Paul Bonga Bonga

Career 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.

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

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 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 Individual World Soccer World XI: 1961