Kolja Afriyie
Encyclopedia
Kolja Afriyie is a Ghana
ian-German
professional football defender
, who currently plays in Denmark
for FC Midtjylland
in the Danish Superliga
. He holds both a Ghanaian passport
and a German passport
.
and played in his youth years for DGF Flensborg
, a club in the Danish minority in Schleswig-Holstein
. In 2000, he was scouted by Hamburger SV
for their reserve team. In 2001, he moved to Denmark
, signing a contract with AC Horsens
, and he played for the club for four years. In the summer of 2004, Afriyie moved to Esbjerg fB
. His greatest games in his Esbjerg career were Intertoto Cup matches against FC Schalke 04
. In 2006, he moved to Superliga rivals FC Midtjylland
in Herning
. On 28 October 2008, he signed a new contract keeping him at FC Midtjylland until 30 June 2011. On 22 June 2010 he left Danish Superliga
side FC Midtjylland
and returned to Germany to sign with FC Energie Cottbus.
, his mother is German, he is the brother of Kwaku Afriyie
.
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
ian-German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
professional football defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, who currently plays in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
for FC Midtjylland
FC Midtjylland
FC Midtjylland is a professional Danish football team from Herning and Ikast. The team is a result of a merger between Ikast FS and Herning Fremad...
in the Danish Superliga
Danish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
. He holds both a Ghanaian passport
Ghanaian passport
Ghanaian passports are passports issued exclusively by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to Ghanaians granted citizenship in accordance with Ghana Citizenship Act 2000. There are three types of passport booklets – regular, service and diplomatic passports...
and a German passport
German passport
German passports are issued to nationals of Germany for the purpose of international travel. A German passport is, besides the German ID card, the only other officially recognized document that German authorities will routinely accept as proof of identity from German citizens...
.
Club career
Afriyie was born in FlensburgFlensburg
Flensburg is an independent town in the north of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Flensburg is the centre of the region of Southern Schleswig...
and played in his youth years for DGF Flensborg
DGF Flensborg
The DGF Flensborg is a German association football club from the city of Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein.DGF is the largest of the clubs of the Danish minority in northern Germany...
, a club in the Danish minority in Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
. In 2000, he was scouted by Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
for their reserve team. In 2001, he moved to Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, signing a contract with AC Horsens
AC Horsens
AC Horsens is a professional Danish football team, playing in the Danish Superliga championship. They play on Forum Horsens Stadion in Horsens. The club was founded in 1994, as a superstructure on Horsens fS and the merger of Dagnæs IF and B 1940; FC Horsens.-History:When the new team started in...
, and he played for the club for four years. In the summer of 2004, Afriyie moved to Esbjerg fB
Esbjerg fB
Esbjerg forenede Boldklubber also referred to as Esbjerg fB or simply EfB is a professional Danish football club from the port city of Esbjerg in West Jutland. The club was formed in 1924, as a merger between Esbjerg Boldklub af 1898 and Esbjerg Amatørklub af 1911. The club has training facilities...
. His greatest games in his Esbjerg career were Intertoto Cup matches against FC Schalke 04
FC Schalke 04
Fußball-Club Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04, commonly known as simply FC Schalke 04 or Schalke , is a German, association-football club originally from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Schalke has long been one of the most popular football teams in Germany, even though major...
. In 2006, he moved to Superliga rivals FC Midtjylland
FC Midtjylland
FC Midtjylland is a professional Danish football team from Herning and Ikast. The team is a result of a merger between Ikast FS and Herning Fremad...
in Herning
Herning
Herning Municipality is a municipality in Region Midtjylland on the Jutland peninsula in western Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 1,336 km² and a total population of 84,208...
. On 28 October 2008, he signed a new contract keeping him at FC Midtjylland until 30 June 2011. On 22 June 2010 he left Danish Superliga
Danish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
side FC Midtjylland
FC Midtjylland
FC Midtjylland is a professional Danish football team from Herning and Ikast. The team is a result of a merger between Ikast FS and Herning Fremad...
and returned to Germany to sign with FC Energie Cottbus.
Personal
His father comes from GhanaGhana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, his mother is German, he is the brother of Kwaku Afriyie
Kwaku Afriyie
Kwaku Afriyie is a German-Ghanaian footballer who last played for Tennis Borussia Berlin.Kwaku, born to a Ghanaian father and German mother, is the younger brother of Kolja Afriyie.- External links :...
.