:Caniggia Elva
{{Short description|Saint Lucian footballer (born 1996)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Caniggia Elva
| image = Caniggia elva.jpg
| caption = Elva in 2015
| fullname = Caniggia Ginola Elva
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1996|07|14}}
| birth_place = Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia
| height = 1.78 m
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Cavalry FC
| clubnumber = 14
| youthyears1 = 2007–2014
| youthclubs1 = Calgary South West United
| youthyears2 = 2014
| youthclubs2 = VfB Stuttgart
| years1 = 2014–2018
| clubs1 = VfB Stuttgart II
| caps1 = 57
| goals1 = 7
| years2 = 2015
| clubs2 = → Strasbourg (loan)
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2018–2019
| clubs3 = Würzburger Kickers
| caps3 = 17
| goals3 = 4
| years4 = 2019–2022
| clubs4 = FC Ingolstadt 04
| caps4 = 67
| goals4 = 8
| years5 = 2023–2024
| clubs5 = Rot-Weiß Erfurt
| caps5 = 34
| goals5 = 6
| years6 = 2025–
| clubs6 = Cavalry FC
| caps6 = 4
| goals6 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2017
| nationalteam1 = Canada U23
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2023–
| nationalteam2 = Saint Lucia
| nationalcaps2 = 12
| nationalgoals2 = 5
| club-update = May 2, 2025
| nationalteam-update = October 14, 2024
}}
Caniggia Ginola Elva (born 14 July 1996) is a Saint Lucian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Canadian Premier League club Cavalry FC and the Saint Lucia national team.
Early life
Elva was born in the Caribbean island of St. Lucia in Vieux Fort, before moving to Canada at the age of 11.{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/pmn/sports-pmn/calgary-raised-forward-caniggia-ginola-elva-has-the-name-and-the-game|title=Calgary-raised forward Caniggia Ginola Elva has the name and the game|date=4 October 2017|work=National Post|first=Neil|last=Davidson}} He began playing youth soccer with Calgary South West United. When he was 17, he received a tryout with English club Arsenal. After Arsenal decided not to sign him, he went on trial with German Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart in November 2013, joining them for a month, before returning and signing with them officially on his 18th birthday.
Club career
=Germany=
In July 2014, his 18th birthday, he signed a four-year contract with VfB Stuttgart after tryouts with other teams, among them English Premier League football club Arsenal, Spanish club FC Barcelona and Portuguese club SL Benfica.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/arsenal-f-c-gives-calgary-s-caniggia-elva-17-a-chance-1.2553834|title=Arsenal F.C. gives Calgary's Caniggia Elva, 17, a chance|work=CBC|date=27 February 2014}}{{Cite web|url=https://insidefutbol.com/2014/02/26/barcelona-and-benfica-following-arsenal-trialist-caniggia-elva-amid-stuttgarts-contract-offer/129456/|work=Inside Futbol|title=Barcelona and Benfica Following Arsenal Trialist Caniggia Elva Amid Stuttgart's Contract Offer|date=26 February 2014}} However, due to Elva not able gaining Canadian citizenship, he wasn't granted permission to play neither for Stuttgart's reserve team in the 3. Liga nor their youth team in Under 19 Bundesliga. As a result of this he did not gain any match practice as he was not ready for the club's first team.{{cite web|url=http://www.fupa.net/berichte/caniggia-elva-darf-nur-trainieren-225682.html|title=Caniggia Elva darf nur trainieren|work=FuPa |trans-title=Caniggia Elva is only allowed to train|date=4 November 2014|accessdate=8 March 2015|language=German}}
In February 2015, he was loaned to French third-tier club RC Strasbourg until the end of the season.{{cite web|url=http://www.bundesliga.de/media/native/transferliste/TL%2057-14-15.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203192043/http://www.bundesliga.de/media/native/transferliste/TL%2057-14-15.pdf|title=Transferliste des "Die Liga – Fußballverband e.V." (Ligaverband)|date=2 February 2015|archive-date=3 February 2015|trans-title=Transfer list of the "Die Liga - Fußballverband e.V." (League Association)|language=de}}
