Tshamala Kabanga

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

Tshamala Kabanga (born 10 October 1984) is a former Congolese professional footballer who was last played for V.League 1 club Long An. ^[1]

Career

Orlando Pirates

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

After a spell with Long An 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

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

1. "Cựu tiền đạo Tshamala: Từ ngôi sao đội Long An đến công nhân điện lạnh". laodong.vn.
2. www.realnet.co.uk (10 January 2015). "Worst Foreign Striker – Kabanga Tshamala (No. 28)".
3. 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. "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".