Kalombo N'Kongolo | |
Fullname: | Kalombo N'Kongolo |
Birth Date: | 17 July 1961 |
Death Place: | Lisbon, Portugal |
Position: | Centre-back |
Years1: | 1986–1987 |
Caps1: | 24 |
Goals1: | 1 |
Years2: | 1987–1988 |
Caps2: | 31 |
Goals2: | 2 |
Years3: | 1988–1989 |
Caps3: | 17 |
Goals3: | 0 |
Years4: | 1989–1992 |
Caps4: | 65 |
Goals4: | 6 |
Years5: | 1992–1993 |
Caps5: | 8 |
Goals5: | 0 |
Totalcaps: | 145 |
Totalgoals: | 9 |
Nationalyears1: | 1985–1991 |
Nationalcaps1: | 12 |
Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
Kalombo N'Kongolo (17 July 1961 – 10 March 1993) was a Congolese professional footballer who played as a central defender.
Blessed with a powerful physique, N'Kongolo was born in Kinshasa, and spent most of his professional career in Portugal, where he arrived at the age of 26 signing for modest S.C. Espinho in the Primeira Liga.[1] His solid performances attracted the attention of FC Porto.
In his sole season at Porto, N'Kongolo appeared in 17 matches – 16 starts – as his team finished second to S.L. Benfica. He returned to Espinho for three further campaigns,[2] with the club now in the Segunda Liga. On 10 March 1993, after spending a few months with Atlético Clube de Portugal in the third division, the player died from a brain embolism; he was only 31 years old.[3]
N'Kongolo was part of the Zaire squad at the 1988 African Cup of Nations held in Morocco, playing two games in an eventual group-stage exit.[4]