Paul Leonard Kogeldans (born 28 June 1930), known as Leo Kogeldans, is a former Surinamese footballer and manager who has 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]

Leo Kogeldans
Personal information
Full name Paul Leonard Kogeldans
Date of birth (1930-06-28) 28 June 1930 (age 93)
Place of birth Paramaribo, Surinam
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
VV Ajax
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1946–1948 VV Ajax ? (?)
1948–1957 SV Voorwaarts ? (?)
1957–1959 VVV-Venlo ? (?)
International career
1949–1957 Suriname 15 (?)
Managerial career
????–???? VCH
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of December 23, 2015
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of December 23, 2015

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

Career edit

VV Ajax edit

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 edit

Kogeldans joined SV Voorwaarts at age 18. He was an affective 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 Netherland.

VVV-Venlo edit

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 TSV 1860 München. 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 edit

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 edit

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

Personal life edit

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]

Honours edit

Club edit

S.V. Voorwaarts[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Kogeldans had Blinker en Roy in z'n zak". Brabantse Dagblad. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  2. ^ "Herdenking van 'drama dat twee continenten trof'". Wereld Omroep. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  3. ^ "Mr. Bronsplein". Ricky W. Stutgard, De eerste Surinaamse sportencyclopedie (1893-1988). Alberga, Paramaribo, 1990]. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Historie VVV-Venlo - Paul Kogeldans". VVV-Venlo. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  5. ^ "ZORG EN HOOP (Tentoonstelling over immigranten)". Radio 5. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  6. ^ "Herdenking van 'drama dat twee continenten trof'". Wereld Omroep. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  7. ^ "Frits Purperhart - Career Honours". Soccer-db.info.