Kabongo Tshimanga Explained

Kabongo Tshimanga
Fullname:Kabongo Tshimanga[1]
Birth Date:22 July 1997[2]
Birth Place:Kinshasa, DR Congo
Height:[3]
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Peterborough United
Youthyears1:2005–2014
Youthclubs1:Milton Keynes Dons
Years1:2014–2017
Clubs1:Milton Keynes Dons
Caps1:6
Goals1:0
Years2:2015
Clubs2:Aldershot Town (loan)
Caps2:2
Goals2:0
Years3:2015
Clubs3:Chelmsford City (loan)
Caps3:4
Goals3:0
Years4:2015
Clubs4:Corby Town (loan)
Caps4:10
Goals4:5
Years5:2015–2016
Clubs5:Nuneaton Town (loan)
Caps5:5
Goals5:1
Years6:2016
Clubs6:Chesham United (loan)
Caps6:7
Goals6:0
Years7:2016
Clubs7:Þróttur (loan)
Caps7:6
Goals7:0
Years8:2017
Clubs8:Yeovil Town (loan)
Caps8:0
Goals8:0
Years9:2017–2018
Clubs9:Boston United
Caps9:34
Goals9:8
Years10:2018–2019
Clubs10:Oxford City
Caps10:42
Goals10:24
Years11:2019–2021
Clubs11:Boreham Wood
Caps11:79
Goals11:38
Years12:2021–2023
Clubs12:Chesterfield
Caps12:44
Goals12:31
Years13:2023
Clubs13:Peterborough United (loan)
Caps13:8
Goals13:0
Years14:2023–
Clubs14:Peterborough United
Caps14:2
Goals14:0
Years15:2023–2024
Clubs15:Fleetwood Town (loan)
Caps15:14
Goals15:0
Years16:2024
Clubs16:Boreham Wood (loan)
Caps16:16
Goals16:7
Club-Update:23:57, 20 April 2024 (UTC)
Nationalyears1:2019
Nationalteam1:England C
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalteam-Update:08:25, 28 April 2019 (UTC)

Kabongo Tshimanga (born 22 July 1997)[2] is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One Peterborough United.

Tshimanga came through the youth ranks at Milton Keynes Dons, later spending time on loan with non-league sides Aldershot Town, Chelmsford City, Corby Town, Nuneaton Town, Chesham United as well as Icelandic side Þróttur and EFL League Two side Yeovil Town. He later had a spell with Boston United before a prolific spell with Oxford City that yielded 24 league goals in 42 games. In 2019 he moved to Boreham Wood where he notched up a further 38 goals in 79 appearances. In 2021 he signed for Chesterfield. Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tshimanga has previously represented the England C team.

Club career

Milton Keynes Dons

Tshimanga joined Milton Keynes Dons at U10 level.[4] After scoring 27 youth team goals, Tshimanga was rewarded with a squad number early in the 2014–15 season despite only recently turning 18.[5] He made his first team debut on 8 November, coming on as a late substitute for Benik Afobe in a 4–3 FA Cup first round victory over Port Vale at Vale Park.[6] Tshimanga signed his first professional contract with the club on 3 January 2015. On 30 January 2015, Tshimanga joined Aldershot Town of the Conference on loan having scored 42 goals in 25 games for MK Dons U18 team.[7]

Tshimanga spent the entire 2015–16 season on loan to several non-League clubs, including brief spells with Corby Town, Nuneaton Town and Chesham United. On 18 August 2015 he scored an eight-minute hat-trick for Corby Town against Hednesford Town.[8] Following the conclusion of the season, Tshimanga briefly joined Icelandic Úrvalsdeild side Throttur Reykjavik on a short-term loan deal until July 2016.

Tshimanga found more first team opportunities with the Dons during the first half of the 2016–17 season following the club's relegation, and made his first team debut as an 87th-minute substitute on 20 August 2016 away to Rochdale.[9] However, after spending the second half of the season on loan to Yeovil Town, Tshimanga was released from the club in June 2017.[10]

Boston United

Following his release, Tshimanga joined National League North side Boston United on 1 July 2017, signing a one-year dealbefore going on to make 34 league appearances and scoring 8 goals.[11]

Oxford City

Following the expiry of his contract, Tshimanga opted to join National League South side Oxford Cityin June 2018.[12] On 10 November 2018, Tshimanga scored a hat-trick in an FA Cup first round 3–3 draw away to Tranmere Rovers.[13] Tshimanga ended his first season as top scorer with 29 goals in all competitions,[14] and was also the recipient of the club's Supporters' and Players' Player of the Year awards.[15] He was later named in the 2018–19 National League South Team of the Year.[16]

Boreham Wood

On 1 July 2019, Tshimanga signed for National League club Boreham Wood on a two-year deal.[17] In his first season he helped the club to a play-off finish, scoring 19 goals in 37 appearances in the process.

Chesterfield

On 10 August 2021, despite rumoured interest from Football League sides, Tshimanga joined National League side Chesterfield for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal.[18] After scoring nine goals in his first six weeks of the season, he was awarded the league's Player of the Month award for August/September 2021.[19] Tshimanga finished the campaign with 25 goals in 31 appearances in all competitions, and was named in the league's Team of the Year for the third consecutive season.

Peterborough United

On 31 January 2023, Tshimanga joined League One side Peterborough United after agreeing a loan deal until the end of the season ahead of a permanent transfer in the summer.[20] Tshimanga joined Fleetwood Town on loan in the summer of 2023 but was recalled by Peterborough on 1 February 2024,[21] on which day he returned to Boreham Wood on loan until the end of the season.[22]

On 12 May 2024, Peterborough announced the player had been transfer-listed.[23]

Personal Life

Tshimanga's parents live in the UK. He has two brothers, Claude and Roman, and two sisters, Jily and Rosalie, who also live in the UK.