For the 2015–16 season Elva joined the squad of VfB Stuttgart II.{{cite web|url=http://www.vfb.de/de/aktuell/meldungen/news/2015/abschied-vfb-ii/page/9803-1-3-.html|title=Großer Umbruch beim VfB II|trans-title=Great upheaval at VfB II|language=de|publisher=VfB Stuttgart|date=27 May 2015|accessdate=27 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231600/http://www.vfb.de/de/aktuell/meldungen/news/2015/abschied-vfb-ii/page/9803-1-3-.html|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}} He made his debut for VfB II on 29 August 2015 against Rot-Weiß Erfurt.{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/en/leagues/3-liga/?spieledb_path=%2Fen%2Fmatches%2F2223243|title=Official match report: FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt – VfB Stuttgart II|publisher=German Football Association|accessdate=29 August 2015|date=29 August 2015}} Elva scored his first goal for VfB Stuttgart II on 26 February 2016 against Hallescher FC.{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/en/leagues/3-liga/?spieledb_path=%2Fen%2Fmatches%2F2223487|title=Official match report: VfB Stuttgart II – Hallescher FC|publisher=German Football Association|accessdate=26 February 2016|date=26 February 2016}} After making 57 appearances over three seasons with the second team,{{Cite web|url=https://aftn.ca/local-prospects-calgary-players-worth-a-look-from-cavalry-fc/|first=Scott|last=Strasser|date=30 January 2019|title=Local Prospects: Calgary players worth a look from Cavalry FC|work=Away From the Numbers}} he was released by Stuttgart in July 2018.
Elva signed with 3. Liga club Würzburger Kickers on 4 September 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.wuerzburger-kickers.de/de/news/profis/2018-09-04-die-kickers-nehmen-caniggia-elva-unter-vertrag|date=4 September 2018|title=Die Kickers nehmen Caniggia Elva unter Vertrag!|trans-title=The Kickers Sign Caniggia Elva!|language=de|work=Würzburger Kickers}} With the Kickers, he won the 2019 Bavarian Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wuerzburger-kickers.de/de/profis/spiele/spielberichte/toto-pokal-finale-3-0-in-aschaffenburg-kickers-feiern-toto-pokal-sieg-und-dfb-pokal-einzug/ansicht:liveticker|title=3:0 in Aschaffenburg: Kickers Feiern Toto-Pokal-Sieg Und DFB-Pokal-Einzug|trans-title=3-0 in Aschaffenburg:Kickers Celebrate Toto Cup Victory and DFB-Pokal Entry|language=de|date=25 May 2019|work=Würzburger Kickers}} Elva would score 4 goals and add 2 assists during an injury plagued 2018–19 season. After the season, he rejected an offer to extend his contract with the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wuerzburger-kickers.de/de/news/profis/2019-06-07-caniggia-elva-schliesst-sich-den-schanzern-an|title=Caniggia Elva Schliesst Sich Den Schanzern An|trans-title=Caniggia Elva Joins the Schanzer|language=de|date=7 June 2019|work=Würzburger Kickers}}
After one year with Würzburger Kickers, Elva signed a two-year contract with fellow 3. Liga side FC Ingolstadt 04.{{cite web|url=https://www.fcingolstadt.de/news/9333-tempo-und-durchschlagskraft-caniggia-elva-wechselt-zum-fci/|title=Tempo Und Durchschlagskraft: Caniggia Elva Wechselt Zum FCI|trans-title=Speed and Tempo:Caniggia Elva Changes to FCI|website=FC Ingolstadt 04|language=de|date=7 June 2019}}
In January 2023, Elva joined Regionalliga club Rot-Weiß Erfurt.{{cite web|url=https://www.rot-weiss-erfurt.de/Aktuelles/Aktuelle-News/Winterneuzugang-fuer-den-FC-RWE.html|title=Winterneuzugang Fuer den FC RWE|website=FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt|date=January 27, 2023}}
=Canada=
In February 2025, Elva signed with Canadian Premier League club Cavalry FC for the 2025 season.{{cite web|url=https://cavalryfc.canpl.ca/article/cavalry-fc-signs-forward-caniggia-elva-to-2025-roster|title=Cavalry FC Signs Forward Caniggia Elva to 2025 Roster|website=Cavalry FC|date=February 3, 2025}} On April 26, 2025, he scored his first goal for the club in a 3-1 loss against Atlético Ottawa.{{cite web|url=https://calgaryherald.com/sports/calgarys-elva-scores-his-first-goal-for-hometown-club-but-cavalry-fall-to-ottawa|title=Calgary's Elva scores his first goal for hometown club, but Cavalry fall to Ottawa|first=Todd|last=Saelhof|date=April 26, 2025|work=Calgary Herald}}
