Tshamala Kabanga (born 10 October 1984 in DR Congo) is a former Congolese professional footballer who was last contracted to Long An of the V.League 1, a Vietnamese football league.[1]

Tshamala Kabanga
Lê Minh Tshamala
Personal information
Full name Tshamala Kabanga
Date of birth (1984-10-10) 10 October 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth Kinshasa, Zaire
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2003 TP Mazembe 29 (9)
2003–2004 Orlando Pirates 6 (1)
2004–2005 Long An 19 (10)
2005–2006 Quảng Nam 26 (17)
2006–2012 Long An 168 (97)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Orlando Pirates

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While playing for TP Mazembe in the 2003 Vodacom Challenge, Kabanga was spotted by the South African football club, the Orlando Pirates, and signed for them shortly after.[2] He scored his only goal for the Buccaneers over four starts and two substitute appearances in a 1-1 draw with Wits University and was traded to Vietnamese side Long An F.C. following his only season there.[2]

Vietnam

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After a spell with Long An F.C. Kabanga was loaned to Quang Nam where he stayed for one season before returning to his previous Vietnamese team.[3] He scored a hat trick for Long An in the last round of 2008 V. League 1, where the team placed second.[4] Kabanga was praised for his unselfishness forming close links with all his teammates.[3] He recorded a brace in the 2006 Vietnamese Super Cup final and an 87th-minute goal in a 1-4 defeat to Seongnam in the 2007 AFC Champions League while playing as a midfielder.[3] He scored four goals in six rounds in the 2010 V-League.[citation needed]

During the 2010 season, Kabanga temporarily changed his name to Le Minh Tshamala to be naturalized as a citizen in Vietnam, and become eligible to be registered for a domestic slot in the National Cup.[5]

Kabanga was known for his distinct Peacock Dance goal celebration.[6] There was a noted rivalry between him and teammate Antonio Carlos that lasted several years.[6] His six-year stint at Long An ended in 2011 following a post-match argument with new coach Simon McMenemy.[7]

Personal life

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Kabanga can speak English as well as Vietnamese after being taught by a teammate. He was noted by his teammates for performing excellent Karaoke.[8]

Kabanga now[when?] works at the S and A Academy in Vietnam.[citation needed]

He and his wife live in Long An, presently.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Cựu tiền đạo Tshamala: Từ ngôi sao đội Long An đến công nhân điện lạnh". laodong.vn.
  2. ^ a b www.realnet.co.uk (10 January 2015). "Worst Foreign Striker – Kabanga Tshamala (No. 28)".
  3. ^ a b c VnExpress. "Tshamala, sát thủ mới tại V-League – VnExpress Thể Thao". VnExpress.
  4. ^ "Long An win 2nd place in V-League".
  5. ^ "ĐTLA nhập quốc tịch cầu thủ: Bao giờ có Lý Lâm Wa, Lê Minh Tshamala?". 25 January 2010.
  6. ^ a b "Tay chơi Tshamala Kahanga". 10 July 2010.
  7. ^ "ĐT.LA chia tay tiền đạo Tshamala". 12 May 2011.
  8. ^ ngoisao.vn (9 March 2021). "Chàng Tây V-League 'vô địch' hát nhạc Việt trên Karaoke".
  9. ^ bongdaplus.vn. "Cựu tiền đạo Tshamala Kanbanga: Xưa là 'sát thủ', nay 'gõ đầu trẻ' và sắm vai thợ hồ".