International career

Tshimanga is eligible to play for both England and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In April 2019, he was called up to the England C squad for a friendly fixture, on 9 April 2019, against a Bedfordshire FA XI to mark the association's 125th anniversary.[24]

Style of play

Speaking in November 2014, then Milton Keynes Dons manager Karl Robinson described Tshimanga as "quick, powerful, he wants to run at people and he's a constant threat."[25]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Milton Keynes Dons2014–15League One0010000010
2015–16Championship00000000
2016–17League One60102130121
Total60202130131
Aldershot Town (loan)2014–15Conference Premier2020
Chelmsford City (loan)2014–15Conference South4040
Corby Town (loan)2015–16[26] National League North1052010135
Nuneaton Town (loan)2015–16National League North512172
Chesham United (loan)2015–16SL Premier Division7070
Þróttur (loan)2016Úrvalsdeild601171
Yeovil Town (loan)2016–17League Two0000
Boston United2017–18National League North34833113812
Oxford City2018–19National League South422467665437
Boreham Wood2019–20National League371910304119
2020–21National League421943104722
Total793853408841
Chesterfield2021–22National League272441003125
2022–23National League1775100228
Total443192005333
Peterborough United (loan)2022–23League One801090
Peterborough United2023–24League One2000200040
Fleetwood Town (loan)2023–24League One1402042202
Boreham Wood (loan)2023–24National League6464
Career total2691113016412210325138

Honours

Individual

Notes and References

  1. News: The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015 . The Football League . 51 . 16 May 2015 . 4 August 2015.
  2. News: Milton Keynes Dons . Football Squads . 4 August 2015.
  3. Web site: Kabongo Tshimanga . 11v11 . 3 January 2016.
  4. Web site: Kabongo Tshimanga: MK Dons striker signs professional contract . BBC Sport . 3 January 2015 . 11 November 2018 .
  5. News: Kirk. Scott. 27-goal Kabongo Tshimanga in the squad for Port Vale FA Cup game on Saturday. 8 November 2014. MK Web. 6 November 2014.
  6. News: Port Vale 3 - 4 MK Dons. 8 November 2014. BBC Sport. 8 November 2014.
  7. Web site: Kabongo Tshimanga: Aldershot sign MK Dons striker on loan . BBC Sport . 30 January 2015 . 11 November 2018 .
  8. Web site: Tshimanga steals the show as Corby battle back . . 19 August 2015 . 11 November 2018 .
  9. Web site: Rochdale 0–1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 20 August 2016 . 31 January 2017 .
  10. Web site: Five young pros to remain at Stadium MK . Milton Keynes Dons . 14 June 2017 . 14 June 2017 .
  11. Web site: United recruit hotshot Tshimanga . Boston United . 1 July 2017 . 1 July 2017 .
  12. Web site: FOOTBALL: Matt Paterson re-signs for Oxford City as Kabongo Tshimanga and Ben Jefford also put pen to paper . Oxford Mail . 15 June 2018 . 11 November 2018 .
  13. News: Tranmere Rovers 3-3 Oxford City . BBC Sport . 10 November 2018 . 11 November 2018 .
  14. Web site: K. Tshimanga: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 23 November 2020.
  15. Web site: Presentation Evening . . 28 April 2019 . 27 May 2019 .
  16. Web site: National League South Team Of The Season Confirmed . The National League . 10 May 2019 . 27 May 2019 .
  17. Web site: SOUGHT AFTER STRIKER BECOMES THIRD SUMMER SIGNING . Boreham Wood F.C. . 1 July 2019 . 13 July 2019 .
  18. Web site: Spireites fend off competition to sign striker. chesterfield-fc.co.uk. 10 August 2021.
  19. Web site: National League's August/September Monthly Award Winners Revealed!. www.thenationalleague.org.uk. 11 October 2021. 11 October 2021.
  20. Web site: Posh secure signing spireites striker. theposh.com. 31 January 2023.
  21. Web site: Kabongo Tshimanga heads back to parent club Peterborough United. Fleetwood Town FC. 1 February 2024. 30 March 2024.
  22. Web site: Tshimanga Joins Boreham Wood After Fleetwood Recall. Peterborough United Football Club. 1 February 2024. 30 March 2024.
  23. Web site: Posh Announce Retained List Peterborough United - The Posh . 2024-05-13 . www.theposh.com . en.
  24. Web site: England C Call for City Duo . . 7 April 2019 . 28 April 2019 .
  25. Web site: Tshimanga gets first-team call. mkdons.com. 8 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141107222055/http://www.mkdons.com/news/article/tshimanga-gets-first-team-call-2068890.aspx. 7 November 2014. dead.
  26. Web site: Kabongo Tshimanga Profile . aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk . Aylesbury United F.C. . 23 November 2020.
  27. Web site: Osborn . Oliver . 19 June 2021 . Vanarama National League Team of the Season Confirmed! . 19 May 2023 . The National League .
  28. News: The Team of the Season for the Vanarama National League have been announced. . Oliver Osborne . Vanarama National League . 19 June 2021 . 10 July 2021.
  29. Web site: Vanarama National League Team of the Season Announced . . 5 June 2022 . 14 June 2022 .
  30. Web site: Reflecting on Player of the Year event . . 21 May 2022 . 25 May 2022 .