International career
=Youth=
Elva is eligible for St. Lucia, where he was born. He has however indicated that he would like to represent Canada at international level instead, where he was raised.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeR1M2PbWfA|title=Sport Avis Exclusive: Caniggia Elva|date=15 January 2015|work=Sporte Avis|publisher=YouTube}} In March 2017 it was announced that Elva was added to the Canadian Under-23 squad for matches against Qatar and Uzbekistan in Qatar later that month.{{cite web|title=Canada U23s Announce Squad for Qatar|url=http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/771244?referrer_id=2425684|publisher=United Soccer League|date=18 March 2017}} Elva made his U-23 debut and scored against Uzbekistan in a 1–0 victory on 25 March 2017.{{cite web|language=fr|trans-title=Canada earns gritty 1–0 win over Uzbekistan in U-23 series|url=http://canadasoccer.com/canada-earns-gritty-1-0-win-over-uzbekistan-in-u-23-series-p160677|publisher=Canadian Soccer Association|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025231915/https://canadasoccer.com/canada-earns-gritty-1-0-win-over-uzbekistan-in-u-23-series-p160677|archive-date=25 October 2019|url-status=dead|title=Victoire du Canada 1–0 face à l'Ouzbékistan dans une série U-23}}
=Senior=
Elva was called up to the Canadian senior team for a friendly against El Salvador on 29 September 2017.{{cite web|url=https://the11.ca/zambrano-picks-a-canadian-side-filled-with-national-team-newbies-for-friendly-against-el-salvador/|title=Zambrano picks a Canadian side filled with national-team newbies for friendly against El Salvador|first=Steven|last=Sandor|date=29 September 2017|work=The 11}} In June 2021 Elva was included in Canada's 60-man preliminary roster for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.canadasoccer.com/news/concacaf-gold-cup-provisional-rosters-confirmed/|title=CONCACAF Gold Cup provisional rosters confirmed|work=Canadian Soccer Association|date=18 June 2021}}
In October 2023, Elva was called up to the Saint Lucia national team for a set of 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League matches.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thueringer-allgemeine.de/sport/rot-weiss-stuermer-elva-im-nationaltrikot-auf-den-spuren-von-vater-und-bruder-id239762167.html|title=Rot-Weiß-Stürmer Elva im Nationaltrikot auf den Spuren von Vater und Bruder|first=Axel|last=Lukacsek|date=9 October 2023|website=thueringer-allgemeine.de}} He scored on his debut, a 2–1 win over Guadeloupe on 12 October 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.concacaf.com/nations-league/news/saint-lucia-edge-guadeloupe-in-battle-of-group-a-unbeatens/|title=Saint Lucia edge Guadeloupe in battle of Group A unbeatens|date=30 September 2023|website=Concacaf}}
Personal life
His father, Titus "Titi" Elva, is a former national striker for St. Lucia and his uncle, Olivier Elva, is also a former national defender for St. Lucia.{{Cite web |url=http://www.caribbeanhotfm.com/news/2523-a-stlucian-born-footballer-is-pursuing-his-dreams-to-play-professionally-in-germany |title=A St.Lucian born footballer is pursuing his dreams to play professionally in Germany |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305001503/http://www.caribbeanhotfm.com/news/2523-a-stlucian-born-footballer-is-pursuing-his-dreams-to-play-professionally-in-germany |archive-date=5 March 2014 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Prime minister proud of Caniggia Elva|url=https://www.stlucianewsonline.com/prime-minister-proud-of-caniggia-elva/|website=St. Lucia News Online|accessdate=26 March 2017|language=en-us|date=1 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705022703/https://www.stlucianewsonline.com/prime-minister-proud-of-caniggia-elva/|archive-date=5 July 2019|url-status=dead}} His first and middle names Caniggia and Ginola are homages to former Argentine international player Claudio Caniggia and former French player David Ginola.
