:North Vancouver FC
Youthyears2:2012–2013
Youthclubs2:Vancouver Whitecaps
Youthyears3:2013–2014
Youthclubs3:Mountain United FC
Youthyears4:2014–2019
Youthclubs4:Vancouver Whitecaps
Collegeyears1:2019–2022
College1:Calgary Dinos
Collegecaps1:41
Collegegoals1:7
Years1:2020–2021
Clubs1:Sokół Ostróda
Caps1:6
Goals1:1
Years2:2021
Clubs2:Podlasie Biała Podlaska
Caps2:20
Goals2:1
Years3:2023–
Clubs3:Cavalry FC
Caps3:37
Goals3:2
Club-Update:August 16, 2024

Eryk Kobza (born November 23, 2001) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays Canadian Premier League club Cavalry FC.

Early life

Kobza began playing youth soccer at age five with North Vancouver FC. In 2012, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy, before joining Mountain United FC in 2013.[1] In 2014, he returned to the Whitecaps academy. In March 2016, he was named the Whitecaps FC Youth Player of the Month.[2]

University career

In 2019, he began attending the University of Calgary, where he played for the men's soccer team. He made his collegiate debut and first start in the season opener on August 24, 2019 against the Mount Royal Cougars.[3] He scored his first goals on September 13, netting a brace in a 3–2 victory over the UFV Cascades, including the first goal just 20 seconds into the match.[3] [4] That season, he helped the team reach the men’s soccer National Championship for the first time in 40 years,[5] as well as earning the school's male Rookie of the Year honours (across all sports),[6] and was also named to the Canada West All-Rookie Team.[7] In 2022, he was named team captain.[8] On October 16, 2022, he scored another brace in a 3–2 win over the Saskatchewan Huskies.[9] At the end of the 2022 season, he was named a Canada West Second Team All-Star.[10]

Club career

In August 2020, he signed with Sokół Ostróda in the Polish II liga.[11] He made his debut on September 19 against Olimpia Grudziądz, in a substitute appearance.[12] In the next match on September 26, he scored his first goal in a 2–0 victory over Znicz Pruszków.[13] On January 6, 2021, it was announced that he had terminated his contract with the club by mutual consent.[14]

In late January 2021, he signed with Podlasie Biała Podlaska in the III liga.[15] [16]

At the 2023 CPL-U Sports Draft, Kobza was selected in the second round (14th overall) by Cavalry FC.[17] [18] [19] In April 2023, he signed a U Sports developmental contract with the club.[20] He scored his first CPL goal on July 8, in a 2–1 victory over Pacific FC.[21] [22] In July 2023, Kobza signed a professional deal with Cavalry until the end of the 2025 season, with a club option for 2026.[23] [24]

International career

Kobza was born in Canada to Polish parents. In February 2016, he was called up to a training camp with the Canada U15 team.[25]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsDomestic CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sokół Ostróda2020–21II liga610061
Podlasie Biała Podlaska2020–21[26] III liga201201
Cavalry FC2023Canadian Premier League2623000292
2024110003020160
Total372303020452
Career total634303020714

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eryk Kobza VWFC profile. dead. September 5, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150905203444/http://www.whitecapsfc.com/youth/eliteteams/residency/eryk-kobza. Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  2. Web site: Morales voted as Whitecaps FC Player of the Month, presented by Coldwell Banker. April 1, 2016. Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  3. Web site: Eryk Kobza Calgary Dinos profile. Calgary Dinos.
  4. Web site: Kobza, Dinos rally for 3-2 win over Cascades. September 14, 2019. Calgary Dinos.
  5. Web site: "I feel really comfortable here": Versatile Eryk Kobza making the most of his opportunity in rookie season for league-leading Cavalry. September 15, 2023. Adam. Palermo. OneSoccer.
  6. Web site: NOTD: Guy, Kobza named Bill Popplewell Rookies of the Year. April 8, 2020. Ben. Matchett. Calgary Dinos.
  7. Web site: Three Dinos honoured by Canada West. October 24, 2019. Calgary Dinos.
  8. Web site: Get to know Calgary Calvary’s new draftee, Eryk Kobza. March 10, 2023. SAIT Journalism. Craig. MacDonald.
  9. Web site: Kobza delivers three points for Dinos. October 16, 2022. Calgary Dinos.
  10. Web site: Kobza, Omoreniye named CW All Stars. October 27, 2022. Calgary Dinos.
  11. Web site: Family roots send Kobza to Poland. October 29, 2020. Calgary Dinos. Lance. Doucet.
  12. Web site: Pogrom w grudziądzu! Sokół rozbił Olimpię. Porgue in grudziądz! The Sokół destroyed Olympia. pl. September 19, 2020. Sokół Ostróda.
  13. Web site: Znicz zgaszony w Ostródzie!. pl. Znicz is turned out in Ostróda!. Sokół Ostróda. September 26, 2020.
  14. Web site: Eryk Kobza odchodzi z Sokoła. Eryk Kobza leaves Sokół. pl. January 6, 2021. Sokół Ostróda.
  15. Web site: Eryk Kobza zawodnikiem Podlasia!. Eryk Kobza is a player of Podlasie!. pl. January 29, 2021. Mateusz. Połynka. Biała się dzieje.
  16. Web site: Eryk Kobza w Podlasiu Biała Podlaska. Eryk Kobza in Podlasie Biała Podlaska. 90minut. pl.
  17. Web site: Cavalry FC Select William Omoreniye and Eryk Kobza in 2023 CPL–U SPORTS Draft. December 15, 2022. Cavalry FC.
  18. Web site: Cavalry keeps it close to home in drafting Dinos Omoreniye, Kobza. Tim. Prahl. December 15, 2022. Calgary Sun.
  19. Web site: Kobza, Omoreniye selected in CPL Draft. December 15, 2022. Calgary Dinos.
  20. Web site: Cavalry FC Signs Four Youth Players to Developmental Contracts. April 14, 2023. Cavalry FC.
  21. Web site: First goals for Kobza, Aird lift Cavalry to third straight victory. July 8, 2023. Calgary Sun. Todd. Saelhof.
  22. Web site: ‘I didn’t think it was going to go this well’: Cavalry FC’s Eryk Kobza a true CPL-U SPORTS Draft success story. Mitchell. Tierney. December 12, 2023. Canadian Premier League.
  23. Web site: 'Versatile' Cavalry youngster Eryk Kobza earns pro contract with 'terrific' first-year effort. Calgary Sun. Todd. Saelhof. July 28, 2023.
  24. Web site: Cavalry FC Signs Eryk Kobza to Professional Contract. July 28, 2023. Cavalry FC.
  25. Web site: 18 Whitecaps FC Residency players called up to Canada Soccer camp. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108104919/https://www.whitecapsfc.com/youth/post/2016/02/07/18-whitecaps-fc-residency-players-called-canada-soccer-camp. dead. November 8, 2020. February 7, 2016. Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
  26. Web site: Eryk Kobza Stats. Kielecka Piłka. pl.