Kingsley Kofi Sarfo (born 13 February 1995) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Cypriot First Division club APOEL and the Ghana national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kingsley Kofi Sarfo | ||
| Date of birth | 13 February 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Kumasi, Ghana | ||
| Height | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | APOEL | ||
| Number | 44 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013 | Rosengård | ||
| 2014 | BW 90 | 15 | (2) |
| 2014–2017 | IK Sirius | 71 | (9) |
| 2017–2018 | Malmö FF | 8 | (2) |
| 2020–2022 | Olympiakos Nicosia | 37 | (1) |
| 2022 | → APOEL (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2022– | APOEL | 37 | (4) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2017– | Ghana | 1 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 October 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 8 June 2018 | |||
Club career edit
Malmö FF edit
Following a promising start in Allsvenskan during 2017 Sarfo was subject to a bid from the title holders Malmö FF, where he agreed personal terms in spite of Sirius holding out for 15 million SEK or €1.5 million. Sarfo's agent stated that his client was only interested in making a move to Malmö because of him needing another year to acquire Swedish citizenship and therefore was not interested in moving abroad as well as wanting UEFA Champions League football.[1] On 22 June 2017, Malmö FF confirmed the signing of Sarfo in a press conference. Sarfo made his debut for Malmö on the first day of the Swedish transfer window, 15 July, as his old club Sirius came to Swedbank Stadion. Sarfo scored a goal on his debut but could not help his team to a victory as the game ended 3–3.[2] On 1 October 2017, Sarfo was suspended by the club until further notice after being declared a suspect in a police investigation.[3][4] After a District Court had decided not to detain him, Sarfo continued to practice with Malmö FF until he was arrested again on 31 January 2018 under new charges. Malmö FF reacted by announcing his shut down.[5][6] After his criminal conviction for multiple statutory rapes, Malmö FF terminated Sarfo's contract on 12 June 2018.[7]
Olympiakos Nicosia edit
Sarfo returned to football after a two-year absence when the Director of Football of Olympiakos Nicosia gave him a second chance. He shone in his first year at the club leading it to a top 6 finish and cup final after 30 years. His contract was improved and extended until 2023.
International career edit
Legal issues edit
Conviction of child rape edit
On 30 September 2017, Sarfo was requested to be arrested following accusations of one case of attempted rape, and two cases of statutory rape.[9] As a result of the arrest, Sarfo was suspended from playing for Malmö FF, a suspension that was lifted on 11 January 2018 awaiting the legal process to be completed.[10] On 31 January 2018, Sarfo once again was arrested by the Swedish police, suspected of five cases of statutory rape.[11] On 8 June 2018, he was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison, along with a fine of 150,000 SEK and deportation after having served his jail sentence.[12][13]
Driving without a valid license edit
During 2017 Sarfo drove his car on several occasions without holding a valid driver's license in Sweden. According to Swedish law this can result in up to six months in prison. Sarfo was not disciplined by the club in any way.[14]
Career statistics edit
Club edit
- As of 28 January 2023[15]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| IK Sirius | 2014 | Superettan | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2015 | Superettan | 29 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 5 | |||
| 2016 | Superettan | 29 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | 33 | 2 | ||||
| 2017 | Allsvenskan | 11 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | 15 | 5 | ||||
| Total | 71 | 9 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 84 | 12 | ||
| Malmö FF | 2017 | Allsvenskan | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 9 | 3 | |
| Olympiakos Nicosia | 2020–21 | Cypriot First Division | 22 | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 27 | 2 | ||
| 2021–22 | Cypriot First Division | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| Total | 37 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 2 | ||
| APOEL | 2021–22 | Cypriot First Division | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | |
| 2022–23 | Cypriot First Division | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5[a] | 0 | — | 23 | 1 | ||
| Total | 29 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 145 | 13 | 22 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 172 | 18 | ||
- ^ appearances in 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League
Honours edit
IK Sirius
Malmö FF
Individual
- Superettan Player of the Year: 2016[17][18]
- Superettan Midfielder of the Year: 2016[19]
- Allsvenskan Player of the Month: April 2017[20]
- Cyprus Sports Writers Best XI Team: 2022[21]
- Pancyprian Footballers Association (PASP) Team of the Season: 2021–22[22]
References edit
- ^ "Sirius nobbar MFF:s jättebud på stjärnan" (in Swedish). Kvällsposten. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- ^ Three appearances in CAF Champions League, two appearances and in CAF Confederation Cup
- ^ Appearances in President's Cup
- ^ "Malmö FF:s Kingsley Sarfo begärs häktad misstänkt för våldtäkt mot barn" (in Swedish). Sydsvenskan. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
- ^ "Efter nya anklagelserna: MFF-spelaren nekar till brott" (in Swedish). sydsvenskan.se. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ "MFF-spelaren Kingsley Sarfo anhållen misstänkt för nya våldtäkter" (in Swedish). hd.se. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ "Malmö FF avskedar Kingsley Sarfo" (in Swedish). hd.se. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
- ^ "Kingsley Sarfo". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ "Malmö TR B6623-17 Aktbil 5.pdf" (PDF) (in Swedish). Malmö åklagarkammare. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
- ^ "Avstängning hävs i avvaktan på den rättsliga processen" (in Swedish). Malmö FF. 11 January 2018. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
- ^ "MFF-spelaren Kingsley Sarfo anhållen misstänkt för nya våldtäkter" (in Swedish). Sydsvenskan. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ "Kingsley Sarfo döms till fängelse för våldtäkt mot barn" (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ "Ghanaian Sarfo guilty of rape in Sweden". bbc.com. British Broadcasting Corporation. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
- ^ "MFF bestraffar inte Sarfo: "Har fått en ordentlig uppsträckning"" (in Swedish). Fotbollskanalen.se. 30 September 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- ^ "Kingsley Sarfo". Soccerway.
- ^ a b "Kingsley Sarfo Profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Sarfo Årets Spelare enligt Spelarföreningen – Föreningen Svensk Elitfotboll - Tillsammans utvecklar vi svensk elitfotboll". Svensk Elitefotboll (in Swedish). 18 December 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ Gyamera-Antwi, Evans (18 January 2017). "Sarfo named Superettan best Player of the Year". Goal. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
- ^ "Kingsley Sarfo Månadens spelare i april – Föreningen Svensk Elitfotboll - Tillsammans utvecklar vi svensk elitfotboll". Svensk Elitfotboll (in Swedish). 8 May 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Kingsley Sarfo: "Jag har mer att ge" – Föreningen Svensk Elitfotboll - Tillsammans utvecklar vi svensk elitfotboll". Svensk Elitefotboll (in Swedish). 11 May 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Η ΕΑΚ βραβεύει τους κορυφαίους του 2022". Ένωση Αθλητικογράφων Κύπρου (in Greek). 12 January 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Ο ΠΑ.Σ.Π. και οι ποδοσφαιριστές ανέδειξαν τους κορυφαίους της σεζόν 2021/22!". ΠΑΣΠ. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
External links edit
- Kingsley Sarfo at Soccerway