Eryk Kobza

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

Eryk Kobza
Personal information
Date of birth (2001-11-23) November 23, 2001
Place of birth North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Cavalry FC
Number 24
Youth career
2007–2012 North Vancouver FC
2012–2013 Vancouver Whitecaps
2013–2014 Mountain United FC
2014–2019 Vancouver Whitecaps
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2022 Calgary Dinos 41 (7)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020 Sokół Ostróda 6 (1)
2021 Podlasie Biała Podlaska 20 (1)
2023– Cavalry FC 26 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 8, 2023

Early life

Kobza began playing youth soccer at age five with North Vancouver FC.[1] In 2012, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy, before joining Mountain United FC in 2013.[2] In 2014, he returned to the Whitecaps academy.[2] In March 2016, he was named the Whitecaps FC Youth Player of the Month.[3]

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.[4] 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.[4][5] That season, he helped the team reach the men’s soccer National Championship for the first time in 40 years,[6] as well as earning the school's male Rookie of the Year honours (across all sports),[7] and was also named to the Canada West All-Rookie Team.[8] In 2022, he was named team captain.[9] On October 16, 2022, he scored another brace in a 3-2 win over the Saskatchewan Huskies.[10] At the end of the 2022 season, he was named a Canada West Second Team All-Star.[11]

Club career

In August 2020, he signed with Sokół Ostróda in the Polish II liga.[12] He made his debut on September 19 against Olimpia Grudziądz, in a substitute appearance.[13] In the next match on September 26, he scored his first goal in a 2-0 victory over Znicz Pruszków.[14] On January 6, 2021, it was announced that he had terminated his contract with the club by mutual consent.[15]

In late January 2021, he signed with Podlasie Biała Podlaska in the III liga.[16][17]

At the 2023 CPL-U Sports Draft, Kobza was selected in the second round (14th overall) by Cavalry FC.[18][19][20] In April 2023, he signed a U Sports developmental contract with the club.[21] He scored his first CPL goal on July 8, in a 2-1 victory over Pacific FC.[22] In July 2023, Kobza would sign 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.[1] In February 2016, he was called up to a training camp with the Canada U15 team.[25]

Career statistics
As of match played October 21, 2023[26]
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sokół Ostróda 2020–21 II liga 61—00—61
Podlasie Biała Podlaska 2020–21[27] III liga 201———201
Cavalry FC 2023 Canadian Premier League 2622000—282
Career total 524200000544

References
  1. Eryk Kobza at the Canadian Soccer Association
  2. "Eryk Kobza VWFC profile". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015.
  3. "Morales voted as Whitecaps FC Player of the Month, presented by Coldwell Banker". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. April 1, 2016.
  4. "Eryk Kobza Calgary Dinos profile". Calgary Dinos.
  5. "Kobza, Dinos rally for 3-2 win over Cascades". Calgary Dinos. September 14, 2019.
  6. Palermo, Adam (September 15, 2023). ""I feel really comfortable here": Versatile Eryk Kobza making the most of his opportunity in rookie season for league-leading Cavalry". OneSoccer.
  7. Matchett, Ben (April 8, 2020). "NOTD: Guy, Kobza named Bill Popplewell Rookies of the Year". Calgary Dinos.
  8. "Three Dinos honoured by Canada West". Calgary Dinos. October 24, 2019.
  9. MacDonald, Craig (March 10, 2023). "Get to know Calgary Calvary's new draftee, Eryk Kobza". SAIT Journalism.
  10. "Kobza delivers three points for Dinos". Calgary Dinos. October 16, 2022.
  11. "Kobza, Omoreniye named CW All Stars". Calgary Dinos. October 27, 2022.
  12. Doucet, Lance (October 29, 2020). "Family roots send Kobza to Poland". Calgary Dinos.
  13. "Pogrom w grudziądzu! Sokół rozbił Olimpię" [Porgue in grudziądz! The Sokół destroyed Olympia]. Sokół Ostróda (in Polish). September 19, 2020.
  14. "Znicz zgaszony w Ostródzie!" [Znicz is turned out in Ostróda!]. Sokół Ostróda (in Polish). September 26, 2020.
  15. "Eryk Kobza odchodzi z Sokoła" [Eryk Kobza leaves Sokół]. Sokół Ostróda (in Polish). January 6, 2021.
  16. Połynka, Mateusz (January 29, 2021). "Eryk Kobza zawodnikiem Podlasia!" [Eryk Kobza is a player of Podlasie!]. Biała się dzieje (in Polish).
  17. "Eryk Kobza w Podlasiu Biała Podlaska" [Eryk Kobza in Podlasie Biała Podlaska]. 90minut (in Polish).
  18. "Cavalry FC Select William Omoreniye and Eryk Kobza in 2023 CPL–U SPORTS Draft". Cavalry FC. December 15, 2022.
  19. Prahl, Tim (December 15, 2022). "Cavalry keeps it close to home in drafting Dinos Omoreniye, Kobza". Calgary Sun.
  20. "Kobza, Omoreniye selected in CPL Draft". Calgary Dinos. December 15, 2022.
  21. "Cavalry FC Signs Four Youth Players to Developmental Contracts". Cavalry FC. April 14, 2023.
  22. Saelhof, Todd (July 8, 2023). "First goals for Kobza, Aird lift Cavalry to third straight victory". Calgary Sun.
  23. Saelhof, Todd (July 28, 2023). "'Versatile' Cavalry youngster Eryk Kobza earns pro contract with 'terrific' first-year effort". Calgary Sun.
  24. "Cavalry FC Signs Eryk Kobza to Professional Contract". Cavalry FC. July 28, 2023.
  25. "18 Whitecaps FC Residency players called up to Canada Soccer camp". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. February 7, 2016. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020.
  26. Eryk Kobza at Soccerway
  27. "Eryk Kobza Stats". Kielecka Piłka (in Polish).
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