Leo Kogeldans Explained

Leo Kogeldans
Full Name:Paul Leonard Kogeldans
Birth Date:1930 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Paramaribo, Surinam
Death Place:Venlo, Netherlands
Position:Forward
Youthclubs1:VV Ajax
Years1:1946–1948
Clubs1:VV Ajax
Years2:1948–1957
Clubs2:SV Voorwaarts
Years3:1957–1959
Clubs3:VVV-Venlo
Nationalyears1:1949–1957
Nationalteam1:Suriname
Nationalcaps1:15
Managerclubs1:VCH

Paul Leonard Kogeldans (28 June 1930 – 7 May 2024), known as Leo Kogeldans, was a Surinamese football player and manager who played for V.V. Ajax and S.V. Voorwaarts in the Surinamese Hoofdklasse, and for VVV-Venlo in the Dutch Eredivisie. He also played for the Suriname national team. After his career he was manager of Dutch amateur club V.C.H.[1]

Kogeldans was the father of former professional footballer Ruben Kogeldans.[2]

Club career

VV Ajax

Kogeldans was born in the Frimangron neighborhood of Paramaribo, Suriname, a neighborhood known for producing top athletes. He began his football career playing on the Mr. Bronsplein where he was picked up by V.V. Ajax, playing in the Hoofdklasse. Ajax played barefoot at the time, and Kogeldans soon became known for his dribbling skills and goal scoring abilities. The top clubs in the country were eager to sign the young player, but it was talent scout Frits Juda who had convinced Kogeldans to sign with S.V. Voorwaarts instead.[3]

SV Voorwaarts

Kogeldans joined SV Voorwaarts at age 18. He was an effective goal scorer, scoring a hat-trick in a 6–5 win against MVV in his first year with the club. In 1949 he was called up for the Suriname national team based on his performance. He helped Voorwaarts to win two national championships in 1952 and in 1957, before departing for the Netherlands.

VVV-Venlo

In 1957, Kogeldans relocated to Venlo, Netherlands signing with VVV-Venlo. He scored another hat-trick in his first match with the club in a friendly against German club 1860 Munich. Kogeldans went on to play two full seasons with VVV, helping the club to a 7th-place finish on the league table in both seasons.[4] He was the first footballer of the African diaspora to play professionally for VVV-Venlo.[5]

International career

Kogeldans made his debut for the Suriname national team in 1949. He made a total 15 appearances for the first team before departing for the Netherlands.

Managerial career

After his playing career Kogeldans managed Dutch amateur club V.C.H. (Voetbal Club Horsterweg) from Venlo.

Personal life

On 7 February 1957, Kogeldans married Eveline Pinas, having four children together. His son Ruben Kogeldans played professional football for VVV-Venlo and Willem II before his untimely death on 7 June 1989 aboard the Surinam Airways Flight 764 which crashed during approach to Paramaribo.[6]

Kogeldans died on 7 May 2024, at the age of 93.[7]

Honours

S.V. Voorwaarts[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kogeldans had Blinker en Roy in z'n zak. Brabantse Dagblad. 23 December 2015.
  2. Web site: Herdenking van ‘drama dat twee continenten trof’. Wereld Omroep. 23 December 2015.
  3. Web site: Mr. Bronsplein. Ricky W. Stutgard, De eerste Surinaamse sportencyclopedie (1893-1988). Alberga, Paramaribo, 1990]. 23 December 2015.
  4. Web site: Historie VVV-Venlo - Paul Kogeldans. VVV-Venlo. 23 December 2015.
  5. Web site: ZORG EN HOOP (Tentoonstelling over immigranten) . Radio 5. 23 December 2015.
  6. Web site: Herdenking van ‘drama dat twee continenten trof’. Wereld Omroep. 23 December 2015.
  7. https://www.vvv-venlo.nl/nieuws/voormalig-speler-paul-kogeldans-op-93-jarige-leeftijd-overleden Voormalig speler Paul Kogeldans op 93-jarige leeftijd overleden
  8. Web site: Frits Purperhart - Career Honours . Soccer-db.info.