Career statistics
= Club =
{{updated|May 2, 2025}}{{caniggia-ginola-elva/409156}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|League !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="2"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|VfB Stuttgart II
|21 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 21 | 1 | |||
| rowspan="2"|Regionalliga
|18 | 3 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 18 | 3 | |||
| 2017–18
|18 | 3 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 18 | 3 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!57 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 7 |
| Würzburger Kickers
|3. Liga |17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 17 | 4 | ||
| rowspan="4"|FC Ingolstadt 04
|rowspan="2|3. Liga |33 | 3 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 2Appearance(s) in Promotion Playoffs | 0 | 36 | 3 | |
| 2020–21
|34 | 5 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 2 | 0 | 37 | 5 | |
| 2. Bundesliga
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!67 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 73 | 8 |
| rowspan="3"|Rot-Weiß Erfurt
|rowspan="2"|Regionalliga |10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 10 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24
|24 | 6 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 24 | 6 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!34 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 6 |
| Cavalry FC
|2025 |4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!179 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 188 | 27 |
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
=International=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=3 | Saint Lucia | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 | 1 |
| 2024 | 8 | 4 |
| Total||12||5 |
==International goals==
''Scores and results list the Saint Lucia's goal tally first.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;"
! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition | ||||||
| align="center"|1 | 12 October 2023 | Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia | {{fb|GLP}} | align=center|1–1 | align=center| 2–1 | 2023–24 CONCACAF Nations League B |
| align="center"|2 | 6 June 2024 | Wildey Turf, Wildey, Barbados | {{fb|HAI}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center| 1–2 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| align="center"|3 | 6 September 2024 | Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George's, Grenada | {{fb|CUW}} | align=center|2–0 | align=center| 2-1 | 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League B |
| align="center"|4 | rowspan="2"|11 October 2024 | rowspan="2"|Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia | rowspan="2"|{{fb|MAF}} | align="center"|1–1 | rowspan="2" align="center"|2–1 | rowspan="2"| 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League B |
| align="center"|5 | align="center"|2–1 | |||||
| colspan="7"|Last updated 11 October 2024 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Canada Soccer player|6474}}
{{Cavalry FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Elva, Caniggia}}
Category:People from Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia
Category:Saint Lucian men's footballers
Category:Saint Lucia men's international footballers
Category:Canadian men's soccer players
Category:Canada men's youth international soccer players
Category:Saint Lucian emigrants to Canada
Category:Naturalized citizens of Canada
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:VfB Stuttgart II players
Category:RC Strasbourg Alsace players
Category:FC Würzburger Kickers players
Category:FC Ingolstadt 04 players
Category:FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt players
Category:Black Canadian men's soccer players
Category:Saint Lucian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Canadian expatriate men's soccer players
Category:Saint Lucian expatriates in Germany
Category:Canadian expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen