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Paul Bonga Bonga

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Paul Bonga Bonga
Personal information
Date of birth (1933-04-25) 25 April 1933 (age 91)
Place of birth Ebonda, Belgian Congo[1]
Position(s) Midfielder[2]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1952–1954 Union
1954–1957[2] Motema Pembe
1957–1963[2] Standard Liège
1963–1967[2] Charleroi
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Paul Bonga Bonga (born 25 April 1933) is a Congolese footballer of the 1950s and 1960s. A midfielder, he rose to prominence during his time in Belgium at Standard Liège[3] and was perhaps best remembered as the first African footballer to be selected in the World Soccer Magazine world XI, when he was chosen in 1961.[1]

Career

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Bonga was born in Ebonda. He started playing football barefoot, in 1948 for the Golden Lion and then for Sporting, St. Anne College team. In 1950, he joined Union and put on his first boots. He was transferred in 1952 to Daring Club Motema Pembe. In 1956, while on a European tour, he was noticed by sports journalists, particularly for his match against the Standard Liège. In late 1957 he was invited to Standard, and became Belgian champion in the seasons of 1958–1960.

In 1960, Bonga Bonga finished as runner-up to Paul Van Himst in voting for the Soulier d'Or, the Belgian Golden Shoe. It was the only occasion in the first twenty years of the award that a non-Belgian player finished in the top three players of the year.[4]

In 1961, World Soccer Magazine selected Bonga Bonga in the World XI, alongside Pelé, Alfredo Di Stefano or Ferenc Puskás. He was rewarded for his pace, energy and fine skills that made him the motor of a strong Standard Liege team.[5]

In 1962, Bonga Bonga became the first non-naturalised African player to feature in the semi-final of the European Cup.[4]

After playing for more than 10 years in Belgian clubs, Bonga retired in 1970 and became a coach at FC Tubize. After returning home in 1972, Bonga led Daring Club Motema Pembe before assuming the post of President Sportif. In 1991, he was appointed National Technical Director of the Leopards (present-day Simba).

Timeline

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  • 1948 – 1951 : Lion d'or, puis Sporting Club
  • 1952 – 1954 : Union
  • 1954 – 1957 : Daring Club Motema Pembe
  • 1956: Médaille d'or de l'association "Royale Sportive Congolaise"
  • 1957 – 1963 : Standard de Liège (Belgique)
  • 1961: Plaquette + prix de l'effort Sportif de la ville de Liège
  • 1962:
    • Médaille d'or trophée Pappaert (Journal les sports de Bruxelles)
    • Médaille de bronze du Ministère de la santé et de la famille de Liège
    • Soulier d'argent (2ème meilleur joueur Européen)
  • 1963 – 1967 : Sporting de Charleroi
  • 1968 – 1970: Moteur breveté/Ecole des entraïneur à Heysel 1972 – 1973 : Entraîneur DCMP
  • 1976: Médaille d'or / mérite sportif Congolais
  • 1981: Président du DCMP
  • 1984 – 1991: Directeur Technique National et Membre de la Fecofa

Honours

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Standard Liège
Individual

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Paul Bonga Bonga : le plus grand footballeur congolais". La Conscience (in French). 4 July 2007. Archived from the original on 7 February 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Paul Bonga Bonga at WorldFootball.net
  3. ^ "Rensenbrink beste buitenlander in Belgisch voetbal". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). 17 April 2007. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Paul Bonga Bonga is the greatest African footballer you've never heard of". ESPN. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  5. ^ "ERIC BATTY'S WORLD XI – THE SIXTIES". beyondthelastman.com. 29 April 2013.
  6. ^ "ERIC BATTY’S WORLD XI – THE SIXTIES" Retrieved on 29 November 2015


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